Another year has passed with many challenges posed to global health and economics. With the end of the year in sight, everyone is looking forward to a fresh start. And after two years of uncertainties, the question on everyone’s mind is: what will next year be like? Luckily, concerning the cannabis industry, Kyle Detwiler, CEO of Clever Leaves, is able to share some insights and predictions of what 2022 is going to look like. As a multinational cannabis company, with operations and investments in the US, Canada, Colombia, Germany, and Portugal, Detwiler is able to give us a global prospect. 
“Access to Germany is key”
According to Detwiler, everyone should be watching Germany to see how their potential legalization unfolds. “For cannabis companies looking to tap into the European markets, having access to Germany’s pending market is key. Operators are monitoring how cannabis will be distributed; will Germany follow Canada or the US model and opt for dispensaries which will cause the legal market to struggle against the black market, or will they opt for a pharmacy distribution model to leverage the existing medical market? For operators like us with EU GMP, what quality standards will be required and will that put us at an advantage?”
For emerging operators: Brazil
Detwiler also explains that the Brazilian market might be an interesting option for some companies as well. “US DEA-licensed operators emerging may tap into pharmaceutical markets like Brazil - Brazil moved quickly with legalization but took a pharmaceutical approach. With some of the first products passing through strict ANVISA regulatory processes and a market of 210M+ people unfold, imports to these operators could be shaping the US federally-legal cannabis industry.”
Australia as an example
“Australia may reach its tipping point - With shortages of product domestically but a growing import market, Australia may serve as an example of a well-balanced system emphasizing product quality while still promoting a domestic industry,” says Detwiler.
What about Clever Leaves itself?
And what is in the pipeline for Detwiler’s own company? “Heading into 2022, operators with pharmaceutical quality, large capacity, cost position, and regulatory expertise will thrive. Many operational and regulatory processes take far longer than expected, but as we begin to complete the long journey to activate many of our commercial initiatives, we believe we will be one of the few companies to generate profitable revenue from the international (e.g. ex-Canada, ex-US) industry. 2022 will be spent capitalizing on everything we’ve built and evolving past pathfinder shipments to clients to show the true blueprint of what one of the largest cannabis producers on Earth should look like, economically.”
For more information:
Clever Leaves
[email protected]
www.cleverleaves.com