Regulatory briefing
Our regulatory briefings section delivers current and up-to-date legal and regulatory news relating to all aspects of the CBD industry. It covers individual regulation changes across the world, policy and governmental changes that impact the industry and technological and medical innovations that affect how the industry is regulated, to name a few.
From tax to social equity: three US states’ recreational cannabis rules compared
Written by CBD-Intel || 15th July 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Three more states have been added to the growing list of US jurisdictions allowing adult use of recreational cannabis. And they have learned lessons on how to frame regulation from those that came before ...
Euro cross-party group to push for EU harmony on medicinal cannabis rules
Written by CBD-Intel || 12th July 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
UN drugs division calls for a worldwide ban on all types of cannabis advertising
Written by CBD-Intel || 7th July 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The United Nations (UN) drugs division is calling for a “comprehensive ban” on cannabis advertising to address the growing belief among young people that cannabis is not harmful ...
EU ‘non-paper’ lays out the current state of European cannabinoid regulation
Written by Freddie Dawson || 6th July 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
Mexican court rules recreational cannabis ban unconstitutional
Written by CBD-Intel || 2nd July 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The ban on recreational cannabis consumption in Mexico was ruled unconstitutional by the Mexican Supreme Court on 28th June ...
Good news for Lithuanian hemp sector as use of the whole plant is approved
Written by CBD-Intel || 30th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
50 years on, Connecticut makes amends to those punished by the ‘war on drugs’
Written by CBD-Intel || 28th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Lawmakers in the US state of Connecticut have legalised recreational cannabis in a measure that includes provisions aimed at social equity in a vote on the 50th anniversary of the so-called “war on drugs” ...
Italian inter-ministerial decree ditched due to hemp association protests
Written by CBD-Intel || 25th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
Canada reveals plans to restrict flavours in inhalable cannabis products
Written by CBD-Intel || 25th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Canadian government has served notice of plans to restrict flavours in cannabis vaping products and inhaled cannabis extracts across the country, arguing that it will make those products less appealing to youth ...
UK report says cannabinoids should be under health, not law-and-order rules
Written by Freddie Dawson || 24th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 CBD-Intel || 24th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
Brazil moves closer to legalising medical cannabis, despite president’s veto threat
Written by CBD-Intel || 21st June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A bill that would allow the cultivation and processing of hemp and cannabis in Brazil has passed an important committee vote in the country’s lower legislative chamber – but serious obstacles remain ...
Official report favours legalisation, but France is unlikely to budge on cannabis
Written by CBD-Intel || 17th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
France to clarify regulation of CBD hemp extracts with upcoming decree
Written by CBD-Intel || 11th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
The battle for medical cannabis goes on in Mississippi after ballot is annulled
Written by CBD-Intel || 8th June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Mississippi supporters of medical cannabis are fighting to have their voices heard after a vote for legalisation was thrown out by the US state’s Supreme Court ...
It’s complicated: German court ruling adds further confusion to hemp law
Written by CBD-Intel || 3rd June 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 – be sold...
Another one bites the dust as Hawaii tries and fails again to legalise cannabis
Written by CBD-Intel || 25th May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Despite the island state's generally liberal outlook, and long association with cannabis culture, legalisation of recreational use remains a frustrated dream for many in Hawaii ...
EU Commission considers bringing CBD vapes under tobacco regulation
Written by CBD-Intel || 20th May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
European tobacco control rules could be extended to specifically cover the vaping of CBD, a new report from the European Commission suggests ...
Another CBD company that ‘should know better’ fined by US FTC over health claims
Written by Freddie Dawson || 18th May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A CBD company has been fined more than $30,000 by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the first such punishment since a crackdown on false or misleading health claims was announced in December ...
Cannabis lobbying steps up in the US with major players joining the discussion
Written by CBD-Intel || 10th May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Significant cannabis reform is inevitably coming to congress, no matter whether the Biden administration considers it a priority, and giants in experienced lobbying industries are preparing their agents ...
Legalisation of cannabis looks like being a hot topic in Germany’s federal elections
Written by CBD-Intel || 3rd May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
South Africa’s new national cannabis plan could spark regional change
Written by CBD-Intel || 30th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
South Africa releases the National Cannabis Master Plan, which will not only boost and uplift the southern Africa cannabis industry, but will set a regional precedent for the growth of a legal cannabis market in the area ...
Opposition parties put forward proposals for legalisation of cannabis in Poland
Written by CBD-Intel || 29th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 || Regulatory briefing |
The long-anticipated UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) initial list of products supported by a validated CBD novel food application has been released ...
A new head honcho for CBD policy – but who will US FDA pick for this vital role?
