News analysis for professionals in the cannabis industry

Green Growth Brands and CannTrust seek insolvency protection

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd May 2020

Volatility in the CBD sector continues with two major companies being granted protection by Canadian courts ...

US FDA notes recall over ‘too much lead’, issues COVID-19 claim warning

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd May 2020

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published an announcement of a product recall made voluntarily by a company after tests suggested the CBD oil contained too much lead ...

Watchdog's warning over cosmetics with less CBD than claimed on labels

Written by Freddie Dawson | 21st May 2020

The US National Advertising Division (NAD) has criticised certain cosmetic and wellness products for not containing as much CBD as claimed on their packaging ...

Firm falls in line after Health Canada warning over COVID-19 claims for CBD

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st May 2020

A Canadian company part-owned by singer Bif Naked has run foul of Canada's national health authority after suggesting its CBD products can help protect users from COVID-19 ...

50 shades of grey: it’s federal vs state law on THC in US bankruptcy cases

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th May 2020

CBD companies in the US that deal in THC may not be able to take Chapter 11 bankruptcy – reorganisation as a going concern – leaving those reliant on the business and creditors with few...

Fresh hope or red herring? New THC testing method yet to be put to the test

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th May 2020

Industry leaders say it’s too soon to tell if a newly approved testing method will help address the instability US hemp farmers face due to strict regulations on crops that test above 0.3% THC ...

German would-be flower-sellers look for loophole amid legal confusion

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th May 2020

Setting up studies as a pretext to allow the sales of hemp flowers in Germany is unlikely to succeed – but more are expected to try it as they look for ways to avoid legal...

EU advocate general says French ban on CBD imports may be illegal

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th May 2020

The French government’s ban on the importing of CBD products conflicts with European law on free movement of goods, EU advocate general Evgeni Tanchev says, in an opinion that could have EU-wide implications ...

CBD sector expands in Japan despite stricter import checks

Written by CannIntelligence | 15th May 2020

After a slow start, Japan's CBD sector is expanding rapidly, with the number of specialist shops growing, more vape and health shops, as well as the biggest discount retailer, now carrying CBD products ...

Baltic States look towards legalisation and regulation of cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th May 2020

Local industry lobbyists in the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – are starting to push for further liberalisation of laws regarding the production of cannabis and...

Virginia joins the club of US states allowing CBD as a food ingredient

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th May 2020

The US state of Virginia has passed a bill to legalise CBD in foods. It expressly permits hemp extracts as food ingredients, as long as they don't contain more than 0.3% THC ...

Chinese firms eager to build home CBD market held back by lack of regulation

Written by CannIntelligence | 12th May 2020

Chinese companies hoping to build up CBD businesses are growing increasingly frustrated by a lack of rulemaking, which is inhibiting the development of the domestic market ...

No argument – 0.2% THC limit is just fine as it is, Polish ministries agree

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th May 2020

Despite reports, Poland’s Ministry of Health is not engaged in a dispute with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development over the country’s limit of 0.2% THC in cultivated hemp ...

Local hopes remain buoyant after Canopy Growth pulls out of Africa

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th May 2020

Operations of Canopy Growth’s African subsidiary have not been affected by the parent company’s decision to pull out and leave things in local hands – according to the man in charge of those local hands....

US states providing tax relief measures in midst of COVID-19

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th May 2020

Every state in the US is offering some sort of tax relief in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and many hemp and CBD companies may be eligible for such relief ...

NORML vents frustration at planned DEA rules on cannabis for US research

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th May 2020

A cannabinoid advocacy organisation has called for better rules on the growing of cannabis for research in the US – but declined to say exactly what it would like to see from regulators ...

Florida debate over allowed hemp seed varieties is kicked into the long grass

Written by CannIntelligence | 6th May 2020

A debate over what varieties of hemp can be grown in Florida has been shelved for at least this growing season as industry associations push forward with guidance on obtaining a state licence ...

