News analysis for professionals in the cannabis industry

Is investing in cannabis in 2022 a smart bet or a ‘dead-money scenario’?

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 9th March 2022

Last month CBD-Intel reported that the Dermapharm Holding bought Canopy Growth’s Cannabinoid Compound Company (C3) for €80m, a huge loss for Canopy, and one of the biggest cannabis acquisitions in Europe at the time. But what makes...

Costa Rica legalises medicinal cannabis as well as commercial hemp production

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th March 2022

Costa Rican president Carlos Alvarado ratified a bill on 2nd March that legalises the sale and distribution of medicinal cannabis and allows for the commercial production of hemp in the Central American nation ...

Could the Pfizer acquisition of Arena be a sign of things to come in Big Pharma?

Written by CannIntelligence | 4th March 2022

While Big Pharma acquisitions of companies involved in the development of cannabinoid treatments are expected to to propel and expand cannabinoid treatment options, the overall impact of and interest in Big Pharma’s reach into the...

New York’s new law could offer some liberty for local hemp producers

Written by CannIntelligence | 4th March 2022

Hemp companies are poised to benefit from a new law in New York put forward to help ease supply issues that often occur when a state opens up a legal recreational cannabis market ...

More medical applications for cannabinoids being explored

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 4th March 2022

Scientists around the world are starting to look even further afield for potential uses of cannabis in medical applications, such as treating the symptoms of long Covid-19, Alzheimer’s-related agitation, and to alleviate the pain resulting...

Virginia bill could pose significant threat to CBD products in the state

Written by Anthony Traurig | 3rd March 2022

A bill originally aimed at restricting the shapes that edible cannabis products may take has morphed into a potential significant threat to CBD products in Virginia ...

22nd Century Group to make further advances into cannabinoid production

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd March 2022

US firm 22nd Century Group plans to use its expertise in plant science, biotechnology and genetics to move further into cannabinoid production ...

NORML releases delta-8 THC info that’s both misleading and potentially divisive

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd March 2022

One of the most prestigious cannabis legalisation lobbying groups has come out with a disappointing – but not surprising – strong line against hemp-derived delta-8 THC products ...

‘A major step forward’ for CBD as EC validates a few novel food applications

Written by CannIntelligence | 2nd March 2022

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has validated the novel food applications of at least five CBD producers, marking what one company called an “important milestone” in the ongoing saga of EU CBD regulation ...

Italian Constitutional Court rejects referendum on decriminalising cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th February 2022

An Italian referendum on the potential decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use has been rejected by the country’s Constitutional Court ...

Mississippi medical cannabis bill finally becomes law

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th February 2022

Mississippi has finally signed a medical cannabis bill into law after a long and often arduous...

It's not NORML: cannabis advocates warn against 'illegal and unproven' intoxicants

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 23rd February 2022

One of the oldest surviving and best known advocacy organisations for cannabis legalisation has come out strongly against hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC ...

SAFE amendment to America Competes Act unlikely to be part of final proposal

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd February 2022

The SAFE Banking Act, which sets out to protect banks from being penalised for providing services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses, is on shaky ground ...

Thailand relaxes the rules on cannabis, removing whole plant from narcotics list

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st February 2022

Thailand has removed the entire cannabis plant including flowers and seeds from the country’s list of Category 5 narcotics ...

The changing face of endorsements as they get more mainstream – and whiter

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th February 2022

What was once the purview of more “controversial” or “alternative” names has now become the territory of mainstream celebrities designed to appeal to a wider – and whiter – audience ...

Market and regulatory outlook: future
cannabis strategies in Europe 2022

Written by Tim Phillips | 10th February 2022

This presentation on the market and regulatory outlook for consumer cannabis products in Europe was given by CBD-Intel’s managing director Tim Phillips ...

