Intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids (IHDCs) are becoming widely available to online shoppers in Europe, new research from CannIntelligence reveals this week.
But some countries have banned them already, and others could follow.
The new report from industry specialist researcher CannIntelligence finds that:
• At least 680 websites now offer IHDCs to European consumers, with the largest numbers found in the Czech Republic, Germany and France.
• Five distinct types of IHDCs are found in the European online market: HHC (the most common), delta-8, delta-9, delta-10 and THC-O.
• The most common products are designed to be vaped or smoked, although gummies, drinks, topicals and capsules are also available.
• Many of the sellers are former CBD specialists.
IHDCs are compounds obtained from the hemp plant which – unlike the popular CBD, also obtained from hemp – have some psychoactive effect. Hemp itself is a form of the cannabis plant which is low in THC, the compound responsible for the well-known cannabis “high”.
“The rise of IHDCs in Europe seems inevitable after their warm reception by consumers in the United States, where they first appeared,” said Barnaby Page, editorial director at CannIntelligence. “But although little scientific research has been done into these substances, regulation is rapidly catching up with them – for example, 13 European countries have already explicitly banned HHC. So the question now is whether these products can maintain any legal status or will be relegated to the illicit market.”
About us
CannIntelligence provides independent, in-depth regulatory and market data and intelligence for the global cannabis and cannabinoid sector.
We provide our clients with the tools to navigate this fast-moving sector, tailor their business strategy, optimise resources, and make informed decisions. Our global perspective on the international cannabis and cannabinoid sector offers valuable data such as market trends, key players, regulatory obligations and industry dynamics.
It is published by Tamarind Intelligence, which also produces ECigIntelligence and TobaccoIntelligence.
