BEYOND THE 50 STATES

The World Wire

Cannabis regulation, legalization and market news from 23 international markets — filed to the wire with the same editing and analysis as our US coverage.

TOP OF THE WORLD WIRE

Police lights seen through a chain-link fence at night

FILE — police lights · Tony Webster / CC BY-SA 2.0

CRIME · THAILAND

Man arrested with 207 kg of marijuana in Parsa

Israel

6 on the wire

Aug 4REGULATIONIsrael reopens anti-dumping investigation into Canadian medical cannabis Aug 4REGULATIONIsraeli lawmakers set to decriminalize cannabis use May 13CRIMEBorder police seize 10,000+ cannabis plants in 18 greenhouses in southern Israel May 13MARKETIsraeli 'turbo cannabis' breakthrough could reshape medical marijuana industry May 4REGULATIONIsrael debates removing smokeable flower from medical cannabis options

Canada

5 on the wire

Aug 4REGULATIONIsrael reopens anti-dumping investigation into Canadian medical cannabis Jun 23OWNERSHIPCannabis Council of Canada suspends active operations Jun 8OWNERSHIPRed White & Bloom subsidiary acquires Aurcann manufacturing operations Mar 16OWNERSHIPCanopy Growth completes acquisition of MTL Cannabis Nov 7REGULATIONYouth marijuana use declined since Canadian legalization, study shows

Thailand

2 on the wire

Aug 4REGULATIONThailand advances medical-only cannabis bill as enforcement widens Jul 21CRIMEThai cannabis smuggler sentenced to 12 months imprisonment

Brazil

6 on the wire

Aug 3MARKETCannabis market in Brazil attracts new investments Jul 31CRIMEBrazil court authorizes probe into Lula's son over medical marijuana dealings May 11CRIMEInfluencer charged in $3 million marijuana smuggling attempt at Atlanta airport May 6MARKETBrazil medical cannabis patient count reaches 873,000 Jan 28REGULATIONBrazil authorizes medical cannabis cultivation for first time

Spain

10 on the wire

Jul 31REGULATIONSpain's tobacco crackdown could eliminate cannabis clubs Jul 28CRIMESpain intercepts cannabis shipment smuggled from Morocco Jul 13REGULATIONCuraleaf first to secure registration for standardized cannabis preparations in Spain Jun 26CRIMEDrug traffickers arrested during international parcel post operation Jun 15OPENINGSpanish grower wins medical cannabis cultivation license, plans UK and Germany exports

Morocco

9 on the wire

Jul 30CRIMEThree criminal networks dismantled, 100kg of cannabis seized in Morocco Jul 24OPENINGBluePearl Seeds produces first certified cannabis seeds in Morocco Jun 15MARKETMorocco's medical cannabis industry continues expansion Jun 8MARKETMorocco has produced over 140 therapeutic cannabis products, regulator says May 29CRIMEMorocco-France trafficking case yields 2.7-tonne cannabis seizure

New Zealand

12 on the wire

Jul 28OWNERSHIPHigh Court refuses cannabis maker's injunction over rival's product guide Jul 20CRIMEChristchurch man arrested after alleged medicinal cannabis licence breach Jul 17MARKETKiwi medical cannabis firm secures largest distribution deal to date Jun 24OWNERSHIPOra Pharm completes Helius acquisition for export pathway Jun 11OWNERSHIPFluent interim CEO steps down

India

5 on the wire

Jul 27CRIME2,800 cannabis plants destroyed in India enforcement action Jun 20CRIMEMarijuana plants discovered inside Kerala temple, probe launched Jun 5CRIMEOfficials bust Thailand-India cannabis smuggling network Apr 17CRIMEAir India co-pilot deported from US after marijuana discovery Feb 12CRIMEIndia seizes 3.9M kg of cannabis-based drugs since 2020

Malta

8 on the wire

Jul 25CRIMESpaniard sentenced to 12 years for trafficking 21kg cannabis in Malta Jul 11CRIMEThree arrested in Malta drug seizure including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine Jul 5MARKETMalta reports Europe's lowest cannabis usage rate among young people Jun 22CRIME300 pounds of cannabis seized in Malta traffic stop May 11MARKETSpain, Czechia, Malta emerge as Europe's cannabis supply chain hubs

Jamaica

5 on the wire

Jul 20REGULATIONJamaica government reviewing framework for religious cannabis use Jul 16REGULATIONJamaica cannabis growers claim police harassment continues despite reforms Jul 14CRIMEJamaica cannabis regulators warn growers of permit scams Apr 21REGULATIONJamaica launches revised medical cannabis industry licensing system Feb 24CRIMEMan arrested off Jamaica coast trafficking millions in cocaine and marijuana

Germany

3 on the wire

Jul 10REGULATIONGermany discontinues statutory insurance reimbursement for cannabis flower May 21OWNERSHIPOrganigram CEO eyes Germany as European expansion launchpad Apr 1REGULATIONCDU/CSU party calls for cannabis policy review two years into legalization

