After decades of prohibition, some countries are starting to consider legalizing cannabis as a way to tackle the increase in consumption and take benefits from it. The fact is that cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the world, so looking the other way or introducing ambiguous or restrictive regulations is not going to solve the problem. Some Governments across the globe have taken action by regulating the cultivation and consumption of cannabis; this is the case, for example, of some states in the U.S. and Canada. Now the focus is set on Europe, where the regulation of cannabis for medical use is being discussed in the European Parliament and some Member States have a whole new debate on the economic benefits that legalizing cannabis may bring.

Earlier this month, the ETFGI Consultancy Firm revealed that the world’s first cannabis exchange-traded fund is on its way to becoming the second most profitable exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Canada after offering 50-percent return so far this year. In October 2018, Canada became the second country in the world, after Uruguay, and the first country within the G20 to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. A few months later, the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index fund has grown to €1.15 billion ($1.3 billion) becoming the 18th largest Canadian ETF, according to ETFGI.

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JEFFERSON CITY • Two dozen companies, including at least six that have hired lobbyists to represent them, have shown interest in tapping into the potentially lucrative business of helping Missouri run its medical marijuana program.

Although the state has declined to release records related to some of the vendors seeking to be involved in the rollout of the program, officials provided the Post-Dispatch with a listing of companies that are vying to supply the software and support services to register patients, license facilities and track marijuana from seed to sale.

The roster includes Florida-based BiotrackTHC, a marijuana products software company that has hired former House Speaker Steve Tilley to lobby on its behalf.

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MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio — The state Commerce Department has awarded Ohio’s first certificate of operation to a medical marijuana processor, allowing for the conversion of cannabis into edibles, tinctures, creams and other products.

Grow Ohio in Muskingum County received its certificate Thursday. Commerce Department spokeswoman Kerry Francis says 37 other processors awarded provisional licenses are working on receiving their certificates of operation. The state plans to award licenses to two more processors, bringing the total to 40.

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