Only in California: the fresh vape that's cannabis and nothing but the cannabis

Written by Aidan Semmens | 9th February 2022

The latest offering from the company that first devised the Juul e-cigarette looks sure to be a new Californian craze – a new vaping pod “made solely from pure cannabis” ...

South American legislation on cannabis and hemp will progress, if slowly, in 2022

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th February 2022

This is an important year for positive legislation affecting cannabinoids across South America, though some depends on election results and all of it will take a few years to take effect ...

Costa Rica's president promises to get cannabis legalisation done despite veto

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th February 2022

Costa Rican president Carlos Alvarado, who has supported the legalisation of cannabis throughout his administration, has partially vetoed a bill that would have legalised medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp ...

Early research shows some cannabinoids can prevent Covid-19 infecting cells

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd February 2022

Research from scientists at the University of Oregon suggests that certain cannabinoids can stop the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) virus from infecting cells. This may lead to future treatments ...

Export expert outlines post-Brexit tips for moving goods into the UK or Europe

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 2nd February 2022

Andy Hooper, CEO of Global E-Commerce Experts, provides tips for companies wishing to export into Europe. He'll expand on this in a talk at White Label World Expo in London on 2nd and 3rd March...

Will UK FSA at last publish an updated list of validated novel food applications?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 2nd February 2022

Don't hold your breath, but rumours are swirling that the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) will soon publish an updated, completed list of CBD novel food applications that have been fully validated ...

Intoxicating but legal? Expert views differ as US firms take the risk on delta-9 THC

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st February 2022

Hemp companies are creating new products marketed to get the user high legally in all 50 US states. Industry experts disagree on whether these companies are risk-taking pioneers, or simply shortsighted ...

Ambiguity and misinformation on Italian hemp decree spread yet more confusion

Written by CannIntelligence | 28th January 2022

A recent agreement to update the Italian list of officinal (medically usable) plants has caused some unfounded consternation in the country’s CBD industry ...

French government defeated in court as hemp flower sales ban is suspended

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th January 2022

France’s highest administrative court has temporarily and partially suspended the French decree banning the sale and consumption of CBD hemp flowers ...

US lawsuits end DEA restrictions on sources of cannabis for researchers

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th January 2022

Lawsuits in the US have finally overturned the DEA's requirement that researchers interested in studying cannabis could only purchase from one source, the University of Mississippi ...

German pharma firm buys €80m C3 to boost its European cannabis presence

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th January 2022

German pharmaceutical manufacturer Dermapharm Holding is paying Canadian cannabis giant Canopy Growth €80m for the Cannabinoid Compound Company (C3) ...

Native Americans can help Audacious bid for jump start on NY recreational licence

Written by CannIntelligence | 24th January 2022

Audacious Brands is the latest cannabis company to look at a partnership with a Native American tribe to gain a head start in the New York recreational cannabis market ...

Italian hemp farm aid and research grants fail to win over the industry

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st January 2022

€3m in aid has been allocated to the hemp supply chain following a decree by minister of agriculture Stefano Patuanelli issued in late December 2021 ...

Polish Sejm drafts laws to govern hemp farming for medical applications

Written by CannIntelligence | 20th January 2022

A bill governing growing and harvesting of hemp for pharmaceuticals has been passed to the Sejm’s Health Commission and the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission ...

Despite industry investment, the future remains cloudy for cannabinoid drinks

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 20th January 2022

Covid has significantly increased consumer interest in health and wellness, with food and drink formulations that create innovative solutions for “mental and emotional wellbeing” becoming a 2021 trend ...

CBD’s popularity sparks gold rush to develop rare cannabinoids

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 19th January 2022

Potential demand for rarer cannabinoids is prompting firms to explore other methods of manufacturing, such as biosynthesis and chemical synthesis, to give higher yields at lower...

More of the same in US 2022 – expect state moves and federal stalemate

Written by Anthony Traurig | 17th January 2022

Last year saw no movement on cannabinoid issues at federal level in the US, as CBD-Intel predicted, and it’s not looking too good for this year either – though we anticipate some continued movement at...

