Euro Weed: Netherlands Kicks Off Legal Cannabis Sales, 2 Swiss Pilot Projects Underway & More

Over the last couple of years, Europe has become more open-minded about medical and recreational marijuana. Here are some of the latest cannabis developments from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Bailiwick of Guernsey, and Switzerland.

Netherlands: Legal Cannabis Trial Program Kicks Off This Week 

The Netherlands is set to launch legal marijuana on Friday, as part of a four-year trial across the country, reported AFP News. 

Contrary to widespread belief, cannabis has not been legal in the country over the last decade, it’s just been tolerated. While the authorities were turning a blind eye to consumption, cannabis cultivation and supply to the popular coffee shops was completely illegal.

Now, the country of windmills and tulips is giving a try at fully embracing the plant.

The Ministries of Public Health and Justice announced it would launch the experiment earlier this year in the municipalities of Tilburg and Breda. 

Starting December 15th, growers and suppliers will be allowed to operate legally across 11 municipalities, and all coffee shops should take part so that the same rules apply to everyone. Under the trial program, cannabis sales are not allowed to underaged smokers, possession maximum is set to five grams and only people in the Netherlands can take part.

Marijuana must be tested, and stored in a package with a QR code, providing consumers with information about the products, including where and when was cannabis grown, by which company, and how strong it is.

After four years the authorities will decide if the program should be extended or made permanent. 

UK: Europe’s Largest Medical Marijuana Study, T21, Welcomes New Industry Partners 

Project Twenty21, launched in 2019 at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London, provides enrolled patients with tracking of their treatment by an independent scientific body, Drug Science, and is now known as just T21.

Drug Science recently welcomed three new industry partners to T21 - SOMAí Pharmaceuticals, Blackpoint Biotech, and 4Clabs, reported Business of Cannabis.

“We’re very happy to be able to continue T21 with our esteemed new and existing partners,” Anne Schlag, chief executive of Drug Science said. Now going into its 5th year, T21 remains essential as a way of allowing UK patients to access discounted CBMPs prescriptions, while at the same time, furthering the scientific evidence base on these medicines. We already know that CBMPs can benefit a wide range of conditions – from intractable epilepsy to chronic pain as well as various psychiatric conditions.

See Also: After 17 Years Of Side Effects From Standard Drugs, Chronic Pain Patient Finds Relief With Cannabis: Study

Guernsey: Clinics Issued More Than 13K Marijuana Prescriptions Last Year 

A self-governing British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France, comprising several of the Channel Islands, the Bailiwick of Guernsey has three private medical marijuana clinics. Over the past year alone, these clinics have prescribed cannabis 13,200 times, writes BBC.

The clinics were willing to provide only the data on the number of prescriptions but not on the number of patients. 

Deputy Marc Leadbeater, who is also a director of medicinal cannabis company the House of Green, said industry needs "massive investment."

"The problem is a lot of the previous investors in medicinal cannabis are wary about investing in that area at the moment due to developments with cannabis legislation across the globe,” Leadbeater said. “I think we need new people that value the cannabis industry. They have no idea how much money can be made for Guernsey and when I tell them they don't believe me."

See Also: Guernsey Issues Its First-Ever Medical Marijuana License: What It Means For This British Crown Territory

Switzerland: Two Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Projects Commence Sales 

Two recreational cannabis pilot projects in Switzerland have reached the sales phase this month, according to Business of Cannabis. 

Cann-L, the third Swiss study recently began at a dedicated store at rue fu Maupas 7 and is set to serve 1600 citizens across the Lausanne municipalities. 

Additionally, the “Grashaus Projects,” with the goal of understanding the implications of regulated cannabis access, opened its doors to its marijuana store last week.

See Also: Europe's First Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensaries: Switzerland Greenlights Experimental Sales Project

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Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Claudio Schwarz and Brian Jones on Unsplash