If the FDA is to regulate CBD products, it will need helpPosted by On


The dietary supplement industry has been begging for federal oversight of products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant that is being incorporated into a bewildering range of oils, tinctures, edibles, and other products. Certification by the Food and Drug Administration that these products are safe and useful against many common ailments could unleash a $60 billion annual market by 2030.

But the FDA turned down industry trade groups, and for good reason. Regulators can set standards only for products they understand, and right now the evidence on CBD safety is thin to nonexistent, and is similarly speculative on its effectiveness.

In its long-awaited decision, the FDA called on Congress to establish new regulatory pathways for cannabidiol, which I believe was also the right decision. The FDA is the best agency to regulate CBD products, but it needs new tools so it can tackle the job of managing CBD risks separate from existing food and supplement rules.

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This is a bipartisan issue, and Congress should act quickly on it. Additional research on the benefits and risks of CBD is imperative. Without new authority that ultimately would allow safe cannabidiol-based products access to the market, the FDA has the unmanageable task of controlling what can only be described as a wild west of unsubstantiated claims.

As a health economist focused on drug policy, I’ve seen how the health possibilities of CBD have…

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