Articles, news and information around the cannabis sector

What is attracting the American right to put cash and effort behind psychedelics?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th October 2022

It is not only cannabis that is attracting what might be thought unexpected investment and support from traditionally conservative, right-wing supporters and lobbyists in the US ...

Vaping and weed – gateway to confusion between correlation and causation

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th October 2022

Another study has confused correlation and causation when it comes to youth vaping and the supposed gateway effect – this time linking vaping and later cannabis use ...

Cannabis may help against opioids – but this latest study doesn’t tell us much

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th October 2022

Reducing opioid dependence is a primary goal of medical cannabis programmes, but there remains a need for rigorous science when making decisions about the interaction between cannabis and opioid use for pain ...

Opposite sides attract, as Navajo oppose any bid to decriminalise use of peyote

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd September 2022

Drug legalisation as an issue truly does bring together some strange bedfellows – like the Navajo Nation and drug prohibitionists ...

How will open access to federally funded research affect US cannabis science?

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th September 2022

The Biden Administration recently released a memorandum requiring research receiving federal funds to be made available to the public without charge. But what effect will this have on cannabis research? ...

Coming together over cannabis: is support becoming a bipartisan issue?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th September 2022

Once mainly the purview of fringe leftists, support for cannabis continues to become more of a bipartisan issue ...

Could cannabis help improve outcomes for patients badly afflicted by Covid?

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th August 2022

A study published this month provides further evidence that cannabis could be helpful in treating severe late-stage Covid-19 ...

Trouble in Lima – hemp bill’s chances tied up in Peru’s congressional crisis

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th August 2022

New legislation has been put forward in Peru to establish a framework for the production and commercialisation of hemp – but what are its chances of passing in a period of political turmoil? ...

In a world of wide-boys and no-hopers, who should have a licence to sell weed?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th August 2022

It’s difficult to get a licence to operate in the cannabis field in the US if you’ve been convicted of selling cannabis before it was legal. Yet such restrictions do little to protect the market...

Are psychedelics set to follow cannabis into mainstream medical acceptance?

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 21st July 2022

Psychedelics are having another moment in the spotlight. But is the heightened awareness just hype, or have these once-taboo substances been permanently rehabilitated? ...

Cannabis or marijuana? Why it matters what name you (and the law) know it by

Written by Freddie Dawson | 13th July 2022

There is quite a bit of baggage in how reference is made to the Cannabis sativa plant – as demonstrated by what's behind a new change to the law in the US state of Washington...

No magic solution: EFSA ingestible CBD safety concerns won't be resolved quickly

Written by Freddie Dawson | 1st July 2022

It looks like there will be no easy or quick solutions to addressing the data gaps the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) requires to reach a conclusion on the safety of CBD as an ingestible...

Why the long pause? Companies question Efsa's insistence on filling 'data gap'

Written by Freddie Dawson | 23rd June 2022

In trying to be overly cautious on novel foods, has the European Food Safety Authority inadvertently added an extra risk to public health? ...

Lack of quality science on cannabis and pain leaves room for fake news and myth

Written by Barnaby Page | 16th June 2022

“It’s a myth that cannabis relieves pain,” declared the Daily Mail. But that is not what the study it was reporting said at all ...

Can a California cannabis cultivation tax cut help some without harming others?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th June 2022

Could lowering taxes lead to more revenue? It’s a question that can be applied to many retail areas, from train tickets to electronics ...

Off the hook – research reveals youth health benefits of legalising cannabis

Written by Aidan Semmens | 31st May 2022

A six-year study of young adult behaviour reveals that when and where cannabis use is legalised, young people’s use of alcoho. and tobacco drops – and so does the use, and misuse, of pain-relieving prescription...

What action in the name of sustainability is the CBD industry likely to see?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th May 2022

CBD is already working from a higher base than many consumer products on the market. But that does not mean there is nothing else to be done ...

How likely is it that the US will see further delta-8 THC enforcement?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th May 2022

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently sent its first round of letters concerning delta-8 THC to five companies. How likely is it that the US will see further delta-8 THC enforcement? ...

UK FSA updates novel food list – but what difference will it make to the market?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 5th May 2022

The recent update to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA)’s list of CBD products linked to validated novel food applications has created further issues and questions in the industry – such as, what will actually...

The common sense of CBD science, and why it doesn't always come to the fore

Written by Barnaby Page | 21st April 2022

Is the current system of peer-reviewed journal publication the best way to get the best science on CBD and cannabis? There could be another way ...

Polish court decision on hemp as novel food could have big ramifications

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th April 2022

A Polish appeals court has put forward a decision that may be out of kilter with many other interpretations of the status of hemp as a novel food ...

Will Canadian government's proposal put renewed fizz in cannabinoid drinks?

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 6th April 2022

Is the Canadian government’s proposal to increase the number of cannabis-infused drinks that can be legally purchased at one time good news for firms that have invested in cannabinoid-infused beverages? ...

Are there lessons for cannabinoids from the new synthetic-nicotine regulation?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th March 2022

Could the cannabinoid industry learn anything from the recent move to close the loophole that had kept synthetic nicotine out of US Food and Drug Administration oversight? ...

Another sign of mainstream acceptance as Amazon gets on board with CBD in US

Written by Freddie Dawson | 21st March 2022

Interest from major players in traditional retail channels continues to grow ...

Is investing in cannabis in 2022 a smart bet or a ‘dead-money scenario’?

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 9th March 2022

Last month CBD-Intel reported that the Dermapharm Holding bought Canopy Growth’s Cannabinoid Compound Company (C3) for €80m, a huge loss for Canopy, and one of the biggest cannabis acquisitions in Europe at the time. But what makes...

