WHO’s Position on Cannabis and Hemp: What It Means
In 2018 and 2019, the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence completed a formal review of cannabis and cannabis-related substances for the first time since the original 1961 and 1971 UN drug conventions.
Key outcomes:
The committee concluded that preparations regarded as pure cannabidiol, or CBD, do not present significant potential for abuse or dependence and therefore should not be internationally controlled.
For cannabis, cannabis resin, and THC-containing products, the committee recognised public health harms but also acknowledged evidence of therapeutic and medical value. It recommended a more rational system of international control that balances regulation with access for medical research and therapy.
Specifically, the committee proposed removing cannabis and cannabis resin from the harshest international category while keeping them under less restrictive control.
The implications for hemp and hemp-derived products are significant. Although industrial hemp remains regulated under national laws, the WHO stance provides global support for a more evidence-based approach. In particular, it strengthens the case that CBD from hemp is not inherently high-risk and supports regulation that focuses on safety rather than prohibition.
UK Regulatory Landscape 2024–2025: What Is Changing
Alongside WHO’s global review, UK regulators have been adjusting domestic hemp and CBD rules. Some of the most significant developments include:
Industrial Hemp: Easier Licensing and More Flexibility
In April 2024, the UK government announced major reforms to the industrial hemp licensing regime. Licence-holders will be able to grow hemp anywhere on a licensed farm rather than specifying exact fields. Licences could be extended from three to six years, and new applicants may defer the licence start by up to a year.
These changes are expected to take effect for the 2025 growing season.
The government has also asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to advise whether the permitted THC limit in industrial hemp should be raised from 0.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent, bringing the UK in line with other countries.
Industrial hemp licences still only cover fibre and seed. The flower and leaf, where cannabinoids concentrate, remain excluded.
CBD and Hemp-Derived Products: Moving Towards Regulation
UK regulators are also pressing forward with clearer rules for CBD after years of uncertainty. Key developments include:
While industrial hemp cultivation is legal under licence, harvesting flowers and leaves remains prohibited.
In 2025, the Food Standards Agency launched a consultation assessing the first UK authorisation applications for CBD food products, including CBD isolate, synthetic CBD, and hemp-derived CBD isolate.
Draft proposals include requirements for transparent labelling, compliance with safety thresholds, and restrictions to protect vulnerable groups such as under 18s, pregnant or breastfeeding people, and those on medication.
There is ongoing discussion in the industry about distinguishing between whole-plant or wide-spectrum hemp extracts and purified CBD isolates, as traditional hemp extracts have a long history of safe use and may not need to be treated as novel foods.
This represents a shift towards a formal, evidence-based regulatory system that could enable legitimate, regulated CBD production and sale in the UK.
The convergence of WHO’s scientific review, shifting global attitudes, and UK regulatory reforms has created an opportunity for the hemp sector to grow and innovate. If the right regulatory frameworks are adopted, the UK could see a thriving hemp industry that supports agriculture, enables domestic CBD and hemp extract production, and harnesses hemp’s potential as a sustainable crop.
WHO’s review provides scientific backing for evidence-based regulation, and the ongoing UK reforms show that progress is possible.
