Cannabinoid regulation review aims to position UK as world leader

22 Mar 2022 --- A wide-ranging commission has been created to review regulation and public policy around the UK’s legal cannabis industry, which includes consumer cannabinoids in wellness products.

Backed by the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC), the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) and First November Group, the commission’s final report will be published in May 2022.

It will provide a detailed blueprint for how the UK government and its regulatory agencies can accelerate the path to becoming the global leader in cannabinoid research and innovation.  

Steve Moore, strategic counsel for CMC and ACI, tells NutritionInsight that this commission is without precedent.

“It starts by recognizing the existence of the industry of both medicinal and consumer over-the-counter products. It is the first examination and review of the role of government in the industry.” 

Bringing coherence 
Moore argues that the current regulation is so dispersed because government policy has been reactive, not strategic.

Therefore, the review aims to create greater strategic coherence across Whitehall in relation to engagement with the sector regarding both economic development and regulation.

It will consider the size and nature of the UK’s legal marketplace in cannabinoids and make policy and industry recommendations.

The scope will cover medicinal and consumer cannabinoids, taking account of the entire supply chain from cultivation and R&D to product development, manufacturing and sale.

Cannabis-based medicinal products were legalized in 2018, and consumer cannabinoids are now subject to novel foods approval by the Food Standards Authority (FSA). “We’re eagerly anticipating the FSA public list, which is due very soon,” says Moore.

The report will not consider wider arguments for the legalization of cannabis for adult use, as the government’s recent ten-year drugs strategy implies that it is not a near-term political prospect at the current time. The UK’s large illegal market in cannabis is therefore out of scope for this project.The commission says the UK is the first jurisdiction in the world to formally regulate consumer cannabinoids products.

Driving innovation
The commission will be chaired by Christopher Hodges, Emeritus Professor of Justice Systems, Center for Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Oxford. 

“Industry will be fully involved alongside all key stakeholders, such as government, regulatory, ancillary services and patient advocates,” says Moore. 

He continues that the UK has the potential to become a world leader in the field of cannabinoids.

“To do so, it will require more visionary public-private leadership, much more effective public policy stewardship and smarter regulation. This report will pinpoint exactly what is needed to make this prize attainable.” 

Paul Birch, founder of CMC and ACI, adds that the UK is already a world leader in life sciences.

“We should be able to extend this capability, expertise and resources to the cannabinoid sector. The report will set out how government can work with the sector to drive the innovation that will deliver health and economic dividend for UK and the world,” he details.  

Last May, the CBD industry was predicted to generate £690 million (US$959 million) in annual sales for 2021, with the UK “improbably” becoming the second-largest market. 

ACI previously threw off concerns over the future of the UK’s hemp industry after alliances accused a recent government CBD report of excluding crop producers in favor of pharmaceutical and research laboratory businesses. 

By Katherine Durrell