European Union revisits the status of non-drug plant-based cannabinoids in cosmetics

At the very least, EU officials understand the promise of using non-drug cannabinoids in cosmetic formulations. If at the moment the therapeutic possibilities of cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabidivarin (CBDV) are being studied, it can be said with some certainty that the above drug-free cannabinoids can be included in the CosIng database of cosmetic ingredients and, accordingly, will be used by companies specialized in this for the manufacture of cosmetics. with significant therapeutic potential.

Throughout only 2021, the editors of the specialized electronic edition of national cannabis growers have already several times focused the attention of our dear readers and listeners on the fact that tectonic shifts are outlined in the EU associated with a change in the attitude of European officials to the possibility of using non-drug cannabinoids of plant origin in the formulation of cosmetic preparations. In particular, during the year “ CBD extract was approved for use in the formulation of cosmetics manufactured in the EU ” and “ Cannabigerol was added to the EU cosmetic database”. That is why the next initiative of the European Union officials aimed at making changes, according to which a number of other drug-free cannabinoids can be used in a short period of time for the manufacture of medicinal cosmetics, attracted the attention of not only national cannabis growers, but also technologists of companies that specialize in the development of formulations of promising cosmetic preparations.

The European Union has released a 12-page “non-paper” highlighting its position on cannabis and the rationale for using the various constituents of the plant.

The position of the euro officials is based on the following theses:

- lifting in 2020 the ban on the use of hemp leaves in the formulations of manufactured cosmetics;

- the December decision of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, according to which hemp was excluded from the list of drugs and its medical properties were recognized;

- the November decision of the EU Court of Justice that CBD “is ​​not a drug”;

- adding plant-based CBDs to the CosIng database of cosmetic ingredients;

- Adding plant-based CBG as an acceptable ingredient to the CosIng cosmetic ingredients database in 2021.

Assessing the latest judgments of the European Court of Justice regarding the use of non-drug cannabinoids in cosmetics, the EU “informal report” states that “in the light of the judgment in case C-663/18 9 and the current state of scientific knowledge, it can be argued that cannabidiol, regardless of whether it is obtained as an extract of the Cannabis sativa plant or synthesized artificially, should not be considered a drug within the meaning of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, provided that it does not have any psychotropic effect. " Based on the above, the report states that "the Commission services are assessing the impact of the above mentioned EU court decision on other non-drug cannabinoids", which group includes cannabichromenes (CBC) and cannabidivarin (CBDV) ".

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

“Informal document” is an EU term for materials proposed to test the reaction of other parties to possible procedural or political changes. A “non-paper” on cannabis, as well as the feasibility of using the various constituents of the plant, was presented to stakeholders in the EU member states in June. It is the result of a request to the relevant structures of the European Union, made in the second half of 2019 by Finland, with a request to carry out a factual review of the current legislation, legal acts and court decisions related to cannabis in the EU.

Analyzing the information provided to the EU stakeholders for study within the framework of the “non-paper”, we can say that at least EU officials understand the prospects of using non-drug cannabinoids in the composition of cosmetic formulations. If at the moment the therapeutic possibilities of cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabidivarin (CBDV) are being studied, it can be said with some certainty that the above drug-free cannabinoids can be included in the CosIng database of cosmetic ingredients and, accordingly, will be used by companies specialized in this for the manufacture of cosmetics. with significant therapeutic potential.