A European authority has issued an official warning over hemp-derived intoxicants, signaling a new chapter in the EU’s drug policy and setting off alarm bells for the industrial hemp sector.
In the 30th annual Drug Report 2025: Trends and Development, the European Drugs Agency (EUDA) said the proliferation of semi-synthetic cannabinoids made from CBD is creating public health risks.
As it does so, it is muddying the waters for legitimate hemp-based products in the process – jeopardizing public and political support for wellness CBD if not the broader hemp industry, including fiber and grain.
The EUDA’s warning—explicitly identifying substances such as HHC, THC-P, HHC-O, and other THC compounds—is the first official recognition that intoxicating products derived from legal hemp are a health concern across Europe.
‘Sisyphean challenge’
Industrial hemp stakeholders in Europe have long fought to distance their sector from the drug policy frameworks surrounding marijuana, and great progress has been made – particularly with CBD, which the European Union has confirmed is legal. But with the rise of intoxicating products derived from surplus CBD—enabled by legal loopholes and weak enforcement—this separation could be under threat.
“The current situation is reminiscent of the Sisyphean challenge,” said Alexis Goosdeel, EUDA executive director, referencing the mythological character condemned to roll a stone uphill only for it to tumble down again. “Every time we push forward in creating distinction and regulation, the market shifts and new risks emerge.”
The EUDA’s report notes that by the end of 2024, 24 semi-synthetic cannabinoids had been identified across Europe. HHC, the most prominent among them, was found in 27 countries and had been placed under control in at least 22 EU Member States. Yet many newer substances—chemically similar but legally distinct—remain on the market.
“Producers are exploiting regulatory gaps,” the report said, with semi-synthetics offering “legal” highs while posing unknown risks, including acute toxicity, poisoning, and hospitalizations.
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