News analysis for professionals in the cannabis industry

Couche-Tard tipped for a big future in US CBD retail through its Circle K stores

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th November 2021

It owns one of North America’s biggest chains of convenience stores and fuel stations – now Alimentation Couche-Tard may have the potential to become one of its foremost providers of cannabis and CBD ...

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...

Two studies seek to show the benefits of cannabinoids for liver health

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 5th November 2021

A research team at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands recently launched a three-year study into whether medicinal cannabis oil can help to regress liver-cancer tumours ...

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...

Concerns arise as Italian study finds pesticides and metals in hemp flowers

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th October 2021

Another study, this time from Italy, has found potentially dangerous levels of heavy metals and pesticides in CBD products. Researchers were worried by the results and asked regulators and legislators to act ...

Italian cannabis referendum looks likely to go ahead despite teething troubles

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th October 2021

Italian campaigners believe they have done enough to secure a referendum on the legalisation of cannabis cultivation for personal use and the decriminalisation of possession ...

Secondary concerns a growth area as US firms buy into cannabis industry services

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 26th October 2021

The economic tide flowing for cannabis continues to float businesses in the US in secondary areas such as cultivation systems and delivery services too ...

Court of Cassation ruling spreads more confusion over French legal position

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th October 2021

The highest court in France has confirmed the decision made by the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) in the Kanavape case – but the decision has contributed to uncertainty over the legality of hemp-derived...

Canadian firm Flora Growth picks Colombia for its cannabis production

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd October 2021

Toronto-based Flora Growth believes increasing legalisation will eventually lead to cannabis becoming a commodity much like any other crop, and has chosen to focus much of its cannabis production in Colombia ...

Brazilian report highlights theoretical growth but small current numbers

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd October 2021

Interest in the Brazilian medical cannabinoid market is based on optimistic projections of growth continuing in the same vein rather than concrete current numbers, a domestic report has confirmed ...

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 ...

Cannabis dispensaries tempt investors into multimillion US acquisitions

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 21st October 2021

US cannabis dispensaries are attracting significant interest from investors and several multi-million dollar deals have been agreed as operators expand their footprint into new states ...

CBD suppliers to US risk being shut out by online credit card processors

Written by Freddie Dawson | 20th October 2021

Ambiguous messages about where CBD companies will ship to in the USA may result in risk-averse online payments processors refusing to deal with them, says a speakers at the upcoming USA-CBD Expo in Chicago ...

France facing legal battle over coming decree to ban the sale of CBD flowers

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th October 2021

The French ban on CBD flowers looks set to go ahead, with a decree expected to be officially published at the start of November – and an immediate legal appeal against it likely ...

UK advertising watchdog raps shopping channel over CBD firm's health claims

Written by Freddie Dawson | 18th October 2021

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has held a shopping infomercial channel to account for claims made for a CBD product being marketed during one of its shows ...

Potential for psychedelic treatments prompts big North American buyouts

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 15th October 2021

Interest in psychedelic drugs and treatments continues to grow, as evidenced by three major takeovers in Canada and the USA, two involving drug treatments developments and another offering a network of ketamine infusion treatment centres...

New Moroccan government will stick with medical cannabis production plan

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th October 2021

Morocco’s new medical cannabis law is still supported by the new government of Aziz Akhannouch, even though it was the pet project of a minister in the government he has displaced ...

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 ...

Is CBD a dietary ingredient or a drug? US FDA 'appears to have changed its mind'

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th October 2021

The lack of a clear regulatory pathway to market for CBD products in the US is highlighted by a row over the FDA’s denial of new dietary ingredient (NDI) approval for full spectrum hemp extracts...

Personal mental health histories lead to investments in psychedelics research

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 12th October 2021

Two North American entrepreneurs have put millions of dollars into exploring the treatment efficacy of psychedelics, based on personal experience of using them to help deal with their own mental health issues ...

High Tide enters UK market with £9m purchase of Scotland's Blessed CBD

Written by Freddie Dawson | 11th October 2021

The Canadian cannabis retailer High Tide has made a move into the UK CBD sector by purchasing 80% of the Scottish CBD company Blessed CBD for just over £9m ...

German medical cannabis imports rise but no sign of domestic production yet

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th October 2021

German imports of medical cannabis flowers rose by 80% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period of 2021, but hopes of establishing local production were...

Thailand expecting massive returns from economic zone cannabinoid pilot

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th October 2021

Thailand’s government is allowing farmers in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to use 10,000 rai of undeveloped land to grow cannabis, hemp, and other medicinal herbs to help boost the economy and farmer's standard...

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)? ...

Zimbabwe fails to live up to its cannabis ambitions as licences lie dormant

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th October 2021

Zimbabwe wants to be a big player in the African cannabis industry, but the country is failing to meet its initial ambitions because only a few licensed companies are active ...

