A whopping 93 percent of survey respondents in the EU admitted to using cannabis in the previous 12 months.

A new survey studying the consumption habits of participants in the European Union (EU) reveal that cannabis use has increased, and the use of ecstasy has decreased considerably.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) recently found that cannabis and ecstasy saw the strongest changes in consumption habits. The European Web Survey on Drugs was conducted online between March and April 2021 with the intention of illuminating patterns of drug use to consider in future regulation. Throughout 21 EU countries and nine non-EU countries, the survey recorded answers from those who were 18 or older and had used drugs.

Hemp entrepreneurs worldwide cheered last month when European lawmakers finalized work raising the THC limit for hemp crops from 0.2% to 0.3% total THC.

It took took more than a year of compromise and discussions to finalize the new Common Agricultural Policy after the European Parliament voted in favor of increasing the THC limit in the fall of 2020.

The new policy, which further aligns the EU’s THC limit with the legal THC threshold for hemp in Canada and the United States, takes effect in 2023.

According to the European Industrial Hemp Association, the change allows farmers to receive direct payments for registered hemp varieties that have a maximum level of 0.3% THC – providing more choices in genetics for producers.

The global hemp seed oil market size is anticipated to reach US$ 336.1 Mn by the end of 2030. According to a study by Future Market Insights (FMI), the market will rise at an impressive 18.5% CAGR between 2020 and 2030. According to the report, the rising demand for sustainable products will drive growth in the market. The report offers a holistic market overview intended to help stakeholders get a better look and the prevailing trends and opportunities. Besides examining investment feasibility across key segments, the study also analyses threats to the market.

The Vancouver-based company's strategy is two-pronged - to supply the Canadian recreational market with high-potency flower and while also serving the European medical cannabis market.

What Agra Ventures does:

Agra Ventures Ltd. (CSE:AGRA, OTC:AGFAF) - which changed its name from AgraFlora Organics International Inc on July 28, 2021 - grows, distributes, and markets premium cannabis and cannabis-infused products. 

Its strategy is two-pronged - to supply the Canadian recreational market with high-potency flower products, while serving the European medical cannabis market. 

Swedish musician Tove Lo just came out with a new cannabis beverage, and we’re here for the high energy vibe. (image courtesy of Cann)

Swedish musician and cannabis aficionado Tove Lo announced her partnership with a cannabis beverage company to make an infused drink called Passion Peach Mate.

Photo by Braden Collum on Unsplash

Read entire article at Technical 420

With 2020 coming to a close in less than two weeks, we want to highlight one of the most significant themes of the year as it relates to the cannabis industry.

The theme is the European Union (EU) and we believe that the continent made significant strides in 2020. Although the EU cannabis market recorded impressive growth when compared to 2019, the growth came in below broker-dealer expectations and we believe that this put pressure on the companies that are highly focused on it.

Amsterdam is known the world over for their famous coffeeshops, easy access to weed, and safe consumption spaces. But what is the history behind Amsterdam's storied cannabis establishments and its seemingly permissive and lenient laws, especially given that, even in Amsterdam, cannabis remains illegal? Let's take a look behind the scenes. 

First things first: As mentioned earlier, despite all evidence that suggests otherwise, cannabis is not legal in Amsterdam locally, nor the Netherlands in general. What the Netherlands does have is progressive drug policy that distinguishes hard drugs from soft drugs. 

(image credit: Shutterstock, Steven Bostock)

Aurora Cannabis Inc. is closing some of its European operations as the cannabis producer opts to consolidate its presence in the continent amid soft demand for medical pot, according to an internal memo obtained by BNN Bloomberg. 

Aurora told its employees last week that it will shut its offices in Portugal, Spain, and Italy while reducing its European workforces by one-quarter in select countries and its regional office, the memo said. The Edmonton-based company will shift its European headquarters from Germany to its Denmark office while acquiring the remaining 49 per cent of its Danish business that it doesn't already own, the company said. 

As Health Canada continues to piece together the jigsaw puzzle that is the domestic cannabis market, many forward-thinking companies are looking abroad to secure their global leadership positions.

The establishment of a commercial, domestic medical program in 2013, coupled with the October 2018 launch of adult-use access, ushered in a wave of zealous capital and entrepreneurship. This fervour may enable Canada to leverage its first-mover status and author the blueprint for others; however, its relatively small population simply does not offer a sizable enough addressable market to scale into the sphere of global dominance.