Skip to main content

2nd European Cannabis Law Conference – INCBA Europe at CB Expo Dortmund in September 2024


Last September, the 2nd European Cannabis Law Conference took place in Dortmund, organized by the INCBA Europe conference team with Kai-Friedrich Niermann, Daniel Haymann, Marie Sanchez and Robert Jappie. The conference took place alongside the Cannabis Business Expo and Intertabac, the largest global tobacco trade fair. With 7 tracks and 28 speakers, current topics in global cannabis law were discussed over two days, from the reclassification of cannabis in the USA and its global consequences, semi-synthetic cannabinoids in the USA and Europe, GMP requirements, to the emerging market for medical cannabis in Ukraine and much more. The conference was accompanied by an extensive social program for networking, which the international cannabis legal scene thoroughly enjoyed. 

Here are some session highlights: 

Ukraine recently legalized medical cannabis and significantly de-regulated industrial hemp. The government and Ministry of health of Ukraine have approved subordinate legislation ensuring market functioning and control, including licensing, quota allocation, import permits, and a digital tracing system. Notably, the MOH has defined the medical conditions eligible for medical cannabis prescriptions and limited permitted forms to capsules, oral liquid forms, and dental paste. Inhalable forms are expected to be permitted at a later stage. Pharmacies are required to compound cannabis-based medicines based on a respective pharmacopeia monograph and only using APIs registered with the MOH. 


Israel, the world's largest medical cannabis market per capita, has recently simplified access by transitioning from a licensing system to a prescription-based approach. Israel’s local cultivation market is thriving, and imports (mainly from Canada) are expanding, though concerns about alleged dumping practices by some foreign suppliers have emerged. The country also leads in R&D for cannabis clinical applications and innovations in safe, precisely dosed administration forms and devices. Ukraine can learn valuable lessons from Israel, particularly in addressing PTSD and chronic pain for war veterans, as well as the quasi-reimbursement system, where the Ministry of Defense subsidizes veterans’ access to medical cannabis. 

Cannabis regulations in each country are abundant, complicated, many times confusing and as a norm, constantly changing.  Trying to navigate international cannabis transactions while complying with different countries’ regulations, customs, languages and currencies only adds to the challenges of correctly advising cannabis industry participants, irrelevant of which continent they call home.


The International Panel in Dortmund 2024 was fortunate to have lawyers with ample experience not only in their home countries, but in their overall region.  Germany, Colombia, Spain, Italy and Panama were all on hand to share with us their local experiences and knowledge, as well as give us some insight on what they forecast in the coming months and years.  A very insightful and diverse panel that reminded us all that although we all share one industry, we also share the challenges it brings, and that there is no better way to face these challenges than with the best local counsel in each market. 

In November 2023, the German government decided to lift all restrictions on the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in Germany. Since April 1 the three already licensed growers of medical cannabis in Germany will be able to produce cannabis without quantity and product restrictions, as well as any other company that can grow cannabis to pharmaceutical standards. The Single Convention Panel discussed the consequences for international exports and imports of medical cannabis regarding the restrictions of the Single Convention, the chances for a medical cannabis export industry in the US after reclassification, and the global impact reclassification of cannabis in the US will have on financing and investments. 


The panel on navigating the challenging path to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance in the cannabis industry underscored significant differences between regulatory frameworks in Europe and the United States. In Europe, the sector must adhere to stringent pharmaceutical GMP standards, particularly for medical cannabis, ensuring consistent product safety and quality. In contrast, the US faces fragmented regulations, with state-level standards varying widely and no federal oversight, complicating operations across state lines. Our panelists explored how these regulatory landscapes shape business models and operations, and the best strategies for overcoming the considerable challenges. One key takeaway was the proverb, “a jack of all trades is a master of none.” Many cannabis operators try to be cultivators, processors, distributors, and product developers across pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food sectors simultaneously. The best path to GMP compliance is to choose one element of the supply chain, focus on one vertical, and master it.  

Marketing and Advertising of Cannabis products has become a hot topic in Europe, as medical markets continue to scale. The panel addressing these issues brought together leading legal experts and commercial operators from the UK and Germany. Jon Robson – CEO of Mamedica (one of the UK's leading medical cannabis clinics) gave fascinating insights in respect of the innovative and aggressive marketing strategies employed by his company to navigate the UK's restrictive advertising regime. There was an in-depth discussion on the approach of the regulators in policing promotional activities in the medical sector, and there was also detailed consideration of marketing opportunities in Germany following the implementation of the CanG legalization regime. This combination of legal analysis and commercial experience contributed to an engaging overview of how a new industry establishes and promotes itself to patients and consumers. What was clear is that the rest of Europe will be watching developments in Germany very closely, as successful growth and commercialization there will likely make legalisation efforts in other European nations easier.  


