Market & legal data analysis of the cannabis sector in Europe

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...

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...

Horse sense or dog trial? The science and law behind CBD petcare products

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st September 2021

CBD pet products remain in a grey area in terms of both legality and effectiveness – but there have been some attempts in both to shed light into the darkness ...

Legislators propose bringing Polish hemp laws in line with other EU states

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th August 2021

Lawmakers from Poland’s ruling party are among those who have submitted two bills to parliament hoping to change the country’s industrial hemp growing and medical cannabis legislation ...

Testing the testers: UK and US CBD testing labs go under the microscope

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th August 2021

A recent ring trial assessment of the lab performances and methods for measuring CBD in commercial products has given some good news to the industry ...

Spain's PSOE has a change of heart over legalising medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th August 2021

Members of Spain’s ruling party are warming to the idea of legalising medicinal cannabis just months after claiming scientific evidence was insufficient to support such an initiative ...

Firm announces mushroom tinctures to launch in UK under Bob Marley brand

Written by CannIntelligence | 9th August 2021

A range of Bob Marley themed functional mushroom tinctures will soon debut in the UK under the Marley One brand ...

Public health insurance is driving growth of the German medical cannabis market

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 3rd August 2021

Public health insurance reimbursements and no defined list of indications for medical cannabis have helped the German medical cannabis market start to realise its massive potential ...

London firm signs deals to grow cannabis in North Macedonia for medical use

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th July 2021

London-based AltoVerde has chosen North Macedonia as its site for growing medical cannabis to be sold throughout European markets ...

New chair abstains as US Federal Trade Commission confirms Kushly penalty

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th July 2021

A CBD company’s punishment by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for making false or misleading health claims has been confirmed ...

Researchers find even synthetic CBD can degrade and produce THC if badly stored

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 26th July 2021

Both synthetic and plant-derived CBD degrade when stored incorrectly, producing THC, according to a new study ...

Company behind the UK's first medical cannabis vape aims to lead a revolution

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd July 2021

London-listed Kanabo has launched the first medical cannabis vaping product in the UK in a move the company’s founder hopes will ultimately revolutionise the way medicines are administered ...

Javid appointment as UK health minister raises slight hope for medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th July 2021

Medical cannabis advocates are keen to see if Sajid Javid’s appointment as UK health secretary means he will continue his work from 2018, when he helped change the law on medicinal cannabis prescriptions ...

Clinical trials to explore potential of psychedelics are on the rise in Europe

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 16th July 2021

A range of European firms are looking to further advance research into psychedelic compounds after securing funding and backing ...

EU novel food assessment: No easy end in sight

Written by CBD-Intel | 16th July 2021

CBD growth in the UK could be boosted by a report from a new taskforce on post-Brexit regulatory change. But how likely is it that the recommendations will be implemented? ...

A long process – Europe's still asking questions about novel food submission

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th July 2021

A year and eight months after Cibdol submitted its novel food application for EU authorisation of synthetically produced CBD, the Swiss company is still fielding questions from the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) ...

Euro cross-party group to push for EU harmony on medicinal cannabis rules

Written by CannIntelligence | 12th July 2021

A new cross-party European parliamentary group wants to help patients across the European Union get better access to medical cannabis and advance the EU’s cannabis resolution of 2019 ...

Italian company gains EU validation for synthetic CBD novel food application

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th July 2021

The European Commission (EC) has validated a novel food application submitted by the Italian company Farmabios for a synthetic CBD. This is the first step to gaining novel food authorisation from the European Food Safety...

EU 'non-paper' lays out the current state of European cannabinoid regulation

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th July 2021

The Council of the European Union (CEU) has published a “non-paper” clarifying its thinking on the legal position of cannabis, hemp and cannabinoids within the EU and giving an overview of the current regulatory position ...

Good news for Lithuanian hemp sector as use of the whole plant is approved

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th June 2021

Lithuanian hemp cultivators and processors will now be able to use the whole hemp plant, including the flower, in their products after the country’s legislature, the Seimas, adopted amendments to the existing law ...

Irish novel food enforcement coming – but not on cold-pressed extracts

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th June 2021

Enforcement action will take place in the coming months against CBD products on Irish retailers’ shelves that violate EU novel food regulations. However, cold-pressed hemp extracts will not be included ...

