Market & legal data analysis of the cannabis sector in Europe

Medical cannabis organisation in Spain on first draft law: it won’t help patients

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 14th October 2024

Two years past the deadline, Spain finally has a medical cannabis draft regulation, but restrictions in the bill make it so challenging for patients to access medication that they wonder if it would even help...

UK ASA says no to CBD web guidance on under-age use and maximum daily dose

Written by Freddie Dawson | 20th September 2024

CBD company websites must follow UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidelines – even though they are recommendations only – as demonstrated by two new rulings from the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ...

Brazil becomes top market for Colombia’s cannabis exports amid regulatory shiftss

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th September 2024

In 2023, nearly a third – around $3.4m – of Colombia's total cannabis exports went to Brazil, driven by regulatory shifts and Colombia’s determination to dominate the international cannabis market ...

Epidiolex misses trial’s efficacy goal in Japan as it aims for drug authorisation

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 28th August 2024

Clinical trials on CBD-based medical drug Epidiolex missed their main goal of registering a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures experienced by patients in Japan, based on the results reported by manufacturer Jazz Pharmaceuticals...

Increase in prescriptions of unlicensed medical cannabis sparks concern in UK

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th August 2024

Unlicensed medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK private medical sector have increased by nearly 120% between 2022 and 2023, raising concerns in the healthcare industry over prescribers’ practices ...

Chief research officer shares equation for success in developing next-gen products

Written by CannIntelligence | 23rd August 2024

Businesses that lead product innovation with what the consumer wants will be one step ahead when it comes to taking a next-generation product to market – particularly when making PMTAs in the US ...

Cannabinoid and vape brands’ joint affair sparks surprise interest from Middle East

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th August 2024

Executives were taken aback by the enthusiasm vendors showed for a nicotine vape brand in Dubai with a US West Coast theme, even though it involves a product that the UAE only recently legalised ...

Not your usual partnership between cannabinoid brand and vaping company

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th August 2024

Vaping company Ispire has signed a 30-year global licensing agreement with Hidden Hills Club, a cannabinoid operation with wider lifestyle ambitions that will lead to the creation of Hidden Hills branded nicotine vaping products ...

Italian amendment reintroduced that could leave CBD, hemp sector in ruins

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th August 2024

The proposed and withdrawn amendment to ban CBD products in Italy has reappeared as part of a bill aimed at enhancing public safety and combating crime ...

Czech government struggles to push through cannabis legalisation bill

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 2nd August 2024

The long-awaited submission of a Czech government draft bill for the regulation of recreational cannabis was not received favourably by conservative representatives, leading to a discussion focused on self-cultivation only ...

Germany’s cannabis clubs are now allowed to operate, but are they really?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 19th July 2024

On 1st July, cannabis clubs became allowed to operate under Germany’s new cannabis law, but this doesn’t mean that even the first already-licensed club will actually be able to start operations anytime soon ...

Germany expected to eliminate hemp ‘intoxication clause’ from cannabis law

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th June 2024

An announced withdrawal of a law clause stating that the commercial use of industrial hemp must exclude “the abuse of intoxication” could have a significant impact on the German cannabis industry if approved ...

Germany set to introduce HHC ban, but other semi-synthetics may take its place

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 6th June 2024

HHC is likely to become illegal very soon in Germany, as the country’s Federal Council prepares to pass a government decree on the subject on 14th June ...

Italy’s right-wing government may end up banning hemp, putting a sector at risk

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 31st May 2024

Italy may soon ban hemp flowers and hemp flower extracts with a THC content of less than 0.2%, as the country’s far-right government takes a conservative stance on cannabis ...

Contamination and adulteration of vape products: how serious is the problem?

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th May 2024

The recent discovery of the illicit animal tranquilliser xylazine in cannabis vapes raises concerns about harmful contaminants. How do these substances end up in vaping products? ...

The long road to EFSA authorisation for CBD as novel food in the European Union

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 20th May 2024

In June 2022, the European Food Safety Authority broke some very bad news to CBD companies applying for their products to be authorised as novel food in the European Union ...

