United Kingdom: Market and legal data for the cannabis sector

UK report says cannabinoids should be under health, not law-and-order rules

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th June 2021

The British government must take oversight of CBD and medical cannabis out of Home Office hands and place it with the Department of Health and Social Care, according to a new report on post-Brexit regulation...

UK debate reveals broad agreement on need to reform outdated drugs law

Written by CannIntelligence | 24th June 2021

Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum in the UK believe the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act is in urgent need of reform, after 50 years of “wasting lives” and holding back vital research...

Nordic Oil seeks €5m and ‘emotional investment’ through crowd-funding

Written by CannIntelligence | 16th June 2021

Nordic Oil could become the largest European CBD brand to raise money through crowd-funding as it seeks to raise €3m-€5m through the Seedrs platform ...

CBD startups exceeding all fundraising expectations as investors leap aboard

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 15th June 2021

CBD and cannabis startups from Scotland to Florida are attracting increasing numbers of investors as they scale up their businesses and break crowd-funding records in the process ...

UK psychedelics fund puts £5m into seven companies to tackle mental health

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th June 2021

UK venture capital fund Neo Kuma has invested £5m across seven healthcare companies focused on the use of psychedelics to help combat mental health issues ...

Regulator's labelling guidance could spell doom for UK sales of CBD-infused alcohol

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st June 2021

The UK alcohol industry's voluntary regulator denies being outright opposed to CBD alcoholic drinks – but moves made by one major brand suggests many see the writing on the wall for the niche sector ...

Initial results from Project Twenty21 reveal promise – and a few caveats

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th May 2021

CBD-Intel assesses how Project Twenty21 is faring as it seeks to construct a registry of medical cannabis users in the UK and Europe, providing real world data on potential efficacy ...

UK FSA releases initial validated novel food application list

Written by Freddie Dawson | 23rd April 2021

The long-anticipated UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) initial list of products supported by a validated CBD novel food application has been released ...

Jersey well placed to become Europe’s major growing hub for medical cannabis

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 20th April 2021

Jersey could become “a cannabis hub for Europe” after Northern Leaf successfully completed a second round of funding that will enable it to complete its pharmaceutical cannabis cultivation facility on the island ...

'A nice buzz in the air' – CBD shops reopen as UK lockdown lifts

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th April 2021

As the national lockdown in the UK lifted on Monday, shoppers were excited to purchase CBD in person ...

'Impending disaster' – UK industry associations at odds over THC limits

Written by CannIntelligence | 31st March 2021

The British Hemp Alliance (BHA) has contested the suggestion put forward by the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) for allowable THC levels in CBD products, claiming it would only benefit “the big boys” ...

Mixed feelings as UK industry sees pros and cons in FSA switch on novel foods

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th March 2021

Industry reaction to the change in UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) novel food submission requirements is mixed, some welcoming it while others say it reveals failings of management and understanding ...

GenCanna acquires white label company Taylor Mammon in transatlantic merger

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd March 2021

UK white label CBD company Taylor Mammon has been acquired by US hemp firm GenCanna ...

With ingredient prices tumbling, why are CBD consumers still paying so much?

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th March 2021

A drop in the cost of bulk CBD has not yet been wholly reflected in falling CBD product prices – but are we about to witness a perfect storm for a race to the...

UK Food Standards Agency relaxes the rules slightly on novel food submissions

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 15th March 2021

Companies now only to have submitted an application to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in order for their edible CBD products to stay on the market after 1st April ...

US market to top $3bn in two years, but Swiss remain the biggest CBD users

Written by CannIntelligence | 15th March 2021

Swiss consumers are head-for-head the biggest purchasers of CBD products, according to CBD-Intel’s 2021 market size analysis. Meanwhile, we predict big growth in a number of other markets, and a shift in the most popular...

BAT moves further into cannabinoids with Organigram research deal

Written by Freddie Dawson | 11th March 2021

British American Tobacco (BAT) has continued its expansion into the cannabinoid space by signing a research collaboration agreement with Organigram, a licensed Canadian cannabis producer ...

