cannhelp at the Austropharm

cannhelp at Austropharm

In 2018, cannhelp was already participating as an exhibitor and we actively contributed to the program. Our co-founder and head of the Research & Development department, Philip Schmiedhofer, Msc., gave an exciting lecture on cannabidiol (CBD) and its effects on the endocannabinoid system, as well as its production and quality characteristics, captivating an audience from various professional fields such as doctors, pharmacists, and manufacturers.

The diverse applications of cannabidiol due to its antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, and pain-relieving effects combined with good tolerability demonstrate the potential of this phytocannabinoid in medicine. We look forward to upcoming meetings and further exciting innovations in the healthcare sector.

For Austropharm 2021, the expertise and market knowledge of our co-founder and head of Research & Development, Philip Schmiedhofer, were again called upon. He was available for an interview for the following media contribution and commented on current and legal developments in the CBD market as follows:

Philip Schmiedhofer, Head of Research and Development at cannhelp, knows the consequences of the recent classification by the EU Commission and how it could affect the overall market situation: “Due to a ruling by the European Court of Justice in the case of a CBD vape liquid in France, the EU Commission had to shelve its plans to classify CBD under narcotics law. The previously valid opinion now applies again: CBD products can be marketed at the European level as food and dietary supplements after approval as Novel Food. This leads to the processing of already submitted applications, subsequently to the possible approval of CBD-containing products, and provides producers with a legal framework. CBD would then quickly be available in a wide range of products through various distribution channels, which will significantly accelerate the transition from the premium market to the mass market. The CBD industry is still in its infancy and will continue to develop in the coming years in both the medical field and lifestyle and CPG (note: Consumer Packaged Goods). Broad use of CBD in various consumer goods, cosmetics, and finished pharmaceuticals is very likely.”

Trigger of the CBD Boom

While consumer protection agencies still warn of unwanted effects and advise against consuming various products, producers view the latest developments regarding approval positively. Hemp is an ancient cultivated plant, and the non-psychoactive cannabidiol derived from it has gained significant momentum in recent years. Schmiedhofer explains what might have triggered the boom as follows: “Research on the antiepileptic effects began as early as the early 2000s, and the development of the first medications with CBD by GW Pharmaceuticals for childhood epilepsy was initiated. When initial research findings became known, parents of children with epilepsy in the USA began treating them with CBD-containing hemp extracts, which were already available in liberal states like California. This led to a hype in the USA that, together with the publication of further research on a variety of positive properties of CBD, spread to Europe. Here it reached its peak in 2018 and was then slowed down by the CBD decree of the Ministry of Health.”