United Kingdom: Market and legal data for the cannabis sector

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) ...

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...

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) ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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? ...

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 ...

UK FSA novel food committee gives CBD brands first positive safety assessments

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 6th May 2024

UK-based CBD brands Cannaray and Pureis are the first to obtain a positive safety assessment from the Food and Standards Agency (FSA) Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes ...

The uncertain fate of IHDCs in Europe: could a general ban be on the horizon?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th April 2024

In this part of a series of articles celebrating the tenth anniversary of Tamarind Intelligence, we look at how the landscape of intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids (IHDCs) across Europe has changed over the years ...

UK ASA ruling on Supreme CBD social media posts: that’s advertising all right

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd February 2024

If you get paid for increasing sales of a product, you’re promoting that product. That seems like a simple enough concept, yet it’s one that, according to the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), influencers and...

As herbal sticks get more popular in Europe, CBD could be among ingredients

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th August 2023

Tobacco-free herbal sticks are expected to continue growing in popularity, and some producers are considering the inclusion of CBD-based heated sticks in their product line where it is permitted as an ingredient ...

Cannabis companies shed US assets to focus on more lucrative markets

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 27th July 2023

Major cannabis firms are streamlining their North American operations and reallocating resources toward markets with what they see as more long-term growth potential ...

The vanity of the bonfires – what now for UK bid to torch EU cannabinoid rules?

Written by CannIntelligence | 16th May 2023

The UK government’s plan to review or revoke thousands of pieces of legislation that originated from EU law by the end of the year is itself now under review ...

‘We can’t make medical claims’ is a way of making a medical claim, says watchdog

Written by Freddie Dawson | 27th April 2023

Referring to the fact that a CBD company cannot make medical claims can itself be construed as making a medical claim, according to the UK Advertising Standards Authority ...

UK FSA recruits and expected new rules ‘should speed up novel food assessments’

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th April 2023

New resources and potential future regulatory changes are being applied to the UK novel food approval process in the hopes of improving processing time for applications, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) said ...

UK FSA selects Deloitte to review novel foods process, including CBD products

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st April 2023

Auditing firm Deloitte is to review the UK Food Standards Agency’s novel foods process in a £130,000 contract. The government committed to reviewing the process in January 2022, taking advantage of Brexit ...

Cannabrew launches in UK supermarket Ocado, with US expansion in mind

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th March 2023

Lancaster-based CBD beer company Cannabrew’s range of products are now available at UK supermarket Ocado, in a deal nearly two years in the making ...

Cold-pressed CBD in the UK – exploiting an apparent loophole in novel food rules

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd February 2023

Cold-pressed hemp oils appear to provide a way for CBD producers to circumvent UK rules on novel foods – but while some are all in favour, others see dangers and shortcomings ...

CBD brands apply for certification as Google lifts ads ban in some parts of US

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 10th February 2023

Cannabis companies are looking to get Google certification as part of the tech giant’s update on the use of Google Ads for CBD products in parts of the US ...

Voyager ventures into Poland for post-Brexit access to European CBD market

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 8th February 2023

British CBD and hemp brand Voyager has facilitated easier access to the EU market by acquiring a CBD extraction and manufacturing facility in Poland for £1.5m (€1.69m) ...

EFSA denies waiting to follow US FDA’s lead on CBD safety in novel foods

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 1st February 2023

The European Food Safety Authority denies it is waiting research results on the safety of CBD by the US Food and Drug Administration before it lets validated candidates complete the novel food application process ...

22nd Century Group acquires a UK cannabinoid distributor for $650K

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 30th January 2023

US company 22nd Century Group has acquired privately held UK cannabinoid distributor RX Pharmatech for an up-front payment of $650,000 in cash and stock ...

Aussie approval puts Chanelle McCoy on the way toward OTC sleeping aid sales

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 19th January 2023

CBD company Chanelle McCoy Health has received approval to start a trial which may allow it to sell its CBD sleeping aid as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug in Australian pharmacies ...

Once it was gone, it was gone – and it's unclear whether Aldi will restock CBD

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st December 2022

Budget supermarket chain Aldi’s CBD products are out of stock in the UK and there’s no indication of when, or indeed whether, they will be restocked ...

UK FSA novel food process can succeed with ‘supportive and sensible approach’

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st November 2022

A cannabis regulation lawyer believes the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the CBD sector have invested so much time, effort and money in the novel food process that it cannot be allowed to fail...

EIHA's 'reasonable daily intake' sows confusion over novel food applications

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th November 2022

CBD isolate producers in the UK are waiting to see whether and how toxicological data released by the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) will affect their novel food applications to the Food Standards Agency (FSA)...

