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Alfredo Pascual

Based in Germany, Alfredo specializes in international cannabis markets and regulations, drawing upon his extensive academic background in business and public policy. He founded Transnational Cannabis, a consultancy firm that focused on cannabis regulatory frameworks in Europe and Latin America. Previously, he did business development for ICC Labs with a primary focus on developing expansion opportunities internationally.

First prescriptions of high-THC products imminent in Peru

Published December 10, 2020

Khiron Life Sciences – a Toronto-based company with its main operations in Colombia – announced Thursday that it completed the first export from Colombia of high-THC medical cannabis products. They were imported into Peru. The first prescriptions of the products in Peru are expected to be filled in December through a partnership with pharmacy chain Farmacia […]

Brazil postpones evaluation of CBD formulation for medical coverage

Published December 10, 2020

A government evaluation to include a specific CBD formulation in Brazil’s Public Health System (SUS) has been postponed. The National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation (Conitec), a government agency, had been scheduled to take up the issue this week. Instead, the evaluation will now occur in early 2021. A decision by Conitec to include the […]

Mexican Congress delays marijuana bill debate, pushing approval into 2021

Published December 9, 2020

The Mexican lower house decided to delay debating a marijuana legalization bill until the next legislative period, which starts in February 2021, local newspapers reported. Lawmakers said Tuesday they need more time to study the bill. The delays should serve as a reminder to businesses to focus on existing rules rather than potential markets that […]

Germany’s growing medical cannabis extract market attracts competition

Published December 8, 2020

Germany’s market for medical cannabis extracts has shown meaningful growth this year, according to the latest reimbursement data available, and the gains have attracted new brands and products. While the number of flower prescriptions covered by statutory health insurance decreased 5% from the first to second quarter of 2020, extracts prescriptions – including both full-spectrum […]

Brazil official sees cannabis cultivation bill making progress in December

Published December 3, 2020

A Brazilian bill that would legalize medical marijuana and industrial hemp cultivation could soon have its first debate on the floor of the lower house of Congress, ahead of its expected approval in that chamber before the end of this year, federal deputy Paulo Teixeira told Marijuana Business Daily. The bill, PL 399/2015, would have […]

United Nations approves WHO recommendation to reschedule cannabis in historic vote

Published December 2, 2020

The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on Wednesday accepted a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

PharmaCielo gets new CEO after revenue collapses; Khiron reports loss

Published December 1, 2020

PharmaCielo and Khiron Life Sciences – Toronto-based companies with their main operations in Colombia – reported losses this week for the quarter ending in September. PharmaCielo reported revenue of only 25,913 Canadian dollars ($20,000) for the quarter, down 97% from the previous quarter and 80% compared to the same period one year ago. The company […]

Tilray adds dronabinol to German product portfolio

Published December 1, 2020

Canadian cannabis producer Tilray is offering dronabinol in the German medical cannabis market, according to a notice in the German trade publication Apotheke AdHoc. Tilray’s dronabinol is plant-derived – like most, if not all, of the dronabinol available in Germany. According to the notice, Tilray sources the dronabinol from manufacturer Echo Pharmaceuticals in the Netherlands. […]

Netherlands to draw 10 recreational marijuana growers this week

Published November 30, 2020

The Dutch government will hold a draw on Thursday to choose 10 marijuana cultivators for the country’s upcoming pilot program, according to a letter to Parliament from the medical and justice ministers dated Friday, Nov. 27. The winners of the draw will likely be the first in Europe to legally grow adult-use cannabis for commercial […]

Upcoming UN vote may be watershed moment for global medical cannabis – if only symbolic

Published November 27, 2020

The medical cannabis industry could be in for one of its biggest symbolic wins in decades if a United Nations vote next week implicitly acknowledges the medical value of the drug.

Colombian cannabis producers raise fresh rounds of capital

Published November 26, 2020

Some leading licensed cannabis producers in Colombia raised fresh rounds of capital recently. Khiron Life Sciences – a Toronto-based company with its main operations in Colombia – closed a bought deal for 14.5 million Canadian dollars ($11.5 million) that was disclosed Nov. 26. PharmaCielo, also headquartered in Toronto and operating primarily in Colombia, closed a […]

Latin American cannabis exports continue to fall short of lofty expectations

Published November 24, 2020

Expectations that Latin America would become a significant exporter of cannabis for medical and scientific use have not yet materialized, with total export revenue from the continent estimated to be less than $15 million.