In a recent report delivered to Congress, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the vast majority of CBD products the agency tested are mislabeled or adulterated, raising new red flags for consumers.
As part of the appropriations process, Congress directed the FDA to conduct a sample study of the current cannabidiol marketplace. Congress asked FDA to determine which products are labeled incorrectly or contaminated and to what extent. Agency staff tested and analyzed 147 products, including for their levels of THC– the chemical responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana.
The findings reported by the FDA further illustrate the urgent need for regulation of these products.
In general, FDA’s review of CBD products has been limited and has not provided an accurate picture of the marketplace. To its credit, the FDA has sent dozens of warning letters to CBD manufacturers about making false claims and engaging in practices that violate existing regulations. And late last year, FDA confirmed that it cannot conclude that CBD is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in human or animal food, a key designation for any product seeking FDA approval.
While we are encouraged by the steps the FDA has taken, much more needs to be done, especially in light of these recent FDA findings. The vast majority of CBD products available today do not comply with good manufacturing processes and are not scientifically tested to prove they have therapeutic value. This lack of compliance puts consumers at risk in a rapidly expanding CBD marketplace.
We continue to ask the FDA to go further in protecting consumers when it comes to CBD products.