Quick Hit July 2025: what we've missed in recent weeks

As regular Newsweed consumers will have noticed, we've been on hiatus for the past few weeks. But since news doesn't wait for us, here's a recap of what's been happening in the meantime on Planet Cannabis.

France

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) has put a page dedicated to the evaluation of cannabis-based medicinal products, with details of how to submit applications, the evaluation criteria selected and a provisional timetable.

A French study has investigated the medical use of cannabis with Parkinson's patients. The study showed «a potential benefit [...] in relieving PD-related tremors, anxiety, pain, improving sleep quality and quality of life», according to the researchers.

Europe

Since legalization, Germany a approuvé 293 cannabis cultivation association applications.

Regulators scrutinize telemedicine services for prescribing medical cannabis in Germany, in Poland and Australia. At issue is the rapid growth of this means of prescribing and its potential detour to non-medical uses. Germany is therefore proposing to restrict access to these platforms, in particular by requiring an initial face-to-face appointment.

Switzerland will open a public consultation on the legalization of cannabis from the end of August until November. The proposal is to :

• Grow up to three plants in your own home
• Set up a non-profit, state-monopoly sales system. Any profits would be earmarked for prevention, harm reduction and assistance to drug addicts.
• Subject cannabi products to an incentive tax «to limit consumption and steer it towards less risky forms». The tax rate would be linked to «THC content and type of consumption». The cantons will be able to levy «a surveillance tax and emoluments».
• Tougher penalties for «those who evade the legal market».

In the meantime, the canton of Valais continues to oppose the launch of a pilot test.

The 10th edition of the European Cannabis Report, Europe's leading resource for investors, regulators, operators and policy-makers in the global cannabis industry, is now available on the new dynamic platform from Prohibitions Partners.

Polish legislators should present in September to decriminalize the personal use of cannabis by adults.

United States

The truthfulness of THC levels in cannabis flowers is also challenged in Colorado who, like California, has its analyses artificially inflated.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) announced that the state had surpassed $8 billion in total adult-use cannabis sales since the market's launch in November 2018.

A California bill, the Small and Homestead Independent Producers (SHIP) Act, would allow «small» cannabis producers to ship their products directly to consumers, to help them stay afloat.

More and more American seniors are using cannabis to treat a variety of chronic illnesses, and are also prescribing it to their friends, according to a recent study.

The new DEA administration thinks less and less to the re-evaluation of cannabis despite his earlier promises and the movement launched by Joe Biden's administration. In parallel, an anti-cannabis group, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), launched a TV ad campaign urging Trump not to reclassify cannabis.

Canada

According to a report produced by the Association Québécoise de l'Industrie du Chanvre et du Cannabis (AQIC), the hemp and cannabis industry now employs 8,163 Quebecers and contributes $1.36 billion to Quebec's GDP.

Rest of the world

Ghana close in on Morocco to study options for regulating cannabis.

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A study conducted in Turkey revealed that hemp fiber has antibacterial properties. These properties had have already been observed on hemp leaves.

A Japanese study firmly refuted the gateway drug« theory» about cannabis consumption.

Psychedelics

Psilocin, the compound produced in the body after consumption of psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, a prolonged by more than 50% the lifespan of human skin and lung cells in the laboratory.

Hypnosis could improve psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Germany will become the first country in Europe to allow patients to receive psilocybin-assisted therapy.