With the legalization of cannabis in many European countries, a new wave of medical cannabis clinics has begun to emerge. Its rise is fueled by the growing interest in CBD rich products or autoflowering seeds, and is expected to be a key trend in the emerging global medical cannabis market. These clinics are expected to expand the use of cannabis across the continent, and will also help to increase access to cannabis for consumers.
Legalization of recreational cannabis in Europe
Legalization of recreational cannabis in Europe is gaining momentum. Although there are still several countries in the region that have not yet legalized, the trend appears to be on the rise.
The United States has legalized recreational cannabis in 2012. The European Union (EU) has focused on decriminalization, but has fallen behind in the race to fully legalize.
In Germany, recreational use is illegal, even though there are a small number of adults who regularly indulge in the drug. The country imports two-thirds of its marijuana from abroad.
In October, the government of Germany published key details of its plan to legalize recreational cannabis for adults. The proposed law would allow adults to legally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis and to buy it at licensed outlets.
According to estimates, the market for marijuana in Europe will exceed $61 billion by 2026. This figure is predicted to grow by 22 percent a year.
Major players operating in the global medical cannabis market
Medical cannabis is a legal drug in many countries and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as reducing the side effects of cancer treatments, managing chronic pain, and treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. It has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
The global market for medical cannabis was valued at USD 7.8 billion in 2020. The market is largely dominated by North America, which accounts for the majority of the market’s revenues. A number of R & D activities are expected to boost the market’s size in the coming years. In addition, technological advancements and increasing consumer awareness about the benefits of medical cannabis are driving growth.
The US is the largest market for medical cannabis in North America. A large portion of the country’s population lives in areas that have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. However, in most parts of Asia and the Middle East, marijuana is still illegal.
Predictions of CUD and prevalence of use from statistical models
There are relatively few countries that have published estimates of CUD and prevalence of use. The most recent Irish national general population survey included data on drug use. Using this data, the study estimated the prevalence of CUD and related outcomes. It was also possible to compare the profiles of CUD in the general population to those in treatment. The prevalence of CUD in treatment appears comparable to the general population.
The study also explored the likelihood of treatment for specific subgroups in Ireland. These subgroups included females and males, those with and without medical cannabis use, as well as those who were treated by health care services. The findings indicate that despite the favourable trends observed, a greater emphasis should be placed on the quality of treatment provided.
The prevalence of CUD in the general population was 2.6%. This was similar to the EU average. The study also found that men were more likely to suffer from CUD than women. However, women were just as likely as men to be treated.
CBD-rich products
In European countries, cannabis is used for medical purposes. However, its regulation is blurred. It may affect public health. Therefore, more research is needed.
To study the psychomotor effects of CBD-rich marijuana, a single-centre pilot study was conducted. Thirty-three volunteers were recruited through a public advertisement. They were randomly assigned to either a placebo or CBD-rich marijuana group.
The participants smoked a joint containing a placebo substance and CBD-rich marijuana. They were also tested on balance and coordination tests. After smoking, dried blood spot samples of capillary blood were taken. The samples were analyzed using HPLC-UV method to determine free CBD and THC concentrations.
The results showed no significant differences between the CBD-rich marijuana and the placebo condition. The mean values of the two conditions were 6.5 +- 8.5 ng/mL. The mean values of the placebo group were 5.7 +- 7.2 ng/mL.
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland.