Opponents unlikely to derail Arizona recreational cannabis legalisation

Written by Anthony Traurig || 20th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Arizona

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Voters in the US states of Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota passed ballot initiatives to legalise adult-use and/or medical cannabis in their states. However, the path from ballot initiative to law is not always clear...

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

Written by Freddie Dawson || 19th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

France

EU regulation

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Biden’s election should be good news for cannabis legalisation – eventually

Written by CBD-Intel || 18th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Policy and Politics

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

With Joe Biden poised to become the 46th US president, lobbyists in Washington are scrambling to position themselves to influence cannabis policy ...

Can state governor overturn voters’ ‘wrong choice’ to legalise cannabis?

Written by Anthony Traurig || 18th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

South Dakota

United States

Policy and Politics

Regulatory briefing

Electors in South Dakota – not a traditionally cannabis-friendly state – voted overwhelmingly to legalise both medical and recreational cannabis. The governor doesn't like it – but is there anything she can do to stop it? ...

Ukraine moves towards potential medical cannabis legalisation

Written by CBD-Intel || 13th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Ukraine

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

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 on legalisation ...

Italian health ministry suspends its decree defining oral CBD as medication

Written by CBD-Intel || 6th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Food

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

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 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

United Kingdom

Food

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

US voters in another five states give thumbs up to legalising cannabis

Written by CBD-Intel || 5th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

One in three US citizens will soon be living in states where recreational cannabis is legal, while around 70% will have access to some form of medical cannabis programme after voters had their say ...

No to legalisation, suggests New Zealand referendum preliminary counts

Written by Freddie Dawson || 30th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Australasia

New Zealand

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A push to legalise cannabis has not been successful in New Zealand, according to reports of preliminary counts ...

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

Written by CBD-Intel || 29th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

United Kingdom

EU regulation

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Funding and support promised for hemp sector development in Yunnan

Written by CBD-Intel || 29th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

China

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A CNY5bn ($745m) fund and three years of CNY100m ($14.9m) funding have been promised as part of a hemp sector development plan for Kunming City, the capital of Yunnan Province ...

Italian vape stores prohibited from selling CBD products

Written by CBD-Intel || 26th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Italian vape stores will not be able to sell CBD products following the publication of a circular ...

CBD and hemp regulation: confusion in the US

Written by CBD-Intel || 23rd October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Regulation of CBD at the federal level remains confusingly divided between multiple agencies. Three main bodies have overall control of most aspects of hemp and CBD consumer product regulation ...

CBD and hemp regulation: the US DEA and its authority

Written by CBD-Intel || 23rd October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp and compounds derived from hemp (including CBD) from the CSA. Therefore, the DEA should have very little involvement in enforcing laws and regulations on hemp and CBD ...

CBD and hemp regulation: the US FDA and its authority

Written by CBD-Intel || 23rd October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a critical agency in the regulatory scheme of CBD products. The 2018 Farm Bill, which legalised hemp and CBD derived from it, granted the FDA the authority to regulate hemp...

CBD and hemp regulation: the USDA and its authority

Written by CBD-Intel || 23rd October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Among the most important obligations delegated to it in the Farm Bill, the USDA is responsible for rule making regarding production and testing of hemp and approving state and tribal plans for hemp production ...

Ministerial decree causes further confusion for the Italian market

Written by CBD-Intel || 22nd October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A ministerial decree listing oral administration of CBD as a medicine under Italy’s Narcotics Law is meant to clear the way for the introduction of Epidyolex into the market, not to prevent consumer wellness products being sold...

EU ‘tax’ on plastic packaging waste could mean another tangle of red tape

Written by Pablo Cano Trilla || 20th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

EU regulation

Policy and Politics

Regulatory briefing

EU member states will have to decide how to implement a planned European levy on non-recycled plastic packaging waste – to fund it from national budgets or make industry pay for the waste it produces ...

Lobbyists hard at work for regulatory change as US elections approach

Written by CBD-Intel || 19th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Policy and Politics

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

With US elections on 3rd November fast approaching, lobbyists for CBD, cannabis and hemp are eager to get their message across to candidates on both sides of the political divide ...

