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COWEN
COLLABORATIVE INSIGHTS
February 25, 2019

Global Landscape (Azer)
While the global regulatory landscape varies, the CBD category outside of the U.S. has been evolving rapidly, with more change likely to come with the WHO’s current evaluation of CBD, as well as its recent addition to the EU’s Novel Food Catalogue. In Europe, CBD products are now widely available in markets like the U.K., Italy and Switzerland, though regulations vary with Italy allowing for “cannabis light” products, with allowable THC of as much as 0.6%, while in Switzerland CBD products can have as much as 1% THC, and are classified as a tobacco substitute. In Latin America, hemp has been in production since the 1500s is also rapidly expanding their regulatory frameworks around marijuana and hemp. Canadian licensed producers have been actively entering the market in Latin America to capitalize on this evolving opportunity, including Canopy Growth, Tilray, Aurora and Cronos.

Regulatory Outlook (Eric Assaraf - Cowen Washington Research Group)
The 2018 Farm Bill declassifies industrial hemp as a Schedule I substance, shifts regulatory authority from the DEA to the Department of Agriculture, and provides autonomy for states to regulate the industry. However, the new law does not change the FDA’s oversight authority over CBD products and FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has made it clear that his agency will continue to step in when certain health claims are made. Additionally, FDA has stated that CBD cannot be added to food products sold across state lines or marketed as a dietary supplement, regardless of whether it is hemp-derived. The FDA will explore new pathways for CBD to be sold legally; however, it seems clear that there will be a period of regulatory uncertainty over CBD products at the state and federal level.

This report is intended for michael.cella@cowen.com. Unauthorized redistribution of this report is prohibited.

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