Workshop

FTI Consulting and Dentons invite interested companies to a workshop “Cannabis in Medicine” to discuss various topical questions. The aim of the workshop is to develop concrete options for action in order to enable a more effective, possibly bundled, and consistent representation of interests leading to an effective political and public debate.

Situation

The interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabis and individual cannabinoids, especially Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), has risen sharply worldwide in recent years. In Germany, the government has approved the cannabis drugs Sativex® and Canemes®. On March 10, 2017, the “Act on the Amendment of Narcotic Drugs and Other Regulations” came into force. This has expanded significantly the possibilities for treating patients with cannabis drugs. Physicians can now also prescribe medicinal cannabis flowers or cannabis extract in pharmaceutical quality. Previously, patients could be treated only with medical cannabis with an exception permit. Originally, dried cannabis flowers were to be delivered from a state-controlled cannabis agency to pharmacies as early as 2019. Due to a procedural mistake in the tender procedure, the cultivation of cannabis, which is now possible after the legal amendment, had to be put out to tender again. Because of this, the planned cultivation of cannabis in Germany is delayed. Approximately 6,600 kg of flowers, which corresponds to an annual requirement in Germany, may still be imported from abroad. However, the decision to approve cannabis for medical treatment remains controversial. The often fierce debate among the players and other relevant stakeholders currently limits business opportunities of companies wishing to benefit from the opening of the market.

Idea

Dentons (with partner Peter Homberg) and the communications consultancy FTI Consulting (with Dr. Hartmut Vennen and Martin Kothé) would like to highlight the entrepreneurial opportunities, limitations and risks of sustainable business success on the cannabis market in a half-day workshop with interested market participants. The focus will be on legal, regulatory-political and communicative challenges in equal measure. The starting point for this workshop is the realization that, individual companies currently:

• Overlook or do not consider fully the legal framework conditions
• Have no effective representation of their interests
• Have virtually no critical access to the legislative and political actors of health policy
• Have not developed an adequate communication strategy with which they could reach the relevant stakeholders and influence the public debate in their favor, including through the media.

Agenda:

• 12 noon: Arrival and get-together / lunch
• 1 p.m.: Cannabis in Medicine: Welcome and introduction by the speakers
• 1:30 p.m.: Topic I
  Legal and Regulatory Framework as well as New Challenges
  Peter Homberg, Partner, Dentons
• 2:30 p.m.: Topic II
  Current Political and Regulatory Challenges in Germany
  Martin Kothé, Managing Director and Head of Public Affairs, FTI Consulting
• 3:30 p.m.: Topic III
  Success Critical Stakeholders and Strategic Communication
  Dr. Hartmut Vennen, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting
• 4:30 p.m.: Collective discussion and consideration of possible next steps
• 5:30 p.m.: Event closing

If you are interested in this event, please contact Sophie-Charlotte von Bierbrauer zu Brennstein.