THE head of Europe’s largest trade association for the CBD industry is no longer in his post, it has emerged.
Mike Harlington has been Chairman of the UK-based Cannabis Trades Association (CTA) for four years, leading it through a period of rapid growth for the industry and helping boost member numbers to nearly 1,000.
But last night it emerged he is no longer employed by the CTA in that position, although there appears to be some uncertainty over his current employment status with the CTA.
Tom Whettem, founder of CBD firm British Cannabis and Compliance Director of the CTA, last night moved to reassure members it was ‘business as usual’ in a brief telephone conversation with BusinessCann.
Statements To Be Released Next Week
BusinesCann understands there was a disagreement between the two senior board members earlier this week following the launch of Mr Whettem’s latest venture; Access CBD – a budget-priced CBD brand.
Mr Harlington is expected to make a public statement on these matters early next week. Mr Whettem declined to comment further, saying a statement was also imminent from the CTA.
This development will be viewed as significant for Europe’s largest CBD and cannabis trade association, as the deadline for the authorisation of CBD as a Novel Food approaches.
The CTA has repeatedly said it intends to mount a challenge to the Novel Food designation by way of an Article 4 challenge – effectively arguing that CBD has been consumed in hemp oil, in Europe, for hundreds of years – but this has yet be progressed.
They key tenet of this Article 4 position is that its members’ CBD products are derived from whole plant extracts – not isolates.
CTA members can pay anywhere between £50 and £900 a month for membership of an organisation which lobbies on their behalf and organises a number of successful trade shows.
@We will be updating this story as it develops over the coming days.
