The Spanish government has enacted a subcommittee to examine the export and supply of medical cannabis. This is the first step in liberalizing the country’s medical cannabis policy, and it could pave the way for the use of medical marijuana pros and cons of autoflowering seeds in Spain in the future. At present, Spain is the largest European country without access to medical marijuana. If the subcommittee’s recommendations are adopted, Spain may become the first European country to legalize medical cannabis.
AEMPS is the state agency within the Spanish Ministry of Health, which controls the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of medicines. The agency also supports clinical research. While the government has permitted medical cannabis cultivation, there are still very few companies in Spain manufacturing products on a commercial scale. Some of these companies are international players, including Linneo Health, which has exported its medicine to Germany before. Another company, Cafina, is owned by Canadian cannabis giant Canopy Growth. And Medalchemy, a subsidiary of EMMAC, was acquired by US giant Curaleaf in March for EUR235 million.
Although the U.S. legalization of marijuana is far from imminent, many countries in Europe are already exploring options to introduce it. Many of these countries, including Portugal and Spain, have yet to implement comprehensive medicinal cannabis programs. They risk being left behind by focusing on cannabis as a raw material and thus ignoring the needs of domestic patients. Further, their approach is largely short-sighted and will not lead to sustained economic growth and tax revenues. Developing the full cannabis value chain is essential for sustainable economic growth and social reform.
As part of its policy, the government has allowed the export of cannabis-based products from Portugal. However, it has restricted access to the substance by denying domestic patients access to the substance. For this reason, the Spanish Medicinal Cannabis Observatory has called on the government to allow exports to Spain and allow local patients to purchase the product. Its president, Carola Perez, is urging the Spanish government to allow the sales of medical cannabis.
The Export and Supply of Medical Cannabis in Spain has remained controversial. The Spanish government is promoting the production of medical marijuana to increase employment. There are currently 11 licensed producers and two manufacturers operating in Spain. Commercial medical cannabis exports began in H2 2020 and were sold to three countries. In short, Spain is a production powerhouse in Europe and opportunities are abundant. Increasing market demand, however, poses a challenge to Spain’s commercial cannabis supply.
The EU is considering a rescheduling of cannabis and its components. While the European Union continues to fight against the drug industry, it remains unclear whether the United States will follow suit. For the time our site being, the EU is focused on improving access to medical products. Nonetheless, it is unlikely to take over the U.S. pharmaceutical industry in the near future. So the question remains: can Europe do the same?
The road to EU approval of medical cannabis products is notably tougher than in the U.S. and Canada. EU member states require pharmaceutical production facilities that meet strict quality standards, and the export and supply of medical cannabis in Europe will be a major source of new revenue. For a Canadian company that plans to establish its European base in Cantanhede, the export and supply of flowers from Spain could fundamentally change the regional market dynamics. In addition to this, the new German import authorisations have exposed issues with EU quality standards.
Focus Medical Herbs, a renowned Israeli medical cannabis brand, has recently received the first shipment of medical cannabis from Linneo Health in Spain. The strategic supply agreement between the company and Linneo Health enables the company to export medical cannabis products to Europe and Israel. The company expects to start selling 200kg of medical cannabis products in Israel in June 2020. The agreement also provides for the development of a global supply network of medical cannabis products.
The Isle of Man and Spain are two of the largest cannabis exporters in Europe. The Isle of Man is a British Crown Dependency in the middle of the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man’s government has a highly unique regulatory system that allows it to be independent of the UK mainland. Despite its unique relationship with the UK, it is likely to face teething issues for some time. The Isle of Man and Spain are currently working on their respective cannabis legislations.
Germany also started a federal medical cannabis process in 2015, which was heavily influenced by events overseas. The situation in Israel fueled patient lawsuits against health insurers, and it was widely assumed that Germany would follow suit. However, the German parliament was desperate to stem the black market, which is tied to the Mafia and religious extremists. As a result, the parliament decided on a strange compromise. The government will cover cannabis in national health insurance – as long as it meets certain requirements.