News analysis for professionals in the cannabis industry

Psychedelic substances for therapy? It's an idea whose time may be coming

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 7th October 2020

Although still illegal in the US and Canada, psychedelic substances such as fungus-derived psilocybin are becoming increasingly acceptable, research suggests ...

Mushrooms may be good for you – and firms hope that can be good for them too

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 6th October 2020

Commercial interest in mushrooms as active ingredients is on the rise – despite legal issues that severely curtail commercial opportunities ...

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

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th October 2020

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

Ambitious firms defy the times by expanding operations into new markets

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 5th October 2020

Turbulent times and the ongoing challenges caused by COVID-19 are not stopping some CBD businesses from doing deals and making major investments as they seek expansion into new markets ...

New regulatory measures for industrial hemp introduced in Zimbabwe

Written by CannIntelligence | 2nd October 2020

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 ...

Wellness trend pushes multiple launches in CBD space

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 2nd October 2020

Increasing numbers of CBD businesses are marketing products that chime with the wellness trend and now even Playboy is launching a line of CBD products in the US that promise physical and mental benefits ...

Agriculture ministry decree may allow extraction from hemp flowers in Italy

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st October 2020

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 ...

Folium branches out with stalks to break into Japanese and Korean markets

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th September 2020

US-based CBD producer Folium Biosciences is looking to tap Asian markets by creating a dedicated stalk extraction line which it believes will meet the strict regulatory requirements of Japan and South Korea ...

Hopes growing in Brazil for further legalisation of medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 28th September 2020

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

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...

Ale and hearty – a new CBD food and drinks trade springs up in Hong Kong

Written by CannIntelligence | 23rd September 2020

2020 seems an unlikely year for the emergence of any new industry, yet this is exactly what has happened in Hong Kong, where there are now locally produced CBD food and drink products ...

cbdMD campaign steps carefully to find the right route to TV ad acceptance

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th September 2020

A TV advertising campaign for US company cbdMD demonstrates how attitudes towards CBD products are slowly changing in advertising circles – but also how much work remains to be done ...

British spirit-makers looking to make CBD the gin genie in the bottle

Written by CannIntelligence | 16th September 2020

Britain’s newfound enthusiasm for CBD products has joined with the passion for alcohol, with some companies are aiming to capitalise on the trend for “drinking less but drinking better” by launching CBD spirits, especially gin...

Opposing politicians attack European Commission view on 'narcotic' CBD

Written by CannIntelligence | 15th September 2020

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 ...

Researchers suggest CBD could work with terpenes in COVID-19 treatment

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th September 2020

Studies looking at the potential for CBD to treat or alleviate COVID-19 symptoms continue to progress – with one study hinting at promising results combining CBD with other terpene products ...

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

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th September 2020

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 ...

Industry associations lay out arguments against classifying CBD as a narcotic

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th September 2020

A group of industry associations say considering cannabinoid extracts such as CBD derived from hemp to be narcotics goes against the spirit of the UN Conventions on drugs ...

Deals and new products launch CBD further into the wellness field

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 7th September 2020

CBD firms are expanding their reach into the wellness market via company acquisitions, distribution deals and new product launches ...

CBD industry steps up with funding for ValidCare’s vital liver function study

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th September 2020

More than a dozen CBD businesses have given their backing to an investigation of the impact of CBD on liver toxicity levels in order to provide regulatory authorities in the US with reliable new data...

Multiple proposals could spell legalisation of hemp and CBD in Israel

Written by CannIntelligence | 4th September 2020

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 CannIntelligence | 3rd September 2020

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 ...

Pharma gets bigger with approval for new cannabinoid-based treatments

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 3rd September 2020

The pharmaceutical side of the cannabinoid industry continues to grow, with several major announcements expanding treatments and blurring boundaries ...

Closures, bankruptcy and rescues – cannabinoid firms battle for survival

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 2nd September 2020

The bankruptcy stories continue for cannabinoid firms in the US and Canada as businesses struggle to survive in turbulent times ...

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

Written by Freddie Dawson | 1st September 2020

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 ...

