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CANNABIS

Canadian cannabis firm licensed to produce in Denmark

Canadian medical marijuana producer Canopy Growth said Monday its joint venture Spectrum Cannabis has been licensed to grow pot in Denmark for sale throughout the European Union.

Canadian cannabis firm licensed to produce in Denmark
File photo: Eduardo Verdugo/AP/Ritzau

In a statement, the company hailed as a “major milestone” what it called the “first federal production licence issued to a Canadian cannabis producer anywhere in the European Union.”

With the announcement, Denmark also joins the Netherlands as the only two EU countries with federal permits to grow medical cannabis.

Earlier this month, Canopy announced the joint venture with hemp producer Danish Cannabis to establish a 40,000 square metre facility in Odense.

Next year, Canopy will ship a variety of marijuana plant clones to Odense and start growing them as early as spring 2018 when the greenhouse retrofit is scheduled to be completed.

Oils and dried cannabis will be sold under the Spectrum Cannabis brand.

Canopy is one of Canada's largest medical marijuana producers.

Recreational use of cannabis is due to be legalized in the North American country on July 1st next year.

READ ALSO: The Local speaks to one of Copenhagen's few prescribers of medicinal cannabis

CANNABIS

Copenhagen city council supports cannabis legalization trial

A majority in Copenhagen Municipality’s city council (Borgerrepræsentation) wants to legalize cannabis, but the government remains opposed.

Copenhagen city council supports cannabis legalization trial
Christiania in Copenhagen. Photo: Anne Bæk/Ritzau Scanpix

City politicians are in support of trialling a legalization of the sale of cannabis and will approach the government over the issue.

“There’s a new government, so it makes sense for us in Copenhagen to again make clear our view that it is important for us that something is done about the hash market in Copenhagen,” Socialist People’s Party councillor Klaus Mygind, who sits on the municipality’s children and youth committee, told TV2 Lorry.

City councillors say a trial would undermine criminal hash dealers and also make it easier to reach young people who are struggling with addiction.

The idea is based on the establishment of five or six points of sale in the city, which would be staffed by specially trained advisors.

44 of the 55 representatives on the city council support the proposal.

In a written comment provided to Ritzau, Minister for Health Magnus Heunicke said that the government’s position remains opposed to the legalization of cannabis.

“Hash is associated with a long list of detrimental effects which can have serious consequences, particularly for those with mental health risk factors and for children and young people with social problems,” the minister wrote.

“Our responsibility is to help them with their education. We won’t do that by legalizing hash, which worsens the capacity to learn,” Heunicke added.

READ ALSO: Seven hospitalized after eating hash cakes from Denmark's Christiania

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