Australia will provide A$3 million ($2.03 million) for research on the use of cannabis to help cancer patients, its health minister said on Sunday, as the demand for medicinal cannabis products grows rapidly.

While legal in most of Australia, such products are allowed only to patients on the prescription of a doctor, and a license is required to grow and make medicinal cannabis.

On Sunday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said access had been permitted to more than 11,000 patients, with most approvals this year.

“There have only been a limited number of well-designed clinical studies on medicinal cannabis, and we need to increase the evidence base to support medical professionals,” a ministry statement cited him as saying.

Health ministry data shows 78 companies now licensed to grow and harvest medicinal cannabis, up from one in March 2017.

Hunt was speaking at a fundraising walk led by Olivia Newton-John, the English-born Australian singer and actress who became an ardent advocate of medical cannabis after being diagnosed with cancer.

“I’m a great proponent of it, for general health, for pain, for sleep, for anxiety,” Newton-John told Nine News television last week. “I really believe it is important in my journey.”

Newton-John’s experience and efforts had helped shine a light on the benefits associated with medicinal cannabis, Hunt said, adding that the government would work to ensure access for Australian patients.

“But only when it is prescribed by a medical professional,” he added.

The government looks unlikely to change its stance on the recreational use of cannabis, however.

Federal law prohibits such use, although late in September, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) became the first of the country’s six states and two main territories to legalize cannabis for personal use.

Attorney-General Christian Porter is awaiting a copy of the final version of the ACT bill before deciding whether the federal government should override the territory legislation, the Weekend Australian newspaper said on Saturday.

The ACT law, due to take ­effect from January 31, conflicts with national drug laws that ban possession of marijuana.

Cannabis Vacations for Weed Users: A breakdown of some of the top five world destinations with legalized use of marijuana and a culture of recreational drug use.

Cannabis tourism is thriving as more and more countries are becoming weed-friendly. Cannabis vacation is a unique travel experience to acquire cannabis for recreational purposes. Whether you are curious about the plant or seeking to indulge in some, various countries have a curated tour for you to take on. 

The provision of cannabis differs everywhere, and so does the experience. Some places have it subtle while some are entirely open about it. When embarking on a cannabis exploration, the tours won’t only be an experience of a lifetime, but it will also educate you about the herb and the plant. At the same time, you will have a well relaxed, and easy-going, rested vacation. You can plan your holiday through various websites. 

These websites provide cannabis-centric services from stay, tours, to supply of cannabis. Here is a list of five countries where cannabis tourism is raging:

    1. Netherlands

The Netherlands is an obvious destination for your cannabis vacation. The country has widely popular and one of the oldest coffee shops on the planet. And these “coffee shops” are known for their specialty in the sale of weed. Luckily the Dutch Law condones it; however, the plant is not legal. Shocker, right? But there is no need to fret; you can safely walk around the town with 5g of cannabis. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands is a fun-loving, and open-minded city. It’s known for its art and history. Besides, being recognized as one of the top cannabis vacation destinations. While exploring their weed culture, you can buy and purchase local edibles, strains, and high-quality hash from the coffee shops as mentioned earlier shops. 

The CBD oils, weed, and other hemp products here are reasonably priced and acceptable in Amsterdam. You can openly use cannabis. The law also states, purchasing of the plant only by the citizens; however, it does not enforce in Amsterdam and major cannabis cities alike in the country. 

Cannabis Vacations: Pictured, Colorado Cannabis Tour in Denver. Stock image.

     2. USA

The USA is bustling with cannabis tourists all year round. Many states in the USA have legalized recreational use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes as well. States like Washington and Colorado have many tourism ventures for you to be a part of. 

Though most of the people explore the stores for exceptional strains, CBD Oil is also hot in the market. But before looking out for CBD oils, you should always research and read reviews about it. Purchasing CBD oil is a little different from obtaining marijuana. To find out more about the CBD oils across all the popular brands, you can refer to Buy Weed Online USA. 

Alaska is another state in the USA that creating a buzz for cannabis tourism. Beholding the northern lights is a spectacle in itself; being high takes it to another level. Alaska became the first state to officially legalize the sale and consumption of marijuana at cannabis stores as well.

That decision follows the state’s historically relaxed policy towards drug use when the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that an adult’s right to use and possess a small amount of marijuana at home for personal use was protected under the Alaska Constitution’s right to privacy.  

Cannabis Vacations: Pictured, Toront’s Cannabis and Coffee shop which allows for recreational marijuana use. Image via Yelp.

