News analysis for professionals in the cannabis industry

Cannabinoids from other sources: the promise that keeps failing to deliver

Written by CannIntelligence | 28th November 2023

Cannabinoids can be found in numerous plants, animals and fungi, and as more are unearthed and their properties tested, our knowledge of potential applications and uses expands ...

Extension of Farm Bill coverage to 2024 means good news for the US hemp sector

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 27th November 2023

US hemp farmers will be able to continue operating under the 2018 Farm Bill framework until the end of September next year, as stopgap funding was approved and signed into law by president Joe Biden...

Japan’s first medical cannabis law: ‘historic shift’ or crackdown on illicit use?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th November 2023

Japan’s first medical cannabis law may end up only legalising a single pharmaceutical product, while also criminalising recreational cannabis consumption ...

Canadian cannabis company Organigram gets $90m from BAT to fund expansion

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th November 2023

A British American Tobacco (BAT) subsidiary is investing a further CAD124.6m (USD90.2m) in its strategic partnership with Canadian licensed cannabis producer Organigram ...

Weaker demand for hemp and cannabis products impacts 22nd Century’s revenue

Written by Freddie Dawson | 7th November 2023

22nd Century reported decreased revenues for the third quarter of 2023 and blamed demand challenges in its hemp/cannabis product distribution business, although this still represents the biggest part of its net revenue ...

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 ...

New Zealand reclassifies low-dose CBD medical products, effects yet to be seen

Written by Fernanda Tucunduva | 24th October 2023

Low-dose CBD products can now be supplied in New Zealand by registered pharmacists without a prescription after Medsafe reclassified CBD from a prescription-only medicine to a restricted (pharmacist-only) medicine ...

CBD regulatory progress in US Congress grinds to a halt in partisan gridlock

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th October 2023

Partisan gridlock continues to keep Congress from clarifying the regulatory framework for CBD. Even as the Biden administration moves to reschedule cannabis, Congress punts CBD issues back and forth with the FDA ...

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 ...

Thailand’s new PM vows to outlaw recreational cannabis once again

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th October 2023

Thailand’s cannabis free-for-all could come to a halt within months as the new prime minister has said he wants to make recreational use and sale illegal again ...

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 ...

US cannabis industry has ‘lost its shine’, but easing taxes may re-attract investors

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 2nd October 2023

Stakeholders are feeling more optimistic that relief could be on its way for the US cannabis industry, which is currently struggling ...

Study finds US cannabis sector in crisis, but possible rescheduling offers hope

Written by CannIntelligence | 2nd October 2023

US cannabis rescheduling could eventually lead to companies saving around $2bn a year in federal taxes, a recent cannabis economics report claims, by allowing businesses to deduct their business expenses on their federal tax returns...

Struggling industry blames FDA as Canadian companies leave US market

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th September 2023

Another major Canadian cannabinoid company is leaving the US market amid concerns over the regulatory environment some say the US Food and Drug Administration has caused ...

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 ...

US scheduling recommendation could bring big boost to cannabis industry

Written by Anthony Traurig | 1st September 2023

The US Department of Health and Human Services recommendation to reschedule cannabis to a less restrictive schedule could be the boon that the besieged cannabis industry needs ...

Young adults in the US are choosing cannabis over vaping and cigarettes

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 28th August 2023

Young US adults are more likely to use cannabis than to vape or smoke cigarettes, says a new Gallup poll, and concerns about cannabis use are not comparable to fears around vaping and smoking ...

22nd Century's cannabinoid business accounts for two-thirds of Q2 revenue

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th August 2023

22nd Century announced a positive second-quarter result for its cannabinoid business, with the division supplying most of its quarterly revenue ...

Australia’s Greens submit ‘solidly founded bill’ for cannabis legalisation

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th August 2023

The Australian Greens party has submitted the country’s first bill for the legalisation of recreational cannabis on a national level following a public consultation it held on its draft version ...

Near miss in Colombia could have been Latin America’s cannabis breakthrough

Written by CannIntelligence | 10th August 2023

Attempts to legalise adult recreational cannabis use continue to stall across Latin America, with Colombia the latest example there of a nation where what looked a promising bid has fallen short ...

Argentina paves the way for the long-awaited launch of its hemp industry

Written by Sergi Riudalbàs Clemente | 9th August 2023

The Argentine government has finally put enough flesh on the bones of its laws to allow the development of a hemp industry and expansion of its medical cannabis sector ...

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% ...

The current state and future hope of Canada’s cannabis consumption cafés

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th July 2023

When it comes to rules for businesses like cannabis consumption lounges, Canadian entrepreneurs face a complicated patchwork quilt of provincial and municipal laws ...

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 ...

US FDA and FTC join together in warning producers of delta-8 THC ingestibles

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 10th July 2023

The US Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration have sent warning letters to six sellers of delta-8 THC edibles whose packaging is very similar to that of popular snacks and sweets for children...

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 ...

Canopy Growth takes stock for fiscal year 2023, looks ahead to new deals and ideas

Written by Freddie Dawson | 26th June 2023

Canopy Growth will stop producing its own cannabis beverages, edibles, vapes and extracts as it continues to look at ways to increase profitability. Using a third-party sourcing model for these products will allow it to...

Colombian bid to legalise recreational cannabis sales falls at the final hurdle

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd June 2023

In another setback to Latin America’s cannabis industry, a bill to legalise the sale of adult use cannabis in Colombia fell just short of the votes required in a final Senate debate ...

Colombia recreational cannabis bill in jeopardy after Senate debate fizzles out

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th June 2023

A historic law that seeks to legalise the sale and distribution of recreational cannabis in Colombia is in jeopardy of being shelved after the country’s Senate failed to vote on the initiative on 15th June...

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 ...

Canadian cannabis policies give the lawbreakers an edge, says watchdog

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st June 2023

Canada’s Competition Bureau says federal government policies are making it more difficult for the country’s fledgling legal cannabis industry to compete with the illegal market ...

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 ...

Minnesota set to join 22 other US states in legalising recreational cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th May 2023

Legal recreational cannabis sales for adult use are expected to begin next year in Minnesota following agreement on a bill between the state’s House and Senate ...

Election winners pledge to roll back Thailand’s booming cannabis trade

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th May 2023

Thailand’s government-in-waiting has said it will reclassify cannabis as a narcotic drug and promised a crackdown on imports and unlicensed dispensaries ...

Value of US industrial hemp harvest drops by more than two-thirds in a year

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd May 2023

Hemp production in the US suffered a major decline last year, with the planted area shrinking by 48% against 2021 and the total value of the harvested crop falling by 71% ...

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 ...

22nd Century forecasts full-year sales upward of $105m after Q1 records

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 12th May 2023

US-based 22nd Century reported record cannabinoid ingredient volumes delivered in the first quarter of 2023 and expects those to increase further throughout the year ...

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