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Supply chains urged to use authentication to protect cannabis products

International trade body, the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), is urging supply chains to protect legitimate cannabis products and packaging with authentication technologies after it was revealed that sales of counterfeit cannabis were on the rise. 

The IHMA has emphasised that the sale of counterfeit cannabis highlights the critical need for regulated cannabis products used for pain relief, relaxation and sleeping disorders, to be fully protected and secured from the threat of criminal counterfeiters. It is now urging supply chains to use authentication technologies to protect their products.

The call follows a recent report from WediNos, a Welsh harm reduction project that analyses samples of drugs provided by the public and other participating organisations, warned of an increase in sales of synthetic cannabinoids that are being mis-sold as cannabis in the UK, posing a significant health risk to the general public.

Reducing threats to public health

An analysis of 37 samples in the UK which were believed to be THC e-liquids used in vapes found that only 26% contained THC or cannabis, while 57% contained some form of synthetic cannabinoid, and further reports have shown that cannabis edibles being sold via social media have been hospitalising UK school children.

The IHMA says that counterfeit cannabis is an alarming development that sees criminals taking advantage of people who might be in desperate need of products during the pandemic, and is now urging supply chains to review how they tackle this threat by looking at the use of authentication technologies.

Dr Paul Dunn, chair of the IHMA, said: “The rise in fake drugs is a huge global problem and cannabis counterfeits are no different. However, holograms are effective weapons in the battle to combat criminals.

“They provide a flexible, quick to deploy visual authentication device that can bolster supply chains, helping manufacturers, regulatory authorities, international law enforcement and border customs improve their anti-counterfeiting plans.”

Packaging for cannabis products must comply with stringent regulatory requirements, and the IHMA warns that in the next few years, as the race to improve production and bring down costs in the face of growing demand for legalised cannabis-derived treatments opens new opportunities for consumer goods and pharmaceuticals, the need for authentication of products will become even more critical. 

“The use of track and trace programmes featuring security devices and integrated QR codes are particularly helpful in proving the authenticity of cannabis products and packaging. This can be very reassuring for all involved as well as consumers, confirming products are genuine and safe to use,” added Dunn.

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