Molson venture launches but ingestibles may be seeing less success

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th August 2020

Molson Coors has made its long awaited entry into the cannabis market through the launch of its Truss brand of cannabis drinks made in partnership with cannabis company Hexo...

Worse delays feared for European CBD novel food authorisations

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th August 2020

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 CannIntelligence | 26th August 2020

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 ...

Love Hemp and Mile High see silver lining in COVID-19 pandemic for UK CBD sales

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th August 2020

Expansion plans by two major players suggest confidence in the future of the CBD market in the UK, with one anticipating a continuing rise in sales driven by reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic ...

German firm waits to hear whether new CBD oil will be deemed 'novel food'

Written by CannIntelligence | 24th August 2020

A German company is still waiting to hear from the authorities two months after launching new CBD products that could be considered food supplements ...

Study identifies possible dangers of taking cannabinoids with other drugs

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th August 2020

A comprehensive list of possible cannabinoid/drug interactions has been published for the first time by researchers at Penn State University in the US ...

Italian tobacconists lobby for a monopoly on the sale of CBD flowers

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th August 2020

A group of tobacco retailers have written to the Italian Tobacconists Federation (FIT) asking it to push for a state monopoly on the sale of CBD flowers ...

Canopy Growth takes stride into sports nutrition with NFL superstar tie-up

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 19th August 2020

Canadian cannabinoid firm Canopy Growth has signed a multi-year deal with NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes as part of its advance into the sports nutrition market ...

Switzerland edges towards legal cannabis with trials likely next year

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th August 2020

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...

Irish trade body criticises the government's approach to hemp and CBD

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 14th August 2020

The trade body for hemp and CBD in Ireland has accused the Irish government of working in silos and said its lack of intra-governmental communication as well as consultation with stakeholders could lead to the...

Nanotechnology could improve the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th August 2020

Nanotechnology – referring to any kind of technology dealing in very small scales such as atomic, molecular or supramolecular – could improve some of the disadvantages of cannabinoids, such as solubility ...

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

Written by CannIntelligence | 12th August 2020

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 ...

The entourage effect – absence of evidence, but no evidence of absence

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th August 2020

Some recent research has cast doubt on the idea that cannabis compounds may be more effective when taken together ...

Studies suggest interesting potential for lesser known cannabinoids

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th August 2020

New research into the therapeutic potential of lesser known cannabinoids is progressing with recent discoveries about a host of new compounds ...

British Columbia allows online sales, but struggles with shortages

Written by Marija Obradovic | 7th August 2020

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 CannIntelligence | 6th August 2020

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 ...

Vaping may be best method of consumption for CBD bioavailability

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th August 2020

Scientists are increasingly starting to study how differing methods of consumption can affect CBD bioavailability – the ability to enter your bloodstream and induce effects ...

New Zealand cannabis legislation would also include legalising CBD products

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th August 2020

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 ...

IPO success for two companies, one being first psychedelics company to list

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th August 2020

A new special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) operating in the hemp space is expected to start making moves in the near future after raising $150m earlier this year ...

Bluebird Botanicals sees success with unconventional advertising campaign

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd August 2020

A US CBD company has taken an unusual approach to advertising to set itself apart from the pack. It is using a spare forceful campaign that actively discourages some people from using its products ...

Draft guidance on CBD enforcement submitted to OMB for review

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd August 2020

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 ...

HempFusion completes NDC registration for CBD topical products

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 31st July 2020

Registration in the US FDA National Drug Code (NDC) Directory conveys significant benefits even if the FDA does not specifically approve these items as over-the-counter products, according to a CBD company ...

Ignite lost $50m in one year; auditors say survival now endangered

Written by CannIntelligence | 29th July 2020

Canadian CBD firm Ignite lost $67m CAD last year and it could go under if it doesn’t get funding soon, auditors warned in an annual report ...

Swiss authorities return money after hemp flowers tax court ruling

Written by CannIntelligence | 28th July 2020

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

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

Firms restructure and recapitalise as revenues continue to decline

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 27th July 2020

As tough market conditions continue for cannabinoid firms in the US and Canada, struggling companies are continuing to pursue a range of survival strategies ...

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