CBD in the United Kingdom

UK: The Home Office has stated in written evidence to a parliamentary inquiry into drug policy that the government is keen to reduce barriers to access to controlled drugs for legitimate medical, research and industrial purposes. As an example, it refers to the introduction of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. However, the department does not seem keen on relaxing the restrictions on cannabis further, since it says there is clear scientific and medical evidence that cannabis is a harmful drug which can damage people’s mental and physical health, and harm individuals and communities.

UK: Explaining why a Cellular Goods product was left off the list of marketable CBD products despite using a white label product from Pureis, whose status has been validated, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) told retail magazine The Grocer: “[Cellular Goods] had not provided evidence that their products were on the market before 13 February 2020. Any products not on sale before February 2020 are not eligible for the public list”. The FSA added that white label products sold before 13th February 2020 “cannot be rebranded after the cut-off date until the product is authorised”.

UK: Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police have seized 23 products containing cannabis from a souvenir shop in London’s Oxford Street, press reports.

UK: The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry and First November Group have launched a review of regulation and public policy relating to the UK’s legal cannabis industry. The commission tasked with the review is chaired by Christopher Hodges, emeritus professor of justice systems at the University of Oxford. His report, due in May, will aim to provide a blueprint to “create a competitive advantage for the UK in dealing with this nascent sector, and put Britain at the forefront of global cannabinoids”.