More validated but no light at the end of the tunnel for Efsa’s novel food applicants

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 16th November 2022

Nearly six months after the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) put novel food assessments for cannabinoids on hold, none of the validated applicants has been able to fill the identified knowledge gaps ...

No UK novel food authorisations likely before mid-2023 – and no guarantees

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 10th November 2022

It’s unlikely that any applications for novel food authorisation of CBD products in the UK will be considered for authorisation before mid-2023 – and being on the list of validated applications is no guarantee ...

Amazon cannabinoid prohibition policy not strictly enforced on UK, US sites

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th October 2022

Amazon still seems to be laissez-faire about enforcement of ingestible hemp-derived cannabinoid products that appear on its site – and in particular those containing intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids (IHDCs) ...

UK standards authority challenges CBD product marketing disguised as content

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th October 2022

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has taken action on CBD product marketing, targeting a series of advertorials produced by Consumer Logic Research specifically promoting two brands ...

UK scientist says medicinal cannabis research in the country lagging behind

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 21st October 2022

The UK is lagging behind other major markets in the world on research into the benefits of medicinal cannabis, according to a scientist specialising in the area ...

Cannabis & Me – critics fear bias before major psychiatric study gets under way

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 20th October 2022

A major new study into the impact of cannabis on the brain has attracted controversy and accusations of bias from within the industry before it even begins ...

Authors of UK hemp farming report respond to criticisms of impossible goals

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 14th October 2022

The creators of a UK report on hemp that has received criticism from the industry told CBD-Intel they stand by their estimates, but it remains unclear where some of the numbers have come from ...

Cannaray's Cellular connection creates confusing combination in cannabinoids

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th October 2022

Cellular Goods and Cannaray have announced a merger that will see Cannaray listed on the London Stock Exchange while also splitting off its CBD brands to work under a new subsidiary ...

Aurora enjoys a profitable new dawn in international medical cannabis markets

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 12th October 2022

Canadian company Aurora Cannabis has seen continued growth in its international business thanks to an increasing presence in emerging medical cannabis markets, notably Germany, the UK, Australia and Poland ...

Bermuda to keep pushing for cannabis legalisation in wake of bill denial by UK

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd October 2022

Bermudan lawmakers are vexed that UK authorities have not granted assent for a cannabis legalisation bill in the British Overseas Territory despite other commonwealth nations with the UK monarchy as their nominal head of state...

Tobacco giant deepens its interest in cannabis with cash for German firm

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 29th September 2022

Tobacco giant British American Tobacco (BAT) has again bet on the cannabis industry as it looks to diversify its portfolio ...

CBD brands hit supermarket shelves as UK market shows mainstream appeal

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 14th September 2022

Despite the challenges of the market, CBD firms appear to be setting their sights on the UK and have secured some major listings in mainstream supermarkets ...

UK startup secures $12m to Trip further into US 'next generation wellness'

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 13th September 2022

UK CBD brand Trip has secured a $12m investment to further its growth in the US and other global markets ...

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 ...

A microdosing inhaler: just one of the many new innovations for psychedelics

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 26th August 2022

A new conceptual inhaler designed around the idea of controlled microdosing could eventually lead to a product capable of administering precise amounts of active ingredients such as CBD, nicotine or even psychedelics ...

US House approves cannabis research bill but hopes for reform remain low

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 16th August 2022

Members of the US House of Representatives have approved a bill to expand and streamline research into CBD and cannabis. The bill is now heading for the Senate and is expected to reach president Joe...

Panel urges closer regulation as Jersey's medical cannabis industry moves ahead

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 5th August 2022

The Channel Island of Jersey is continuing to build its cannabis industry, awarding its fifth cultivation licence to a startup amid calls from officials for stricter regulation ...

Swiss CBD company takes issue with EFSA’s delay of novel food applications

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st August 2022

A Swiss CBD company has questioned the approach of European authorities in demanding further data in order to advance novel food applications, describing it as an issue that might signal the end of hemp-extracted cannabinoids...

CBD moves further into UK mainstream with more invited listings on Amazon

Written by Freddie Dawson | 26th July 2022

Amazon is expanding its UK CBD pilot, inviting firms that comply with UK novel food regulations onto its platform – clear evidence that support for CBD continues to become increasingly mainstream ...

UK government to fund research into psychedelic treatment for alcoholism

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 19th July 2022

Biotechnology firm Awakn Life Sciences has secured UK government funding to accelerate the route to the UK and US markets for its proprietary ketamine-assisted therapy, which is designed to treat alcohol use disorder ...

British Standards moves to fill the safety and quality gap on CBD vaping products

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 12th July 2022

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has developed a fast-track informal standard, PAS 13956, to address quality, performance and safety issues of CBD vape products ...

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