Anxiety in Northern Ireland, UK's EU gateway, as novel food deadline looms

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th March 2021

As the UK’s deadline for novel food applications looms, many firms are upbeat about the prospects for CBD businesses in Northern Ireland, but almost all those CBD-Intel spoke to expressed frustration at a lack of...

UK FSA picks up the pace with at least one novel food application validated

Written by Freddie Dawson | 5th March 2021

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is moving forward at pace with at least one CBD novel food application having been validated ...

Industry milestone as firms start to publicly list on UK stock exchange

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th March 2021

Investing in the medical cannabis and CBD space in the UK is only likely to continue as companies are now legally allowed to list on Europe’s biggest stock exchange, while demand by retail investors continues...

Silent Pool 'unimpressed' by Portman Group code violation ruling

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th February 2021

CBD-infused gin manufacturer Silent Pool remains defiant after drinks industry regulatory body the Portman Group ruled that its Colorado High product was in violation of its code ...

BAT looking 'beyond nicotine' as Big Tobacco turn its attention to CBD

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 23rd February 2021

British American Tobacco (BAT) is looking “beyond nicotine” to alternative sources of revenue, and has described CBD as an “exciting growth area for our business for the future” ...

No Home Office change in CBD importation licensing requirements

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th February 2021

Reports that the UK Home Office now requires businesses importing CBD into the UK to have controlled drug licences are untrue, according to the Home Office ...

CBD health and wellness subcategory sees advances on a global scale

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 5th February 2021

CBD firms are making further advances into the health and wellness subcategory of the market with new product launches, distribution deals, and clinical studies underway ...

Jazz Pharmaceuticals buys Epidiolex manufacturer GW Pharma for $7.2bn

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd February 2021

GW Pharmaceuticals, the British manufacturer of the CBD-based epilepsy drug Epidiolex, has been acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in a cash and shares deal worth over $7bn ...

Is a CBD spirit brand making an implicit health claim simply by mentioning CBD?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 1st February 2021

Specific UK guidance for producers of drinks containing both alcohol and CBD will be developed after the first complaint against one such brand was upheld by the voluntary regulating body for the UK drinks industry...

Brexit terms deliver a huge headache to UK and European CBD firms and users

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th January 2021

British CBD brands are suspending shipping to the EU, European customers are hit by unexpected import fees, and UK entrepreneurs are struggling to establish their start-ups, as Brexit regulations cause chaos ...

Dutch health ministry provides relief for UK patients forgotten in Brexit deal

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th January 2021

Dutch officials have granted a six-month reprieve to find a solution to an omission in the Brexit negotiations that threatens to deprive British epilepsy patients of access to cannabis-based medicines ...

CBD drinks – 'a superior option for those traditionally alcohol-driven occasions'

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 19th January 2021

Health and wellness appear to be the primary marketing position for new cannabinoid beverage launches ...

Tobacco giant steps in – BAT launches CBD e-liquid range onto UK market

Written by Freddie Dawson | 18th January 2021

Big Tobacco has entered the CBD sector with British American Tobacco (BAT) launching a CBD e-liquid cartridge compatible with its Vuse vaping device ...

I’m a celebrity – get me into quality cannabis, hemp and CBD brands...

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 23rd December 2020

Increasing numbers of celebrities are endorsing CBD products, with names as big as will.i.am, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Gwyneth Paltrow among those investing or launching their own brands ...

Isle of Man to invite applications to grow hemp, but won't license extraction – yet

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd December 2020

The Isle of Man is set to begin assessing hemp production applications as early as February in order to allow initial crops to be grown in 2021 – though no cannabinoids will be extracted yet...

Trials and research into the healing potential of cannabinoids continue

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 11th December 2020

Pharmaceutical firms continue to invest in research into the healing potential of cannabinoids, launching clinical trials to investigate their ability to treat a range of conditions ...