Switzerland

10 on the wire

Jul 8REGULATIONSt. Gallen launches postal delivery pilot in Swiss cannabis trial Jun 17OWNERSHIPSanity Group secures Astrasana distribution agreement in Switzerland Jun 16REGULATIONSt. Gallen to launch Swiss cannabis pilot trial May 18CRIMEMan arrested in Switzerland with 50 kilos of cannabis May 16REGULATIONSwiss parliamentary cannabis initiative delayed by SGK-N

United Kingdom

8 on the wire

Jun 26MARKETUK medical cannabis market projected to exceed 140,000 patients by 2026 Jun 9OWNERSHIPSeed Junky Genetics expands into Europe via Green Success Group partnership May 28OPENINGSOMAÍ signs UK agreement to launch cannabis brands May 11OPENINGCuraleaf Laboratories becomes first UK manufacturer of medical cannabis suppositories May 8FINEHolland-based cannabis operator pays fine in marijuana charges

Australia

7 on the wire

Jun 24REGULATIONAustralia opens consultation on cannabis cultivation rules ahead of 2027 sunset Jun 9REGULATIONAustralia sets world-first THC driving limit for medicinal cannabis users Mar 26MARKETAvicanna subsidiary SMGH completes first commercial export to Australia Mar 19MARKETTilray Medical expands cannabis portfolio across Australia Mar 9OWNERSHIPTilray Brands acquires BrewDog Australia

Uruguay

6 on the wire

Jun 23REGULATIONUruguay moves to integrate medical cannabis into healthcare system Mar 16MARKETUruguay's legal cannabis industry erodes unregulated market share Feb 8MARKETUruguay increases prices for legal cannabis Feb 2MARKETUruguay expands legal cannabis market Dec 13REGULATIONUruguay considers legal cannabis sales to non-residents

Czechia

7 on the wire

Jun 13REGULATIONCzechia targets synthetic cannabinoid substances in expanded drug ban May 11MARKETSpain, Czechia, Malta emerge as key players in Europe's cannabis supply chain Jan 25MARKETCzechia's medical cannabis market grew 46% in 2025 Jan 9MARKETGhana Cannabis Industry Association plans trade mission to Czechia Jan 1REGULATIONCzech cannabis legalization officially takes effect

Portugal

6 on the wire

Jun 13CRIMEMedicinal cannabis trafficking ring exploited Infarmed regulatory loopholes, prosecutors allege May 11MARKETSpain, Czechia, Malta emerge alongside Portugal in Europe's cannabis supply chain Apr 13MARKETGermany now represents 62% of Canadian cannabis flower exports; Portugal's share collapses Mar 30MARKETSpain's GMP cannabis operators see opening as Portugal stumbles Mar 24MARKETPrice pressure and traceability gaps test Portugal medical cannabis market

Netherlands

7 on the wire

Jun 9OPENINGVillage Farms commences Phase II cultivation facility in Netherlands Jun 8OWNERSHIPBig Tobacco takes stake in Netherlands' largest regulated cannabis grower Jun 8OWNERSHIPUS tobacco giant enters Dutch cannabis legalization trial May 11MARKETVillage Farms reports 171% growth on Netherlands exports and sales Apr 8REGULATIONFirst year of Dutch cannabis pilot project deemed successful

Mexico

6 on the wire

Jun 5CRIMEWarrants issued for Mexico couple accused of giving marijuana to children May 5CRIMECDMX authorities arrest 4 after discovering nearly $1M in marijuana in egg cartons May 4REGULATIONMexico Congress faces pressure after four years without cannabis law Feb 11REGULATIONFederal judge dismisses marijuana businesses' lawsuit challenging CBP seizures of state-legal products Jan 31REGULATIONMexico's vape ban could redirect revenue to drug cartels, analysts warn

Argentina

6 on the wire

Jun 4REGULATIONArgentina reopens cannabis legalization debate Dec 10CRIMEHistoric marijuana seizure reflects Argentina smuggling patterns Feb 14REGULATIONArgentina to revoke all medical marijuana cultivation permits Jan 6REGULATIONArgentina tightens hemp and cannabis rules for compliance Mar 8REGULATIONArgentina advances cannabis export industry development

Colombia

3 on the wire

May 13REGULATIONColombian lawmakers approve marijuana legalization bill Nov 2REGULATIONColombia approves medical cannabis flower use Apr 1MARKETColombia cannabis exports hit $10.8M as government extends sell-by dates

Luxembourg

6 on the wire

Apr 14CRIMEPolice find 1,700+ cannabis plants in northern Luxembourg home Apr 1RECALLSynthetic cannabinoid detected in legally sold cannabis in Luxembourg Mar 26CRIME123kg of cannabis intercepted at Luxembourg cargo center, declared as decorative cushions Dec 10CRIMELuxembourg customs seize 800kg of cannabis at airport Jul 19REGULATIONLuxembourg legalizes cannabis

South Africa

5 on the wire

Mar 6MARKETSouth Africa's hemp sector projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2040 Feb 5REGULATIONSouth Africa proposes allowing personal cannabis possession of up to 2,000 joints Feb 4REGULATIONSouth Africa seeks public comments on draft cannabis regulations Oct 22MARKETSouth Africa cannabis boom widens gap between large investors and small farmers Oct 3REGULATIONSouth Africa's new marijuana laws create regulatory uncertainty