CBD products withdrawn from stores in Spain

Like France, Spain refuses to regulate CBD. Given the legal vacuum and the fact that the molecule is not in itself illegal, the CBD industry has grown significantly in Spain, with stores selling CBD-derived products springing up all over the state. However, a few have been visited by the Guardia Civil and some of their products, including oils, have been withdrawn from sale.

A situation of incoherence

Many CBD products are marketed as dietary supplements. However, dietary supplements are subject to strict regulations, which most marketed products do not respect. The reason for this is the lack of regulation: while CBD is marketable, the production of the cannabis plant remains illegal. As a result, supply chains are opaque, and the transparency of product composition suffers.

However, nothing prevents consumers from ordering CBD from another European country via the Internet (in accordance with the law on the free movement of goods within the European Union). In their own country, however, the oil produced is withdrawn from sale, although other products are tolerated.

The problem lies in the legal definition of food supplements.  The same problem occurred in California after incidents involving oils sold in CBD stores. In the meantime, there's nothing to stop the sale of cosmetics, and some major brands have already entered the business.

This inconsistent situation has been denounced by the Spanish Observatory for Medical Cannabis: «This problem can only be solved by regulation, because consumers are confused. Some brands advertise products made with cannabis seed oil, and then these oils, which have medicinal properties, are withdrawn from the grow shops,« says Carola Pérez, President of the Observatory. The Observatory recently called on the Spanish Food Safety Agency to halt the withdrawal of cannabis oils from sale.

Spanish politics

Since coming to power, Pedro Sanchez has done his utmost to avoid the subject of cannabis legalization and regulation. Recently questioned by the Observatory about his visit to Canada, he brushed aside its recommendation to learn more about legalization. saying «that he had enough problems as it was».

To date, the Socialist government's Ministry of Health has never taken a public position on the issue of cannabis regulation. Carola Pérez suspects that the Spanish government is waiting for a European response before taking a position. The status and regulation of cannabis are currently under discussion in the European Parliament. with the next deadlines in October.

Spain is no stranger to progress in the field of medical cannabis, and the Spanish Medicines and Health Products Agency has already granted special authorizations to certain companies to grow cannabis and produce derivatives for research purposes. However, the products cannot leave the Agency's institutional network.