In the latest Trade to Black podcast, hosts Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell spotlight two high-impact stories shaking the cannabis sector—one in the U.S., the other in Germany—with conversations you won’t want to miss if you’re following medical cannabis, DEA reform, or European market expansion. The first is mounting tensions in global cannabis reform, starting with a heated confrontation in the U.S. between biotech firm MMJ BioPharma Cultivation and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The other is growing concern over the surge of patients following Germany’s reclassification of cannabis.
Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, claims the DEA has delayed his FDA-approved cannabis research for over 2,300 days. Despite having fast-track and orphan drug status from the FDA, Boise says the DEA has refused to issue a cultivation license—halting progress on much-needed clinical trials.
Boise isn’t holding back—he’s publicly demanding the removal of top DEA officials while accusing the agency of ignoring illegal THC exports by major cannabis companies. His stance is being backed by former Florida AG Pam Bondi, and it raises serious questions about federal cannabis policy and scientific access.
In Germany, the reclassification of cannabis as a non-narcotic in April 2024 has triggered a surge in patient access, largely driven by telemedicine platforms. But the speed of growth is raising alarm bells. Legal expert Franziska Katterbach of Oppenhoff and Niklas Kouparanis, CEO of Bloomwell, warn that regulatory oversight hasn’t kept pace.
While some fear a crackdown, Katterbach emphasizes that no blanket shutdown of telemedicine has occurred—rather, authorities are enforcing existing boundaries to prevent abuse. Kouparanis adds that while patient numbers have skyrocketed—nearly 200,000 new patients in a single month—the system’s future depends on balanced regulation. Germany’s model of pharmacy-based distribution may provide a blueprint for countries looking to scale access without commercial chaos.
