The North America and South & Central America medical marijuana market was valued at US$ 6,645.16 million in 2021 and is projected to reach US$ 22,809.76 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 19.3% from 2022 to 2028.

The report highlights trends prevailing in the market and factors driving the North America and South & Central America medical marijuana market. The market growth is attributed to increasing approvals of medical marijuana products and rising acceptance of the medicinal use of marijuana. However, the illegal use of cannabis as a street drug and misconceptions regarding marijuana limit the market growth.

Medical marijuana is in its introduction stage in the medical health industry. It is a potent product accepted globally, where Chinese medicines are already being manufactured using these plants, and that too with a long history associated. Medical marijuana remains a significant influence in the healthcare industry to treat cases that are not entirely advisable with traditional medicines. Medical marijuana is just a typical marijuana plant that is processed to get the fundamental composition of cannabinoids, which is necessary to synthesize the product to be in use.

Countries in North America have legalized the use and cultivation of medical cannabis. For instance, in 2012, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Similarly, in 2014, Brazil authorized the use of medical cannabis, and in 2016, it approved the import of medications based on CBD oil and products made from THC and marijuana flowers. In 2017, Peru approved a law regulating the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives. In 2018, the Government of Canada passed the Cannabis Act, which created a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis across Canada. In the US, as of February 2022, marijuana was legalized in 37 states and the District of Columbia. In the past few years, Mexico, Luxembourg, and Lesotho, among others, have joined the list of countries to legalize the use of marijuana for medical applications.

However, despite widespread legalization of the use of cannabis, its legal cultivation and production have earlier been mostly limited to developing countries. In September 2019, the Ministry of Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries of Jamaica announced a partnership with Harvard International Phytomedicines and Medical Cannabis Institute (HIPI) to conduct research on the pharmacological benefits of marijuana. At the same time, Jamaica aims to capitalize on this partnership and utilize this opportunity to grow and develop its national marijuana industry. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that ~80% of the world's population utilizes marijuana or cannabis for medical remedies. Therefore, the growing acceptance, cultivation, and production of medical marijuana in developing countries is contributing significantly to the growth of the North America and South & Central America medical marijuana market.

Based on product, the North America and South & Central America medical marijuana market is bifurcated into dried form and extract form. The extract form segment held a larger market share in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is anticipated to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the extract form segment can be attributed to the rising demand for liquid extracts in medical applications, increasing health and wellness trends with the consumption of natural health products, and rising awareness regarding the benefits of extracts over dried marijuana.

Based on application, the North America and South & Central America medical marijuana market is segmented into pain management, Tourette's, Alzheimer's disease, migraines, depression and anxiety, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and others. The pain management segment held the largest market share in 2021. However, the multiple sclerosis segment is expected to record the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2028. The pain management segment is driven by the growing prevalence of trauma or hypertension, increasing demand for muscle and nerve stimulators, and the rising prevalence of lifestyle disorders such as obesity and diabetes.

Based on distribution channel, the North America and South & Central America medical marijuana market is segmented into retail pharmacy, e-commerce, and others. The retail pharmacy segment held the largest market share in 2021. However, the e-commerce segment is expected to record the fastest CAGR during 2022-2028. The major driving factors for the retail pharmacy segment are a highly regulated supply chain, expert consulting, and patient solutions that improve adherence.

COVID-19 Impact - North America and South & Central America Medical Marijuana Market

Despite the increasing COVID-19 cases worldwide, there were vital growth opportunities for the medical marijuana market. The demand for nutritious products has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. A good intake of healthy food has helped in building immunity and avoiding getting infected by SARS-CoV- The medical marijuana market in North America declined by a rate of 32% from 2019 to 2020. Due to lockdown and shut down, no movements were taking place in most industries, as well as the import-export business was impacted and changes in guidelines for the products supply negatively impacted the market growth. In North Macedonia, construction of Pharmacon's 178,000-square-foot cannabis (marijuana) grow house, slowed due to social distancing guidelines. Additionally, in Barcelona, Cannabis Social Clubs-private, non-profit organizations, where the substance is collectively grown and distributed to registered members, was shut down following the government's declaration of a state of alarm across the country. Thus, the increasing sales of cannabis products is expected to drive the market during the forecast period. Also, major healthcare companies were focusing on the development of COVID-19 vaccines due to which the market witnessed a decline in the research activities related to medical marijuana.

However, in various states, governors and public health officials later deemed cannabis businesses as "essential" operations. Nearly all states with legal medical or recreational markets classified marijuana businesses as an "essential service," which allowed the company to remain open even as much of the retail economy has had to close or operate with severe restrictions. Due to the fact that medical marijuana has been acknowledged as an alternative therapy to its traditional counterparts, the medical marijuana market is expected to grow due to an increased prevalence of ailments in the pandemic period.

Various organic and inorganic strategies are adopted by companies operating in the medical marijuana market. The organic strategies mainly include product launches and product approvals. Further, inorganic growth strategies witnessed in the market are acquisitions, collaboration, and partnerships. These growth strategies allow the medical marijuana market players to expand their businesses and enhance their geographic presence, thereby contributing to the overall market growth. Further, acquisition and partnership strategies help the market players strengthen their customer base and expand their product portfolios. A few significant developments by key players in the medical marijuana market are listed below.

- In February 2021, CANAQUEST MEDICAL CORP announced a new production and distribution agreement with PurCann Pharma ("PurCann ") and SiliCycle Inc. ("SiliCycle "). This agreement facilitates CanaQuest's planned production, distribution, and global export of Mentanine and Mentabinol formulations, through its wholly owned subsidiary, ADC BioMedical Corp.

- In May 2020, Aphria Inc., a leading global cannabis company, announced that it would transfer its stock exchange listing from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") to The Nasdaq Global Select Market ("Nasdaq") after the market close. The company expects its common stock will begin trading as Nasdaq-listed security and will continue to be listed under the ticker symbol "APHA." This transition will not impact the company's primary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: APHA).

A few major primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the report on the medical marijuana market are the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among others.