New study finds ample evidence of mislabeling of CBD products

Through Johanna Skopl

In a new study, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine tested more than a hundred topical cannabidiol (CBD) products available online and in retail outlets and found “significant evidence of inaccurate and misleading CBD content labeling.”

Additionally, some of these products claimed to be free of THC, the main compound in cannabis that can cause a “high.” However, the study showed that some of these over-the-counter products actually contained amounts of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).

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Additionally, researchers found that some CBD products made therapeutic claims that were not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“To date, the FDA has approved only one prescription CBD product for the treatment of seizures associated with rare epilepsy disorders and two prescription THC products for the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and for anorexia and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open on July 20 and was supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA).

Tory Spindle, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the study, explained that “Misleading labels can lead people to use poorly regulated and expensive CBD products instead of FDA products . approved products that have been shown to be safe and effective for a specific health condition.”

“Recent research has shown that people using CBD products, which contain even small amounts of THC, may test positive for cannabis using a conventional drug test,” Spindle added. However, this has not yet been established for topical CBD products.

study results

Researchers purchased 105 topical CBD products, including lotions, creams, and patches, to begin the study. These products were tested using a technology called “gas chromatography-mass spectrometry” to identify the actual amount of CBD and THC they contained.

“Only 89 (85%) of the 105 products tested listed the total amount of CBD in milligrams on the label. Of the 89 products, 16 (18%) contained less CBD than advertised, 52 (58%) had more CBD than advertised, and 21 (24%) were correctly labeled,” the study reads.

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“On average, in-store products contained 21% more CBD than advertised and online products contained 10% more CBD than advertised, although the accuracy of CBD labels varied widely by product.”

THC was detected in 37 (35%) of the 105 products, although all were within the legal limit of 0.3%. Four (11%) of these 37 were labeled “THC-free,” 14 (38%) said they contained less than 0.3% THC, and 19 (51%) made no mention of THC on the label.

“Of the 105 products, 29 (28%) had a therapeutic claim, primarily related to pain/inflammation, 15 (14%) a cosmetic/beauty claim (e.g. that they reduce wrinkles or nourish/improve skin) and 49 (47%) indicated that they were not FDA approved. The other 56 (53%) products contained no FDA attribution,” the researchers explained.

“It’s important to note that the FDA has not approved CBD products advertised on the products we tested to treat conditions,” added Spindle, who is also a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Cannabis Science Laboratory.

Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and senior author of the study, said that “the variability in chemical content and labeling found in our study supports the need for better regulatory oversight of CBD products to ensure consumer safety.”

The study authors understood that “such regulation would ensure that CBD products meet established quality assurance standards so consumers can make informed decisions about product selection and are not misled by unproven therapeutic or cosmetic claims.”

The researchers concluded the study by stating that people should consult their doctor before beginning a CBD cycle.

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Is Cannabis Product Labeling Enforceable?

According to another study that examined nearly 90,000 samples across six states, labels on cannabis products are not very useful because researchers found that “commercial labels do not consistently match the observed chemical diversity” of cannabis products.

The researchers called for a labeling system similar to the FDA’s Nutrition Fact Panel for foods. “Our results suggest that the prevailing labeling system is not an effective or secure way to provide information about these products,” said co-author Brian Keegan, assistant professor of information science at CU Boulder. “This is a real challenge for an industry trying to professionalize itself.”

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