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AS IT IS
Sunny Portugal Now Path to EU Medical Marijuana
April 30, 2019
A worker smiles as she shows cannabis plants at the Tilray factory in Cantanhede, Portugal April 24, 2019.
For years, the Portuguese city of Cantanhede has been known for its wine products and roasted suckling pig, a local specialty. But the city has something new: Portugal’s first medical cannabis production farm.
The cannabis plant produces cannabinoids – chemical compounds used in treating health disorders. Parts of the plant are used to make the drug marijuana as well as a number of products containing the compounds CBD and THC.
Portugal’s sunny weather is ideal for growing cannabis. The weather caught the attention of Brendan Kennedy. He is Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian company Tilray, one of the world’s largest producers of medical cannabis.
Kennedy traveled around Europe from 2015 to 2017 in search of the perfect place for Tilray’s newest production facility. Not only did Portugal have the ideal climate, but Kennedy also liked the country’s agricultural industry and young, educated workforce.
Infarmed is the Portuguese government agency on medicines and health products. In 2017, the agency approved Tilray’s request to start a medical cannabis farm, which covers 2.4 hectares in a biotechnology park outside Cantanhede.
Tilray then hurried to import its first baby plants and recently reported its first two successful cannabis harvests.
Kennedy opened the facility to visitors for the first time at a ceremony last week.
“Some of our competitors are located in Denmark and northern Germany, where there isn’t that much sun. So we think we can produce a more environmentally-friendly product here,” he told Reuters news agency.
By having the farm in Portugal, Tilray’s products are tax-free within the European Union, or EU. That is the market the company is targeting as other EU governments legalize medical marijuana.
On legalization
Kennedy noted that Europe is moving toward legalization, and the demand for medical marijuana is growing. He is hopeful that, over the next two years, “We will see every country in Europe legalizing it.”
Last year, Portugal’s parliament approved a bill to legalize marijuana-based medicines. The move followed the legalization of such drugs in countries like Italy, Germany, Canada and parts of the United States. Britain made medical marijuana legal in July 2018.
At the $22.29 million Tilray facility, cannabis is grown indoors and outdoors. The facility also has research laboratories and processing and delivery centers for medical marijuana and products made from cannabinoids.
Tilray supplies medical cannabis products with the compounds CBD and THC to patients in many countries. It also supplies these products through agreements with pharmaceutical companies.
Earlier this year, the European Parliament demanded an EU-wide policy on medical cannabis and financing for scientific research.
“We are at point where almost every doctor around the world recognizes "the medical value of cannabis, Kennedy explained.
The World Health Organization has stated that several studies showed cannabinoids can help patients with cancer and AIDS.
In addition, some drug makers already use chemicals from cannabis. One of them is GW Pharmaceuticals’ Sativex, which is approved for treating symptoms from the disease multiple sclerosis.
Based on information from advisory service Prohibition Partners, the EU cannabis market will be worth 123 billion euros by the year 2028.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Catarina Demony and Rafael Marchante reported this story for Reuters news agency. Alice Bryant adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
compound – n. a substance created when the atoms of two or more chemical elements join together
facility – n. something (such as a building) that is built for a specific purpose
biotechnology park – n. a facility created mainly to promote a group of small and medium biotech businesses
locate – v. to put (something or someone) in a particular place
delivery – n. the act of taking something to a person or place
pharmaceutical – adj. of or relating to the production and sale of drugs and medicine
symptom – n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present
AS IT IS
Clashes in Venezuela Between Opposition, Government Troops
April 30, 2019
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday called for the military to oust President Nicolas Maduro. But Maduro said that military leaders had shown him “their total loyalty.”
Guaido spoke at a gathering outside an air base in Caracas. Guaido supporters at the demonstration and soldiers began to fight. Other clashes took place at similar demonstrations across the country.
The early-morning rebellion, however, seems to have only limited military support.
Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López appeared on national television surrounded by the country’s generals. He condemned Guaido’s move to seize power as a “terrorist” act and said that it was bound to fail.
Early on Tuesday, Guaido posted a video on Twitter saying that he had begun the “final phase” of his campaign to oust Maduro. He called on Venezuelans and the armed forces to support him ahead of large street protests planned for Wednesday.
Standing with Guaido was Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuela’s leading opposition activist. Lopez has been under house arrest by Maduro but said he was "freed" by soldiers supporting Guaido. Lopez declared, “I want to tell the Venezuelan people: This is the moment to take to the streets and accompany these patriotic soldiers.”
As the two were speaking, troops loyal to Maduro fired tear gas from inside the air base. Several thousand demonstrators fled for cover. A tank then drove into a crowd of demonstrators who were throwing rocks at soldiers.
Guaido had declared himself the country’s interim president in January. The leader of Venezuela's National Assembly said Maduro’s re-election should not be recognized because he had barred his opponents from running against him.
Guaido told German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle in an interview released Tuesday, “Whatever happens now, we won’t let ourselves be stopped. Our process is moving on step by step, in accordance with our constitution. We continue to stand for nonviolence.”
Guaido has said Wednesday’s protests will be “the largest march in Venezuela’s history.”
Venezuela is dealing with an economic crisis along with its political one. Food and medicine shortages are severe. Earlier this year, the United States banned the sale of Venezuela’s oil in U.S. markets, adding more financial pressure on the country.
U.S. backing Guaido
In Washington, D.C., White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said President Donald Trump “has been briefed and is monitoring the ongoing situation.” She would not say whether the administration knew of Guaido’s plan before Tuesday’s events took place.
Other American officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security advisor John Bolton expressed their support for Guaido on Twitter. Pence wrote, “To @jguaido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad—Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored."
-t-
Russia’s foreign ministry on Tuesday accused the Venezuelan opposition of an attempt to draw the country’s armed forces into clashes. In recent weeks, Russia also sent soldiers and officers to help in Venezuela defense operations.
I'm Caty Weaver.
Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Associated Press and Reuters news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor.
Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
accompany - v. to go together
accordance - n. in a way that agrees with or follows
monitor - v. to watch, observe
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