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European Cannabis Laws in Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a tiny country in western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Currently, only CBD is legal in certain amounts, and medicinal cannabis is handled by the Luxembourgish government. But the legalization of recreational cannabis appears to be on the horizon.
With a little ingenuity and the help of the professionals at Higher Yields Consulting — and a firm grasp of both Luxembourgish and European cannabis laws — you could create your own cannabis-based business in what has been called one of the most affluent and beautiful countries in the European Union.
The History of Cannabis in Luxembourg
Until recently, cannabis in Luxembourg was regulated and prohibited according to the law of 19 February 1973, which concerned the sale of medicinal substances and the fight against drug addiction. But in April 2001, Luxembourg became one of Europe’s first countries to decriminalize cannabis and the first to allow home growing of cannabis.
Because of Luxembourg’s close proximity to Holland, where cannabis has been decriminalized for a number of decades, fighting the flourishing black market has been routinely cited as one of the country’s main reasons for pushing toward legalization over the last 10 years.
In 2017, Luxembourg took its first steps toward complete legalization by passing medical marijuana legislation, establishing that the Ministry of Health would regulate medical marijuana in the same way it does any other medicinal substance.
Luxembourg’s early steps toward cannabis legalization led many to believe Luxembourg would be the first European country to legalize recreational cannabis use. Fast forward to the end of 2021 and it was Malta, not Luxembourg, became the first European country to legalize recreational cannabis.
Contact Us to discuss cannabis Licenses in Luxembourg
If you are looking to attain a license for hemp or cannabis in Luxembourg Higher Yields Cannabis Consulting can help. Our team of cannabis licensing consultants and technical writers has had great success helping newcomers and experienced operators attain licenses all over the world.
What Are Luxembourg’s Current Cannabis Laws?
In October of 2021, the Luxembourgish government announced recreational cannabis legalization was just around the corner and provided some of the concrete terms of the future legalization. The government laid out a multiphase plan toward full legalization of recreational cannabis.
First, adults will be legally allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants per household by 2023. The government then intends to create a domestic market with locally grown cannabis distributed through a national supply chain.
Starting a Cannabusiness in Luxembourg
Despite its population of only 602,000, Luxembourg is one of the most affluent countries in Europe and a business haven due to its very low tax rate — particularly when compared to its neighboring countries.
The Luxembourgish and European cannabis laws differ for each form of cannabis (CBD, medical, and recreational). As such, if you’re interested in cultivating, manufacturing, or selling cannabis in Luxembourg, you’ll need to examine each one individually.
Selling CBD in Luxembourg
CBD is not considered a narcotic and, according to Luxembourgish cannabis laws, is legal when under 0.2% THC.
Starting a CBD dispensary is about as simple as starting any other business in Luxembourg. It may also be your best (and possibly only) option at present.
Opening a dispensary will require you to take certain mandatory steps:
- Request a business permit from the General Directorate for SMEs and Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Economy
- Register with the Trade and Companies Register
- Register with the Joint Social Security Center in Luxembourg
- Register with the Luxembourg Inland Review, and ensure compliance with VAT, excise, and customs prerequisites
- Obtain authorization for storage services
Save yourself some hassle by reaching out to Higher Yields Consulting. Our experts are highly knowledgeable about European cannabis laws and experienced in establishing new cannabis-based businesses all over the world.
Can I Sell Medicinal Cannabis in Luxembourg?
As of now, European cannabis laws still won’t allow you to sell medicinal cannabis in Luxembourg. In 2017, Luxembourg introduced a two-year medical marijuana pilot project: All imported cannabis was sold to Luxembourg’s Division de la Pharmacie et des Médicaments and dispensed in certified pharmacies.
Since the program’s inception, Luxembourg has contracted with three Canadian cannabis companies — Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, and Tilray — to be the exclusive suppliers of medicinal cannabis in Luxembourg.
In 2021, Tilray projected that Luxembourg represents a $1 billion medicinal cannabis opportunity, and the Ministry of Health recently requested €3 million ($3.5 million) to finance additional medical cannabis purchases.
With the demand for medicinal cannabis outpacing supply, it is clear that future Luxembourg-based cannabis companies will be able to take advantage of a lucrative cannabis market.
Questions on Cannabis in Luxembourg?
What About Recreational Cannabis?
Where recreational cannabis is concerned, there’s also the possibility of future private recreational cannabusiness ownership. At the moment, however, it’s still not legal to sell.
The Luxembourgish government has made clear its intentions to switch from imports to a self-sustained domestic cannabis industry.
What Options Do I Have to Start a Cannabis Business in Luxembourg?
Even though only home growing will be authorized in the near future, that does not mean you have no options for starting a cannabusiness in Luxembourg. In addition to the option of starting a CBD business, you could also assist adults in their home grows.
Most people have no idea how to grow their own cannabis, and even fewer people have any idea about how to grow a decent crop. Since seeds are legal to sell under the new law, your new business could sell the seeds and the CBD, as well as your services as a cannabis home-grow expert.
Eventually, Luxembourg will almost certainly legalize recreational sales. At that point, an established business that sells CBD, seeds, and cannabis home-grow services would be the first name people think of when determining where to buy their newly legalized recreational cannabis.
Whatever your goals are, working with a cannabis consultant guarantees you’ll get expert knowledge and understanding of Luxembourgish and European cannabis laws.
A Cannabis Consultant Can Help You Understand European Cannabis Laws
It takes time to establish a new business in Luxembourg. Higher Yields Consulting can help you draft a business plan and successfully navigate future regulations.
Our experts have helped cultivators, retailers, and distributors navigate European cannabis laws and realize their dreams of cannabusiness ownership. Reach out to us today to turn your cannabis dreams into reality.
Until then, stay good and stay green!