Unheeded FDA warning puts US firm in court over medical claims for CBD

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th May 2020

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken further steps in the fight against CBD brands making unsubstantiated medical claims, with one hit with a restraining order and injunction ...

Smokable hemp is a fast-growing US market – in states where it’s legal

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th May 2020

Corporate interest in smokable hemp as a consumer product continues to grow in the US despite the mixed and sometimes unclear regulatory situation ...

Figures from first socially distanced 4/20 reveal startling differences

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th May 2020

Initial reports on the results of the first ever socially distanced 4/20 are a mixed bag ...

Hemp coalition calls for regulation to be standardised between US states

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st May 2020

US regulators should standardise the definition of hemp between states to reduce confusion, red tape and non-compliance for companies trading across state lines, says a coalition of interested groups ...

The trouble with GMP – and why EU producers are at a disadvantage

Written by CBD-Intel | 30th April 2020

GMP certification means little and European CBD producers are being held back by rules limiting varieties that can be grown, new analysis from CBD-Intel reveals. Our report also explains how US and Swiss producers are...

CBD-Intel COVID-19 news round-up

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th April 2020

In order to help you keep track of how all this is affecting the CBD industry around the world, all CBD-Intel’s COVID-19-related coverage can now be found in one place here ...

Legal fight goes on after Brazilian court suspends permit to grow hemp

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th April 2020

Further legal action is expected from the only company so far granted official permission to grow hemp in Brazil after a federal court suspended its authorisation ...

New deals show how South America is gradually opening up to CBD business

Written by Freddie Dawson | 29th April 2020

Supply agreements for CBD continue to develop in South America, with new deals for distributing products in Brazil and an agreement in Colombia brought about by Canopy Growth’s change in strategy ...

Australia consults on re-scheduling CBD to be sold on pharmacist’s advice

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th April 2020

Australia has unveiled a consultation on a proposal to classify CBD products as over-the-counter medications, available in pharmacies after consultation with a pharmacist ...

The world after coronavirus ‘looks bright for investment in CBD’

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th April 2020

While the global coronavirus epidemic and consequent lockdown have caused uncertainty in the cannabis sector, investments in CBD are likely to go ahead in the coming months, some experts in the industry say ...

Finnish company declares regulatory related bankruptcy

Written by CannIntelligence | 24th April 2020

Finnish authorities have cracked down on domestically based companies selling dietary supplements containing CBD, which they say lack EU authorisation, leading one of the largest importer of supplements to file for bankruptcy ...

Canada seeks experts to advise on non-prescription cannabis health products

Written by Marija Obradovic | 23rd April 2020

A new national committee is to be set up in Canada to study all aspects of non-prescription cannabis health products, including CBD products ...

Government shutdown delays next step towards Mexican legalisation

Written by CannIntelligence | 23rd April 2020

Further advances towards the legalisation of cannabis in Mexico have been delayed by a government shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a new deadline for legislation set by the country’s Supreme Court ...

Emergency aid available for US businesses – but who will get it?

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd April 2020

Most US hemp and CBD businesses should qualify for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic – but the type of assistance may vary dependent on qualification and availability of funds ...

It’s not time yet to raise a glass to a major CBD drink – but it’s coming

Written by Freddie Dawson | 21st April 2020

Continued investment and a number of minor launches suggest a CBD beverage from one of the major drinks players in North America may not be far off ...

'4/20' celebration goes online as CBD marketing adapts to lockdown

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th April 2020

CBD companies have had to adapt marketing strategies as the COVID-19 pandemic has developed. The pandemic and the associated practice of social distancing have overtaken 4/20, the biggest promotional day for cannabis ...

More CBD companies land in hot water with US FDA over COVID-19 claims

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th April 2020

Companies that have made claims about CBD’s beneficial effects against COVID-19 are facing swift enforcement action from US regulatory authorities ...

