{"id":10867,"date":"2025-10-12T23:42:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T23:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/?post_type=feature_article&amp;p=37659"},"modified":"2025-10-12T23:42:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T23:42:26","slug":"how-cannabis-moves-around-the-world-inside-the-global-supply-chain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/how-cannabis-moves-around-the-world-inside-the-global-supply-chain\/","title":{"rendered":"How Cannabis Moves Around the World: Inside the Global Supply\u00a0Chain"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/how-cannabis-moves-around-the-world-inside-the-global-supply-chain\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-cannabis-moves-around-the-world-inside-the-global-supply-chain.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Global cannabis trade is well underway as legalized countries move forward to establish a supply chain infrastructure in a newly formed and rapidly evolving industry. At the forefront of transportation logistics is <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabilog.com\/\">Cannabilog<\/a>, an Israeli company led by pharmaceutical industry veteran Yoram Eshel. In an interview, he shared his playbook for building a compliant, efficient, and scalable supply chain for global cannabis import and export trade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Complex Web of Global Cannabis Trade Regulations<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">According to Eshel, not surprisingly, the global cannabis trade hinges on regulatory compliance and requires expertise to manage the movement of products across continents. Unlike pharmaceuticals, where harmonized frameworks such as those of the European Union apply across borders, cannabis regulations differ drastically from country to country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some nations permit imports, while others ban them entirely. Even within importing countries, the rules vary by product category. \u201cSome will allow flower, others only oil or genetics,\u201d Eshel explains. \u201cIt\u2019s never a simple straight line.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Every aspect of the supply chain requires specific licensing under narcotics laws, from cultivation and storage to import and export. Adding to the challenge is the constant evolution of these laws.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, Thailand initially embraced its booming local market and export-friendly policies, but the new government abruptly switched course and limited cannabis use to medical purposes only. In addition, Thai producers seeking to export face roadblocks because European authorities do not recognize their local GACP certifications, which are based on \u201cGood Cultivation and Harvesting Practices for Medicinal Plants<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eshel emphasizes that failing to keep pace with changing laws can be costly.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cIf you export cannabis products to another country and they can\u2019t clear customs, the shipment is destroyed. There\u2019s no way back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Medical Cannabis Must Meet Pharmaceutical Standards<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The second major pillar of the international cannabis trade is adherence to pharmaceutical-grade standards. \u201cGovernments treat medical cannabis as a medicine,\u201d says Eshel. \u201cIt\u2019s exactly like Tylenol or any other drug.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even though cannabis has not gone through the traditional drug registration process, regulators treat it as a pharmaceutical product, which means it must comply with strict Good Distribution Practice (GDP) requirements. That includes temperature control, data logging, and rigorous quality management throughout the supply chain. Every shipment is audited and must be approved by a Qualified Person (QP) on the receiving end before entering the market. If any quality parameters are unmet, the product is rejected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Logistics providers like Cannabilog must operate under EU GDP certification and maintain pharmaceutical-grade systems and documentation. \u201cWe are audited constantly,\u201d Eshel says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The difference between the medical and recreational markets often catches producers off guard, especially those in countries like Canada, which has a more recreational mindset, similar to that of the US<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. \u201cWhen you move into the medical space,\u201d Eshel notes, \u201cyou suddenly need temperature-controlled vehicles, validated packaging, and specialized labeling. It requires training and experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Globally, countries such as Germany, Australia, and Israel classify cannabis exclusively as a medical product. \u201cIt\u2019s not even close to recreational,\u201d Eshel stresses. \u201cAnd in most countries, recreational use is still illegal and requires special licensing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Managing Cold Chain Logistics<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After navigating complex regulations and meeting pharmaceutical-grade standards, the final piece of the international cannabis trade puzzle, says Eshel, is execution.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cYou can have your licenses, your permits, your quality system, but if you don\u2019t execute correctly, everything can fail.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Execution means maintaining control over every step, including packaging, labeling, documentation, temperature regulation, and secure transportation. Shipments must move through carefully selected routes using temperature-controlled vehicles, warehouses, and flights, with continuous monitoring to ensure product integrity is preserved. In some countries, even armed escorts are required for security.