Inaugural Meeting – APPG Minutes 17.11.21
All-Party Parliamentary Group on CBD Products
Inaugural Meeting
November 17, 2021
10-10:38
Portcullis House & Online
Minutes
Present
Crispin Blunt MP
Dr Rupa Huq MP
Jeff Smith MP
Craig Mackinley MP
David Warburton MP
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
Ronnie Cowan MP
Baroness Zahida Manzoor
Charlie Beckwith - Office of Christine Jardine MP
Kieran Smith - Office of Rebecca Olney MP
External
Nick Morland - Tenacious Labs
Andy Cutbill - Tenacious Labs
Alex Markland - Tenacious Labs
Charles Clowes - CIC
Jamie Bartley - CIC
Kyle Esplin - Scottish Hemp Asoc.
Philip Culbertson - CTA
Sian Phillips - CTA
Nick Earles - Mackrell Solicitors
Ricardo Gerda - Mackrell Solicitors
Ian Gregory - ABZED
Sophia Cerullo - ABZED
Apologies
Nickie Aiken MP
Mike Penning MP
Liz Saville-Roberts MP
Baroness Watkins
Tracey Crouch MP
Election of Officers
Crispin Blunt MP asked whether there were any concerns about the formation of the APPG.
Ronnie Cowan MP raised a concern with whether this APPG will be a different entity to the APPG for Medicinal Cannabis and whether our focus should remain with Medicinal Cannabis. It was also asked what the role of the secretariat would be, given the significant economic interests involved with the CBD market.
Crispin Blunt MP responded by stating that there is a separate need from the APPG for medical cannabis, as we need separate rules and separate laws having left the EU.
Baroness Manzoor asked who provides the funding for the APPG. There is a need for clarity and it was important that the APPG was not a vehicle for Tenacious Labs and other groups to lobby through.
Crispin Blunt MP responded by stating that Nicholas Morland proposed the APPG, alongside separate interest from the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) and the Cannabis Trades Association (CTA). The APPG would be aimed at Novel Foods as opposed to medicines.
Crispin Blunt MP proposed the formation of the APPG on CBD Products. The formation was accepted.
Crispin Blunt MP to chair the APPG, with no other offers for chair. David Warburton MP proposed for Baroness Manzoor to co-chair from the Lords, duly elected as co-chair.
The officers for the APPG are as follows:
Crispin Blunt MP (Chair)
Baroness Manzoor (co-Chair)
Craig McKinley MP
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
David Warburton MP
Jeff Smith MP
Dr Rupa Huq MP
Ronnie Cowan MP
Baroness Manzoor asked if there was any paid work or conflicts of interest involved in the formation of the APPG. Crispin Blunt MP was noted to be the unremunerated chair of CDPRG Ltd.
Ronnie Cowan MP asked whether any other members of parliament have links to Tenacious Labs. Nicholas Morland responded stating that no members of parliament have links to Tenacious Labs.
Motion to Appoint a Professional Secretariat
Crispin Blunt MP proposed that Tenacious Labs’ offer to be professional secretariat should be accepted. The offer was accepted.
Presentation and Discussion of 2021/22 Work Plan
Crispin Blunt MP proposed that the discussion of the 2021/22 Work Plan should be delayed until the draft work plan submitted by the CIC has been reviewed. Co-Chairs would circulate their recommendations based on the two work plans (proposed by TL and CIC). The work plan was to be adopted at the next meeting.
Baroness Manzoor stated that early Spring was too soon for the next networking event.
Crispin Blunt MP to come forward with a date for the next meeting and papers inc work plan, alongside suggestions from group members.
The meeting was terminated at 10:38 AM.