Browse All
Denmark Destroys Over 145,000 Kilograms of Cannabis
Denmark’s cannabis regulatory system has witnessed the intentional destruction of more than 145,000 kilograms (320,862 pounds) of medical cannabis, as revealed by government data.
Extent of Destruction
The Danish Parliament’s Health Committee disclosed that just over 300 permits were issued for the destruction of this substantial quantity of cannabis.
This figure encompasses all cannabis destroyed by companies authorized to cultivate cannabis under Denmark’s pilot program since the businesses obtained approval.
Significance of the Data
The amount of legal cannabis destroyed exceeds the reported total marijuana output within Denmark’s nearly six-year-old medical pilot program, illustrating a notable surplus that has been intentionally disposed of due to multiple reasons, including quality concerns, regulatory factors, or insufficient demand.
Denmark’s Medical Cannabis Pilot Programme Sees 90% Surge in Patient Numbers
Authorized Cultivation Entities
A list of authorized companies engaged in manufacturing cannabis bulk and primary products includes international entities like Canada’s Aurora Cannabis, Australia’s Little Green Pharma, and Denmark-based Medican.
Reasons Behind Destruction
The destruction of cannabis involved various cultivation authorizations within Denmark’s regulatory framework, encompassing the medical cannabis pilot program, pharmaceutical substance manufacture, plant propagation, and a development scheme focused on refining cultivation and manufacturing methods without permitting sales.
Factors Contributing to Destruction
While specifics regarding the reasons for cannabis destruction remain unclear, factors could include product faults, discarded items, and cannabis grown under the development program, among other possibilities.
The destroyed quantity includes cannabis extracts and any cannabis containing more than 0.2% THC.
Recent Destruction Data
For 2022, the Danish Medicines Agency reported the destruction or loss of 10,753 kilograms, excluding marijuana destroyed under the development program.
This quantity significantly surpasses the reported production figures provided by the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB).
Discrepancies in Production and Destruction
The production figures reported by INCB indicate:
- 2,112 kilograms in 2019.
- 6,587 kilograms in 2020.
- 32,433 kilograms in 2021.
The reasons for the substantial disparity between the destruction and production figures remain unclear and pose questions regarding the oversight and discrepancies in reported data.
Regulatory Authorization and Sales Trends
Denmark has a limited number of authorized companies cultivating medical cannabis. Sales of cannabis products within the country surged from approximately 30.8 million Danish kroner ($4.4 million) in 2020 to 64.3 million kroner in 2021, with sales amounting to approximately 62.5 million kroner in the preceding year.
TRENDING NOW