    3. Canada

Canada is now a proud country with legalized Cannabis and a popular choice when it comes to cannabis vacay. It has one of the world’s most dynamic cities. The country welcomes cannabis enthusiasts from all around the world. With the recent legalization of weed, Canada many tourists are flocking in all year round. The weed-culture here is one of the best in the world. People wanting to use marijuana medically also will find many ventures to help them out in the country. 

The city of Toronto ranks on top in the country as one of the most popular choices for weed enthusiasts. You can relax at cafes that are tolerant of smoking, where you can BYOG; bring your own greens. There are plenty of dispensaries and shops that have come up from where you can purchase marijuana legally and at your convenience. 

     4. Spain

Spain is world-famous for its history, architecture, culture, and gastronomy. The country is also known for its party culture, and marijuana plays a vital part in it. As a marijuana destination, you will luxuriate in serene beaches and celebrate the architectural marvels the country has. 

Barcelona, one of the most colorful cities in Spain, has plenty of greens as the significant breeders of cannabis reside there. Here you can legally possess a whopping amount of 40 grams of marijuana. The laws in the city and the country on cannabis consumption is quite relaxed. 

Spain’s drug laws that allow marijuana to be grown and consumed for private use.

The clause has turned Spain – and especially Barcelona – into what Spanish media call the “Holland of the South”. But unlike Amsterdam’s coffee shops, which are open to the public, Spain’s clubs are for members only. As a tourist, expect to have easy access to an assortment of cannabis products. Public use of weed is more or less acceptable for tourists. 

    5. Jamaica

First things that come to your mind when someone says Jamaica is Bob Marley and Ganja. The country has an unsophisticated, unpretentious, yet predominant marijuana culture. The mix of Rastafarians, reggae music, and ganja is an earthy experience for your Caribbean holiday. The laws regarding the recreational use of marijuana are gradually loosening in the country. 

Kingston, the tropical island and the capital of Jamaica, is famous for your cannabis vacation. In the island, you can find yourself relaxing at beach resorts, exploring the tropical jungle, and experiencing the city life with the added element of ganja. For thorough weed-enthusiasts, you could make a pilgrimage to the Bob Marley Museum. You can take guided tours to cannabis farms. In Kingston, you can buy marijuana from tourist destinations soundly. Or as this author fondly recalls, have ‘vendors’ approach you almost the moment you literally put foot on the airport tarmac upon your arrival. Indeed. 

Entrepreneurs continue to invest in Brazil's medical marijuana market, despite a lack of support from Brazil's government. There is no legislation in favor of legalizing medical marijuana in Brazil, and the government disapproved of the National National Health Surveillance Agency's proposal to regulate the issue.

The medical marijuana market is projected to reach R$ 1.1 billion (US$ 269 million) to R$ 4.7 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) per year, according to studies.

The most enthusiastic projection predicts that the country will have at least 3.9 million patients who could be treated with cannabis.

João Pessoa (PB) has the only patient association to have a court order to grow marijuana and produce medicinal oil.

Since 2014, over 4,000 patients have been authorized to import products made from the active cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for the treatment of conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety disorders, depression, and multiple sclerosis.

João Pessoa (PB) has the only patient association to have a court order to grow marijuana and produce medicinal oil.

In two and a half years, the Abrace Esperança entity saw the number of patients increase from 155 to 2,500. They pay annuities of R$ 350 and values ranging from R$ 150 to R$ 200 for oil - which represents 10% of the cost of imported.

Cannabis and hemp are generally illegal across the Asia Pacific region however, places such as Thailand have recently legalised medical cannabis.

As attitudes changes towards the plant are changing, the different markets are set to grow in the region. Asia is a largely untapped CBD market and represents the next enormous market opportunity to benefit from the global secular trend towards the legalisation of cannabis.

Cannabis testing market in the Asia Pacific region

The Asia Pacific is considered to be the most attractive regional market for laboratory proficiency testing owing to the large base of manufacturers and research laboratories in the region. Also, the growing scientific base and research capabilities in several Asian countries; growth of the Asian pharmaceutical, food, and biologics markets; and the large base of CROs in the region are some of the other major factors driving market growth in the region.

The Asia Pacific Cannabis Testing Market to 2025 – Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Type; Services; End User and Country report has estimated that the Asia Pacific cannabis testing market is expected to reach $422.74m USD (~€384.88m) in 2025 from $132.38m in 2017.

The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 15.8% from 2018-2025.

The growth of the cannabis testing market is primarily attributed to the growing adoption of LIMS and cannabis legalisation for medical and recreational purpose in the region.

