News analysis for professionals in the cannabis industry

Recreational cannabis plans dashed, medical and IHDCs on the up in 2024

Written by Freddie Dawson | 20th December 2024

On the surface, 2024 could seem like a disappointing year for commercial cannabinoids, but scratch the surface and it really was not all that bad ...

Allowed levels of THC in UK CBD products to be much lower than Home Office limit

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th December 2024

Permitted THC levels in CBD products in the UK will be below Home Office drug law levels, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), though a specific amount has not been announced ...

UK FSA takes another step towards first approvals of ingestible CBD products

Written by Freddie Dawson | 13th December 2024

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) board met on 11th December to discuss a recent report on progress towards approval of an ingestible CBD product in the country ...

On the latest Trump picks for attorney general and to head FDA and agriculture

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th December 2024

The ever-changing make-up of US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for posts in his administration – still far from set in stone – offers a few new options that will impact on cannabis and hemp ...

Australian study finds objective scientific evidence that cannabis increases sleep

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 21st November 2024

Cannabis may help sleep, according to Australian researchers who found evidence of the hypnotic properties of cannabinol (CBN) and say their study is the first to use objective measures to prove CBN increases sleep ...

How might newly elected US governors approach cannabis laws in their states?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th November 2024

Not a single US state governorship flipped parties during the elections held on 5th November despite strong gains in the Senate for the Republican party, as well as the party’s victory in the presidential election...

US cannabis industry has high hopes for itself under a second Trump presidency

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 19th November 2024

While the sector’s optimism about the prospect of a Republican presidency would have barely been imaginable until recently, Donald Trump’s re-election is being welcomed with positive expectations by the country’s cannabis industry ...

Is another Donald Trump administration bad news for the US cannabis industry?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 14th November 2024

Until last week, the US cannabis sector was wondering what to expect from the then-upcoming presidential elections, and cannabis legalisation was also on the ballot in several states ...

CBD firm founder’s personal post deemed an unauthorised health claim by UK ASA

Written by Freddie Dawson | 13th November 2024

Even the most general of positive statements can be construed as a health claim, according to the latest CBD ruling from the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ...

Greentank teams up with AIR to develop new line of cannabis-free wellness vapes

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th November 2024

Canada-based vaping hardware maker Greentank has launched a partnership with Dubai-headquartered group AIR Global, as the shisha market specialist aims to enter the global wellness sector ...

UK NHS study first to test CBD and THC drugs together in treatment of epilepsy

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 30th October 2024

Two CBD- and THC-based drugs to treat child epilepsy will be tested on 500 patients countrywide in the UK next year in a trial by researchers at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital...

Cannabis and the US elections: from Schedule I drug to business prospect

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th October 2024

As the US cannabis sector prepares for the economic impact of an announced reclassification of marijuana to a less-restrictive schedule, the presidential contest seems to have already turned cannabis into a business opportunity worth supporting...

Medical cannabis organisation in Spain on first draft law: it won’t help patients

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 14th October 2024

Two years past the deadline, Spain finally has a medical cannabis draft regulation, but restrictions in the bill make it so challenging for patients to access medication that they wonder if it would even help...

Thailand’s newest government says it is pro-cannabis...and this time it’s for real

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st October 2024

Thailand’s new government has said it will not reclassify cannabis as an illegal drug as it seeks to end a legal limbo that has chilled investor interest in the country’s nascent weed industry ...

Under the new European Commission, who will mind health and food safety?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 30th September 2024

Some fear healthcare and food safety will not be among the main concerns of the next European Commission after the Commission president unveiled the new commissioners’ respective tasks ...

Brazilian pharmaceutical company acquires Colombian cannabis giant

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th September 2024

Brazilian pharmaceutical company Ease Labs officially announced the acquisition this month of Plena, a cannabis cultivation and extraction company based in Colombia ...

Using after 50: US poll reveals cannabis consumption trends among older adults

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 25th September 2024

One in five older adults in the US use cannabis for recreational or medical reasons, based on a recent survey. Besides risks related to use without medical advice, researchers identified some hazardous behaviours ...

