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Launching Today – The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition

Launching Today - The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition
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Prohibition Partners are proud to announce the publication of The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition. This report brings readers all the latest information and analysis on the development of the nascent cannabis markets across Europe. Included in the report are deep dives into all key sectors and cannabis markets in Europe, presenting many data sources which have been exclusively obtained by Prohibition Partners or else remain unreported to date.

2021 was another huge year for the liberalisation of cannabis in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the progress made for patients and cannabis product users across the continent, yet across the board; legislation, regulation and market developments continued to evolve for the better. As Europe still lacks a unified direction and oversight of cannabis products, strides are being made by individual countries, with others conservatively assessing progress in neighbouring countries.

Prohibition Partners estimates that, in 2022, 100,000 additional patients will be able to access medical cannabis products in Europe for the first time, bringing the total number of patients to 341,595

The number of medical cannabis patients in Germany remains the largest in Europe, at around 171,608 in 2022 by Prohibition Partners’ estimates. The industry in Germany is well on its way to maturing thanks to the relatively liberal policies of the German government. The first products produced in Germany were sold on the market during 2021, a milestone for the European cultivation of medical cannabis.

France authorised medical cannabis cultivation this year after beginning their medical cannabis pilot scheme in 2021 which allows thousands of patients to obtain products free of charge, while the government assesses the clinical data arising from the courses of treatment. In Denmark, the parliament voted nearly unanimously in favour of extending the pilot trials, given their relative success over recent years. As of 2022, Ireland has begun its pilot access scheme, and Luxembourg is due for its first assessment.

While Canada remains the single largest supplier of medical cannabis to Europe, this will not be the case for long. Increasing quantities are being produced and traded within Europe, especially from Portugal and the Netherlands but also from countries like Denmark and Spain. Operators in at least 15 countries in Europe are now cultivating domestically for commercial purposes.

CBD products are continuing their path towards recognition as fully legal consumer packaged goods (CPG) which can be marketed across the continent in foods, cosmetics and wellness products. In 2020, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that CBD is not a narcotic under European Union (EU) interpretation of international law. The EU and national regulators are still working to integrate this ruling into legislation and regulation. During 2021, the first CBD products were registered on the EU CosIng database, and as of February 2022, the European Commission has listed at least 12 valid applications for CBD as Novel Foods, with more expected in the very near future. Once these have been risk assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), they will soon be placed on European shelves with the full protection of EU law.

But, the story which is drawing most international attention is the upcoming liberalisation of adult-use cannabis in Europe. This is being warmly welcomed by sensible drug policy advocates across the continent, with eager anticipation of the benefits for users, as well as for public health, economy and social justice on the continent. Switzerland will begin fully legal sales of adult-use cannabis late in 2022, followed swiftly by the Netherlands in Q2 2023. Many countries are now decriminalising cannabis without commercialising the products, such as Luxembourg and Malta.

The ruling coalition of Germany has promised in their manifesto, the legalisation and commercialisation of adult-use cannabis in the country, within this legislative period. All eyes are now drawn to the movements of the coalition for any signs of the specific details of the new system of regulation which should serve millions of consumers with safe, regulated products in the near future. More details on the liberalisation of adult-use cannabis in Europe are given in the annex published alongside this report titled Adult-use Cannabis in Europe™.

As cannabis becomes liberalised across the continent, Prohibition Partners continues to provide cutting-edge information and intelligence on the evolution of the market, to help businesses, regulators, patients and health professionals engage with the plant and all it has to offer in an optimal way. This report is designed to help the community in doing so, alongside the conferences offered by Prohibition Partners Live as well as other reports and news services.

For more insight and analysis, you can download your free copy The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition here. 

Key Takeaways

  • Prohibition Partners estimates that, in 2022, 100,000 additional patients will be able to access medical cannabis products in Europe for the first time, bringing the total number of patients to 341,595

  • Prohibition Partners predicts that sales of adult-use cannabis in Europe could reach €1.5 billion by 2026, but this forecast is dependent on swift progress and full implementation of adult-use legalisation in Germany.

  • Prohibition Partners project €357 million of unlicensed cannabis medicines will be sold in Europe in 2022, growing to €2.3 billion by 2026.

  • The German medical market continues to grow steadily, with a 43% increase in sales of cannabis to pharmacies in 2021 (majority sold to patients on private prescriptions).

  • In England, the number of unlicensed medical cannabis products dispensed for private prescription grew by 425% to an annual 23,466 products.

  • The UK market could constitute about a quarter of the European medical cannabis market by 2026, or €544 million.

  • North American cannabis operators remain heavily invested in Europe, with hundreds of millions of euros worth of assets on the continent.

  • Operators in at least 15 European countries are now cultivating medical cannabis for commercial purposes.

  • Product shortages persist in countries such as Italy, Poland, Luxembourg and Malta, mostly due to regulatory inefficiencies.
Find out more here. 

Additional Insights

Europe is currently witnessing the transition of cannabis, from an illicit underground market to a legal, regulated and mainstream industry.

An additional 25-page guide – Adult-Use Cannabis in Europe™ – is available to purchase alongside The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition. This mini report is designed to bring readers up to speed on the progress of regulations, and enable them to identify some of the business opportunities which will become available as markets develop. This additional 25-page report includes:

  • An overview of the legislation and regulations guiding new adult-use markets
  • A deep dive on the timelines for legislation, proposed models and business opportunities for key adult-use markets over the next five years
  • European adult-use market sizing forecasts up until 2026, including several scenarios for the incoming market in Germany, and a deep dive into the driving forces behind the market opportunity.

As well as the Adult-Use Cannabis in Europe™ guide, there is additional market sizing data available for purchase, providing unrivalled and invaluable insight into European markets. The data bolt-on includes:

  • Number of patients per country
  • Market sizing forecasts up until 2026
  • Driving forces behind growth in key markets.

Alternatively, you can purchase both the Market Sizing and Adult-Use Cannabis in Europe guide together for £2,990 – saving you £610. 

Live Webinar

Join panellists from Prohibition Partners, and industry experts from the Report’s sponsors, as we discuss the trends driving the European cannabis industry forward, business opportunities, legislative momentum – and more.

Register now to watch it live on Wednesday 27 April at 15:00 BST / 16:00 CET / 10:00 EST.

Sponsors

We’d like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank our sponsors for supporting The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition, and for their commitment to developing the industry in Europe.

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE EUROPEAN CANNABIS REPORT: 7TH EDITION

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