Uzbekistan approves hemp cultivation and manufacture under licence

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th April 2020

The government of Uzbekistan has allowed the turnover and imports of hemp and its related products within its territory, according to recent statements made by the press service of the Uzbek Presidential Administration ...

Clean bill of health: Epidiolex is taken off US schedule of controlled drugs

Written by CannIntelligence | 15th April 2020

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has removed Epidiolex, the only CBD drug so far approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), from its list of controlled substances ...

CBD companies are advised to use the time well as virus slows regulation

Written by CannIntelligence | 15th April 2020

CBD entrepreneur Christina DiArcangelo tells CBD-Intel that businesses should be using the slowdown to study, reflect, plan – and “get ahead of the ball” ...

Anxiety, doubt – and some optimism – over coronavirus impact on CBD in US

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th April 2020

The wider impact of COVID-19 on the CBD sector in the US remains confused in the short term and largely a mystery in the longer term as companies scramble to gather information ...

It’s not toxic – but is CBD effective? That’s the question for research team

Written by CannIntelligence | 9th April 2020

Liver toxicity is not really an issue for CBD, but questions remain about its efficacy and how it may affect the efficacy of other drugs. That’s according to leading cannabinoids researcher Kent Vrana ...

Legal in theory only – huge licence fee holds up Zambia’s cannabis trade

Written by CannIntelligence | 2nd April 2020

Four months after Zambia legalised the production and export of cannabis, no one has yet been able to take advantage because of the high cost of licensing fees – and some confusion remains about what...

US state governments shut down or shut doors in face of coronavirus

Written by Freddie Dawson | 1st April 2020

Legislative measures are on hold in half the states of the US due to the COVID-19 emergency, with most suspending activity until at least mid-April ...

Can algae offer a high-tech, low-cost CBD source? Business news in brief

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st April 2020

Also: Drug mart deal for CBD on prescription; A little hemp in your tea, sir?; Celebrity cook denies endorsing CBD; Convenience store chain to sell CBD snacks; UK firm launches CBG hand cleanser; CBD products...

Hollywood set for a transformation as moviemakers get the wellness bug

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st April 2020

As CBD becomes cooler than dope, Hollywood producers are rushing to remake classic drug-oriented movies from a more modern, non-psychoactive cannabidiol perspective. Special agent Orson Hitchcock reports ...

Industry bodies accuse ‘predatory marketers’ of spreading false claims

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th March 2020

Industry organisations have responded in anger to continued claims being made by some companies about the supposed power of cannabinoids in tackling COVID-19 ...

Two companies separately develop micelle encapsulation for CBD

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th March 2020

Two companies have independently come up with the same general solution to major CBD problems. Micelle encapsulation replicates the body’s normal internal process of absorbing fats. The process used by the companies encapsulates CBD in...

Struggling on: CV Sciences and Terra Tech report losses with silver linings

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th March 2020

CBD companies continue to struggle to deliver returns to investors, with two major Californian firms reporting overall losses despite some positives ...

US firm gets approval to sell $3 seeds in Colombia: business news in brief

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th March 2020

Also: £500k funding for online retailer; Hollister picks magic mushroom researchers; KushCo scales back trading prediction; HempNova prepares to grow and process in Oregon ...

Interagency spat as USDA blames DEA ‘pushback’ for hemp rule troubles

Written by Freddie Dawson | 26th March 2020

The head of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has blamed the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for heavily criticised measures in the recently proposed federal hemp production rules ...

Denver-to-Dallas move goes ahead despite coronavirus outbreak

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th March 2020

Also: GW suggests another possible use for Epidyolex; Lawsuit alleges hemp plants were contaminated with pesticide; Elixinol rebrands to move away from medicinal image; Kentucky hemp business goes bust ...

FDA needs more data before making CBD rules, Hahn tells US hearing

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th March 2020

FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn has told a Congressional subcommittee that more research and data are needed before the FDA is ready to issue a formal policy on CBD products ...

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