Written by CBD-Intel || 19th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A new deputy commissioner at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will likely be the single person with the most influence on the path to market for CBD in the US ...
US Customs stands accused of seizing legal hemp – and farm machinery
Written by Anthony Traurig || 16th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is wrongly seizing legal hemp and hemp-related shipments – such as farm equipment that it claims constitutes drug paraphernalia – according to two recently-filed lawsuits ...
New Senate request could hold Mexican legalisation back until at least September
Written by CBD-Intel || 15th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Mexico’s Senate is poised to request extra time to approve legislation that would legalise cannabis in the country, prolonging debate over the highly anticipated bill until September ...
Details of China’s proposed ban on CBD in cosmetics still unclear
Written by CBD-Intel || 14th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Suggestions that a Chinese ban on the use of CBD in cosmetics that would essentially shut down the domestic CBD market, blocking imports and cross-border online sales, appear to be premature ...
‘Cautious’ Idaho is ready at last to become the 50th state to legalise industrial hemp
Written by CBD-Intel || 13th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
It’s been a long process getting there, but the last US state to legalise industrial hemp finally has a bill headed to the governor’s desk and farmers poised to plant the crop ...
A mixed bag: reactions to the USDA’s final hemp rule requirements
Written by CBD-Intel || 9th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
States continue to update their hemp production plans to match US Department of Agriculture (USDA) final rule requirements, with Michigan being one of the latest ...
Germany’s highest court leaves legality of hemp flowers open to interpretation
Written by CBD-Intel || 6th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 intoxication ...
US FDA: You can’t hide health claims for CBD behind other active ingredients
Written by Freddie Dawson || 31st March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assessed a combined health claim for the first time and denounced the practice of promoting CBD on a product making qualified health claims based on other ingredients ...
Could Oregon state bill show a way out of US cannabis and CBD banking troubles?
Written by Daniel Mollenkamp || 30th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
An Oregon senator believes he has found a solution to the cannabis banking crisis in the state, and perhaps set a useful standard for others across the US ...
US FDA warns CBD firms over inadequate testing, labelling and health claims
Written by Freddie Dawson || 29th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has told two CBD companies they fell short of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for finished pharmaceuticals and ordered them to undertake proper testing ...
UK Food Standards Agency relaxes the rules slightly on novel food submissions
Written by Lorraine Mullaney || 15th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
Anxiety in Northern Ireland, UK’s EU gateway, as novel food deadline looms
Written by CBD-Intel || 11th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 clarity ...
Armenia looks to hemp legalisation as part of a route out of national crisis
Written by CBD-Intel || 10th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Crisis-hit Armenia intends to legalise and regulate the production of hemp as a part of a package of economic measures to alleviate issues arising from the military conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region ...
UK FSA picks up the pace with at least one novel food application validated
Written by Freddie Dawson || 5th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is moving forward at pace with at least one CBD novel food application having been validated ...
‘Outdated’ Japanese import and growing restrictions may get even tougher
Written by CBD-Intel || 4th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Tough Japanese laws on the import of CBD products and the cultivation of industrial hemp are becoming more challenging for the industry – and even stricter regulations may be on the way ...
US state regulators’ association calls for joined-up federal thinking on cannabis
Written by Lorraine Mullaney || 24th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A US association of cannabis regulators has written to Congress urging the modernisation of cannabis policy at federal level ...
Governor’s influence questioned after judge blocks cannabis legalisation
Written by Anthony Traurig || 23rd February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The legalisation of recreational cannabis in South Dakota is in doubt, amidst accusations of political interference after a judge appointed by the state governor ruled the voter-approved amendment unconstitutional ...
Will change at the FTC mean a new US approach to enforcement on CBD?
Written by Freddie Dawson || 18th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could take a more discerning approach to enforcement against CBD companies under the new administration in Washington ...
No Home Office change in CBD importation licensing requirements
Written by Freddie Dawson || 12th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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 ...
Is this the year? US cannabis and CBD law reform efforts worth watching in 2021
Written by Anthony Traurig || 11th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Democratic Party, which now controls Congress and the presidency, has signalled for some time that cannabis reform is one of its top priorities, and the US public supports that reform in unprecedented numbers ...
All the president’s men and women sound a positive note for cannabis
Written by CBD-Intel || 10th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
US president Joe Biden’s appointees to a number of influential positions in the new administration give reason for optimism within the hemp and cannabis sector ...
US Small Business Administration claims credit for softening USDA final hemp rule
Written by Freddie Dawson || 1st February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has highlighted its role in securing changes to the Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s final rule for hemp production ...
German Left and Greens propose rise in THC limit, but without much optimism
Written by CBD-Intel || 28th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
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% ...