Alex Rogers: Transatlantic Cannabis Policy and the Global Impact of Schedule III

While U.S. operators navigate federal uncertainty at home, Europe’s cannabis sector is expanding within the constraints of European Union agreements. Medical markets across the continent are gaining traction, Germany’s import volumes are climbing sharply, and adult-use reform is unfolding through cultivation associations and regional pilot programs rather than full commercial sales. In this interview, Alex Rogers of the International Cannabis Business Conference discusses the structural differences between the U.S. and European legalization models, the markets drawing the most attention in 2026, and how shifting policy on either side of the Atlantic could reshape investment, trade, and long-term industry growth.

How is the regulated cannabis industry in Europe similar to the industry in the United States?

There are some interesting parallels between the European continent’s emerging cannabis industry and the industry in the United States that have directly influenced how markets have developed. Most European countries are part of the European Union, and current European Union agreements dictate what the emerging cannabis industry can and cannot do within the European Union. Even in non-EU markets, other continental agreements basically extend EU limitations to non-EU countries in Europe. Medical cannabis commerce is widely allowed in Europe, whereas national adult-use commerce remains prohibited, and only adult-use commerce for research purposes is allowed.

Conversely, the same dynamic is in place in the United States to a degree, but instead of the European Union overseeing the national members, the federal government oversees state-level markets. Federalism-based friction in the United States is a lot like EU-national friction in Europe. Both continents have a lot of grey areas and conflicting policies, which lead to unnecessary hindrances and headaches for industry operators.

How is the legal industry different between the two continents?

Arguably, the largest difference between legal European markets and legal state-level markets in the U.S. pertains to adult-use commerce. As I touched on in my answer to the previous question, adult-use commerce in Europe is limited to research-based sales. Europe’s recreational legalization models are based on a combination of home cultivation, cultivation associations, and/or regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials.

Germany pushed very hard for the EU to allow national adult-use sales in the lead-up to the nation’s historic CanG adoption in 2024. Unfortunately, the EU was clear that national sales remain prohibited under current EU agreements, and until those agreements are modernized, only cultivation associations and pilot trials are allowed because they serve a research purpose. Ideally, individual markets in Europe would have a robust system of recreational dispensaries, similar to how things are in many states in the U.S., but that is not the case until EU agreements are updated. Europe will get there, but it will take time.

How do you think rescheduling in the United States might affect European markets?

The significance of rescheduling in the United States on Europe’s emerging industry cannot be overstated. Many other countries have already made significant inroads into European markets, with Canada being the most noteworthy example. Meanwhile, the United States has largely remained on the sidelines as far as investments and collaborations. The most immediate impact will presumably be U.S. companies using their 280E tax savings to make investments and acquisitions in Europe’s markets. Once 280E goes away for U.S. companies, there will be billions more dollars annually for companies to expand their operations, and Europe’s markets are a logical place to direct those funds. Rescheduling will also increase access to traditional banking services for U.S. companies, including loans, and that will further help U.S. companies that want to expand to Europe.

An impact that will take longer to materialize is imports and exports. Europe’s legal medical markets, particularly Germany, import a lot of cannabis from other countries. Using Germany as an example, nearly 57 tonnes of medical cannabis products were imported from other countries in Q3 2025 alone. To put that figure into further context, the Q3 2025 total was a massive increase compared to Q3 2024, when roughly 20.6 tonnes of medical cannabis products were imported. Germany’s demand for medical cannabis continues to rise. Once U.S. companies are allowed to export to Europe’s markets, it will dramatically shift the industry landscape not only in Europe and the U.S., but throughout the world, due to so many countries historically benefiting from failed U.S. policies. It is also a safe bet that U.S. rescheduling will also encourage many non-legal or under-legalized European nations to modernize their laws and regulations, further unlocking the profit potential for those markets and collaboration potential for U.S. operators who work with local European companies.

What would you say are some of the most exciting regulated markets in Europe in 2026, in terms of their economic potential?

Germany remains the continent’s largest and most exciting market. The medical industry is booming, as I previously mentioned, and creating lucrative opportunities in the process. The adult-use side of the industry has been slower to develop for various reasons, but there are still increasing opportunities. The adult-use market in Germany holds enormous potential, and the process of transitioning consumers from the unregulated market to a regulated market is very young by every measure. Still, ancillary sectors, particularly those related to home cultivation and consumption technology, are already experiencing tremendous growth, and that will continue for the foreseeable future.

A somewhat newer market is Slovenia. Lawmakers in Slovenia approved a very progressive medical cannabis legalization model last year, and once fully implemented and operational, it will make Slovenia one of the top markets for medical cannabis activity, especially research and development. Many internationally prominent products in other large industries were originally designed and developed in Slovenia, including non-cannabis medical products, and the nation’s scientific infrastructure makes it arguably the best country on earth to conduct cannabis industry R&D. It is absolutely a market that everyone in the global cannabis community needs to have on their radar.

What is the Talman House, and what led to its creation?

The Talman House is Europe’s largest cannabis industry investment network, which helps facilitate education and networking for people and entities who are interested in getting into Europe’s emerging industry. Having focused on Europe’s cannabis markets for multiple decades now, I recognized that there are a lot of nuances and unique challenges that present themselves in Europe’s industry, particularly for current and aspiring multinational companies. The Talman Group is member-based, and the Talman House events team helps companies and investors identify opportunities for collaborations and assists with funding activity. We regularly host events in several European countries that combine world-class presentations with meaningful networking. Interested parties can find out more, including how to become a member, at the Talman website.

What can attendees and exhibitors expect at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin in April 2026?

This will be the biggest and most exciting International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) event to date. Taking place at the iconic Estrel Berlin Hotel, Germany’s largest conference and entertainment center, ICBC 2026 will be packed with features to ensure that attendees and exhibitors get the most out of their experience and maximize their time. In addition to having leading expert speakers present during the conference’s two-day curriculum on a wide range of important topics, we are also providing free tickets to German cannabis pharmacy operators, cultivation associations, and European grow shops to make sure that major sectors are sufficiently represented.

Furthermore, the conference will feature a VIP reception the night before the conference, a Networking Atrium during the conference, a Cultivation Pavilion, an engaging event treasure hunt game, an ancillary ‘Pharmacy Meet Up’ event, a Medical Pharma Zone at the conference, a ‘speed networking’ area (which was very popular in 2025!), lounge areas for food and beverages, and a designated outdoor consumption lounge area. There is something for everyone at ICBC Berlin 2026. Over 80 countries will be represented at the conference, and we hope to see you there. People can find out more, including how to register, at Internationacbc.com.

Thank you, Alex, for sharing your insight! To learn more about the International Cannabis Business Conference and how to attend the upcoming event in Berlin, visit their website.