The Cannabis Industry Council is aiming to develop standardisation across the UK industry for hemp products, cannabis food supplements and cannabis-based prescription medicines (CBPMs).
The Cannabis Industry Council (CIC), which launched in July 2021 and aims to act as a unified voice for the UK cannabis industry, is hoping to set standards for cannabis in the UK at the industry’s early stages.
Chair of the CIC, Professor Mike Barnes, a leading neurologist and expert in medical cannabis, says that current standards in the industry are poor, and labelling, environmental standards and diversity in the industry needs to be taken into account.
Barnes commented: “The aim of the council is to set standards and to act as a focus for lobbying to make appropriate changes to the industry, set standards, and to self regulate.
“We need labelling standards. We want to know what we are getting, what the patients are getting, that they can guarantee the certificate of analysis so you have the whole spectrum of minor cannabinoids and terpenes, you know what is in the flower that you are getting and I think that is reasonable. If you buy a packet of crisps you need to know all the flavourings and the E numbers, and I think anyone taking medicine has a right to know exactly what is in the medicine they are taking.
“Surprisingly some producers are reluctant – it is not a commercial secret in a sense, they just don’t do it because they don’t have to do it. Pushing on the standards of what is in the product, then combining that with the manufacturing standards so you know there is a good quality manufacturing process.
“I think customer service standards with some of the clinics in the country are patchy – some are very good and some are not. So it is not just quality of product, it is also the quality of delivery standards.”
The CIC has established a Standards Sub Group, which has plans for the development of seven key standards for hemp, cannabis supplements and CBPMs including production standards; supply side standards; testing and analytical standards; environmental and fair-trading standards; international trade standards; sector-specific standards and guidance and complaints standards and procedures.
The sub-group aims to clarify existing standards within legislation or official guidance documents and identify areas where standards do not exist, conflict, are ambiguous or unworkable, as well as to engage in dialogue with responsible agencies to discover the evidence base for contentious legislation or standards.
“I would like to see the industry regulate and control itself so we can rise above some of the poor standards in the industry and be proud we have a really good industry. They are never going to be legally enforceable standards, but if we can produce those standards, which the members of the council adhere to, I think that would be really helpful.”
Barnes added that growing cannabis in the UK can use a lot of electricity and water and so, environmental standards also need to be taken into account.
“Growing cannabis plants inside uses the consumption of electricity and water. So, trying to minimise that would be very useful and to get some basic environmental standards, such as using wind or solar panels.
“We have the opportunity here to start a brand new, multi-billion pound industry. Why do we want to try and catch up in five years time and diversify, set standards and equality standards, environmental standards – why not start now? And get a new industry right from square one.”
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