1 . Gaps in medical cannabis testing
The report highlights an , ' undersupply ' of reliable , scalable testing companies across Europe , illustrated by the limited number of test-capacity companies presented on the ecosystem . The report also finds that there is a lack of consistency in quality of testing , saying " not all testing companies are accredited to an internationally recognized standard , such as ISO / IEC 17025 ." " There is a clear space in the market for a reliable , accredited , fast and widely trusted testing company ."
2 . The prescribing and dispensing landscape varies from location to location .
In nations which impose restrictions on accessing medical cannabis , such as the UK and Poland , specialist clinics have enabled patient access on a private basis . In Germany and Italy , pharmacists play a larger role in preparing formulations . This , the report by First Wednesdays finds , allows for the provision of personalized medicines to patients , targeting specific needs , with less of a focus on off-the-shelf cannabis products .
3 . Europe needs more clinical cannabis data
" One of the key barriers to research into cannabis-derived medicines in Europe is the lack of standardization within proposed studies . We need a clear target group of patients , a trial using a single product with a single delivery mechanism and a fixed dose . With this sort of standardization , researchers will be much more keen to do further studies ."
4 . Right now there are 27 ongoing clinical trials on cannabis in Europe
The report on Europe ' s medical cannabis ecosystem finds there is a clear growing interest in research into cannabis and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia , PTSD , fear and phobias . Of the 27 ongoing trials Europewide , the majority ( 70 %) are academic-based , while less than 10 % are government-backed , the findings show .
5 . Is Denmark on course to become the European capital of medical cannabis ?
The Danish market has become a uniquely European model for the regulation of medical cannabis , according to the First Wednesdays 2020 report . In 2018 , the same year as medical cannabis legalisation in the UK , Denmark announced a 4-year pilot scheme to assess the effectiveness of cannabis based medicines , and build a foundation of what could be rich market which supplies its own pharmaceutical-grade cannabis grown domestically . The scheme differs from similar programmes rolled out in recent years in other nations . Instead of looking just at barriers to access , it is a two-pronged approach to supply and demand . Via two parallel four-year trials – one for domestic medical use and another for domestic cultivation - the hybrid approach is especially significant because of the openended system on which it is built . There is no cap on production volumes and no limit to the number of licensed producers . Analysis provided by the group which carried out this report , First Wednesdays , says there is clearly ‘ an interesting ’ medical cannabis ecosystem developing in Denmark ... “… centred around establishing a viable domestic supply chain . Collaboration between licensed cannabis operators and leading non-cannabis companies has been necessary to achieve the required high standards of production , which is evident through the engagement of leading equipment suppliers , logistics and professional services companies ."
One consistent complaint of health regulators and policy makers about medical cannabis across the continent is the lack of clinical data and this is feeding demand . There is a reliance among healthcare systems on randomized controlled trials , perhaps stemming from the pharma and life sciences world . A lack of clinical data is the main factor limiting widespread medical cannabis adoption by most European national regulators , First Wednesdays finds . According to one medical cannabis expert , Dr Steve Hajioff , who contributed to the report , this void of clinical data is currently a barrier in the way of progress .
95