Panama leads the way with Central America's first legal medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th October 2021

Panama is set to become the first country in Central America to legalise and regulate medicinal cannabis after the 44-member National Assembly voted unanimously in favour of doing so ...

From craft beer to coffee, patience is a virtue in cannabinoid beverages

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 4th October 2021

Patience continues to be the watchword when it comes to innovation in the cannabinoid beverage space. Developments continue but companies appear willing to take their time to enter the market as regulation loosens ...

Gloomy US outlook for CBD production as regulatory uncertainty strangles farms

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th September 2021

A lack of regulatory clarity is the primary reason behind a predicted dramatic fall in hemp acreage dedicated to the production of CBD in the US ...

Grow Group hits its crowd-funding target inside an hour – and keeps on going

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 28th September 2021

A UK cannabis firm reached its minimum crowd-funding target of £3.2m ($4.4m) in just one hour. And the investment keeps on coming ...

Why do cannabis black markets persist in US states where recreational use is legal?

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th September 2021

Although many point to tax rates driving legal prices higher than those on the illicit market, access plays a bigger role than price in the survival of cannabis black markets, according to experts ...

Finnish company seeks €3m Series A funding as organic mushrooms grow fast

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th September 2021

A Nordic company making functional ingredients from mushrooms is looking for €3m in Series A investment in order to scale up its production capacity to meet demand ...

US DEA calls for big increases in cannabis and psilocybin production for research

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 23rd September 2021

The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is calling for an increase in production of cannabis and psychedelics to supply federal research and clinical trials ...

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 ...

Jane Technologies raises $100m to keep rolling out cannabis e-commerce

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 22nd September 2021

A plan to solve issues with cannabis e-commerce has attracted investors to the tune of around $130m in total ...

Resistant legislators deny Kentucky and Tennessee access to medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st September 2021

Kentucky and Tennessee are among a large number of Southeastern US states that have not yet passed legislation for medical cannabis programs. Here, CBD-Intel examines the issues behind the official reluctance ...

Lidl has a change of heart, removing edible hemp products from its shelves

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st September 2021

Discount supermarket chain Lidl has removed foods containing hemp from its stores in Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands amid concerns that the products contain excessive levels of THC ...

Cleared CBD restaurant owner: 'I hope my case makes UK police think again'

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 20th September 2021

The long-running saga of one of the first UK police raids on a retail location selling hemp products has finally ended after a jury took just 30 minutes to reach a non-guilty verdict on drug...

FDA warning flags up delta-8 THC as the likely next target for US enforcement

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th September 2021

Enforcement action against companies pushing the limits on marketing delta-8 THC products in the US is likely following a health advisory from the FDA and CDC ...

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 ...

GenCanna's latest white label purchase deepens penetration of UK and Europe

Written by Freddie Dawson | 15th September 2021

GenCanna continues to bet on the future of UK bulk and white label CBD products with the purchase of another company specialising in those areas ...

No Joy: USPTO confirms no trademarks are allowed for 'illegal' CBD products

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th September 2021

CBD products are not eligible for trademark protection, US regulators have reaffirmed, because they are not legal under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) ...

NFL vet claims orange-peel CBD 'purer' than cannabis or hemp-derived products

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th September 2021

NFL veteran Chris Hetherington has launched a CBD oil derived entirely from orange peel, describing it as “crystalline CBD at a purity and consistency difficult to match with cannabis or hemp-derived material” ...

TerrAscend expands into Michigan with $545m purchase of Gage Growth

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 10th September 2021

A $545m deal to buy the company Gage Growth will give North American cannabis operator TerrAscend access to the cannabis market in the US state of Michigan ...

Audacious move as pain relief cream mixes it with the men who ride bulls

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th September 2021

The makers of a new CBD pain relief cream – mixed with an actual local anaesthetic – are bullish about their prospects of a sales boost from an endorsement deal with one of the most...

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...

Smokable hemp ban in Texas overturned but further court action is probable

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th September 2021

A ban on the production and sale of smokable hemp products in Texas has been fully overturned after two court decisions – but the case will almost certainly head through two further levels of appeal...

British chef brings two-star Michelin expertise to US CBD beverage market

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 6th September 2021

Two-star Michelin expertise is coming to the US CBD sector with the advent of a new CBD beverage with flavours developed by British chef Michael Caines ...

Lagging behind: why Wyoming and Idaho are still to legalise medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd September 2021

There are now only 14 US states that have yet to implement a medical cannabis programme. Why they are behind the curve on the issue is something of a mystery ...

Approved by EU – so why was Finola hemp tested and banned in Poland?

Written by CannIntelligence | 2nd September 2021

Crops of a hemp variety found by Polish authorities to be over the THC limit should never have been tested and regulators are refusing to say why they were, the creator of the variety alleges...

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,...

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