Red yeast rice and stem cells could point the way ahead for FDA regulation of CBD

Written by CBD-Intel || 16th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Food

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

The apparently unrelated fields of red yeast rice and stem cell research could provide clues as to how the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) might deal with market regulation of CBD ...

Costa Rica looks set to legalise hemp and medical cannabis production

Written by CBD-Intel || 9th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Costa Rica

South America

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A Costa Rican bill legalising the production of hemp and medical cannabis looks likely to pass due to broad support from the ruling coalition and president ...

A mixed blessing as US states get extra time to comply with the 2018 Farm Bill

Written by CBD-Intel || 5th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

The US Congress has extended by 11 months the deadline for states to get into compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill ...

New regulatory measures for industrial hemp introduced in Zimbabwe

Written by CBD-Intel || 2nd October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Africa

Zimbabwe

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The Zimbabwean agriculture minister has officially published a new statutory instrument to regulate the production, procurement, distribution, possession, sale, provision and transportation of industrial hemp ...

Agriculture ministry decree may allow extraction from hemp flowers in Italy

Written by CBD-Intel || 1st October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Regulatory briefing

The Italian Ministry of Agriculture has issued a ministerial decree listing hemp flowers in the catalogue of officinal plants, which forms part of the country’s medicinal and aromatic plants legislation ...

Hopes growing in Brazil for further legalisation of medical cannabis

Written by CBD-Intel || 28th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Brazil

South America

Companies

Health

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A proposal to be voted on by Brazilian legislators in the coming weeks could legalise the growing of hemp for industrial purposes and cannabis for medical use ...

ACI consortium approach to obtain safety data for CBD moves forward

Written by Freddie Dawson || 25th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

United Kingdom

Science

Technology and Innovation

Regulatory briefing

The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) will move forward with its consortium approach to obtaining toxicology and safety data for CBD with at least 15 companies having signed up and an undisclosed number still in discussion ...

Opposing politicians attack European Commission view on ‘narcotic’ CBD

Written by CBD-Intel || 15th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Czech Republic

EU

Europe

Poland

EU regulation

Regulatory briefing

MEPs with very different political outlooks have attacked the European Commission’s initial opinion that CBD could be classed under United Nations conventions as a narcotic ...

‘We want MORE’ – US Democrats prepare for House vote on cannabis reform bill

Written by CBD-Intel || 11th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

The US House of Representatives is expected to hold a historic vote this month on a comprehensive cannabis reform bill that supporters embrace for not only decriminalising marijuana but correcting injustices ...

Multiple proposals could spell legalisation of hemp and CBD in Israel

Written by Lenka Hajnovicova || 4th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

Israel

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Israel is considering amending the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, which – if successful – will have a major impact on the market with hemp and CBD products ...

Licensing difficulties hold back hemp producers in China’s Yunnan province

Written by CBD-Intel || 3rd September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

China

Companies

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Companies seeking licences to produce hemp in the Chinese province of Yunnan face a tightening of the application process, according to some who have successfully negotiated the concealed hurdles ...

US DEA raises industry’s hackles with its strict interpretation of 0.3% THC limit

Written by Freddie Dawson || 1st September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

Proposed regulations from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have riled the hemp and CBD sectors, with opinions divided on what the rule would mean if enacted in its current form ...

Worse delays feared for European CBD novel food authorisations

Written by CBD-Intel || 27th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

EU regulation

Food

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Do not expect European novel food authorisations before the end of 2022 at the very earliest and do not expect generic authorisations to cover non-applicant products, a new report from CBD-Intel warns ...

Charlotte’s Web denied US trademark on appeal ‘because CBD oil isn’t legal’

Written by CBD-Intel || 26th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Companies

Food

Regulation and Legislation

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

Charlotte's Web has been denied a US trademark on appeal – a ruling that has serious implications for any company in the CBD sector selling food, drink or dietary supplement products in the US ...

Switzerland edges towards legal cannabis with trials likely next year

Written by CBD-Intel || 17th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Switzerland

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Vapour/Smokable

Regulatory briefing

Switzerland plans to launch trials next year as part of a move toward legalising cannabis with high levels of THC – but it could be several years before Swiss users can legally light up a joint ...