Another important issue which developed over the last two years was the topic of semi-synthetic cannabinoids. Most countries have seen those new substances invade the market, mostly taking advantage of loopholes in local legislation. From the complex and uneven legal landscape in the USA to the application of restrictive policies by most Member States in Europe, the panelist discussed the obvious inappropriate answers provided by competent authorities to the semi-synthetic cannabinoids issue so far. They also explored how the Act on Psychomodulatory substances, which is expected to be voted in Czech Republic early 2025, could offer a different path and change the status of semi-synthetical cannabinoids on the market. The question of what other legal paths the legislators could consider in order to regulate semi-synthetic cannabinoids and ensure legal security and user safety was also discussed. 

Finally, the North American panel compared, contrasted and provided updates on the different regulatory approaches to cannabis in both Canada and the United States. Regarding Canada, the discussion focused on the completion of the legislative review of the Cannabis Act and highlighted several recommendations regarding high potency cannabis products, cannabis research, medical distribution and excise taxation that will likely be the subject of new amendments in the years to come. Regarding the US, the discussion focused on the Federal announcement of the rescheduling of cannabis, as well as its impact on research, adult use, and financing/tax credits implications. At the state level, Alaska and Oregon were used as examples of different approaches to THC and hemp frameworks through the lens of standardization, interstate commerce and where things will likely go from there, from an enforcement and commercial perspective.

Popular posts from this blog

WEBINAR RECORDING: So, You Want to Be a Cannabis Attorney

On April 30th, 2024, INCBA's Students Committee , in collaboration with INCBA's Ethics Committee , presented a special webinar entitled; "SO YOU WANT TO BE A CANNABIS ATTORNEY?" Our speakers, Student Committee Co-Chairs Alexis Lazzeri and Callie Hoffman , along with Ethics Committee Chair Marialle A. Bell discussed what it means to be a cannabis attorney, ways to pursue a career in this dynamic field, and unique ethical considerations for attorneys practicing in this industry. Please feel free to share with anyone you know who may be considering this career path!

INCBA Hosts the Global Cannabis IP Symposium at McGill University, Montreal

The International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) hosted  its   inaugural Global Cannabis Intellectual Property Symposium in September 2023 in Montreal, Canada.  The Symposium  convened  cannabis IP  legal  thought leaders and delved into the nuts  and  bolts of IP,  e.g.,   patents, trademarks, licensing and  litigation/ disputes , drilling down into the illegality doctrine and other nuances that impact the inconsistent treatment of cannabis IP  by governmental agencies and courts . In addition, the summit hosted an informative in-house counsel panel, a session  that focused  on the  science of the  plant  ( for non-scientists ) , an illuminating presentation on international treaties, and an ed i fying  exposition on the unusual impact of federal illegality on professional responsibility.  A hybrid event, attendees  were   in   person  at McGill University  and...

Law360 Article by Meital Manzuri and Alexis Lazzeri on California Cannabis & Hemp Regulatory Changes

  In a recent Law360 article , Meital Manzuri , the Board Secretary of the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) , and INCBA Students Committee Chair, Alexis Lazzeri , delved into the changing landscape of California's hemp and CBD regulations. The article dissects the impact of new laws like AB 45 and AB 420 on hemp product manufacturers across the nation. Manufacturers aiming to sell their hemp products in California must now adhere to state-specific regulations in addition to federal requirements. The article also highlights updates to hemp testing procedures, effective January 1, 2024, making it mandatory for products to undergo testing at a DEA-registered laboratory. A practical case study is included, demonstrating compliance standards for a hypothetical company. For more insights on the authors, please explore Manzuri Law . To learn more about the International Cannabis Bar Association , visit: https://incba.org .

INCBA Director Shay Gilmore Featured in the Daily Journal

INCBA Director Shay Gilmore's Summary of 2023 California Cannabis Legislation  Featured in the Daily Journal INCBA Director Shay Aaron Gilmore, The Law Office of Shay Aaron Gilmore, prepared a comprehensive summary of key legislation impacting the California cannabis industry signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2023. Check out the full article here: https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/375420

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker Set to Deliver Keynote Speech at INCBA Cannabis Law Institute 2024, Alongside Other Industry Leaders

Chicago, IL – July 10, 2024 – The International Cannabis Bar Association  (INCBA) announced today that the Cannabis Law Institute sm  (CLI 2024) will feature Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker as the keynote speaker on Thursday July 25th. The event is scheduled to take place on July 25-26, 2024, at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, Illinois. CLI 2024 aims to provide critical insights for law professionals, particularly in light of federal rescheduling in the cannabis industry. Governor J.B. Pritzker is recognized for signing House Bill 1438, the nation's most equity-centric law legalizing adult-use cannabis. This initiative positioned Illinois as the first state to fully legalize adult-use cannabis through legislation and serves as a model for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis nationwide. “It is a great honor to have the Governor deliver the keynote speech at CLI 2024,” said Jason Horst, President of the INCBA. “Governor Pritzker's l...