CBD censorship continues amid the ongoing trend towards cannabis legalization

By Nina Zdinjak

Which word does not belong in this group: sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, CBD or tobacco?

Well, opinions differ, right?

According to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), a nonprofit trade organization that monitors and reports content violations related to sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco (SHAFT), the word grouping is okay … that is, include all five concepts.

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CBD under the SHAFT umbrella

In July, the CTIA classified CBD under the umbrella of SHAFT, which means that CBD can no longer be advertised via SMS. It is now placed in the same category as hate speech, alcohol, and guns.

These newly imposed SMS marketing restrictions are adding to the confusion in the hemp and cannabis industry. While Congress gave the green light for the legalization of hemp and hemp-derived products back in 2018, the FDA has yet to create clear guidelines or guidelines regarding CBD made from hemp.

The ironic thing is that these hemp-related restrictions are being imposed during the ongoing trend towards cannabis legalization in the US

The solution: Fight against censorship and cancellation with a hateful classification.

First step – form a coalition, start a petition

Having been deprived of an important marketing tool, more than 20 CBD brands (including Prima, Foria, Recess, Miss Grass, Onda, Quim, Plant People and many more) have come together to form a coalition. Her first task was to start a petition that advocated:

1. Adoption of the S.1698 Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act, which should create legal and regulatory avenues for the nationwide sale of hemp extract products such as CBD supplements, creams, and balms.
2. Call on the FDA to press ahead with regulatory action This would differentiate hemp-derived CBD from cannabis and create a legal framework for businesses to ensure compliance and protect consumers with clear guidelines and standards.

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Benzinga wanted to learn more about the difficulties CBD companies have had since putting CBD on the SHAFT list. So we contacted Jessica Assaf, CEO and Co-Founder of Prima, and Jon Brandon, CEO and Co-Founder of Foria.

Prima is a Los Angeles, California-based CBD wellness brand that makes skin care and nutritional supplements containing hemp CBD and therapeutic herbal ingredients. Foria is also a sexual wellbeing CBD company that it claims to be the first to introduce CBD products specifically designed for this purpose.

SMS – more than an important part of the marketing strategy

“SMS was a very important marketing tool and channel for us, as it enabled us to get in touch with our customers 1: 1. This misclassification also affects our ability to penetrate certain retailers as well as our ability to advertise, ”Assaf told Benzinga.

SMS messaging used to be an integral part of Foria’s marketing strategy, helping them reach customers they might not otherwise have found, Brandon added.

“The classification of CBD as SHAFT content is not only inaccurate, but also unfair,” both agreed, noting that the CTIA’s CBD censorship was contributing to misinformation about CBD and limiting important education.

Even without the SHAFT regulation, due to the lack of clear FDA regulations, CBD companies are already facing challenges, especially when it comes to reaching and educating consumers.

“Independent organizations like CTIA have implemented restrictive and very different guidelines on how Facebook, Amazon, Google, Shopify, TikTok, Twilio and many more can market, communicate and sell their hemp-derived CBD products,” said Brandon.

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These platform restrictions have left CBD brands with few options for marketing and educating people. The confusion about CBD has been around for a long time, largely because the compound is also found in the cannabis plant that contains THC. However, it’s important to note that while THC can get you high, CBD can’t and won’t. It’s a non-intoxicating compound that is also found in hemp.

RELATED: Cannabis and Sex: Two Things Social Media Shouldn’t See

CBD has “been used safely for years as a natural remedy for better sleep, stress relief, minimizing menstrual cramps, supporting skin health, relieving pain, and for general anti-inflammatory purposes,” said Brandon.

A higher goal – CBD destigmatization

“The petition is just the beginning of the CBD branded coalition,” Assaf said, adding that their goal is to remain as a rolling coalition and hold quarterly meetings to discuss top industry issues.

The main problem now is the new SMS restriction, Assaf said, adding that they will also be working together on a campaign against Facebook’s restrictions. The petition already has more than 13,600 signatures.

RELATED: What’s The Most Cannabis-Friendly Social Media Platform Today?

“What is special and unique about this initiative is that it is the first time (in a long time or at all) that a group of some of the largest CBD and cannabis brands have chosen to work together over the competition and join forces to raise awareness of an issue that affects us all, ”said Assaf.

“Our goal is much bigger than the SMS issue,” she added. “We are on a mission to destigmatize CBD and advocate regulations that legitimize and validate the industry and end the legal ambiguity that limits our options for action. We all believe wholeheartedly in the therapeutic potential of the cannabis plant and want to open more people’s eyes to their role in health and wellbeing. “

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.