Uruguay is on the verge of commercializing foods containing drug-free cannabinoids

The possibility of using hemp flowers for industrial purposes, already regulated by the current legislation of Ukraine, can be ubiquitous if only an interdepartmental order is adopted that determines the maximum allowable amount of tetrahydrocannabinol in food, cosmetics or various kinds of additives (food, dietary, biologically active etc.).

In 2021, the bureaucratic apparatus of various countries of the world is trying to create conditions in order to economically recover from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why the initiative of the Government of Uruguay, aimed at regulating the use of food products based on the therapeutic properties of hemp, as well as measures aimed at commercializing this sector of modern cannabis production in the country, is extremely interesting.

It should be borne in mind from the outset that Uruguay is the first country in the world to provide, at the level of the regulatory framework, the possibility of using the therapeutic properties of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes 8 years ago. Last month, the country's government initiated work to regulate the use of edible, non-psychoactive cannabis food products containing significant amounts of non-drug cannabinoids, primarily cannabidiol. The developed changes to the current regulatory framework of Uruguay will allow the production of food products rich in drug-free cannabinoids for both domestic and international consumption. 

The upcoming regulations will allow for the production and registration of a vast array of foods containing CBD as a key ingredient, from chocolate to chewing gum, biscuits to soft drinks, marmalades and even coffee, herbal teas and wine. There are reasonable hopes that the new rules will be approved in a very short time and will enter into force immediately after approval, since they only improve the existing regulations.

According to a number of analysts on the American hemp market, if the new rules are approved in the form currently proposed, it will almost directly lead to an increase in production capacity in Uruguay and huge progress in the industry. They will clearly have an important impact on the country's economy, helping to increase the value of existing companies and attract a significant amount of foreign investment to Uruguay.

Commentary of the specialists of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

I would like to draw attention to the fact that already in several countries in which the use of hemp flowers for both medical and recreational purposes is regulated, processes are taking place aimed at providing citizens with the opportunity to use the therapeutic properties of the plant as a food product. It is this mechanism that is proposed for the citizens of our country, when the possibility of using hemp flowers for industrial purposes, already regulated by the current legislation of Ukraine, can be ubiquitous if only an interdepartmental order is adopted that determines the maximum allowable amount of tetrahydrocannabinol in food, cosmetics, or various kinds of additives (food, dietary, biologically active, etc.).