National Animal Group is calling on Idaho to lift CBD pet ban

Idaho’s ban on CBD and hemp-derived products only harms animals more because people are giving it to them regardless of regulations, according to a national group dedicated to animal and pet welfare.

It’s a complicated issue that oscillates between the urgent need for CBD oil for dogs and cats with seizures and other issues and the need to prove CBD is beneficial in these areas before medical claims are made and eventually the FDA’s blessing be obtained.

Idaho has some of the least permissive cannabis laws in the United States. Only Idaho and a handful of other states have refused to even allow CBD sales. Last July, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) announced a ban on CBD products and other hemp-derived products for pets and livestock, effective November 1.

“Idaho Code 25-2712(1) states that it is unlawful to “manufacture or distribute[e] any commercial feeds that are adulterated or mislabeled.” Therefore, in accordance with state law and in accordance with FDA and AAFCO [Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)]ISDA has not approved hemp or hemp-derived products for animal use,” department officials wrote.

But members of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) believe Idaho’s ban puts animals at even greater risk, since CBD products require Certificates of Analysis and must be verified under a regulatory program.

So NASC called people to action on the council’s website and started a petition on Change.org. At the time of writing, nearly 3,000 people have signed the petition.

“The Idaho Department of Agriculture intends to end the sale of dosage form pet products (animal health supplements) containing hemp and CBD effective November 1, 2022,” the petition reads.

“This decision is likely to harm animals whose owners, for various health and wellness reasons, no longer have access to the products their pets rely on. It will also have a serious economic impact on the Idaho businesses that manufacture and sell these products.

The removal of CBD pet products from the market paves the way for a black market industry of unscrupulous suppliers selling questionable products that could harm animals. It can also lead to pet owners turning to non-pet-formulated human products or high-THC marijuana products.”

The NASC has a very specific two-fold mission: “To promote the health and well-being of companion animals and equines that receive animal health supplements from their owners, and to protect and improve the animal health supplement industry.”

Viral videos show CBD oil stops seizures in dogs in real time.

For example, professional British boxer Anthony Fowler posted a video of a dog having a seizure and how quickly CBD oil stopped the dog shaking. Another viral video shows CBD oil stopping another dog from having a seizure in less than a minute.

But despite these anecdotal reports coming out of the woodwork, other national organizations say not enough is known to say CBD products are safe for pets.

Not everyone is on board, however, including the FDA. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and several other organizations wrote a joint open letter earlier this year warning of health concerns related to hemp and CBD in animal and pet food.

Click here to sign the petition.