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eshel explains that cannabis logistics is not one-size-fits-all. Each product type, including genetics, flower, and concentrates, has unique handling and storage protocols. For instance, cannabis clones present one of the most challenging forms of transport. \u201cMost clones are unrooted,\u201d he says. \u201cFrom the moment you cut them from the mother plant, you have three to four days to keep them alive. That requires special packaging, rapid shipping, and customs clearance to get them back into water in time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Temperature management is another major operational challenge. Most global regulators require cannabis products to be stored and transported between 59 \u00b0F and 77 \u00b0F, known in the pharmaceutical world as Controlled Room Temperature (CRT). In the United States, many recommend that temperatures should not exceed 70 \u00b0F for optimal cannabis preservation. Eshel clarifies that maintaining actual CRT conditions demands active temperature monitoring and specialized packaging, not just insulated boxes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For every shipment, Cannabilog conducts a route risk assessment to evaluate potential environmental extremes along the supply chain. Eshel cites the example of shipments from Canada to Australia, where opposite seasons create complex thermal risks.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cWinter in Canada is summer in Australia, making temperature management a challenge from continent to continent; you have to plan for that,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To minimize exposure, Cannabilog uses pharma-grade airline partners that store and handle products under strict temperature conditions and prioritize loading and unloading to reduce time on the tarmac. Each shipment includes data loggers that record temperature throughout transit.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cIf there\u2019s an excursion outside the allowed range,\u201d Eshel notes, \u201cthe products are rejected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">European regulators, he adds, tend to enforce these standards more rigorously than their U.S. counterparts. While the United States has many GMP-certified cannabis facilities, most are not EU-GMP certified, which limits their ability to export to Europe when the time comes, even though the differences are not that big.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eshel contrasts this with Canada, where much of the market remains recreational. While medical exporters adhere to strict temperature control and quality management, domestic recreational products are often transported under looser conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cYou can\u2019t count on the weather,\u201d he says. \u201cTemperature management is part of the medical cannabis infrastructure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Last Mile in Cannabis Preservation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most of Cannabilog\u2019s shipments are from a cultivation or production facility to a licensed wholesaler or distribution center, rather than directly to pharmacies.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cWe verify that every facility we deliver to is properly licensed and has temperature-controlled storage,\u201d Eshel says.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cannabilog provides insurance coverage for every shipment, including losses related to temperature excursions or other transport issues. However, ultimate product responsibility remains with the manufacturer, much like in the pharmaceutical industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cIf something goes wrong, it\u2019s the manufacturer\u2019s duty to investigate, and if needed, issue a recall,\u201d Eshel explains.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Each transfer of custody, whether at the port, airport, or distribution warehouse, marks a shift in responsibility defined by the buyer-seller agreement. Still, Eshel stresses that all parties must adhere to Good Distribution Practices (GDP) and maintain detailed documentation, including lab tests and Certificates of Analysis (COAs), to ensure transparency and traceability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Without mandatory cold-chain standards, products are often transported in \u201chot trucks,\u201d leading to product degradation. Eshel agrees: \u201cThe last mile is often the weakest link in the supply chain infrastructure as the industry strives to build a cold chain custody from seed to sale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even last-mile deliveries must be temperature-controlled. The difference, Eshel says, comes down to mentality. \u201cIn Europe, it\u2019s purely medical. There\u2019s no confusion between recreational and medical use, so cannabis is treated just like any other medicine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\">\n<div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing\">\n<h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Global cannabis trade is well underway as legalized countries move forward to establish a supply chain infrastructure in a newly formed and rapidly evolving industry. At the forefront of transportation logistics is Cannabilog, an Israeli company led by pharmaceutical industry veteran Yoram Eshel. In an interview, he shared his playbook for building a compliant, efficient, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5062,52,8509,134,8461,5179,5777,8564,10803,8565,1964,5334,2254,5763,6288,184,77,8469,6431,9,2561,8504,8471,8472,8518,8520,1,3,61,1736],"tags":[5063,2632,8535,2712,8483,5181,5783,8586,10815,8587,4532,5350,4821,5771,6292,2762,2655,8491,6434,35,8530,8493,8494,8544,8546],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10867"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10867\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}