International Cannabis Weekly: 157

• NHS plans to manufacture medicinal cannabis oil for children with severe epilepsy.
• FDA launches widespread CBD testing plan to tackle product inconsistencies.
• Europe’s largest independent cannabis firm set to publicly trade on the NASDAQ.
• Canadian legal cannabis sales reach new records in May as black market sales fall.
• Argentina to legalise personal cultivation and pharmacy sales of medical cannabis.

• CBD contract manufacturer, backed by former Diageo Global CMO, launches in the UK.
• EIHA blasts European Commission for considering labelling CBD ‘a narcotic’.
• Denmark authorises Epidyolex for Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes.
• Aurora makes cuts to European workforce as part of downsizing measures.
• Germany’s AMP orders 150kg of medical cannabis from unnamed Canadian supplier.

According to StatsCan, Canadian retailers sold a record CAD$185.9 million worth of cannabis in May 2020.

A total of CAD$850 million worth of cannabis has now been sold in licensed dispensaries in the first 5 months of 2020, which means that, according to current projections, total sales are set to surpass the CAD$2 billion in 2020.

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• The Democratic National Committee releases draft plan to decriminalise cannabis.
• The FDA submits a draft CBD enforcement guidance to the White House for review.
• LeafLink raises US$250 million in debt financing to help fund the cannabis supply chain.
• Curaleaf completes acquisition of Grassroots, for an estimated US$700 million.
• Montana cannabis legalisation campaigners collect required signatures for 2020 ballot.
• Arkansas medical cannabis sales surpass US$100 million since 2019 launch.

• Organigram reports net revenue loss of 22% in for Q3 2020.
• Canadian cannabis dispensary count reaches over 1,000 stores and is expected to rise.
• Mota Ventures announces venture with Franchise Cannabis for European expansion.

• Uruguay records 3 tonnes of medical sales 3 years after cannabis legalisation.
• Argentinian municipality of Castelli creates joint venture to produce medical cannabis.
• Ikänik Farms exports pharmaceutical grade cannabis to Mexico for COVID-19 research.
• Khiron receives licences for the import and commercialisation of CBD products in Peru.

• Cann Group announces capital raising of AU$24.3 million to boost short-term growth.
• Little Green Pharma obtains production permit for Western Australia cultivation facility.
• Thonburi Healthcare launches joint venture for medical cannabis research in Thailand.
• MGC Pharma signs agreement to acquire Australia’s Medical Cannabis Clinic.

• Lebanon hopes medical cannabis will boost its ailing economy.
• South Africa is trialling cannabis to combat COVID-19.
• Citrine Global and Israeli government plan to establish The Cannabis Innovation Center.

• New evidence suggests that CBD may help treat lung inflammation caused by COVID-19.
• Lab tests show that CBD-enriched forms of cannabis can kill or inhibit cancer cells.
• Meta-study suggests CBD has therapeutic potential in treating cocaine dependence.
• Study suggests cannabis has potential to treat pain associated with sickle cell disease.

Prohibition Partners finds that the overall majority of cannabis/CBD/hemp-infused drinks consumers are men. However, in emerging markets where THC-infused products are not available & the market focus is on health and wellbeing, women are more likely to dominate the consumer space.

Learn more about consumer behaviour and purchase profiles surrounding cannabis-based beverages in the latest industry report from Prohibition Partners.

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