Cannabis has become a thriving sector in recent years. An increasing number of investment funds are focusing on trading shares of companies in the cannabis sector. These companies are mostly American and Canadian and are buying or participating in companies with authorisation from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) to cultivate cannabis on Spanish territory.

The US, Canada and Uruguay have regulations for both recreational and medical cannabis, and more than 30 countries in the rest of the world have at least regulated the cultivation of medical cannabis. And this is something that may happen in Spain in the not-too-distant future.

In any case, despite the lack of regulation in Spain, many of these companies are already growing or producing and exporting cannabis in Spain with authorisation from the AEMPS. Even other companies in the sector, which did not obtain a licence, have opened offices on Spanish soil, with the clear intention of being positioned for when the expected regulation may arrive.

Cannabis research and pharmaceutical companies in Spain

The following list, taken from the official AEMPS website, shows the current authorisations:

For research purposes:
ALEOVITRO S.L.: Company dedicated to research in the field of agri-food and biotechnology.
BHALUTEK SENS S.L.
CIJA PRESERVATION, S.L.
HELICON MEDICAL S.L.
INSTITUTO BOTÁNICO DE BARCELONA DEL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTÍFICAS, M.P. (IBB-CSIC)
INSTITUT DE RECERCA I TECNOLOGIA AGROALIMENTARIES (IRTA)
PHYTOPLANT RESEARCH, S.L.
PLOIDY AND GENOMICS S.L.
SOVEREIGN FIELDS S.L.
UCIE ARS INNOVATIO (Scientific Unit for Business Innovation of the Valencian Innovation Agency)

For cannabis production and/or manufacture and its products for medical and scientific purposes:

BHALUTEK SENS S.L.: Authorisation for the cultivation of cannabis plants for the production of cannabis seeds and cuttings for medical purposes.
CANNABASA AGRO AND PHARMA S.L.: Authorisation for the cultivation of cannabis plants to obtain the necessary batches to validate the manufacturing process of narcotic active principles (cannabis extract) for medical purposes.
CÁÑAMO Y FIBRAS NATURALES, S.L. (CAFINA): authorisation for the cultivation, production, distribution and exportation of cannabis sativa and its products.
LINNEO HEALTH, S.L.: authorisation for the cultivation, production, manufacture, distribution, import and exportation of cannabis sativa and its products.
MEDALCHEMY S.L.: Authorisation for the cultivation and production of cannabis sativa and its products.
MEDICAL PLANTS S.L.: Authorisation for the cultivation of cannabis plants to obtain the necessary batches to validate the manufacturing process of narcotic active principles (cannabis) for medical purposes.
OILS4CURE, S.L.: authorisation for the cultivation and production of cannabis sativa for the authorisation request of a clinical trial.

Sources:
aemps.gob.es
publico.es