About a third of the solvent population of economically developed countries of the world are ready to use drinks that contain therapeutic elements of hemp

Beverages containing non-drug cannabinoids (primarily cannabidiol) are one of the fastest growing product categories in the modern hemp industry. This modern cannabis sector is growing rapidly despite regulatory as well as technical difficulties holding back many new products on the market.

On the pages of the specialized electronic edition of Ukrainian cannabis growers, various kinds of information are published quite regularly, testifying to the active development of such a sector of modern cannabis growing as drinks made on the basis of various plant components with significant therapeutic properties. Interesting from our point of view are the results of surveys conducted by colleagues from the company "Prohibited Partners", which show the interest of the solvent population of economically developed countries in the use of various types of beverages (non-alcoholic, low-alcohol, alcoholic) with significant therapeutic properties. In particular, the results of a survey conducted in May 2020 among 15 thousand respondents around the world show that a significant part of the adult solvent population in economically developed countries of Europe and North America wants to use / try drinks that contain therapeutic elements of a plant or extracts. made on their basis. 

Based on the research carried out, as well as the analysis of the results of the above-mentioned survey, the specialists of "Prohibited Partners" conclude that drinks containing non-drug cannabinoids (primarily cannabidiol) are one of the fastest growing categories of goods in the modern hemp industry. This sector of modern cannabis growing is rapidly growing despite regulatory and technical difficulties that hinder the launch of many new products on the market in jurisdictions such as the United States or the “Novel Foods” rules introduced in Europe, which significantly restrict the development of the hemp business, in particular in the grocery sphere. Despite this, in 2019 and at the beginning of 2020, a significant number of new drinks were introduced to the market, which include various therapeutic elements of hemp or extracts made from them. 

Representatives of "Prohibited Partners" note that consumer interest in the use of drinks that contain various therapeutic elements of the hemp plant is growing in all regions of the world. The company claims that consumer products that include plant therapeutic elements or extracts from them (food, beverages, cosmetics) are gradually being introduced to the crowded markets of traditional goods in most regions of the world, while maintaining healthy profitability and acceptable for the initial stage of sales. margin. It is noted that in most countries where the sale of various categories of drinks is allowed, the main problem faced by commodity producers is the legal opportunity to bring hemp products to the market, the demand for which has already been formed.

The specialists of the company "Prohibited Partners" conclude that in the European markets the demand for some time will keep pace with the proposal not to look at the appearance of many small producers of beer, wine, alcoholic, carbonated, energy drinks, but also water with the addition of therapeutic elements of hemp or extracts of various constituents of the plant to their formulation due to the fact that the market is still far from saturation at the moment. For example, analysts at beer giant Molson Coors predict that about 30% of the plant's therapeutic-based food sales will ultimately come from hemp drinks. 

Commentary of experts of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

At the moment, food products account for the bulk of sales in the national hemp market. For a number of reasons, Ukrainian producers are only trying to bring to the market various kinds of drinks, which include the therapeutic elements of the plant, but at the moment, work with the most profitable part of hemp in our country is not regulated. There is a huge unfilled niche of the product line on the market, which, on the one hand, is extremely interesting to Ukrainian consumers and producers, on the other hand, the lack of clear regulation of this issue at the level of the current regulatory framework does not make it possible to develop this area of ​​modern cannabis farming in Ukraine. 

Issues related to the provision of permits, as well as application algorithms and legal mechanisms for the use of the health-improving / medicinal properties of technical hemp of therapeutic orientation will become the basis for the round table “Experience in using therapeutic elements of industrial hemp as raw materials for food, cosmetic preparations, biologically active or feed additives ", Which is being prepared as part of the training of students of the" Hemp University ", which will take place in the second half of September on the basis of the National University of Bioresources and Nature Management (NUBiP) of Ukraine. Among other things, within the framework of the 5th course of training, the students of the "Hemp University" will be presented the initiatives of the profile association of Ukrainian cannabis growers to amend the current legislation related to the creation of a departmental legal framework regulating the use of "green mass" of hemp plant for industrial purposes methods excluding extraction.