Cannabis News From Europe and Beyond

Cannabis News from out of Europe

Cafes In London Serving CBD Infused Oil

Several London cafes are reportedly serving up CBD-infused drinks, coffee, and snacks. Despite cannabis being illegal based on the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971, CBD is legal in London.

If you want to try some locally made CBD goodies, the Stylist UK article lists some of these establishments in London including Farmacy Kitchen, Behind This Wall, Kalifornia Kitchen, and Maison Bab among others.

Switzerland Court Slaps Low THC Cannabis With 25% Tax

The Swiss court has just ruled that cannabis flowers will come with a 25% tax, the same tax applied to tobacco because it’s consumed similarly with cigarettes. The Swiss Federal Administrative Court made the decision despite efforts by manufacturers to tax it at 12% instead though it was rejected.

Tobacco stores in the country have been selling cannabis containing less than 1% of THC since 2017 though if you’re caught in possession of more potent cannabis, you can face a $99 fine.

However, there’s still a possibility to appeal the case to the Swiss Supreme Court.

European Hemp Stakeholders Optimistic About Reversing CBD-Infused Food Rules

The European Commission just had a meeting with European hemp stakeholders to discuss possibilities of reversing the recent changes affecting CBD-infused food.

“We launched a good dialogue for sound negotiations with the Commission and Member States today,” says Managing Director for the European Industrial Hemp Association, Lorenza Romanese. “We have something to work on together,” he told HempToday.

The new rules placed in the Novel Food Catalogue, which were last updated on January 20th, was devastating for hemp food producers in the European Union since foods considered novel because they contain CBD were required to undergo stricter regulations compared to other kinds of food. The decision only threatens the potentially lucrative market of hemp-infused foods in Europe, inhibiting the growth of European businesses while Canada and the United States go on full-steam ahead with their hemp operations.

According to the European Union, novel food is defined as those that can’t be consumed to a certain degree by citizens before 1997, which was when the original regulations on novel food were enforced. Novel foods are those that are considered innovative, made utilizing new technology or production methods, or those that are traditionally eaten outside of the continent. The rules require novel foods to be made safe and ensure that it has correct labeling so that consumers aren’t confused; though there are many other requirements that need to be met. Food producers are also burdened with the fact that novel food classifications require them to pay high fees to complete requirements.

According to the European Industrial Hemp Association, the new rules in the catalogue update should mean the “end of the internal (EU) market, creating a vacuum which will be filled by the grey market”, since a Dutch analysis revealed that 54% of consumers want to buy CBD despite it being illegal. It also results in a “loss of market control”, as well as the risk that the CBD-infused products are unable to comply with labeling and safety standards.

In the March 12 meeting, the European Industrial Hemp Association argued by referring to a 1997 Nova Institute Survey wherein 23 firms throughout Europe reported that there were over 255 tons of hemp-based foods made prior to 1997, which contained CBD.

Daniel Kruse, a board member of the association, says that the committee was “very open, very positive.”.

“They were impressed by the evidence we brought to them. It’s clear they understand that the Member States will have to reconsider this matter,” Kruse says.

Driving Limits For Legal Pot Are Ineffective In Europe And The United States, Says Study

The level of cannabis that causes impairment in driving is much user than the actual cannabis levels discovered in regular consumers despite not having consumed pot recently, says a study published in the AACC Clinical Chemistry Journal.

The study is among the latest proving that there a legal driving limit isn’t efficient in identifying those who are driving under the influence and separating them from those who are not regular or medicinal consumers. So far, no one has successfully been able to create a reliable and effective cannabis impairment testing device because unlike alcohol, testing for cannabis in the body can only tell you that a person has THC in their system but this doesn’t mean that they are impaired.

The legal driving limits for THC are varied; in Europe they range from 1-3ng/mL while in the United States, its either 2 or 5 ng/mL.