There is an extraordinary range of CBD products being sold in the UK, ranging from ointments for pain relief to drink mixers. An estimated £690 million CBD products are sold each year in the UK alone in both high street shops and major supermarkets from Waitrose to Aldi ¹ 

Unlike the psychoactive ingredient THC, CBD creates “no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential” according to the WHO ². CBD products sold in our high streets have either no detectable psychoactive elements or quantities so minute in trace amounts, that litres would be needed to create any effect. 

The Home Office has not yet determined limits of detection for a company to prove that their product does not contain controlled cannabinoids, nor defined permissible trace levels. Whilst steps are being taken, CBD products being sold today are currently not exempt from control under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, meaning in theory their sale cannot be deemed legal and their future is uncertain. 

There is therefore widespread concern that supermarkets and other major retailers selling these products are acting in a legal grey area vulnerable to the interpretation of legislation. Lawyers and bankers also want to know whether they are allowed to work on domestic and international transactions. 

It is therefore incumbent on the Government to bring this clarity through evidence-based regulation. The APPG is devoted to assisting MPs and peers to have a better understanding of the rapidly growing CBD sector. 

The main work of the proposed APPG will be to address these gaps.

¹ Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI)
² Harvard Health Publishing

1

Have legal thresholds defined for controlled cannabinoids in CBD products. As all CBD products currently fall foul of the legal threshold which is not defined, the APPG will urge the Government to end the legal limbo by specifying acceptable levels of detection and permissible trace levels of controlled cannabinoids at reasonable and practical levels. Such product standards would support the supply of legitimate CBD products and help consumers enjoy safe products.

2

Define permitted business activity. This would attract multinational business into London. It would allow banks and professional services firms to help set up businesses and sign deals at home and abroad. This would in turn enable the development of British science without the risk of breaching the Proceeds of Crime Act and other regulatory barriers.