Freeing the 'green pig' – moves afoot to press France to legalise cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th June 2021

France is lagging behind its neighbours on medical cannabis – the potential “green pig” of French agriculture – according to an author of a report which called for it to be legalised on health and...

And now for our next Trip, let's head for the US with $5m spending money

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th June 2021

CBD-infused drinks company Trip is making its way into the US after it raised $5m (£3.6m) in a Series A funding round last month ...

Italian inter-ministerial decree ditched due to hemp association protests

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th June 2021

A new inter-ministerial decree that aimed to prohibit the use of cannabis leaves and flowers in extraction was withdrawn after protests from hemp associations ...

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...

European ingredient popularity drives cannabinoid sector's latest M&A action

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 18th June 2021

Appetite for European ingredients producers appears to be driving the latest round of merger and acquisition (M&A) action in the cannabinoid sector ...

Official report favours legalisation, but France is unlikely to budge on cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th June 2021

Members of the French National Assembly appear unlikely to follow the recommendations made in a recent report on recreational cannabis, despite its scathing criticism of the current harsh regime ...

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 ...

France to clarify regulation of CBD hemp extracts with upcoming decree

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th June 2021

A draft ministerial decree to clarify the regulation of CBD in France is under consideration, but many in the industry are unhappy with the proposed measures ...

It's complicated: German court ruling adds further confusion to hemp law

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd June 2021

The legality of selling hemp flowers as well as hemp leaf tea in Germany is no clearer despite the recent ruling by the country’s highest court that low-THC industrial hemp flowers could – in principle...

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 ...

Tilray closes deal with Aphria and turns to lobbying for cannabis reform

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 21st May 2021

The boss of the world’s new largest global cannabis company has likened the industry’s potential to that of the alcohol business before the ending of Prohibition in the early 1930s ...

EU Commission considers bringing CBD vapes under tobacco regulation

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th May 2021

European tobacco control rules could be extended to specifically cover the vaping of CBD, a new report from the European Commission suggests ...

Legalisation of cannabis looks like being a hot topic in Germany's federal elections

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd May 2021

With federal elections due in September, Germany’s Free Democratic Party (FDP) has called on the government to draft a law permitting the controlled distribution of cannabis for adult use ...

Opposition parties put forward proposals for legalisation of cannabis in Poland

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th April 2021

Poland’s Parliamentary Team for the Legalisation of Marijuana has submitted a package of three draft bills to the speaker of parliament’s lower chamber, following a public consultation on the proposals ...

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 ...

How cannabis derivatives could help to preserve the miracle of modern medicine

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th April 2021

Could cannabinoids, including CBD, provide a partial solution to the growing danger of diseases becoming resistant to existing antibiotics? ...

Italy issues its first licences to grow hemp and extract CBD for medical use

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th April 2021

Italy’s Ministry of Health and the Italian Medicine Agency (AIFA) have begun authorising Italian companies to manufacture hemp-derived CBD extracts for pharmaceutical purposes ...

Germany’s highest court leaves legality of hemp flowers open to interpretation

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th April 2021

Germany’s highest civil and criminal court has ruled that low-THC industrial hemp flowers may be considered a narcotic – but that they can be legally sold to German consumers if there is no risk of...

US and Australian cannabis companies see great profit potential in Europe

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 2nd April 2021

There are profits to be made from selling cannabis in Europe, according to US company Curaleaf after it signed an agreement to acquire Europe’s largest vertically integrated independent cannabis company ...

'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...

LATEST ALERTS

Written by CannIntelligence | 9th September 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 2nd September 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st September 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th August 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th August 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th August 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 9th August 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 3rd August 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th July 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th July 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 26th July 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd July 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th July 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 16th July 2021

Written by CBD-Intel | 16th July 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th July 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 12th July 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th July 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th July 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th June 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th June 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 24th June 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 18th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 16th June 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 15th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st June 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th May 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 21st May 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th May 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd May 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th April 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 23rd April 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 20th April 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th April 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th April 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th April 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th April 2021

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 2nd April 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 31st March 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th March 2021

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd March 2021

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th March 2021

Sign up to our newsletter

Start your FREE trial