US: FDA Explores Regulating CBD in Foods, Supplements

Facts

In a significant shift, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is examining whether legal cannabidiol (CBD) is safe to add to foods and dietary supplements.
According to agency officials, the FDA is looking to answer questions about the science, safety, and quality of products containing cannabis and dozens of cannabinoid chemicals, particularly CBD.
In the coming months, the FDA is expected to decide how to regulate legal cannabis and whether CBD – a non-addictive active ingredient in cannabis – can be safely eaten every day for an extended period of time.
The FDA has only approved one prescription CBD drug, named Epidiolex, for treating seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy in patients two years of age and older.
CBD has been widely used in food and beverages since Congress legalized hemp production and delisted it as a controlled substance in 2018. However, it is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement.
Last month, the FDA sent warning letters to five companies for illegally selling unapproved CBD products – especially in forms that appeal to children, such as gummies – that the agency claims may result in unintentional consumption or over-consumption of CBD.

Narrative A, as provided by Healthline. Although several US states have passed laws to legalize CBD, products containing the non-psychoactive cannabis compound are technically illegal at the federal level. Federal regulations should complement, rather than contradict, state rules. Rather than outright denying safe CBD-infused products from coming to market, the FDA must take action and establish a clear and uniform set of standards for companies to adhere to.
Narrative B, as provided by Natural Products Insider. The FDA’s current hardline position against foods and beverages containing CBD is understandable given that available scientific data shows that high doses of CBD can damage the liver, reduce sperm quality, and adversely interact with other medications. Until the agency understands the implications of long-term consumption of CBD in foods, it must refrain from concluding that CBD-infused food and dietary supplements can be considered safe.