Farming
Cannabis retailers sue government for enforcement failure…
29th April 2022 - Alerts | Canada, North America |
Law enacted to increase land size for hemp cultivation…
27th April 2022 - Alerts | Iowa, North America, United States |
Optimism blooming as Uruguay’s first medical cannabis harvest begins
25th April 2022 - Business briefing |
Yvy Life Sciences, the first company authorised to grow medical-grade cannabis plants in Uruguay, has started harvesting its first crops for this purpose
Poland set to grow cannabis for medical use after Senate ratifies hemp bill
15th March 2022 - Regulatory briefing |
The Polish Senate has passed a bill introducing new regulations on hemp growing and medical cannabis with minimal changes from the version already approved by the lower parliamentary chamber, the Sejm
US hemp production totals for 2021 are released in new report from the USDA
11th March 2022 - Business briefing |
Hemp production in the US in 2021 totalled $824m in value – the vast majority of which came from hemp grown for flowers, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Thailand relaxes the rules on cannabis, removing whole plant from narcotics list
21st February 2022 - Regulatory briefing |
Thailand has removed the entire cannabis plant including flowers and seeds from the country’s list of Category 5 narcotics
National Hemp Report published…
18th February 2022 - Alerts | North America, United States |
Senate backs licensing changes…
15th February 2022 - Alerts | New Mexico, North America, United States |
South American legislation on cannabis and hemp will progress, if slowly, in 2022
8th February 2022 - Regulatory briefing |
This is an important year for positive legislation affecting cannabinoids across South America, though some depends on election results and all of it will take a few years to take effect
Italian hemp farm aid and research grants fail to win over the industry
21st January 2022 - Business briefing |
€3m in aid has been allocated to the hemp supply chain following a decree by minister of agriculture Stefano Patuanelli issued in late December 2021
Polish Sejm drafts laws to govern hemp farming for medical applications
20th January 2022 - Regulatory briefing |
A bill governing growing and harvesting of hemp for pharmaceuticals has been passed to the Sejm’s Health Commission and the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission
Hemp and CBD expansion in Thailand continues with government help
5th January 2022 - Business briefing |
Government support of Thailand’s hemp and CBD industry is paying off. Examples include US based Australis’ partnership with local GTH and MPX International’s agreement with Salus Thailand
Picking the right variety – what seeds are permitted and which grows best where?
31st December 2021 - Business briefing |
Desired end product and environmental factors are the two things best kept in mind when considering hemp varieties for different countries
African countries legalise cannabinoids to help revive flagging economies
17th December 2021 - Business briefing |
Many ailing African economies are turning to hemp and cannabis cultivation. In some cases this is to replace declining tobacco businesses. But many still face economic challenges as well as local opposition
Regulatory report: Slovenia, December 2021
2nd December 2021 - Regulatory reports |
Slovenia’s stance on CBD in the light of the Kanavape case isn’t clear; recreational cannabis rules not likely change; medicinal cannabis rules might change
New Moroccan government will stick with medical cannabis production plan
14th October 2021 - Regulatory briefing |
Morocco’s new medical cannabis law is still supported by the new government of Aziz Akhannouch, even though it was the pet project of a minister in the government he has displaced
German medical cannabis imports rise but no sign of domestic production yet
8th October 2021 - Business briefing |
German imports of medical cannabis flowers rose by 80% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period of 2021, but hopes of establishing local production were dashed
Thailand expecting massive returns from economic zone cannabinoid pilot
8th October 2021 - Business briefing |
Thailand’s government is allowing farmers in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to use 10,000 rai of undeveloped land to grow cannabis, hemp, and other medicinal herbs to help boost the economy and farmer’s standard of living
Zimbabwe fails to live up to its cannabis ambitions as licences lie dormant
6th October 2021 - Business briefing |
Zimbabwe wants to be a big player in the African cannabis industry, but the country is failing to meet its initial ambitions because only a few licensed companies are active
Approved by EU – so why was Finola hemp tested and banned in Poland?