UK FSA novel food committee gives CBD brands first positive safety assessments

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 6th May 2024

UK-based CBD brands Cannaray and Pureis are the first to obtain a positive safety assessment from the Food and Standards Agency (FSA) Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes ...

Germany’s cannabis law could open doors for foreign businesses to set up in Europe

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd April 2024

As Germany becomes the first country in mainland Europe to partially legalise adult-use cannabis, investors from outside the continent may want to establish a presence in the European market now and wait for opportunities ...

The uncertain fate of IHDCs in Europe: could a general ban be on the horizon?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th April 2024

In this part of a series of articles celebrating the tenth anniversary of Tamarind Intelligence, we look at how the landscape of intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids (IHDCs) across Europe has changed over the years ...

Germany enforces partial recreational cannabis law after ditching last obstacle

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 29th March 2024

Germany agrees on partial recreational cannabis legalisation, after fears that the enforcement of its already approved regulation law would be delayed beyond the 1st April set date ...

Czech Republic bans semi-synthetics amid debate over cannabis regulation

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 15th March 2024

Shortly after drafting its first proposal on cannabis regulation, the Czech government has banned semi-synthetic cannabinoids HHC, HHC acetate (HHC-O) and tetrahydrocannabiforol (THCP) ...

Barcelona prepares to host industry and consumers at its 2024 ‘cannabis week’

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th March 2024

In just a few days, the global cannabis sector will gather again in Barcelona for what has become informally known, for some years now, as the city’s cannabis week ...

Still weeds to wade through as Germany passes recreational cannabis legislation

Written by Freddie Dawson | 26th February 2024

Germany has successfully passed a law legalising the recreational use of cannabis, which could make it the first mainland EU member state to successfully apply a regulatory framework to the sale of recreational cannabis ...

The rise of cannabis clubs in Europe – the grassroots model regulators are adopting

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th February 2024

The cannabis social club model is now being incorporated by multiple European regulators. Born and developed outside a legal framework, it originated as an attempt to regulate cannabis production and consumption ...

Hollowed-out draft of Czech regulation leaves room for improvement, say critics

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th January 2024

The Czech government’s newly presented, much-awaited proposal on cannabis regulation falls short of industry expectations, although activists believe there is still room for improving the initial draft ...

What’s in store for cannabis regulation? Looking at 2024 with cautious optimism

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th January 2024

Cannabis rather than hemp will see the primary regulatory changes in 2024, CannIntelligence predicts, with moves coming in the US, Thailand, Germany and France, among others ...

Is cannabis regulation finally on the horizon under Spain’s ‘new’ government?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th January 2024

Optimism over possible regulation of cannabis in Spain has increased as the new ruling coalition has shown some potential for getting back to work on the process ...

Why Austria is unlikely to follow its neighbours in legalising cannabis

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 2nd November 2023

While its neighbours Germany and the Czech Republic continue to move closer towards legalising recreational cannabis, Austria appears to be lagging behind. The governing People’s Party is firmly against the idea ...

Poland’s next coalition government may take a more liberal stance on cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th October 2023

A coalition of centre-right, liberal, and left-wing forces is the most likely to form a new government in Poland before the end of the year, following elections held on 15th October ...

How could a new government affect cannabinoid policy in the Netherlands?

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th October 2023

The nearly 18m people of the Netherlands face uncertainty following the collapse of the government this summer. The Cabinet is currently overseeing the nation with a “caretaker” status until the 22nd November general election ...

EIHA and German hemp organisations urge government to fine-tune legislation

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 3rd October 2023

As the German government pushes ahead with its work creating a new legal framework for cannabis in the country, hemp and cannabis associations are urging politicians to fine-tune the current draft of the legislation ...

Italy’s classification of CBD extracts as pharmaceuticals riles cannabis firms

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 6th September 2023

Cannabis companies in Italy are opposing a government decree that will become effective on 20th September and may outlaw CBD oils for oral use in the country ...

As herbal sticks get more popular in Europe, CBD could be among ingredients

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th August 2023

Tobacco-free herbal sticks are expected to continue growing in popularity, and some producers are considering the inclusion of CBD-based heated sticks in their product line where it is permitted as an ingredient ...

