Who Watches the Watchers?
Why a Trade Association Is Your Best Bet When the Watchers Fail
Regulators exist to ensure industries operate within legal and ethical boundaries, protecting consumers, businesses, and wider society. But what happens when the regulators fail? Who holds them accountable?
Who Are the Watchers?
The UK has a series of regulatory bodies overseeing different sectors:
Ofcom – Regulates communications, including TV, radio, and telecoms.
Ofwat – Oversees water companies and ensures they provide safe and fair services.
Ofgem – Regulates the energy market to maintain fair competition and consumer protection.
These agencies are meant to enforce standards and protect public interests. However, regulatory failures occur—whether due to bureaucracy, lack of enforcement power, or external pressures from government policies or industry lobbying. When regulators fail to act effectively, businesses and consumers suffer.
Should There Be an ‘OffCann’?
The cannabis and hemp industry in the UK is fragmented, with multiple regulators, such as the FSA (Food Standards Agency), MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate), and the Home Office - each overseeing different aspects. This lack of a single, dedicated cannabis regulator creates inconsistencies, confusion, and barriers to growth.
An OffCann—a dedicated cannabis regulatory body could streamline processes, ensure fair oversight, and provide a clear framework for businesses and consumers. But given the slow pace of regulatory change, industry-led solutions are often more effective.
Why a Trade Association Is Your Best Bet
When regulators fail to protect industries, enforce fair rules, or even understand the sector they regulate, trade associations step in.
A strong trade association:
- Holds regulators accountable by challenging bad policies and lobbying for evidence-based reform.
- Provides industry self-regulation where government oversight is inconsistent or ineffective.
- Advocates for fair market conditions, ensuring members aren’t crushed by regulatory uncertainty or anti-competitive behaviour.
- Educates policymakers and the public, bridging the knowledge gap that often leads to poor legislation.
The Cannabis Trades Association (CTA), for example, engages with regulators, pushes for policy changes, and supports businesses in navigating complex rules. Until the UK establishes an OffCann - or at least a rational, unified approach - trade associations remain the best defence against regulatory failures.
So, who watches the watchers? When it comes to cannabis and hemp, the industry itself must take the lead.
Published 16th April 2025
