This article summarizes recent cannabis-related news from around the world. It discusses the European Commission setting THC limits for hemp products in food and drinks. It also mentions cannabis seedlings being found growing in the New Zealand parliament garden after recent protests. Additionally, it reports that medical marijuana prescriptions have doubled in Australia in the last two years as access has become easier. Finally, it provides an overview of a bill passing in Bermuda that could legalize cannabis growing and selling if approved.

1. 4/1/22, 6:57 AM As the Weed World Turns - This Week's Global Cannabis Industry News Roundup
https://cannabis.net/blog/news/as-the-weed-world-turns-this-weeks-global-cannabis-industry-news-roundup 2/11
GLOBAL MARIJIUANA NEWS
As the Weed World Turns - This
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2. 4/1/22, 6:57 AM As the Weed World Turns - This Week's Global Cannabis Industry News Roundup
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European Commission Sets Limit For THC In Hemp Food & Drink
The European Commission (EC), (https://ec.europa.eu/info/index_en) the agency that is responsible for
cannabis laws for all European Union (https://cannabis.net/blog/news/why-europe-is-the-biggest-
cannabis-market-in-the-world) member states, has just released the set of guidelines regarding the
highest THC limits that are legally going to be allowed in hemp seeds to be used in food and drinks.
The regulations were two-tiered; the first, authorized by the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals,
Food, and Feed, mandates that oil extracted from hemp seeds shouldn’t have more than 7.5 mg/kg
hemp (https://cannabis.net/blog/news/how-much-thc-can-you-legally-eat-or-drink-the-eu-sets-the-
standard-for-cannabisinfused-foods). Meanwhile, the second tier states that if dried foods are to contain
any hemp, like protein powders and hemp flours made from hemp seed, THC shouldn’t be more than
3mg/kg.
The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) says that prior to these changes, no maximum limit
has been imposed by the EU to be adopted by all countries. Before this, there were merely guidelines
that were set by the European Food Safety Authority since 2015, though these were not legally binding.
“No harmonized limits means it is impossible for operators to trade,” said Lorenza Romanese, EIHA
Managing Director to FoodNavigator (https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2022/03/16/eu-wide-
adoption-of-max-thc-limits-in-hemp-seed-foods-a-significant-win-for-sector).

3. 4/1/22, 6:57 AM As the Weed World Turns - This Week's Global Cannabis Industry News Roundup
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In addition, since there were no common limits set for the EU before this, there were some countries
such as Italy who put stricter values in place, explained Romanese. “In Belgium, the approach was
different. They had higher values. This would have meant Belgium would have to comply with Italy and
any other Member States,” she said.
“This initiative finally puts an end to the internal market fragmentation and will likely give a further boost
to investment in the sector,” said the EIHA.
Cannabis Grows In NZ Parliament Garden
After several weeks of illegal occupations that resulted in riots within the New Zealand
(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/no-everyone-doesnt-love-weed-germany-and-new-zealand-vote-no-
on-recreational-cannabis-measures) parliament, cannabis seedlings have been found to sprout in the
rose gardens.
The small green leaves were spotted and identified by a Wellington local who then posted what he
found on social media. Though he preferred to remain anonymous, a groundskeeper for the parliament
confirmed to RNZ, a national broadcaster, that the leaves were “a few cannabis seedlings” that some
protesters were believed to have left behind, reports The Guardian
(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/01/cannabis-sprouts-in-new-zealand-parliament-garden-
in-protesters-parting-pot-shot).
“A lot of seeds had been scattered around, among other things left from the protesters,” they said.
Cannabis plants are still illegal in New Zealand, and have since been pulled out after house speaker
Trevor Mallard called for “the weed to be weeded.”
The protests which lasted 23 days didn’t have anything to do with cannabis; these were actually
oppositions against vaccine mandates though sadly they ended in a violent riot.

