A new Bill to regulate CBD as a dietary supplement was introduced to Congress last week. If passed, the bipartisan Bill will allow CBD and other hemp-derived compounds to be marketed and sold as dietary supplements.
This is a major change, one which could result in significant clarity for retailers across the country.
CBD as a Dietary Supplement
The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp and products derived from hemp legal. And we all cheered. But then the FDA made it clear they were in charge of anything food-related. They have repeatedly stated that selling edible/ingestible CBD products is illegal. They want to control the regulations and what can and can’t be done.
The thing is, despite continued pressure from the industry, the FDA has yet to issue guidelines. This is in regards to both CBD as a dietary supplement or as an ingredient of foods and drinks.
As of right now, hemp and CBD have not been fully approved for use in dietary supplements by the FDA. The Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2020 could change that.
The bill introduced last week is bipartisan legislation to allow CBD and other hemp-derived compounds to be marketed and sold as dietary supplements. They would fall under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The products would be made lawful for use unless otherwise directed by the FDA. The bill would also require CBD and other hemp products to be manufactured and sold under existing regulations for dietary supplements. This would include things like packaging and labelling requirements as well as FDA rules regarding new dietary ingredients.
The proposal is sponsored by Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA).
In a press release earlier this month, Griffith stated, “Hemp was historically an important crop for Virginia farmers, and dietary supplements made from it do not possess dangerous addictive qualities. Nevertheless, the current state of regulation creates confusion about its legal uses. I joined this bipartisan bill to provide certainty for hemp farmers that their crop may find legal uses.”
This Bill will give Congress the power to push the FDA for regulations and guidelines. Ultimately, it will be a win for the CBD industry, and American consumers as a whole!