US FDA provides cannabis researchers guidance on sources, testing and quality

Written by CBD-Intel || 12th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Regulation and Legislation

Science

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

Clinical research guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should provide further impetus for cannabis research, which is certain to have an impact on the CBD market ...

British Columbia allows online sales, but struggles with shortages

Written by Marija Obradovic || 7th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Canada

North America

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The provincial government amended Cannabis Licensing Regulation amendment to allow online and telephone sales of cannabis and CBD products under condition that an exchange of purchased product takes place at a point of sale ...

A list of regional Italian proposals for hemp regulation and promotion

Written by CBD-Intel || 6th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Italian regions are trying to boost the hemp-supply chain through proposed regional rules, funding projects and developing circular economy strategies to make up for the lack of clarifying action at the national level ...

New Zealand cannabis legislation would also include legalising CBD products

Written by CBD-Intel || 5th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Australasia

New Zealand

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

New Zealand will go to the polls in just under two months to decide on a broad cannabis legalisation referendum that would also encompass fully legalising CBD products ...

Draft guidance on CBD enforcement submitted to OMB for review

Written by CBD-Intel || 3rd August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The FDA’s draft guidance on CBD enforcement policy was submitted for review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the OMB has now scheduled meetings with various hemp/CBD stakeholder groups ...

Swiss authorities return money after hemp flowers tax court ruling

Written by CBD-Intel || 28th July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Switzerland

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Switzerland’s customs authorities returned CHF33m (€30.5m) to CBD producers after the federal supreme court ruled there was no legal basis to tax hemp flowers under the country’s tobacco law...

New US testing programme set to address industry criticisms

Written by Freddie Dawson || 27th July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A new government programme will attempt to address one of the industry’s biggest criticisms – the lack of consistency in laboratory test results ...

Unwelcome but unsurprising: industry reactions to FDA testing

Written by CBD-Intel || 25th July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Health

Science

Regulatory briefing

The FDA’s recent report that fewer than half of the CBD products tested from US store shelves contain the amount of CBD on the label was unwelcome news ...

FDA promises CBD testing as report shows many labels are inaccurate

Written by CBD-Intel || 24th July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Science

Regulatory briefing

The US FDA has criticised CBD products for inaccuracies in labelling the amount of CBD present in products and promised further testing for the sector in the near future ...

Think tank urges Poland’s government to raise THC limit for hemp growers

Written by CBD-Intel || 16th July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Poland

EU regulation

Farming

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

An influential Polish think tank has released a report calling for a relaxation of Poland’s cannabis regulations ...

Indiana’s smokable hemp ban could be back on after US appeal court ruling

Written by CBD-Intel || 15th July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Indiana

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt a blow to challengers of Indiana’s smokable hemp ban, ruling that the lower court went too far in restricting the enforcement of Indiana’s ban ...

Who can bring clarity to Italian CBD regulation? Another bid bites the dust

Written by CBD-Intel || 13th July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Yet another attempt to bring clear regulation to the Italian CBD market has been rejected, apparently for political reasons ...

Colorado joins growing list of US states selling CBD in cannabis dispensaries

Written by CBD-Intel || 3rd July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Retail

US federal regulation

Regulatory briefing

Colorado has joined the list of US states selling hemp-derived CBD products through cannabis dispensaries ...

CBD and cannabis legislation back on the Italian political agenda

Written by CBD-Intel || 2nd July 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has revived moves to regulate Italy’s CBD market ...

Finland’s government looks set to take a fresh look at cannabis and CBD

Written by CBD-Intel || 30th June 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Finland

Policy and Politics

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A shift in political outlook under 34-year-old prime minister Sanna Marin could signal a chance to revisit the legal status of CBD in Finland ...

EIHA launches novel food application consortium project

Written by Freddie Dawson || 26th June 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

EU regulation

Food

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A new consortium project from the EIHA will put four separate novel food applications in to European and UK authorities after performing the necessary toxicological and safety studies ...