ICBC Brussels Forum Schedule
Tentative Schedule
17:00
VIP Reception VIP Reception at the Slovenian Embassy in Brussels
A very special VIP Reception to be held at the Slovenian Embassy in Brussels, located at Rue Joseph II 14, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Bridging public and private sectors In agriculture, health, environment, research and industry.
9:45
Brussels Conference Introduction at the University Foundation
10:00
Keynote Speaker – TBA
10:20
Keynote Speaker – TBA
10:40
Cannabis In The EU – What Are The Legal Obstacles?
Modernizing EU cannabis policies to achieve consistency in the market
Due to its decades-long prohibition, cannabis has a special status as an international commodity. International agreements like the Single Convention from 1961, the fundamental freedoms of the EU, the framework decision of 2004, and numerous domestic regulations are creating issues and making it impossible to achieve clear and comprehensible guidance for the emerging European cannabis industry.
Kai-Friedrich Niermann, founder of KFN+ Law Office, will discuss current conflicts between the Single Convention agreement and EU law, particularly as it applies to medical cannabis. Niermann will also examine how EU member states can safely legalize recreational cannabis within the restrictive nature of the current framework and what European cannabis industry observers can expect in the future.
11:40
What’s Happening With Cannabis Policy In Germany?
A brief overview of the latest developments with Germany’s new CanG law
German lawmakers adopted an adult-use legalization measure in February 2024, with the first provisions of the new law taking effect in April 2024. The policy change made Germany the largest nation to ever pass a national adult-use legalization measure. Internationally acclaimed German cannabis lawyer Peter Homberg will provide an overview of the major changes and the potential consequences of Germany’s new CanG law and will shed light on the question of whether there will be another German ‘green rush’ similar to what occurred in 2017 and 2018.
12:20
Lunch
13:30
Bridging The Gap Between Public And Private Sectors
Increasing collaboration between public and private sector entities
14:45
Modernizing European Union Cannabis Policies
What changes should the European Union make to its approach to cannabis regulation?
As the European continent’s cannabis laws continue to evolve at the local and national levels there are increased calls and demands for the European Union to overhaul its cannabis policies. Current proposed changes by European cannabis advocates and industry members vary. A group of panelists, including MPs from Germany, Slovenia, and Czechia, will discuss what reassessments the European Union should conduct and what policy changes should be made to enable the medical, recreational and industrial hemp sectors to thrive in EU-member states.
15:30
Meeting The Challenge Of The Next Generation
The role of cannabis in the green energy infrastructure
As the world continues to pursue sustainability strategies the cannabis plant, particularly hemp, will play a key role in renewable and sustainability efforts. Scientists and engineers are working to unlock the renewable benefits of cannabis and hemp, with hemp being used to make batteries, insulation, biofuel, and many other things that are useful for humans. Hemp plants work particularly well when incorporated into environmental bioremediation projects. A team of experts will examine how cannabis and hemp are being incorporated into renewable energy projects.
16:00
Driving Leadership And Global Reform
Comparing emerging industries from both sides of the Atlantic
This session, led by leading international cannabis economist Beau Whitney, will compare and contrast the EU approach to cannabis reform to the U.S. and Canadian approaches. Whitney will also use data to highlight opportunities in employment, business and economic growth in the emerging legal cannabis industry.
16:30
Reception