2nd September 2021 - Regulatory briefing |
Crops of a hemp variety found by Polish authorities to be over the THC limit should never have been tested and regulators are refusing to say why they were, the creator of the variety alleges
Malawi set for its first hemp harvest following legalisation and licensing
20th July 2021 - Business briefing |
Malawi is set to have its first hemp harvest this year following the licensing of 36 companies. However, despite hopes the plant could change the country’s economic fortunes, it will continue to be strictly regulated
Freeing the ‘green pig’ – moves afoot to press France to legalise cannabis
29th June 2021 - Business briefing |
France is lagging behind its neighbours on medical cannabis – the potential “green pig” of French agriculture – according to an author of a report which called for it to be legalised on health and finance grounds
Jersey well placed to become Europe’s major growing hub for medical cannabis
20th April 2021 - Business briefing |
Jersey could become “a cannabis hub for Europe” after Northern Leaf successfully completed a second round of funding that will enable it to complete its pharmaceutical cannabis cultivation facility on the island
‘Cautious’ Idaho is ready at last to become the 50th state to legalise industrial hemp
13th April 2021 - Regulatory briefing |
It’s been a long process getting there, but the last US state to legalise industrial hemp finally has a bill headed to the governor’s desk and farmers poised to plant the crop
Not now, but soon – new industry bodies prepare for Brazil opening up to hemp
18th March 2021 - Business briefing |
Brazil still faces a serious attitude problem when it comes to advancing regulations for hemp and CBD, according to the leaders of two recently launched industry associations in the country
Isle of Man to invite applications to grow hemp, but won’t license extraction – yet
22nd December 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
The Isle of Man is set to begin assessing hemp production applications as early as February in order to allow initial crops to be grown in 2021 – though no cannabinoids will be extracted yet
Finance minister sets Zimbabwe an ambitious target for cannabis income
17th December 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
Zimbabwe’s minister of finance and economic development, Mthuli Ncube, has proposed wide-ranging and hugely ambitious cannabis levies in the country, starting next year
Malawi accused of setting licence fees to exclude local farmers’ ownership
25th November 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
Officials in Malawi have been accused of deliberately setting high licence fees for hemp and cannabis cultivation and trade in order to attract international investment and exclude local ownership
Switzerland opens a door by allowing non-EU catalogue varietals to be grown
24th November 2020 - Business briefing |
Starting next year, Switzerland will allow the commercial growing of all hemp varieties with a THC content below 1% – even those that are not in the European Union catalogue
International interest as Malawi prepares for its first growing season
21st July 2020 - Business briefing |
Global agricultural giant Pyxus International is among a number of international companies that have expressed interest in venturing into hemp cultivation in Malawi
Think tank urges Poland’s government to raise THC limit for hemp growers
16th July 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
An influential Polish think tank has released a report calling for a relaxation of Poland’s cannabis regulations
Why cannabis companies and others are switching track towards CBD
9th June 2020 - Business briefing |
Excess production space, surplus of supply, legal restrictions – and now the coronavirus crisis – have been giving the global cannabis industry a tough ride and some businesses are setting their sights on hemp-derived CBD
Fresh hope or red herring? New THC testing method yet to be put to the test
19th May 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
Industry leaders say it’s too soon to tell if a newly approved testing method will help address the instability US hemp farmers face due to strict regulations on crops that test above 0.3% THC
Smokable hemp is a fast-growing US market – in states where it’s legal
4th May 2020 - Business briefing |
Corporate interest in smokable hemp as a consumer product continues to grow in the US despite the mixed and sometimes unclear regulatory situation
Legal in theory only – huge licence fee holds up Zambia’s cannabis trade
2nd April 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
Four months after Zambia legalised the production and export of cannabis, no one has yet been able to take advantage because of the high cost of licensing fees – and some confusion remains about what is allowed
Interagency spat as USDA blames DEA ‘pushback’ for hemp rule troubles
26th March 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
The head of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has blamed the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for heavily criticised measures in the recently proposed federal hemp production rules
Denver-to-Dallas move goes ahead despite coronavirus outbreak
25th March 2020 - Business briefing |
Also: GW suggests another possible use for Epidyolex; Lawsuit alleges hemp plants were contaminated with pesticide; Elixinol rebrands to move away from medicinal image; Kentucky hemp business goes bust
Company boss hopes to help draw up legalisation of hemp in Kazakhstan
12th March 2020 - Business briefing |
Companies are beginning to show interest in Kazakhstan ahead of an anticipated liberalisation of cannabis laws they hope will allow the cultivation and production of hemp products for medical, food and other purposes
MLB to look again at rules barring CBD from baseball: business news in brief
12th March 2020 - Business briefing |
Other stories here: Frustrated wine-grower turns to hemp research; Patent given for CBD/CBG ‘micropearl’; GW reclaims UK rights to Sativex; Kentucky crop to be destroyed; Fight goes on over rights to cream formula
Malawi legalises medical cannabis to salve collapse in tobacco earnings
3rd March 2020 - Regulatory briefing |
A bill legalising hemp and medical cannabis has been passed in Malawi, making it the fifth African country to pass some form of cannabis legalisation
Toothpaste giant enters CBD market: business news in brief
26th February 2020 - Business briefing |
Toothpaste giant Colgate is entering the CBD market, researchers have created a laser scanner that can tell the difference between legal hemp and potentially illegal cannabis, and wrestling legend Kevin Nash has become the latest celebrity to endorse CBD, plus more
Green shoots of hope springing for cannabinoid production in Brazil
10th February 2020 - Business briefing |
Optimism is growing and companies are only waiting for the green light to start the production of cannabinoid products in Brazil, according to specialists
Lesotho turns lack of industrialisation into advantage for hemp growers
7th February 2020 - Business briefing |
Lesotho is looking to combine first-mover status with natural endowments to become a key player in the hemp/cannabis market.
Growing pains, but hemp crops are flourishing again in Amish country
6th February 2020 - Business briefing |
At the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, farmers and others were lining up to learn about a new old cash crop that’s got everyone talking: the humble hemp plant