A subcommittee of the United States Congress recently examined the FDA’s lack of progress in regulating cannabidiol (CBD) for over-the-counter purchases. Lawmakers had strongly criticized the agency for its inaction and called for swift action to ensure the safety and legitimacy of CBD products. A congressional subcommittee recently held a hearing regarding CBD regulation. The debate over CBD regulation intensified when a U.S. congressional subcommittee recently held a hearing entitled: “Hemp in the Modern World: Years of Waiting for FDA Action.” Members of this subcommittee accused the FDA of failing to act quickly in the process of regulating hemp-derived CBD and urged the agency to take concrete steps to protect consumers. Concerns about the quality and safety of CBD products were central to the discussions. Lawmakers revealed that many products contain inconsistent levels of cannabidiol, and even harmful contaminants. They also highlighted deficiencies in the labeling and purity of CBD products available on the market. During the hearing, the chair of this subcommittee was particularly critical of the FDA. She stated that cannabidiol should be removed from the list of controlled substances and regulated as a dietary supplement by the federal government. According to her, the FDA’s inaction poses a risk to public health because consumers do not always have the opportunity to verify the purity or actual quality of CBD in the products they purchase. Independent studies have confirmed legislators’ concerns. Indeed, a 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that only 35% of CBD products tested were accurately labeled with respect to their cannabidiol content. Furthermore, some products contained THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, which can pose a health risk, particularly for children. A more recent study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research in 2022 found that 37% of CBD products tested had a CBD content lower than indicated on the label, while 25% had a higher content. All these findings raise concerns about the quality and reliability of CBD products available on the market. Part of the problem stems from the fact that the legal status of CBD is ambiguous in the United States. Although the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp containing at least 0.3% THC, the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act prohibits the over-the-counter sale of any active ingredient found in pharmaceutical drugs. Since cannabidiol is the active ingredient in Epidiolex, which was approved by the FDA in 2018, its over-the-counter sale is technically illegal.
Source:
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
