FDA Still Not Happy With CBD Industry: Tighter Controls in 2023

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) plans to issue new regulatory recommendations for the CBD industry due to prevailing consumer safety concerns. In a statement provided to the Wall Street Journal, the agency has expressed its intention to regulate CBD in food and dietary supplements in the coming months after completing reviews of three related citizen petitions.

According to a recent FDA report, the value of the CBD industry is expected to reach $4.6 billion by 2026. However, CBD is not currently approved as a dietary supplement or drug, although some vendors have marketed CBD products as such.

The FDA has not been happy with the lack of regulation in the industry and has in the past issued warning letters to CBD companies using false and unsubstantiated claims to market their products.

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“Given what we know so far about the safety of CBD, this raises concerns with the FDA as to whether these existing food and dietary supplement regulatory avenues are appropriate for this substance. The FDA is currently reviewing three related petitions from citizens, and we plan to respond to them soon,” read in part a statement issued by the FDA to the Wall Street Journal.

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CBD can be derived from both hemp and marijuana, although hemp is federally legal but marijuana is not. In fact, the main difference between hemp and marijuana is the concentration of the intoxicating cannabinoid THC. For hemp to be legal at the federal level, it must not exceed a THC concentration of 0.3%. Strains of marijuana can have THC levels in excess of 30%.

Given the poor regulation in the CBD industry, some CBD products typically exceed the recommended THC limit. Some CBD products on the market have been found to be contaminated with high levels of pesticides and heavy metals. Finally, some CBD sellers make false claims about CBD products to make them more appealing to consumers.

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Concerned about the rising popularity of CBD products despite a largely unregulated market, the FDA has made efforts to stem the tide. The new FDA recommendations, due out soon, will help streamline the CBD industry so it can sustain a steady growth rate for years to come.

This article originally appeared on MyCannabis.com and has been republished with permission.