Cannabis Goes Global: 4/20 In Norway, South African Farmers Left Out, MMJ In Brazil, India's Hemp Investment

Norwegian Cannabis Advocates Unite For Human Rights

On April 20th, 2023, the Alliance for Rights-Oriented Drug Policy (AROD) and the Patient Association for Safe Cannabis Use (PASCAN) will lead a demonstration outside the Norwegian Director of Public Prosecutions office.

The aim of the rally is to fight for the human rights of drug users, highlighting the issues of unjust drug policies that have been ignored by the Norwegian Supreme Court and the Storting (Norway's supreme legislature) for over a decade. According to the Cannabis Culture, advocates hope that this demonstration will finally compel the director to accept responsibility for the harm caused by the current drug policies.

South Africa: Lesotho's Cannabis Boom Leaves Local Farmers Behind

Lesotho's cannabis industry, worth over $92 million, has been praised for its rapid expansion. However, local farmers who have been growing cannabis informally for years claim that they are being left out by the government's policies.

For starters, licensing fees are extremely high, $27,000, leaving many farmers on the sidelines as foreigners and local elites dominate the medical cannabis farming sector. According to Cannabis Culture, an ongoing dispute involving Akanda Corp AKAN medical cannabis company over allegations of land grab claims and shortchanging locals in cannabis equity ownership is just one example of the struggles faced by small growers.

Brazilian States Lead Medicinal Cannabis Legislation As Federal Government Delays

As reported by Brazil Reports, Brazilian states take matters into their own hands as the federal government delays medical cannabis legislation. Some states are passing laws to regulate the distribution of cannabis through the public health system due to an increase in medical cannabis prescriptions.

While national legislation is still being debated in Congress after eight years of delays, local laws have been created in some states, such as São Paulo, which aim to provide free medical marijuana, diagnose and treat patients with cannabis-based medicines and promote public awareness through campaigns and training courses.

Indian Government Investment To Support Fiber Technology Development

India's Technology Development Board (TDB) is pledging $1.4 million to boost bast fiber processing technology for industrial hemp and other plants. According to Hemp Today, TDB signed a partnership agreement with M/s Sahi Fab Private Limited to develop solutions for commercializing stem material from agricultural waste. Other Indian companies with fiber processing solutions are invited to apply for the $2 million project.

The TDB aims to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, providing equity financing, loans, and grants to support advanced solutions in various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, energy, and environment, while promoting technology transfer and collaboration between Indian and foreign entities. “Agricultural waste has previously gone untapped owing to a lack of technology (...) Several start-ups are pushing into new industries and, as a result, require financial aid to succeed,” Rajesh Kumar Pathak, TDB secretary, said.

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Photo: Courtesy of Rick Proctor On Unsplash