Europe takes the lead in smokable hemp production

While American cannabis production leans towards industrial use, a handful of European businesses are selling hemp as a low-THC alternative to smokable cannabis.

Hemp farmers based in Switzerland are slowly supplying the rest of Europe with hemp flowers containing low percentages of marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

These hemp strains are cultivated to ensure the level of THC does not exceed 0.2 percent in order to be lawful in most European countries, the Guardian reports.

The rise in hemp flower production comes at a moment when cannabis laws are rapidly changing throughout several European countries, such as the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Germany.

Switzerland currently allows up to 1 percent THC concentration, although many countries like France only allow up to 0.2 percent THC. The UK is one of a few exceptions that outlaws any trace of THC.

Companies such as Grünkraft and SwissX are currently exporting throughout Europe and the rest of the world, and will be in attendance at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in Zurich.

“Switzerland has been flying under the radar a bit, but the nation has a great…