With the upcoming changes due to the implementation of novel foods regulations, and to gather data up to date consumer preference, this survey has been launched.
Novel foods licencing for CBD products will see synthetic cannabinoids entering the food supply for the first time in the UK with no labelling requirements to differentiate from natural plant-produced products.
The intention is for this survey to be presented t other Food Standards Authority, and Foods Standards Scotland after consumers share their views on the issue.
The CBD industry has grown exponentially over the past few years and now an estimated 6 million UK citizens enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of the myriad of products on the market.
Unfortunately, the industry has experienced a rollercoaster of challenges along the way, which in our opinion is both unnecessary and suspect.
Most CBD products today are quite different to what they were 18 months ago and if changes to legislation don’t happen soon, access to full spectrum products (a range of cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids) will be a thing of the past.
The obvious issue is that CBD products are derived from hemp (low THC Cannabis sativa l.) and so sit within the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act alongside all other cannabis, even though hemp (containing high amounts of CBD which reduce the effects of THC and less than 0.2% THC) is completely non-psychoactive.
The real problem however, as with all cannabis is that the industry steps on the toes of the pharmaceutical industry and full spectrum products cannot be patented!
Until November 2018 when the Government declared the legalisation of cannabis for medical use, the Home Office published a statement declaring that they would only accept CBD isolate products and products containing any trace amount of controlled substance (namely THC, CBN and THCV) would be illegal without a licence.
At the time, the industry was allowing up to 0.2% THC as with the rest of Europe, the US and Canada. This has slowly pushed the industry towards ‘broad spectrum’ and isolate products which are limited in their efficacy compared to full spectrum.
In January 2021, Kit Malthouse, Minister of State for Crime and Policing requested that the ACMD assess the limit of controlled cannabinoids (currently at 1mg per product) to a defined ‘trace by weight’ of 0.01% to 0.0001% and change the ‘exempt product definition’ within the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. This change based on political motivations opposed to scientific risks of harm will make all full spectrum products, hemp tea etc a Schedule 1 substance with a Class B penalty for anyone who sells or possesses these products.
See the SoF email sent to Kit Malthouse and the ACMD on the 4th February 2021:
When Guy Coxall (Founder of Seed our Future) was the Compliance Director of the Cannabis Trades Association, he attended a meeting with the Novel Foods department of the Food Standards Agency.
The FSA at the time (2017) were considering CBD isolate as a ‘Novel Food’ (a new food to the market which hasn’t been tested for safety) as it was far removed from a full botanical extract.
He was told that the Home Office had instructed them to push for all cannabinoids being classed as Novel Foods. This is outside the remit of the Home Office and it clearly shows that pressure was being placed to prevent the public from accessing cannabinoids for health.
Since then, all cannabinoids have been classified as Novel Foods even though there is a great deal of evidence of historic use and safety.
If you care about access to cannabinoids for health, and you want to help the company that has helped you or you want to help our CBD industry, hemp farmers and a green economy, we need you to help make a difference today?
Send the below email to your Member of Parliament (paste and copy the text into an email addressed to your MP and make sure you fill in the red sections).
You can find contact details for your MP here.
Together we are stronger and we can defend ourselves against unjust laws, protect our rights to health and wellbeing and stop corporate monopolies.
See Full Article Here ‘British Politicians Risk The Health Of Millions’
Truth is our Sword, Unity our Shield!
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