“Turbocharge” innovation required for UK government in CBD, according to expert

27 Jun 2022 --- The UK can gain global competitive advantage in cannabinoids (CBD) if it chooses to adopt a series of regulatory amendments put forth in a newly published report authored by emeritus professor of justice systems at the University of Oxford, Christopher Hodges.

Titled ‘From Containment to Nurturing: How the UK can become a world leader in cannabinoid innovation’, the report was commissioned by The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis and the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI). It argues that trust and collaboration are essential for effective regulations and scientific development.

“It is no longer wise or sustainable for the government to continue to take a distanced, disinterested or laissez faire attitude to the sector as a whole, as it has done since the cannabis sector’s inception,” says Dr. Parveen Bhatarah, chief scientific officer, ACI.

“The seeds are there for rapid growth but it cannot happen without a clear strategy built upon coordinated government stewardship. It requires the ambition to not just tolerate, but actively nurture the sector to expand and mature, so it attracts more investment, jobs and innovations, and secures political support and public recognition.”

“Obligation” for stakeholdersHodges presents 20 recommendations to improve the CBD industry for all parties.
The report draws on wide ranging inputs from leading industry players, academics, patients, consumers and investors. It uses outcome-based cooperative regulation (OBCR) – a regulatory philosophy by Hodges centered on ethics and trust in regulatory schemes.

It is described as a “call for the government to turbocharge UK CBD innovation.”

“The recommendations are directed both at regulators and industry, with the understanding that both parties have an obligation to cooperate to steward this new industry and support it to develop in an innovative but also safe and responsible way,” underscores Hodges.

To apply OBCR to the sector, a legalized CBD industry would demonstrate trustworthiness, improve the evidence base, improve health outcomes, explore and exploit the total value of the cannabis plant, and lastly, “set a world standard for regulatory and scientific practice,” the report highlights.

Should the recommendations be adopted, the UK would have a competitive advantage post-Brexit, leveraging the country’s economic strengths in a rapidly growing and unprecedented global industry, it adds.

Boosting industry confidence
The report includes 20 recommendations aiming to “set the UK on a path to become the global leader in cannabinoid innovation.” 

This includes appointing a single steward authority to govern and guide the entire sector, providing clarity of CBD amounts in retail products, encouraging advancement in CBD application and starting a national trial for general practitioners to prescribe cannabis-based products for medical use (CBPM).

Additionally, updating farming rules and extraction permission for licensed growers and allowing foreign exports for suppliers where the customer outside of the UK is a licensed party. This also requires additional surveillance at the UK border and further testing of end products. 

These changes also awaken the need for increased educational initiatives to improve the general understanding of CBD products among professionals and the public, the report outlines.

Previously, the recommendation was that THC consumption should not exceed 50 µg per unit, to drive the industry from “flowering tops toward CBD isolates.” The review by Hodges suggests taking this further and setting the permitted THC levels to zero.

He argues it will “give industry the confidence to invest in a high-quality supply chain with robust analytics to support proof of compliance, and clear up any remaining confusion among retailers and consumers.” 

Demand for legalizationMore people would like to try CBD products if legalized and educated on.
A survey of public attitudes conducted by STACK Data Strategy – a data strategy and analytical firm – supports the importance of the review among UK citizens. There was a lack of information on how many participated in the study. 

Presented in the review is that 32% of the respondents who reported hesitation toward CBD would “most likely try” the product if more information was accessible, and if the government clarified legalization, 32% would also try a CBD product. 

Hodges’ review focuses on public policy and regulatory stewardship of legalizing the CBD industry. He provides data evidencing demand, showing high support or curiosity about CBD products for consumables and medical purposes.

The UK government recently hosted a webinar explaining extraction processes to educate industry and laboratories due to the increasing demand for food supplements and other CBD-related products.

For consumables, 38% of respondents reported buying their products online, and 30% are turning to high street shops. Additionally, 6% claim to have provided their pet with CBD products. 

As for the medical usage of CBD, 65% of the respondents expressed that general practitioners should be allowed to prescribe cannabis for medical reasons. As for scientific research, 64% believe the UK government should show more support. 

By Beatrice Wihlander