4. 4/1/22, 6:57 AM As the Weed World Turns - This Week's Global Cannabis Industry News Roundup
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Easier Access to Cannabis Results in Higher Consumption Rates in Australia
According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), (https://www.tga.gov.au/medicinal-cannabis-
special-access-scheme-category-b-data) prescriptions for MMJ in Australia
(https://cannabis.net/blog/news/australia-about-to-legalize-medical-use-of-marijuana) doubled in the
last two years, with 2021 seeing over 122,000 prescriptions being written. These are significant increases
within just a few years, considering that back in 2018, there were only some 2,500 prescriptions that
were written, reports ABC Australia (https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2022-03-12/medicinal-
cannabis-prescriptions-grow-as-access-becomes-easier/100901244).
According to Melbourne GP Vicki Kotsirilos, who was the first authorized GP prescriber of MMJ in the
country, MMJ prescriptions have grown primarily because TGA has streamlined their application
process, and the patient numbers have jumped. “It was exceptionally hard in the beginning. I was not
able to get very many patients,” she said. “Since the end of 2018, the TGA introduced an online permit
system, and extended the duration of permits from three to six months to one year, and now even up to
two years,” she explained.
She went on to add that a permit for all medical cannabis products were required though now they are
generally prescribed. This means that a GP is allowed to prescribe a product only if it belongs on an
approved cannabinoid category, such as CBD treatment for the specific patient. Currently, there are
only two cannabis-based medicines that have been approved for the Australian Register of Therapeutic
Goods. One of them is for treating rare and drug-resistant forms of epilepsy while the other is a
treatment for multiple sclerosis (https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/cannabis-for-multiple-sclerosis).
Bermuda May Soon See Cannabis Legalized
A controversial bill has just passed in Bermuda’s House of Assembly, and if it gets the Governor’s Royal
Assent, it will be legal to grow and sell marijuana, reports the Royal Gazette
(https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20220325/controversial-cannabis-legislation-
passed-18-6-as-oba-votes-en-bloc-against-it/).
The bill, called the Cannabis Licensing Act 2022
(https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20220325/controversial-cannabis-legislation-
passed-18-6-as-oba-votes-en-bloc-against-it/), would create a regulated structure for cannabis to be
grown and sold. It would entail several licenses to be acquired through a licensing authority, which
would then enable people to possess more cannabis as well as harvest, grow, export, and sell it. The bill,
introduced by minister for home affairs Walter Roban, who said that the illegal status of marijuana was
“an unjust colonial legacy” and proof of “systemic racialized disparities”.
Mr. Roban, who was proxying for Attorney-General Kathy Lynn Simmons, said that policy changes have
been long overdue. “We need radical new thinking – increasingly legalization is not that radical at all,” he
said. He also goes on to explain that consultation with the public has shown “an overwhelming appetite
for changes in our cannabis laws – the public accepts there should be changes to the regime.”
Currently in Bermuda, it’s illegal for anyone to possess over 7 grams of cannabis. However, even if the
bill is passed, smoking marijuana in public is still going to be illegal except in areas that have been
designated specifically for the act. Additionally, it’s still going to be illegal to sell the drug to any minor
under 21 years of age.

5. 4/1/22, 6:57 AM As the Weed World Turns - This Week's Global Cannabis Industry News Roundup
https://cannabis.net/blog/news/as-the-weed-world-turns-this-weeks-global-cannabis-industry-news-roundup 6/11
MORE CANNABIS WORLD UPDATES, READ THESE...
(https://cannabis.net/blog/news/the-african-green-rush-
rwanda-joins-south-africa-and-ghana-in-cannabis-growing-and-distribution)
THE AFRICAN CANNABIS NEWS REPORT, READ ABOUT IT HERE! (https://cannabis.net/blog/news/the-
african-green-rush-rwanda-joins-south-africa-and-ghana-in-cannabis-growing-and-distribution)
OR..
(https://cannabis.net/blog/news/how-much-thc-can-you-
legally-eat-or-drink-the-eu-sets-the-standard-for-cannabisinfused-foods)
THE EU SETS THE THC LIMITS FOR CANNABIS FOOD AND DRINKS!
(https://cannabis.net/blog/news/how-much-thc-can-you-legally-eat-or-drink-the-eu-sets-the-standard-
for-cannabisinfused-foods)
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