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Medical Cannabis - Southern Asia

Southern Asia
  • Southern Asia is projected to witness a revenue of US$385.51m in the Medical Cannabis market market by 2025.
  • The market is expected to demonstrate an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 1.61%, leading to a market volume of US$411.02m by 2029.
  • In global comparison, the United States will yield the highest revenue (US$14.97bn in 2025).
  • In terms of per person revenues in 2025, US$3.18k are generated concerning the total population figures.
  • In Southern Asia, the medical cannabis market is emerging with growing acceptance and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka's regulatory environment.

Definition:
The Medical Cannabis market encompasses products derived from the cannabis plant specifically used for medical purposes. These products may include dried flowers, oils, tinctures, capsules, and topicals. Depending on the regulations in each country or state, these products are available through medical dispensaries, pharmacies, and/or online platforms. They may be consumed in various ways such as smoking, vaporizing, ingesting, or applying topically.

Structure:
The Medical Cannabis market involves cannabinoid-based medicine without marketing authorisation. These unlicensed medicines are supplied through health systems, prescribed by doctors, or used as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). The API is manipulated and/or compounded by a magistral pharmacy to prepare a cannabinoid-based medicine without marketing authorisation. The Medical Cannabis market includes various forms of cannabis such as flowers, oils, capsules, and topicals.

Additional information:
Market values represent the revenues generated by retail prices paid to vendors, either directly or through distribution channels (excluding VAT). Reported market revenues include spending by patients (B2C), healthcare facilities (B2B), and governments (B2G).

In-Scope
  • Cannabinoid-based medicine not holding marketing authorisation containing THC
  • Cannabinoid-based medicine not holding marketing authorisation containing CBD
Out-Of-Scope
  • Cannabinoid-based medicine holding marketing authorisation containing THC
  • Cannabinoid-based medicine holding marketing authorisation containing CBD
Medical Cannabis: market data & analysis - Cover

Market Insights report

Medical Cannabis: market data & analysis
Study Details

    Revenue

    Notes: Data was converted from local currencies using average exchange rates of the respective year.

    Most recent update:

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Most recent update:

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Users

    Most recent update:

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Analyst Opinion

    The Medical Cannabis market in Southern Asia is experiencing significant growth and development, driven by changing customer preferences, evolving regulations, and unique local circumstances.

    Customer preferences:
    Customers in Southern Asia are increasingly turning to medical cannabis products due to growing awareness about the potential health benefits of cannabis-based treatments. The shift towards natural and holistic remedies is influencing consumer choices, leading to a rising demand for medical cannabis products in the region.

    Trends in the market:
    In countries like India and Sri Lanka, traditional medicinal practices have long incorporated cannabis for its therapeutic properties. As regulations around medical cannabis are gradually being relaxed in some Southern Asian countries, there is a noticeable trend towards legalizing and legitimizing the use of medical cannabis for various health conditions. This trend is further supported by the increasing research and studies highlighting the efficacy of cannabis in managing certain medical ailments.

    Local special circumstances:
    Southern Asia presents a unique set of circumstances that are shaping the medical cannabis market in the region. For instance, countries like Thailand and Malaysia are exploring the economic potential of cultivating cannabis for medicinal purposes, aiming to become key players in the global medical cannabis market. Additionally, the cultural acceptance of certain traditional practices involving cannabis in countries like Nepal and Bhutan is contributing to a more positive perception of medical cannabis among the local population.

    Underlying macroeconomic factors:
    The evolving regulatory landscape surrounding medical cannabis in Southern Asia is closely tied to broader macroeconomic factors. As governments in the region seek to capitalize on the economic opportunities presented by the medical cannabis industry, there is a growing emphasis on establishing frameworks that support cultivation, production, and distribution of medical cannabis products. This push towards legalization and regulation is not only driven by potential revenue generation but also by the desire to provide alternative healthcare options for the population.

    Global Comparison

    Most recent update:

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Methodology

    Data coverage:

    Data encompasses B2B and B2C enterprises. Figures are based on companies' revenues, funding values and global consumer survey data. Revenues include retail, sales and taxes.

    Modeling approach / Market size:

    Market sizes are determined by a Top-Down approach, based on a specific rationale for each market market. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use financial reports, third-party data. Next, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations such as tobacco spending per capita, medical product spending per capita, consumer spending and consumer spending for recreation purposes, population. This data helps us to estimate the market size for each country individually.

    Forecasts:

    In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the particular market. For example, S-Curve function, ARIMA time series model and exponential curve function.

    Additional Notes:

    The market is updated twice per year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered at a country-specific level. GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.

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    Medical Cannabis: market data & analysis - BackgroundMedical Cannabis: market data & analysis - Cover

    Key Market Indicators

    Notes: Based on data from IMF, World Bank, UN and Eurostat

    Most recent update:

    Source: Statista Market Insights

    Explore more high-quality data on related topic

    Cannabis market worldwide - Statistics & Facts

    Cannabis or marijuana, the psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant is growing in popularity around the globe, both for recreational and medicinal uses. While there are many countries that have legalized cannabis in some capacity for medical purposes, only a handful have done so for recreational use. Even though cannabis is not federally legal in the United States, the combined legal states represent the largest market in the world. After the U.S., Canada, which legalized cannabis nation-wide in 2018 represents the next largest market. In 2021, a new coalition government was formed in Germany that indicated that the legalization of cannabis was on their agenda. Germany would be the largest legal adult-use market in Europe and would act as a test case for other countries on the continent considering the merits of legalization.
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