In this episode of The Cannabis Conversation, host Anuj Desai speaks with Robert Jappie, Partner at Fieldfisher and one of the UK’s leading legal experts on cannabis regulation. The discussion explores the realities of medical cannabis, CBD, and industrial hemp regulation in the UK, why progress has been slow, and what it will realistically take to unlock long term industry growth.
Key Highlights and Insights
Why Robert pivoted into cannabis law
Robert shares his journey from criminal defence and financial crime into cannabis regulation, driven by early exposure to drug policy reform and the inevitability of European cannabis legalisation.
Medical cannabis in the UK is at an inflection point
Patient growth has been slow since legalisation in 2018, but operational issues such as supply chains, customer service, and marketing are now being addressed, setting the stage for accelerated growth.
The scale gap remains massive
The UK has an estimated 1.8 million people self medicating with illicit cannabis, yet only around 20,000 to 30,000 legal patients, highlighting the scale of the conversion opportunity.
Germany’s rollback has redirected attention to the UK
Germany scaling back its adult use ambitions has refocused international investment interest on the UK as a key European medical cannabis growth market.
CBD has been hit hard by novel foods regulation
The FSA’s novel foods process has created high costs, uncertainty, and barriers to entry, forcing many CBD businesses to consider pivoting or exiting the UK market.
Marketing remains CBD’s biggest challenge
Strict limits on health claims make it difficult for brands to clearly communicate product purpose, pushing successful players towards lifestyle and beverage led positioning.
Industrial hemp reform remains stalled
Despite years of lobbying, UK hemp farmers are still prohibited from using the most valuable parts of the plant, putting them at a competitive disadvantage versus EU counterparts.
Lobbying alone will not deliver reform
Robert argues that litigation and strategic test cases are now the most realistic path to regulatory change in the UK cannabis sector.
Test cases could unlock major breakthroughs
Court challenges around hemp cultivation, medical insurance reimbursement, and regulatory inconsistencies could force government action even without political will.
Adult use is a long term outcome, not a starting point
Building a large, credible medical cannabis market is seen as the necessary foundation before any serious discussion of adult use reform in the UK.
Top 10 quotes from Robert Jappie on cannabis regulation in the UK
“We’ve reached a real exciting inflection point for the industry.”
“Patient numbers have grown very slowly over the last four years for a range of reasons.”
“What are we at, 20, 30,000? It’s far too low for a country where apparently there’s as many as 1.8 million people self medicating with cannabis from the illicit market.”
“Novel foods has been a real killer for the sector.”
“The lack of clarity and guidance from the FSA on how businesses have to engage in the process has really, really been tough.”
“Lobbying the government is not going to get us anywhere right now with this particular government.”
“If the government isn’t going to assist in helping grow this industry and making it successful, then the only recourse is the courts.”
“Nobody really wants to be a test case.”
“There should be no reason why we shouldn’t be able to have a medical cannabis market here comparable to the size of the one in Germany.”
“The growth potential in the UK market is massive, absolutely massive.”
English (UK)
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