The UK Home Office has officially accepted the recommended limit for THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in CBD products, marking a significant milestone for the CBD industry. The Government sought advice from the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) on safe levels of THC back in December 2021, but had not responded until now.
In a letter published on the Government’s website, MP Chris Philp, Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, expressed the Government’s acceptance of the advised THC limit and standardised testing protocols for CBD products. The advice states that CBD products should limit the content of controlled phytocannabinoids, including delta-9-THC, to not exceed 50 micrograms per unit of consumption.
While the acceptance of the recommendation does not make it law yet, the letter acknowledges the need for careful consideration of legislative provisions to determine the unit of consumption for different products.
Steve Moore, co-founder of the CBD consortium ACI, describes this announcement as a historic moment, as it establishes a clearer legal framework for consumer products containing controlled cannabinoids. The ACI will work closely with the Home Office to address any ambiguities or areas of clarification highlighted in the Ministerial response.
Moore emphasizes the importance of a legal framework to provide certainty for companies operating in the UK cannabinoid sector and reassurance for consumers and retailers. He believes that this commitment will accelerate the regulatory process and calls for necessary amendments to the Misuse of Drugs 2001 regulations.
This development follows the recent reduction of CBD daily limits by the Food Standards Agency, which has been a blow to the UK industry. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of reduced dosages and concentrated THC in products due to the newly accepted THC limit. It is crucial for the Home Office to clarify the definition of “unit of consumption” to avoid any regulatory loopholes.
In terms of testing, the letter states that the Home Office accepts the ACMD’s advice on conducting inter-laboratory comparison trials for testing the presence of controlled phytocannabinoids in CBD products. Standardised protocols for the extraction, separation, and quantification of controlled cannabinoids should be developed, and suppliers of chemical reference materials should be encouraged to produce certified standards for those cannabinoids where standards are not currently available.
MP Philp confirms that the Government will collaborate with industry partners to meet these objectives.
