Market & legal data analysis of the cannabis sector in Europe

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...

German Left and Greens propose rise in THC limit, but without much optimism

Written by CannIntelligence | 28th January 2021

Two German parliamentary groups have submitted a joint initiative to remove industrial hemp from the Narcotics Act and raise the THC limit from 0.2% to at least 0.6% ...

European Commission decides CBD from entire plant can be used in cosmetics

Written by Freddie Dawson | 27th January 2021

CBD extracted from the whole Cannabis sativa plant will be allowed in cosmetic products in the EU, according to a preliminary conclusion by the European Commission conveyed to CBD-Intel ...

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 ...

Supply chain hopefuls stay cheerful despite $150m investment fund flop

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 27th January 2021

Texas-based Collective Growth is remaining positive despite failing to find the right partners for a $150m investment fund raised to develop the US hemp market ...

Financial investments suggest a mood of optimism around CBD and cannabis

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 26th January 2021

Renewed interest in financing of CBD and cannabis businesses could signal that investors are starting to be positive again about the future after companies seemingly weathered the worst of the storm in 2020 ...

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 ...

European report outlines CBD retail practices and urges clarity on the rules

Written by Freddie Dawson | 11th January 2021

A recently published report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) highlights the diverse retail make-up and unclear regulatory outlook of the European CBD sector ...

Georgia run-off election: it looks like good news for cannabis reform

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th January 2021

Reform of cannabis laws at federal level in the US looks to be a step closer following the likely victory of the Democratic party in run-off elections for both Senate seats in the state of...

Tilray set on becoming the 'weed giant of the world' with Aphria merger

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 29th December 2020

Canadian cannabis firms Aphria and Tilray have announced a merger that will create “the world’s largest weed company”, operating under the Tilray name ...

The long wait goes on for a successful European novel food application

Written by Anthony Traurig | 28th December 2020

Officials from the European Commission (EC) met with CBD-Intel to discuss the status of novel food applications in light of the ruling in the Kanavape case ...

Brexit: more clarity for international trade, but change ahead for vapes?

Written by David Palacios | 24th December 2020

While a post-Brexit regulatory review in the UK is likely to focus much more on nicotine vaping than on CBD, equally there are likely to be knock-on effects for providers of CBD products – whether...

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...

Cannabis plant considered 'a national security threat' in Russia

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th December 2020

Cannabis legalisation is so far away in Russia that the plant is now considered a national security threat, according to provisions of the new state strategy for Anti-Drug...

Italian Customs Agency proposes taking hemp flower sales into its monopoly

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th December 2020

The Italian Customs Agency is trying to widen its jurisdiction by proposing including the sale of CBD hemp flowers within the state monopoly. Others have similar ideas ...

Polish company prepares to fight against move to ban CBD vending machines

Written by CannIntelligence | 16th December 2020

A proposed amendment to Polish law would ban the sale of CBD products through vending machines – but one company using that distribution method does not see any reason to stop just yet ...

EU Parliament votes to change industrial hemp THC limit from 0.2% to 0.3%

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th December 2020

The European Parliament will have a united position on hemp-related issues during the ongoing tripartite negotiations, which must be concluded by the end of March ...

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 ...

EC to review novel food applications following change of heart on CBD

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th December 2020

The European Commission (EC) will start to review novel food applications after reversing its opinion on the narcotic status of CBD, the EC has confirmed to CBD-Intel ...

Kanavape ruling could kick-start French CBD industry – but not everyone's happy

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd December 2020

The decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the Kanavape cape that CBD cannot be treated as a narcotic has been welcomed in France – though not by the official...

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 ...

Proposal put forward in yet another attempt to regulate the Italian CBD sector

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th November 2020

Italian legislators have put forward another proposal that has yet to be presented as an amendment to regulate the CBD sector and, in particular, the sale of flowers, finished products and extracts ...

Switzerland opens a door by allowing non-EU catalogue varietals to be grown

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th November 2020

Starting next year, Switzerland will allow the commercial growing of all hemp varieties with a THC content below 1% – even those that are not in the European Union catalogue ...

Thoughtful Brands pulls out of German psychedelics to focus on American CBD

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 24th November 2020

Canadian cannabis and psychedelic medicine firm Thoughtful Brands has dissolved its German subsidiary Verrian to focus on its core business following the acquisition of Kentucky-based American CBD 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...

EU court rules at last in Kanavape case: CBD cannot be deemed a narcotic

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th November 2020

CBD must not be regarded a narcotic drug, even under UN Convention definitions, whether or not it is extracted from hemp flowers, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled ...

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 ...

Ukraine moves towards potential medical cannabis legalisation

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th November 2020

Ukraine has undergone a quick shift in opinion on medical cannabis – proceeding from a point where liberalisation of current laws was viewed as unlikely to setting up parliamentary working groups to draft a bill...

Raided German firm expects to get its vending machines back, minus flowers

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th November 2020

The sale of CBD products through vending machines in the German state of Bavaria is likely to continue after operators remove hemp flower products ...

Questions in Poland as CBD vending machines attract police attention

Written by CannIntelligence | 12th November 2020

Concerns over youth access could curtail growing interest in CBD vending machines in Poland, with police and other authorities taking an interest in unsupervised sales ...

Italian health ministry suspends its decree defining oral CBD as medication

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th November 2020

The Italian Ministry of Health has suspended the recently published decree listing oral administration of CBD as a medicine under Italy’s Narcotics Law ...

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...

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