The Cannabis Trades Association (CTA) has been a pillar of support for the UK cannabis, CBD, and hemp industry since 2017. From defending businesses against regulatory overreach to ensuring fair market access, the CTA has fought for industry survival. But what if it didn’t exist? What would the UK cannabis landscape look like without it?
Regulatory Chaos and Market Collapse
In 2017, the MHRA attempted to classify all CBD products as medicinal, a move that could have shut down the entire sector overnight. Without the CTA leading industry-wide resistance, businesses would have been left scrambling to comply with impractical pharmaceutical regulations, with many forced to close. The CTA worked tirelessly to challenge this classification, ensuring CBD remained available as a wellness product, providing businesses with time to adapt to regulatory shifts rather than being shut down instantly.
Fast-forward to 2019, when the FSA introduced Novel Foods regulations for CBD products. The industry was at risk of a compliance bottleneck, and without the CTA, companies would have been left to navigate confusing and costly approval processes alone. The CTA stepped in, providing members with guidance, engaging with regulators, and ensuring that businesses had a structured pathway to compliance. Without this intervention, many brands that exist today would never have survived the transition.
A Weak and Vulnerable Industry
The CTA has played a critical role in protecting the industry against poorly thought-out regulations. In 2020, when the Home Office introduced ambiguous guidance on trace THC levels in CBD products, the CTA stepped in to demand clarity. Without this push, full-spectrum CBD products could have been effectively banned, drastically limiting consumer choice and driving businesses into legal uncertainty.
Similarly, in 2021, the FSA’s proposed 10mg Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for CBD threatened to cripple the industry. Without CTA’s intervention, businesses would have been forced to drastically reduce dosage recommendations, making products less effective and less competitive in the market. The CTA challenged the scientific basis of this low threshold, pushing for an evidence-based approach that would allow businesses to thrive while maintaining safety standards.
No Industry Defence Against Crisis
The cannabis industry is no stranger to PR crises. When the Product Earth exhibition was shut down early in 2024 due to venue security failures, the CTA stepped in to support PEX manage their response, ensuring that the blame did not fall unfairly on the cannabis industry. Without this intervention, the event could have been used as an excuse to demonise the sector, leading to even harsher restrictions on cannabis trade shows and networking events.
Without the CTA, businesses would have no central body to coordinate responses to regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, or financial restrictions. Instead, they would be left isolated, vulnerable to sudden policy shifts or public backlash.
No Political Influence, No Future for Cannabis Reform
One of the CTA’s most significant efforts has been political lobbying. In 2024, as the UK government changed, the APPG for Industrial Hemp and CBD was left inactive, leaving the industry without political representation. The CTA is working in the background to revive and restructure the APPG under a different name ensuring continued parliamentary engagement.
Had the CTA not stepped in, there would be no coordinated push for cannabis policy reform. The industry would be left without a voice in Parliament, allowing outdated and restrictive policies—such as the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA)—to continue stifling business growth.
Without the CTA’s leadership in forming a Cannabis Office, industry regulation would remain fragmented, with no hope for a streamlined legal framework that benefits both businesses and consumers.
No Protection Against Financial Discrimination
Many CBD and cannabis businesses face banking and payment gateway closures, often without warning or justification. The lack of financial infrastructure tailored to the industry means that businesses struggle with account closures, payment processor shutdowns, and insurance hurdles.
Without the CTA engaging in discussions with financial institutions and regulators, these businesses would have nowhere to turn. The CTA has worked to highlight the challenges companies face, pushing for greater financial inclusion and warning members about unreliable or predatory service providers. Without this advocacy, businesses would continue to face barriers that prevent them from scaling and competing fairly.
Businesses Would Struggle Alone
Misinformation has also plagued the industry, with entities spreading false claims about Novel Foods processes, leading many businesses to make costly mistakes. The CTA has worked tirelessly to debunk misinformation, ensuring that members receive accurate regulatory updates and don’t fall prey to misleading narratives.
Beyond regulation, the CTA has created essential resources—including compliance guidance, toolkits, and crisis management frameworks—to help businesses navigate an industry that remains in legal and financial flux. Without these resources, many companies would struggle to keep up with changing laws and best practices, making them easy targets for regulatory enforcement or financial instability.
The Industry Needs the CTA – And So Do You
If the CTA did not exist, the UK cannabis industry would be fragmented, overregulated, and largely unsupported. Many businesses that operate successfully today would have been shut down years ago. The CTA has protected the industry, fought for fair regulation, and ensured that businesses have a voice in government.
The challenges are not over. The battle for sensible regulation, financial security, and fair market access continues. The industry needs strong leadership now more than ever.
If you’re a cannabis, CBD, or hemp business, joining the CTA is not just a choice—it’s a necessity. Together, we can ensure that the industry survives, grows, and thrives.
Join the CTA today and be part of the movement shaping the future of cannabis in the UK.
Published: 9th March 2025