UK ASA says no to CBD web guidance on under-age use and maximum daily dose

Written by Freddie Dawson | 20th September 2024

CBD company websites must follow UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidelines – even though they are recommendations only – as demonstrated by two new rulings from the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ...

Would the US Supreme Court overturn the decision on the legality of THCO?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th September 2024

The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently decided tetrahydrocannabinol acetate (THCO) was legal under current federal law, disregarding an interpretation by the Drug Enforcement Administration ...

IHDCs are legal under US federal law, according to appeals court case ruling

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th September 2024

A US federal circuit appeals court has affirmed the legality of “synthetically derived” hemp cannabinoids, rejecting interpretations by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids (IHDCs) in the process ...

Brazil becomes top market for Colombia’s cannabis exports amid regulatory shifts

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th September 2024

In 2023, nearly a third – around $3.4m – of Colombia's total cannabis exports went to Brazil, driven by regulatory shifts and Colombia’s determination to dominate the international cannabis market ...

From US state to federal government, is Kamala Harris a cannabis friend or foe?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th September 2024

Democratic US presidential candidate Kamala Harris has become one of the most positive major voices for cannabis liberalisation at the federal level, but critics say her prior record undermines that and leaves her untrustworthy ...

Prior to US elections, Trump talks the talk on cannabis, but has yet to walk the walk

Written by Frederick Dawson | 6th September 2024

Republican US presidential nominee Donald Trump may end up an ally of the cannabinoid industry if recent comments on his voting intentions are to be believed ...

Could the Czech government be out of step with its own anti-addiction plan?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th September 2024

Just over a year after the Czech government unveiled a new, ambitious action plan to fight addictions, doubts are being raised over the government’s alignment with its own declared war on addictions ...

Recreational cannabis bill advances in Colombia’s Congress, backed by president

Written by CannIntelligence | 4th September 2024

Though Colombia’s efforts to legalise and regulate adult-use cannabis have failed in recent years, lawmakers and the president hope a new bill will receive the backing necessary to further develop its cannabis market ...

Epidiolex misses trial’s efficacy goal in Japan as it aims for drug authorisation

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 28th August 2024

Clinical trials on CBD-based medical drug Epidiolex missed their main goal of registering a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures experienced by patients in Japan, based on the results reported by manufacturer Jazz Pharmaceuticals...

Increase in prescriptions of unlicensed medical cannabis sparks concern in UK

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th August 2024

Unlicensed medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK private medical sector have increased by nearly 120% between 2022 and 2023, raising concerns in the healthcare industry over prescribers’ practices ...

Chief research officer shares equation for success in developing next-gen products

Written by CannIntelligence | 23rd August 2024

Businesses that lead product innovation with what the consumer wants will be one step ahead when it comes to taking a next-generation product to market – particularly when making PMTAs in the US ...

US Republican VP nominee may support cannabis regulation but not legalisation

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th August 2024

Republican nominee for vice-president JD Vance has been silent on vaping, tobacco alternatives and the Ohio cannabis legalisation debate, but some of his comments suggest he may support the regulation of recreational cannabis ...

Cannabinoid and vape brands’ joint affair sparks surprise interest from Middle East

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th August 2024

Executives were taken aback by the enthusiasm vendors showed for a nicotine vape brand in Dubai with a US West Coast theme, even though it involves a product that the UAE only recently legalised ...

US Democratic VP nominee could be supportive of pro-cannabis policies

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th August 2024

New Democratic nominee for vice president Tim Walz is unlikely to be an ally to the tobacco alternatives and vaping industries but, as governor of Minnesota, he was keen on legalising cannabis ...

Not your usual partnership between cannabinoid brand and vaping company

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th August 2024

Vaping company Ispire has signed a 30-year global licensing agreement with Hidden Hills Club, a cannabinoid operation with wider lifestyle ambitions that will lead to the creation of Hidden Hills branded nicotine vaping products ...

Could Italy’s latest attempt at banning hemp be the one that hits its mark?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 8th August 2024

After a few back-and-forths, Italian authorities may actually kill the country’s CBD sector by simply passing a minor amendment to a major soon-to-be-approved bill, banning hemp flower and its extracts regardless of their THC content...

