Ireland Considers Decriminalizing Drugs, UK Investigates Using Hemp To Make Electronics, Spain's Record-Breaking Marijuana Production And More Euro News

Over the last several years, Europe has become more open-minded about medical and recreational marijuana. Here are some of the latest cannabis developments from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.

Ireland: Moving Towards The Decriminalization Of Possession Of Drugs For Personal Use

The Irish Citizen's Assembly of Drug Use published a report last week recommending drug decriminalization. 

Paul Reid, the assembly chairman, told the Irish Examiner that the report suggests a "decriminalized" model for individuals caught in possession of drugs for personal use, while the possession will remain illegal under the law. Reid added that the details on how decriminalization would be legally effective are left out to the Oireachtas (the bicameral parliament of Ireland).

The report is scheduled to reach the Oireachtas and the Government, with the former required to establish a committee to review it and provide a detailed response.

"I'd like to see the Oireachtas and the political system take ownership of this now," Reid said.

Before the publication of the report, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would give "careful consideration" to any recommendations to change the country's drug law.

"I certainly think that shaming people and blaming people and criminalizing people isn't an effective policy and has largely been rejected by the public, particularly younger people," Varadkar said.

See Also: Medical Marijuana Clinic In Ireland Now Open For Eligible Patients

United Kingdom: Government Funds Research Of Hemp Fibers For Use In Sustainable Electronics

British researchers from Waterlooville-based Jiva Materials and the University of Portsmouth received a government grant to support their work on advancing the use of hemp and other natural fibers to replace polluting materials in conventional circuit boards. This concept has also been researched in Sweden, and Germany, writes Hemp Today.

Printed circuit boards have been typically manufactured on a highly polluting glass fiber epoxy for more than 70 years.

"Electronics represent a growing waste problem globally," Jiva said in a press release. "On average, each person in the world generates 7.5 kg of electronic waste every year. The UK alone contributes over 2 million tonnes of e-waste annually, with PCBs believed to account for 8% of all e-waste."

Jiva will work with Professor Hom Dhakal and his team from the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering in the University's Faculty of Technology, who will test and characterize the properties of natural fibers, such as jute, flax and hemp, for their use as potential laminate materials. 

Germany: Pain Association And Pharma Co. Join To Study Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain

Germany-based vertically-integrated producer and developer of pharmaceutical cannabis-based medicines, Avextra AG, teamed up with the German Pain Association to conduct a joint study on chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP).

The study, conducted under the name of OCEAN, is an initiative that is part of Avextra's Alliance for Evidence-based Cannabis Medicine. Initial research suggests that marijuana-based therapeutics could help with neuropathic pain conditions, including CINP.

See Also: Study Affirms Cannabis Helps Reduce Neuropathic Pain Intensity From Spinal Cord Injury By 30%

OCEAN is a 12-week parallel group observational study using Avextra's 10:10 CBD cannabis extract conducted under real-world conditions with 400 adults suffering from CINP. The study will evaluate several factors including pain intensity, pain-related impairments, sleep quality and the phenotypes of neuropathic pain.

"Because success of the chemotherapy is often the main focus, patients often do not address their pain symptoms in subsequent physician consultations," said DGS President, Dr. Med. Dipl. Lic. Psych. Johannes Horlemann. "Standard medications for neuropathic pain provide little or no relief. A study is therefore essential to determine how pain and the accompanying symptoms can be improved by a THC-CBD full-spectrum extract. We are looking forward to the results."

Spain: 53% Increase In Medical Marijuana Production Makes It 7th Largest Manufacturer Globally 

Spain's medical marijuana industry is booming. With a 53% increase in legal production last year, the country is touted as the seventh largest producer of medical marijuana exclusively for therapeutic purposes in the world, reports Publico, according to translation.

The country produced 23.4 tons of medical cannabis in 2023. The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), dependent on the Ministry of Health, projects that the country will produce 36 tons of medical marijuana in 2024. This compares to a forecasted 97.2 tons in Australia, Israel's 97.5 tons, Colombia's 100 tons, Uruguay's 116.6 tons, Canada's 284.6 tons and the United Kingdom's 406 tons. Data for medical marijuana production exclusively for therapeutic purposes in the U.S. was not provided.

Unfortunately, though, Spanish residents suffering from various ailments who would benefit from this plant medicine can’t access the plant, because marijuana use has not been regulated yet.

Related Links: 

Euro Weed: Political Games Behind Czech’s Cannabis Legalization Draft, UK’s $850M CBD Market In Disarray & More 

Euro Weed: Germany's Medical Marijuana Associations Seek Easier Access, Ukraine To Tax Hemp & More 

Euro Weed: Netherlands Kicks Off Legal Cannabis Sales, 2 Swiss Pilot Projects Underway & More

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Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Claudio Schwarz and Brian Jones on Unsplash