A number of new dietary supplements and food products containing cannabidiol (CBD) have hit the market this year, however federal authorities are looking to crack down on the companies marketing CBD products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a series of letters to companies marketing products that contain CBD, warning them of violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Six of the companies that were warned by the FDA are based in California.
“As we work quickly to further clarify our regulatory approach for products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds like CBD, we’ll continue to monitor the marketplace and take action as needed against companies that violate the law in ways that raise a variety of public health concerns,” said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D. “Aside from one prescription drug approved to treat two pediatric epilepsy disorders, these products have not been approved by the FDA.”
The use of CDB in products such as oil drops, creams, syrups, food products is relatively new, particularly the volume of products that are now available. The FDA will be evaluating CBD like any other product and has released a revised Consumer Update which highlights the specific safety concerns related to CBD products in the meantime. “We recognize the significant public interest in CBD and we must work together with stakeholders and industry to fill in the knowledge gaps about the science, safety and quality of many of these products,” Abernethy noted in the press release.
The renewed focus towards enforcement on behalf of FDA may have some direct impact on the production of hemp. A significant amount of interest in the potential a hemp crop could provide for farmers was based on the value of CBD oil. The overwhelming number of CBD products that came to market without FDA approval will likely recede, thus lowering the demand for CBD oil.
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