Italian amendment reintroduced that could leave CBD, hemp sector in ruins

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th August 2024

The proposed and withdrawn amendment to ban CBD products in Italy has reappeared as part of a bill aimed at enhancing public safety and combating crime ...

Another Thai about-face on cannabis could still result in narcotics listing

Written by Freddie Dawson | 5th August 2024

Cannabis will no longer be added to the narcotics list in Thailand in the latest turnaround from legislators, as officials said they would prefer to regulate cannabis through the legislative process ...

Czech government struggles to push through cannabis legalisation bill

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 2nd August 2024

The long-awaited submission of a Czech government draft bill for the regulation of recreational cannabis was not received favourably by conservative representatives, leading to a discussion focused on self-cultivation only ...

As contests for US governorships ramp up, how do candidates view cannabis?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th July 2024

Though debate about US president Joe Biden’s potential replacement dominates headlines on the November elections, down-ballot races in many states may impact the future of cannabis in the country ...

Germany’s cannabis clubs are now allowed to operate, but are they really?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 19th July 2024

On 1st July, cannabis clubs became allowed to operate under Germany’s new cannabis law, but this doesn’t mean that even the first already-licensed club will actually be able to start operations anytime soon ...

Germany inaugurates its very own cannabis club system: will it work?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 18th July 2024

The first cannabis club in Germany may soon start operating after receiving the first cultivation licence under the country’s new cannabis regulation ...

Mexico’s president considered positive for cannabis sector, trouble for vape market

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th July 2024

The election of Claudia Sheinbaum as Mexico’s first-ever female president is being celebrated by members of the national cannabis industry as a positive step towards potential legalisation ...

Florida governor’s veto on IHDC ban bill: good news for hemp or playing politics?

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd July 2024

Florida’s governor last month vetoed a bill that would have banned most intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid (IHDC) products and limited the amount of total delta-9 THC in hemp products ...

Red scare in the green game – should Chinese activity in US farming raise flags?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 27th June 2024

Revelations about Chinese activities in the US agriculture sector have raised a number of issues. Evidence of increased activity by Chinese national affiliates has sparked something of a red scare among commentators ...

Australians use medical cannabis to treat pain, mental issues, survey results show

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th June 2024

Nearly eight years after the legalisation of medical cannabis in Australia, most people who use it to treat a health condition obtain it legally, through a doctor’s prescription ...

Germany expected to eliminate hemp ‘intoxication clause’ from cannabis law

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th June 2024

An announced withdrawal of a law clause stating that the commercial use of industrial hemp must exclude “the abuse of intoxication” could have a significant impact on the German cannabis industry if approved ...

Germany set to introduce HHC ban, but other semi-synthetics may take its place

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 6th June 2024

HHC is likely to become illegal very soon in Germany, as the country’s Federal Council prepares to pass a government decree on the subject on 14th June ...

Italy’s right-wing government may end up banning hemp, putting a sector at risk

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 31st May 2024

Italy may soon ban hemp flowers and hemp flower extracts with a THC content of less than 0.2%, as the country’s far-right government takes a conservative stance on cannabis ...

Are US regulators far removed from society when it comes to cannabis?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 29th May 2024

While moving cannabis to a less-restrictive Schedule III will not legalise the recreational market at a federal level, it may reflect the need for authorities to modify their attitude to align with changes in society...

Contamination and adulteration of vape products: how serious is the problem?

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th May 2024

The recent discovery of the illicit animal tranquilliser xylazine in cannabis vapes raises concerns about harmful contaminants. How do these substances end up in vaping products? ...

Canadian cannabis firms ‘barely keeping their heads above water’ under tax load

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd May 2024

Canada’s cannabis industry is warning more cannabis companies may be forced to close their doors in the coming months, after the Canadian government failed to deliver excise duty relief in this year’s federal budget ...

The long road to EFSA authorisation for CBD as novel food in the European Union

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 20th May 2024

In June 2022, the European Food Safety Authority broke some very bad news to CBD companies applying for their products to be authorised as novel food in the European Union ...

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