Leading judge hears industry arguments against French ban on hemp flower sales

Written by CannIntelligence | 17th January 2022

The first public hearing has been held on the industry challenge against the French government decree confirming the continuation of the ban on selling hemp flower as an end-product ...

How US Democrats' cannabis reform plans ran aground despite promises

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 12th January 2022

After early promise, no cannabis-focused legislation has yet made it onto president Joe Biden’s desk for signing. So why is that? ...

Industry challenge under way as France officially brings in CBD regulations at last

Written by CannIntelligence | 12th January 2022

The French CBD industry is planning to fight back against a decree that continues to deny shops the right to sell CBD flowers or hemp leaves to consumers ...

Insurance rule 'a billion-dollar shot in the arm' for Colombian cannabis market

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th January 2022

Colombian insurance providers must now cover the cost of medical cannabis prescriptions, a move that could represent a “billion-dollar shift” in the market – and perhaps lay down a marker for other countries ...

Malta's cannabis bill faced a long process but promises much for the future

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th January 2022

The dust is starting to settle and the initial excitement – or even hype – around Malta becoming the first EU country to legalise recreational cannabis in some form is starting to fade ...

Colombian insurance policy shows real intent to lead on cannabinoids

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th January 2022

Colombia has joined a select few countries now demanding mandatory coverage of medical cannabis by health insurance providers ...

Hemp and CBD expansion in Thailand continues with government help

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 5th January 2022

Government support of Thailand's hemp and CBD industry is paying off. Examples include US based Australis' partnership with local GTH and MPX International's agreement with Salus Thailand ...

Rival bills aim to establish a pathway to the US market for ingestible CBD

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd January 2022

US representatives have introduced a bill into the House aiming to push the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate CBD in food and drinks ...

Picking the right variety – what seeds are permitted and which grows best where?

Written by CannIntelligence | 31st December 2021

Desired end product and environmental factors are the two things best kept in mind when considering hemp varieties for different countries ...

Guidelines on real world data could bring cannabinoid drugs to UK patients sooner

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th December 2021

New guidance from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the use of real word data and evidence to support clinical trials could help cannabinoid products gain approval ...

'Snake oil' claims for CBD and Covid-19 top latest list of US FDA warning letters

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 29th December 2021

The most common subject of recent warning letters from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over unsubstantiated health claims was CBD products that were claimed to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose or cure Covid-19 ...

CBD-Intel's crystal ball reveals possible intoxicating prospects for the year ahead

Written by Freddie Dawson | 29th December 2021

“Intoxicating” will be the word to watch for and THC will be the main driver for developments in 2022, CBD-Intel predicts ...

British Cannabis to manufacture Elixinol for UK and EU after slip-up on novel food

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th December 2021

Elixinol will continue to be produced for the UK under a licensing agreement with British Cannabis despite having pulled out of the UK and European markets after missing the boat on novel food applications ...

How well did we do? CBD-Intel’s predictions for 2021 reviewed

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th December 2021

CBD-Intel was on point in its 2021 predictions. Much like the preceding year, we believed 2021 would largely be defined more by what did not happen than what did ...

So it’s farewell to 2021 – a year that promised little and delivered less

Written by Freddie Dawson | 27th December 2021

If 2020 was the year in the waiting-room then 2021 was perhaps the year of the unfulfilled hype. As predicted, there was little movement in many of the major issues controlling the CBD market ...

British CBD marketplace Mellow ready to take on the US while expanding at home

Written by CannIntelligence | 23rd December 2021

The acquisition of Mellow by US cannabis and CBD investment firm Thought Leaders will position the UK-based CBD marketplace to open in the US and bolster its position in Asia ...

UK government advisors reject 'one limit fits all' rule for THC in CBD products

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd December 2021

The UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has recommended the government not to set one single concentration limit for THC that would apply to all CBD products ...

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