Political deadlock in Spain – where does it leave legalisation of medical cannabis?

Written by Laura Garay Gómez | 3rd August 2023

Spain’s surprise inconclusive election result has left the future of medical cannabis in the country up in the air, with everything depending on what government eventually emerges ...

Cannabis companies shed US assets to focus on more lucrative markets

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 27th July 2023

Major cannabis firms are streamlining their North American operations and reallocating resources toward markets with what they see as more long-term growth potential ...

Is the cannabis sector failing to ensure gender equality at its own expense?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th July 2023

Women started entering the cannabis sector right at its beginning, and by 2015 over one third of US executives in cannabis companies were female. In 2017 this figure was down to 26% ...

Hopes, doubts and questions as Germans and Czechs head towards legalisation

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th July 2023

Coming developments in the legalisation of recreational cannabis in Germany and the Czech Republic are anticipated with some eagerness – and some concern – by the industry across Europe and beyond ...

Right wing’s rapid U-turn – government keeps Italy guessing on hemp flowers

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th July 2023

A proposal by Italy’s ruling right-wing coalition to regulate the sale of hemp flowers was met with some surprise – and was withdrawn, without explanation, less than 24 hours after being put forward ...

Has Germany walked back its own recreational cannabis legalisation plans?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd July 2023

European authorities do not want to comment on specifics of Germany’s plans to legalise recreational cannabis, suggesting that Germany scaled them back of its own accord rather than because of EU instigation ...

Can health insurance bring Colombia a medical cannabis boom like Germany’s?

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th June 2023

Making coverage of medical cannabis mandatory for insurers is one of the biggest potential spurs for growth in the sector. And companies operating in South America hope Colombia could follow the German path ...

France puts wheels in motion that could get CBD cosmetics banned across Europe

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 16th June 2023

France has started a process that could end with a Europe-wide ban on CBD-containing cosmetic products if an EU assessment finds them not safe for consumers’ reproductive health ...

Belgian ban on cannabinoid pouches comes under attack from tobacco giant

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th June 2023

British American Tobacco (BAT) will petition Belgium’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, to annul a royal decree banning the sale of cannabinoid pouches, along with those containing nicotine ...

Luxembourg’s recreational cannabis plan likely to go the same way as Germany’s

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th June 2023

Germany’s recent announcement that it has scaled back its plans to legalise recreational cannabis could have a knock-on effect on its smaller neighbour Luxembourg’s planned pilot programme ...

French guidelines on CBD supplements: big deal or much ado about nothing?

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th June 2023

France has created temporary guidelines allowing CBD companies to register their products as food supplements pending authorisation under the EU’s upcoming novel foods regulation ...

Belgium aims to bring herbal products under clarified heated tobacco rules

Written by CannIntelligence | 31st May 2023

Herbal products and devices will fall under the Belgian regulatory framework for tobacco if a bill to incorporate Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100, submitted into the EU TRIS database, goes into effect unchanged ...

Czech Republic heads towards legal recreational cannabis within a year

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 30th May 2023

Recreational cannabis may become legal and regulated in the Czech Republic within the first half of 2024, as the government prepares to push a bill through Parliament by the end of this year ...

Revised German cannabis plan triggers black market fears, disappoints firms

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th May 2023

The German government has scaled back its plan to establish a national commercial recreational cannabis market with a two-part reform framework that would legalise possession, home cultivation and cannabis clubs ...

Czech government stops ban on CBD-containing food products before it starts

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 22nd May 2023

The Czech government will no longer go forward with a proposed measure to ban sales of food products containing CBD which was due to come into effect in mid-June ...

Czechs remain hopeful of surpassing toned-down German legalisation plans

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th May 2023

The Czech Republic has acknowledged that it is coordinating the drafting of legislation to legalise recreational cannabis with Germany – but it appears to be unmoved by backtracking in Berlin ...

The vanity of the bonfires – what now for UK bid to torch EU cannabinoid rules?

Written by CannIntelligence | 16th May 2023

The UK government’s plan to review or revoke thousands of pieces of legislation that originated from EU law by the end of the year is itself now under review ...

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