US lawmakers have warned 15 companies that have illegally sold products containing CBD.
The Food and Drug Administration sent letters to the firms that it claims are violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The FDA also urged consumers to be wary of the safety of CBD products more broadly.
A statement reads: “Based on the lack of scientific information supporting the safety of CBD in food, the FDA is also indicating that it cannot conclude that CBD is generally recognised as safe (GRAS) among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food.”
This includes ongoing work to obtain and evaluate information to address outstanding questions related to the safety of CBD products, while maintaining the agency’s rigorous public health standards.
FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, said: “We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of [sic] CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD ‘can’t hurt’.
“Aside from one prescription drug approved to treat two paediatric epilepsy disorders, these products have not been approved by the FDA and we want to be clear that a number of questions remain regarding CBD’s safety – including reports of products containing contaminants, such as pesticides and heavy metals – and there are real risks that need to be considered.”
However, the FDA says it is exploring ways for various types of CBD products to be lawfully marketed.
Abernethy added: “We recognise the significant public interest in CBD and we must work together with stakeholders and industry to fill in the knowledge gaps about the science, safety and quality of many of these products.”
Safety concerns
The consumer warning cites specific safety concerns related to CBD products, including potential liver injury, interactions with other drugs, drowsiness, diarrhoea, and changes in mood.
It adds that studies in animals have shown that CBD can interfere with the development and function of testes and sperm, decrease testosterone levels and impair sexual behaviour in males.
Questions also remain about cumulative use of CBD and about CBD’s impacts on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, the warning states.
The FDA has previously sent warning letters to other companies illegally selling CBD products in interstate commerce that claimed to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat or cure serious diseases, such as cancer.
The companies receiving warning letters are:
Koi CBD LLC, of Norwalk, California
Pink Collections Inc., of Beverly Hills, California
Noli Oil, of Southlake, Texas
Natural Native LLC, of Norman, Oklahoma
Whole Leaf Organics LLC, of Sherman Oaks, California
Infinite Product Company LLLP, doing business as Infinite CBD, of Lakewood, Colorado
Apex Hemp Oil LLC, of Redmond, Oregon
Bella Rose Labs, of Brooklyn, New York
Sunflora Inc., of Tampa, Florida/Your CBD Store, of Bradenton, Florida
Healthy Hemp Strategies LLC, doing business as Curapure, of Concord, California
Private I Salon LLC, of Charlotte, North Carolina
Organix Industries Inc., doing business as Plant Organix, of San Bernardino, California
Red Pill Medical Inc., of Phoenix, Arizona
Sabai Ventures Ltd., of Los Angeles, California
Daddy Burt LLC, doing business as Daddy Burt Hemp Co., of Lexington, Kentucky
