House reps from New York, Virginia, Texas, and Minnesota introduce bill.
In a move that’s already received a warm welcome from hemp and business associations, a team of bipartisan House representatives have introduced a bill that would spur the Food and Drug Administration to create regulations for CBD in food and beverages.
In spite of past requests for federal CBD regulation from the business world, the FDA has said repeatedly that it needs more time to research the public health implications of cannabinoid use before approving products for market.
The CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act would require the FDA to develop rules and take comments from the public on points like dosage, testing and labeling, reports Marijuana Moment.
Reps. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Angie Craig (D-MN) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced the bill Dec. 2.
“CBD products are exploding in popularity, but the lack of federal regulation surrounding them has put consumers at risk and left businesses looking for clarity,” Rice said in a press statement. “The bipartisan CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act will establish the clear regulatory framework needed to provide stability for business and ensure unsafe products stay off the shelves.”
“CBD products are exploding in popularity, but the lack of federal regulation surrounding them has put consumers at risk and left businesses looking for clarity. The bipartisan CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act will establish the clear regulatory framework needed to provide stability for business and ensure unsafe products stay off the shelves.”
— Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY)
The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a national advocacy organization, and Consumer Brands Association — which represents names including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Kellogg — issued statements supporting the bill.
“We strongly support requiring the FDA to regulate hemp extracts like CBD as food and beverage ingredients,” said Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.
“We strongly support requiring the FDA to regulate hemp extracts like CBD as food and beverage ingredients.”
— Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable
For the Consumer Brands Association, Betsy Booren called the act “a welcome step toward giving consumers consistency and promoting safety that goes across state lines.”
The FDA has previously shared its plans for researching the public health implications of cannabinoid use, which include monitoring social media platforms where people can speak freely about cannabis, namely Reddit.
The agency said as recently as November that it needs more time to research the public safety impacts of cannabinoid use. Complicating matters further, the agency has approved a CBD-based drug to treat epilepsy. Regulating a substance as both drug and dietary supplement would be a first.
“Clear answers to many important questions are still lacking,” the FDA’s Grail Sipes said Nov. 16, “such as what adverse reactions may be associated with CBD from hemp-derived products and what risks are associated with the longterm use of these products.”
“A lack of clear federal standards in the CBD industry has left businesses guessing and customers at risk.”
— Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)
But in the absence of regulatory authority, a gray market of products with vastly different quality has flourished.
“Years after CBD was decriminalized, a lack of clear federal standards in the CBD industry has left businesses guessing and customers at risk,” Representative Craig said in the Dec. 2 statement. “It’s clear that this growing industry needs regulatory clarity in order to continue selling their products safely and effectively.”