Marijuana Business Magazine January 2020

January 2020 | mjbizdaily.com 61 GERMANY  It was only in 2017 that Germany sig- nificantly reformed its medical cannabis program, allowing for widespread access. The market has seen immediate and consistent growth since then. In the first year, only about 1,200 kilograms (2,646 pounds) of flower were imported for local patients, rising to 3,000 kilograms in 2018. In the first half of 2019, that total reached 2,500 kilograms, suggesting Germany will once again double its flower market. Though the first domestic harvests will not be available until the end of 2020 at the earliest, the German market is still expected to maintain steady growth— fueled in part by widespread health insurance coverage. ISRAEL The Middle East’s largest MMJ program sported 46,000 registered patients as of the most recent disclosure by its health agency, making it one of the biggest mar- kets in the world for medical cannabis. However, growth was virtually non- existent in 2019, as producers worked through expansion challenges and the federal regulator made a number of significant changes. Now that companies are working through problems and scaling up their operations—and the regulatory framework is more predictable for businesses and patients—expect to see a more active market in 2020 than was seen in 2019. Export regulations released in 2019 require domestic producers to meet local demand before starting exports. NEW ZEALAND New Zealand completed the regulatory foundation for its medical cannabis sector in December, making a key concession by not requiring specialist approval for prescriptions. The new rules take effect April 1, 2020. When the new regulations take effect, existing research and development license holders will be able to apply for commercial cultivation and manufacturing licenses. New Zealand should see steady growth in the second half of 2020, supplied by imports of medical cannabis from Canada and elsewhere. In the meantime, businesses there will be looking to partner with companies that already have expertise, intellectual property and capital in the bank. INTERNATIONAL