Territories
The Cannabis industry is a complex global business, and each country has a different approach to its rules and regulations.
General & Medical Cannabis Insurance Services have partnered with providers across the globe to deliver a truly international risk management service. A one-size-fits-all approach is not possible, which is why wherever you are we will work with you to recommend the most appropriate services and solutions to protect your business.
Please note that all assistance will be strictly subject to your operations operating within the legal bounds of your territory.
United States
The legality of Cannabis production varies from state to state. This can be further complicated by multistate operations.
Due to the ever-changing legal landscape in the United States, we put a greater emphasis on our consultation process here. The first steps to protecting your business risks are to establish your operations are compliant and up to date. As part of our services, our risk management team will provide an initial consultation to not only establish your insurable risk profile but also work with you to suggest any necessary recommendations.
We have carefully selected our panel of insurers in the USA to ensure we only offer the best and most appropriate levels of cover to our clients. The level of understanding and sophistication can vary widely between insurers, and if things go wrong, you want to be sure that your provider will be there for you.
Canada
Although the Cannabis Act allows for legal use of cannabis, individual provinces and territories enact their own restrictions and regulations regarding sale, distribution, and use of cannabis and the legal landscape is still evolving.
For example, each province and territory set its own procedures for retail sales, the legal age of consumption, packaging requirements, advertising restrictions, and so on, and these can vary greatly.
As part of our services, our risk management team will provide an initial consultation to not only establish your insurable risk profile and recommended products but also work with you to ensure all operations are compliant with local regulations.
United Kingdom
Marijuana in the United Kingdom is illegal for recreational use and is classified as a Class B drug, however, medical use was legalized in the UK on 1 November 2018. Since 1993, the Home Office has been granting licenses for the purposes of cultivating and processing cannabis.
Despite the fact that Marijuana is illegal in the UK, with limited availability for medical use, the United Kingdom is the world's largest exporter of legal cannabis.
With regards to CBD and CBD products, most businesses based in the UK import their hemp from farms in Europe for the extraction or import the CBD itself.
In the European Union, the European Commission announced that CBD and other cannabinoids would be classified as "novel foods", meaning that a license would be required by the producer but are otherwise legal to produce and consume.
Within the UK, we are able to provide services to your business only if you are (or planning to) obtain the necessary licenses to operate legally.
Rest of the World
The legality of Cannabis, Marijuana, Hemp, and/or their derivatives CBD and THC varies from country to country. Cannabis laws around the world vary in the areas of possession, distribution, cultivation, how it can be consumed, and what medical conditions it can be used to treat.
While cannabis might be illegal in some parts of the world, its derivative CBD is often legal for use for various purposes. Although Hemp is often conflated with Marijuana, in many places it remains legal to produce for industrial purposes.
Wherever you are, if you are considering your risks, the first step would be to reach out to us to discuss your operations so we can establish a clear picture of your business and provide the best possible advice and recommend appropriate solutions.
Please note that while we are always happy to have a conversation, we are only able to provide formal services to your business if you are operating within the legal bounds of your jurisdiction, and any offered cover may be at the discretion of our insurers.