However, restricted use of cannabis is likely to pose a negative impact on the market growth. On the other hand, increased demand through domestic manufacturing is likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the Asia Pacific cannabis testing market in the coming years.

The growing advanced technology provide the best solutions to meet the current requirements and enables the system to be readily adapted based on the needs. The modern LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) system are used to automatically registers and archives the results of laboratory work, to support people management and equipment and materials administration. Advancements including, macro level challenges to increase innovation, manage risk, improve governance, comply with regulatory requirements, and deliver quantifiable operational results, help pathology laboratories to meet the evolving demands of the modern pathology services in the region.

The increasing adoption of LIMS technique helps to improve the transparency to lab work status, reducing the costs and improved efficiency, providing flexibility to accommodate new requirements and also help to improve quality and compliance. Penetration of information technology and increasing demand for data management and standardisation is helping in growing the number of LIMS vendors in the market.

The increasing demand for the LIMS in Asian market and R&D spends in the counties like China and India is growing that proportionally upsurge the market growth in the region. Thus, due to the above advancements, the cannabis testing market is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period.

In 2017, the product segment held a largest market share of 73.7% of the cannabis testing market, by type. This segment is also expected to dominate the market in 2025 owing diverse portfolio of cannabis testing products to the healthcare industry for innovations in the technologies. Moreover, the same segment is also expected to witness the highest CAGR in the market accounting to 16.1% in 2018 to 2025 owing to increasing analytical services and medicinal cannabis services in testing cannabis.

The Asia Pacific cannabis testing market, based on services was segmented into potency testing, microbial analysis, residual solvent screening, heavy metal testing, pesticide screening, terpene profiling, and genetic testing. The potency testing segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% during the forecast period.

The testing laboratory segment held a largest market share of 49.2% of the cannabis testing market, by end user. This segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period.

CBD skincare market

Some Asia Pacific countries sch as China allow for CBD products to be used, including CBD skincare. The CBD category alone is estimated to potentially be worth up to $15 billion in China by 2024.

The global CBD skin care market size, which includes the Asia Pacific regions, is expected to reach $1.7bn by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 32.9% over the forecast period.

The healing properties of CBD ingredients are expected to encourage the manufacturers to develop products infused with these ingredients, thereby driving the market in the coming years.

Key suggestions from the report:

• The global CBD skin care market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 32.9% from 2019 to 2025, thereby reaching a value of $1.7 billion by 2025;
• North America led the market, accounting for a share of more than 40.0% in 2018, owing to high demand and legalisation of cannabis in US and Canada;
• Hemp based products generated a revenue of USD 147.0 million in 2018; and
• Some of the major players operating in the global market are Kiehl’s LLC; Cannuka LLC.; Elixinol Global Limited; Medical Marijuana Inc.; Endoca LL; Lord Jones; VERTLYBALM; Kapu Maku LLC; and Leef Organics.

CBD is considered safe and effective for all skin types but is particularly useful for people who struggle with sensitivity, inflammatory conditions, acne, and dryness related to skin. Owing to these strong inflammatory properties, CBD helps in skin’s natural healing process, lowering the life span of breakouts and eczema flare-ups. CBD also showcases potential antioxidant properties that can help in counteracting signs of aging. It can even help in reducing pain caused by inflammatory skin conditions.

According to the EU cosmetic ingredient database, hempseed oil also acts as a surfactant, cleanser, emollient, and conditioner agent. Hemp molecules are very minute, which further allows it to effectively penetrate the skin and provide effective results. Hemp based products held the largest share of 62.8% in 2018 on account of high fatty acid content of the product. Hemp infused products help in reducing the discomfort by soothing and rejuvenating dry and damaged skin. They also help in controlling aging problems, which is likely to drive the application of this source.

CBD based skin care oils led the market and accounted for a share of 40.9% in 2018. This product type has been gaining an increasing popularity in the personal care market. It is highly beneficial for acne, aging, and wrinkle prone skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. CBD oil also has antioxidant attributes, which help in reducing the visible signs of aging.

North America led the market in 2018 and is expected to be the fastest growing market in the coming years. Demand for CBD skin care products from North America is expected to remain high due to the presence of a large customer base and legalisation of marijuana in U.S. and Canada. Currently, about 33 states in U.S. and District of Colombia have legalised cannabis in U.S., thereby making it the largest market in the world. The legalisation and presence of prominent beauty care manufacturers are expected to contribute to the market growth over the next few years.