The European cannabis market is ready to bloom

In “The European Cannabis Report” published in January 2019, the company notes the numbers of the cannabis boom that would occur in the next ten years in Europe at current growth rates.

This would bring the cannabis market (THC) to a total value of about 70% of the current total turnover of the pharmaceutical industry in the continent by 2028 (data as of June 2016). 

A lot of money would be produced in the medical-pharmaceutical sector and some parts would come from recreational use. It can be hard to keep up with all the information in this booming marijuana industry, and that’s where the Hemp.im app comes in.

Our groundbreaking app helps you understand the latest cannabis news in bite-sized chunks so you can get on with the rest of your day.

The European cannabis market will become the largest in the world

“Over the next five years, the European market is likely to be the largest in the world, surpassing even the total sales of the United States and Canada,” the report says.

The numbers are even more significant when one considers that they mainly include THC products (psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol). However, data on sales of CBD (non-psychoactive cannabidiol, also known as “light cannabis”) have not been included in the final computation.

This is either because it is still difficult to find them, or because it is a non-prescription substance, and has therefore been excluded from the market estimates for cannabis for pharmaceutical use.

According to estimates by the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), the European market for pharmaceutical CBD use is worth $2.2 billion (€2 billion).

CBD helps to fuel the industry

CBD is the Trojan horse of the future European cannabis market boom. This is until the legalization of THC happens, which has occurred in many states in the U.S. and Canada.

Additionally, CBD can now be bought freely in almost all European countries. This is with the exception of Slovakia, where it is still illegal, and Denmark and Malta, which require a medical prescription.

In Italy, the legislative context is still uncertain, especially following a recent ruling by the Supreme Court. CBD is the main non-psychoactive component of cannabis Sativa and is contained in varying percentages in oils, flowers or creams.

“It’s a kind of new snake oil,” Dustin Lee, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, told the New York Times.

Italy is promising in the European cannabis market

According to data, Italy appears as one of the most promising markets for cannabis in Europe.

“Italy is a forerunner in progressive legislation on cannabis,” reads The European Cannabis Report.

Cannabis for medical use has been made available since 2013. In 2017, a law was passed that allows its cultivation without the need for authorization in the food, cosmetics, and energy sectors.

In all, by 2028, legal cannabis could generate a total turnover of $16.5 billion (€15.8 billion). This equals $7.7 billion (€7.5 billion) for medical use and $8.8 billion (€8.3 billion) for recreational use.

Additionally, $27.5 billion (€24.7 billion) was added in the industrial cannabis sector (CBD and other types with a THC content of less than 0.6% for manufacturers). This would total $45 billion (€40.5 billion) which is a 68% of the current total turnover of Italian agriculture.

__

(Featured image by slon_dot_pics via Pexels)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in valori, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.