A JOINT political initiative for an adult-use cannabis pilot scheme has been presented to the Danish Parliament.

Submitted by five political parties it aims to force the government to start legislative work that will result in a bill that legalises cannabis.

Production would be legalised and take place domestically, and retailers would be run by trained staff with realistic pricing in line with the illicit market, say the proposals.

In neighbouring Holland, an eighth company has been selected as an approved cultivator for the four-year Dutch recreational cannabis trial.

Science First

The latest addition is Aardachtig with its founder Eric Siereveld, CEO of fellow cannabis company Dutch Passion, saying “We are proud to announce that our company Aardachtig has obtained a licence from the Dutch Government to legally grow cannabis and to produce recreational cannabis products.”

Writing on LinkedIn he continued: “The licence is granted as part of the Closed Coffeeshop Chain Experiment. Aardachtig will produce high quality sustainable Dutch grown cannabis products. We are open to setting up partnerships with parties that share our vision and can strengthen our ambition.”

BusinessCann reached out to the company for further comments and is awaiting a response. Likewise we are waiting further details from the Dutch Government.

Its last communication on the topic in November, last year, said it had appointed seven growers – Cannamax and Cannabiz being two of them – and it is looking to add an additional three.

The trial will take place in 10 Dutch cities and after the initial transition phase and will continue for four years. During the experiment phase, participating coffee shops will only be allowed to sell cannabis supplied by the designated growers.

In a wide-ranging interview with with weekly current affairs magazine Stern Burkhard Blienert, the recently-appointed Commissioner for Drug and Addiction said Germany’s approach to all drugs would now be based on science, not prejudice.

He said: ”It is very important to me to get a rational approach to dealing with drugs and addiction. That is why the dialogue with science, with the associations, with the public is very important. That’s one aspect. I think this is essential as a basis for defining and shaping progressive drug policy.”

Damaging New Hemp Rules

The wide-ranging interview covered a number of topics in relation to all drugs and addictions.

British American Tobacco is to investing a further C$6.35m in Organigram, increasing its stake in the Canadian cannabis producer to 19.5%. The move bolsters Organigram’s cash position of CA$168m.

In 2021 BAT sealed a strategic collaboration with Organigram via a C$220m investment with a focus on research and product development.

Organigram CEO Beena Goldenberg said: “Innovation is an important cornerstone of Organigram’s core strategy and the Product Development Collaboration with BAT underscores our commitment to the development of disruptive, consumer-focused cannabis products.”

The Portuguese government’s new hemp amendments have been condemned as being ‘highly harmful to the establishment of a hemp industry in Portugal’ by trade group CanaCasa.

The new provisions prohibit the transportation of hemp flowers from the farm where they are grown, and bans indoor cultivation, reports Hemp Today.

100 Medical Cannabis Licences?

CanaCasa has asked the the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to either suspend the amendment or to remove altogether references to industrial hemp.

It has also asked a government ombudsman and the attorney general to request a review of the amendment by Portugal’s Constitutional Court.

“We are convinced that there is direct damage that results from the establishment of a minimum area, the restriction on agronomic practices, the limit on sowing densities, the ban on the practice of cultivation in greenhouses, the requirement of commercial contracts for farmers, and the ban on the full use of the plant,” said CannaCasa.

Portuguese health and medicines regulatory body Infarmed has received 97 licensing requests for the activities of growing, manufacturing, importing and exporting cannabis for medicinal purposes, having already licensed 18 companies,  reports CannaReporter.

However, it says it is still awaiting the request for an inspection of the facilities of another 80, and is analysing seven more, which could increase the number of companies licensed in Portugal to more than 100.