Cultivating sustainable cannabis in the Danish Medicinal Cannabis Pilot Programme : a case study at OC CARE ApS

Abstract

In my research I explore the Danish Medicinal Cannabis Pilot Programme (Pilot Programme). The study was done with the case of OC Care ApS’ (OC Care) Envision Concept, a legislation-compliant growth facility with a controlled environment, designed to produce sustainable medicinal cannabis. OC Care was chosen as the single case for this study because they are the only licensed company with the aim to produce organic cannabis within the Pilot Programme. OC Care’s Envision Concept is analyzed through an agroecological perspective, by considering the economic, environmental, and social components that together make a system. To understand the context and set the boundaries for the study, the Pilot Programme is analyzed through system thinking methodology. To reach a holistic understanding of the case and its context, data was gathered through multiple sources: participant observation, informal conversations, and semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that the Pilot Programme has a cautious approach towards legalization, and aims to produce scientific evidence to validate the benefits of medicinal cannabis and regulate its cultivation, processing, and distribution. Due to its pharmaceutical paradigm, hybrid framework, and Denmark’s competitive advantages, Denmark is becoming a leader in the European medicinal cannabis market. To produce organic and sustainable medicinal cannabis OC Care have developed the Envision Concept, a controlled environment cultivation and processing facility, compliant with the European Union’s (EU) Volume 4 EU Guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicinal Products for Human and Veterinary Use. The Envision Concept is a system that integrates economic, environmental, and social interests to provide patients with an organic, standardized, and sustainable pharma-grade product.