CBD store ordered to drop 'irresponsible and harmful' anti-mask advertisements

Written by Freddie Dawson | 2nd December 2020

A CBD shop in the town of Glastonbury in southwest England has been called out for publishing anti-mask advertisements ...

The British isle heading for its own rules on cannabinoid extraction for export

Written by Freddie Dawson | 1st December 2020

The Isle of Man looks likely to become the second jurisdiction operating under UK regulations to allow the use of hemp flowers in extraction ...

Celebrities speak out in anger as CBD companies take famous names in vain

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 23rd November 2020

Sir David Attenborough, Olivia Newton-John and Clint Eastwood are among the latest in a line of celebrities who have spoken out against their names and images being used without their permission to promote CBD oils...

The cannabinoid drinks market is getting crowded – but it still takes a lot of bottle

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 19th November 2020

Current lack of success in Canada and unsupportive regulations in the US have not stopped cannabinoid companies from exploring the beverages sector ...

UK novel foods committee provides food for thought on white-label ingredients

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th November 2020

Concerns over traceability, limiting final use and demonstrating safety of final products could make it difficult to grant UK novel food approval to CBD ingredients producers and white label manufacturers ...

Little fear of a glut in the UK market if EU decides to classify CBD as a narcotic

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd November 2020

Companies do not feel much risk of a glut of CBD-containing food, drink and dietary supplement products or cannabinoid ingredients coming into the UK market if the EU classifies CBD as a narcotic ...

No plans to ease restrictions on flowers, says UK Home Office

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th October 2020

The UK Home Office has stated it has no plans to ease restrictions on using flowers for extraction before the EU exit transition period ends on 1st January 2021 ...

Black Friday novelty diminishes to make way for longer sales period

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th October 2020

Holiday sales overall mean more to US companies than their UK counterparts, but the novelty of Black Friday means some are embracing a discount period as a means to create new sales, according to a...

Nestlé enters European CBD market with soft gel capsules

Written by CannIntelligence | 23rd October 2020

Nestlé has taken a baby step into the European cannabidiol market just a year after creating its own CBD line in the US and will now distribute soft gel CBD capsules in the UK through...

Web giant Amazon quietly changes policy to run CBD sales pilot on its UK site

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th October 2020

In an unheralded change of Amazon policy, the world’s biggest online marketplace has started allowing the sale of CBD products on its UK site ...

Psychedelic substances for therapy? It's an idea whose time may be coming

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 7th October 2020

Although still illegal in the US and Canada, psychedelic substances such as fungus-derived psilocybin are becoming increasingly acceptable, research suggests ...

British spirit-makers looking to make CBD the gin genie in the bottle

Written by CannIntelligence | 16th September 2020

Britain’s newfound enthusiasm for CBD products has joined with the passion for alcohol, with some companies are aiming to capitalise on the trend for “drinking less but drinking better” by launching CBD spirits, especially gin...

Deals and new products launch CBD further into the wellness field

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 7th September 2020

CBD firms are expanding their reach into the wellness market via company acquisitions, distribution deals and new product launches ...

Love Hemp and Mile High see silver lining in COVID-19 pandemic for UK CBD sales

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th August 2020

Expansion plans by two major players suggest confidence in the future of the CBD market in the UK, with one anticipating a continuing rise in sales driven by reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic ...

CBD drinks company reaps the benefits of TV advertising campaign

Written by Freddie Dawson | 20th July 2020

A TV advertising campaign has significantly boosted sales for a CBD drinks company and it hopes a new listing in a high-end chain of UK supermarkets will consolidate those gains ...

Sale of white label goods affected less than anticipated during COVID crisis

Written by Freddie Dawson | 29th June 2020

The loss of conferences and expos due to COVID-19 prevention measures has not affected the sale of white label goods as much as may have been anticipated, according to companies ...

UK FSA provides further guidance for novel food application requirements

Written by Freddie Dawson | 26th June 2020

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has provided further guidance on when a CBD product would need to have a separate or new novel food authorisation ...

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