NORML releases delta-8 THC info that’s both misleading and potentially divisive

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd March 2022

One of the most prestigious cannabis legalisation lobbying groups has come out with a disappointing – but not surprising – strong line against hemp-derived delta-8 THC products ...

The changing face of endorsements as they get more mainstream – and whiter

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th February 2022

What was once the purview of more “controversial” or “alternative” names has now become the territory of mainstream celebrities designed to appeal to a wider – and whiter – audience ...

Only in California: the fresh vape that's cannabis and nothing but the cannabis

Written by Aidan Semmens | 9th February 2022

The latest offering from the company that first devised the Juul e-cigarette looks sure to be a new Californian craze – a new vaping pod “made solely from pure cannabis” ...

Will UK FSA at last publish an updated list of validated novel food applications?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 2nd February 2022

Don't hold your breath, but rumours are swirling that the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) will soon publish an updated, completed list of CBD novel food applications that have been fully validated ...

Despite industry investment, the future remains cloudy for cannabinoid drinks

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 20th January 2022

Covid has significantly increased consumer interest in health and wellness, with food and drink formulations that create innovative solutions for “mental and emotional wellbeing” becoming a 2021 trend ...

How US Democrats' cannabis reform plans ran aground despite promises

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 12th January 2022

After early promise, no cannabis-focused legislation has yet made it onto president Joe Biden’s desk for signing. So why is that? ...

Colombian insurance policy shows real intent to lead on cannabinoids

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th January 2022

Colombia has joined a select few countries now demanding mandatory coverage of medical cannabis by health insurance providers ...

Legal eagle Kight explains how the USPS could have modified PACT Act regulation

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd December 2021

Does the United States Postal Service (USPS) really have the authority to permit the shipping of CBD vaping products under the PACT Act? ...

Florida bill will not distinguish delta-8 THC from other hemp-derived products

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th December 2021

There are incorrect reports that a proposed bill in Florida would regulate delta-8 THC products in the state. In fact the bill will place limitations on the sale of all hemp-derived products ...

What do Luxembourg and Malta's legal cannabis plans mean in practice?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th December 2021

Will proposed plans to legalise recreational cannabis in Luxembourg and Malta change much in terms of EU business? ...

New German coalition plans to legalise cannabis – but when will sales begin?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th November 2021

The newly elected German governing coalition has followed through on pre-election promises and included a plan for cannabis legalisation in its coalition agreement – but many questions remain to be answered ...

Why are specialist vape retailers around the world turning away from CBD online?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 17th November 2021

More and more vape specialists appear to be moving away from selling CBD vaping products, according to online market data produced by CBD-Intel ...

eBay prepares to take on Amazon with the launch of UK trial of CBD sales

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th November 2021

eBay is set to launch a CBD trial, sources tell CBD-Intel. The internet marketplace that built its name as an auction site is said to be anticipating a November start for its UK...

The suspense continues, still with no end in sight to the UK's novel food saga

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd November 2021

October has ended and November begun with still no further update from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) on the ongoing novel food application...

US states fall over themselves backwards to sow further confusion over delta-8

Written by Anthony Traurig | 21st October 2021

A few US states may have over-corrected course in their rushing to modify regulations to cover hemp-derived delta-8 THC ...

Charlotte's Web new dietary ingredient application did include ValidCare data

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th October 2021

It turns out the Charlotte’s Web application to the US FDA for the registration of a full spectrum hemp extract as a new dietary ingredient (NDI) DID include data from the ValidCare industry study ...

Could CBD companies face scrutiny from another US regulatory agency?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th October 2021

Does the CBD industry now face increased scrutiny from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)? ...

What does the recent USPTO trademark decision mean for the industry?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd September 2021

The USPTO Appeals Board verdict upholding the USPTO's decision to not grant Joy Tea a trademark covering CBD beverages should come as no surprise ...

FDA and CDC warnings won't signal the end of the delta-8 THC market in the US

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th September 2021

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have issued warnings about the rise of reported incidents in the US regarding the use of delta-8 THC ...

Beverage brands still searching for the right solution to their drink problem

Written by CannIntelligence | 9th September 2021

CBD beverages continue to be a popular niche sub-category for producers, with brands still experimenting and bringing out new variations. Some significant regulatory concerns remain for the mid/long-term. Neither the US, UK or EU has...

Could Colombia's reversal on allowing medical cannabis flower exports impact the global market?

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st September 2021

There are always people claiming that new changes mean some such country will be "The next big X in cannabis or hemp". Recent examples include North Macedonia, Thailand, Brazil, Paraguay, Lesotho, Malawi, and of course,...

What conclusions can be drawn from the FDA rejection of full hemp extracts as supplements?

Written by CBD-Intel | 18th August 2021

The FDA recently rejected applications from both Charlotte's Web and Irwin Naturals to use a hemp extract as a dietary supplement ...

What lies behind the CBD industry's continued interest in the field of nicotine replacement?

Written by CBD-Intel | 11th August 2021

A new study has shown some limited effectiveness for the use of CBD in combatting nicotine withdrawal symptoms ...

Could e-cig 'shake and vape' be a model for sales of ingestible CBD products?

Written by CBD-Intel | 5th August 2021

There remains no certainty over the future regulation of ingestible CBD products in many jurisdictions ...

What can be concluded from the appointment of Lina Khan as new chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)?

Written by CBD-Intel | 22nd July 2021

Lina Khan's appointment to chair the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – confirmed last month – was a bit of a surprise ...

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