FDA Warns 15 Companies to Stop Selling CBD Products

If you use CBD products, would it shock you to discover that they violate the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations?

Many consumers are now coming to that revelation after the FDA issued warning letters to 15 CBD companies on November 26, 2019. To date, the FDA has approved only one prescription drug for medical purposes, and that drug is approved to treat only two specific types of epilepsy.

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

What do these warning letters mean for the CBD industry? Keep reading to dig into the details and understand the FDA’s regulations and the recent citations.

FDA CBD Regulations

The FDA has sent more than 20 warning letters for cannabis-related violations in 2019. Compare that to just one warning letter sent in 2018. The FDA is targeting the CBD industry more now than ever because consumer demand is booming. The goal is to make sure that these products contain the amount of CBD advertised by manufacturers and do not present health or safety risks for consumers.

The FDA tests CBD products advertised to consumers and then sends warning letters to companies only when those products are found to violate legal regulations. While products that contain no more than 0.3% THC are no longer classified as illegal marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, CBD products are still regulated by the FDA like any other supplement or food product used by humans and pets.

FDA Accusations Against CBD Companies

Current regulations prevent CBD companies from advertising or recommending their products for the treatment, diagnosis, mitigation, cure or prevention of any disease. Simply stating that a CBD oil can ease anxiety or eliminate arthritis pain is enough for a company to earn an FDA warning letter. The only exception is one well-tested epilepsy drug, which is only available by prescription from a doctor.

CBD companies may also violate FDA regulations in the following ways:

• Selling products that contain less CBD than stated in advertisements or on the packaging.
  
• Selling food or drinks laced with CBD
  
• Claiming any CBD product is a dietary supplement

The FDA believes that consumers are potentially at risk when using products marketed as dietary supplements or mixed into food products. Some may assume that the products are approved by the FDA while many others think of it as a natural product that comes with no risk.

Are CBD Products Safe?

Some of the CBD products tested by the FDA have been found to contain heavy metals and other contaminants that aren’t proven safe for human or pet consumption. Some CBD products may also come with some uncomfortable side effects, including:

• Abdominal pain
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Mood swings
  
• Sleep disturbances

CBD may interact with some prescription drugs and over-the-counter supplements. Liver damage is also a potential consequence of using some CBD products, including the legal seizure drug that has already been approved by the FDA.

More research is needed to determine the long-term impact on health and general safety. While most CBD products are likely safe, consumers have no way of knowing which ones contain contaminants and which ones are a waste of money due to the amount of CBD included. The FDA will continue to fine-tune CBD regulations as more research is completed.

What’s Next?

Companies receiving the FDA’s warning letters have 15 days to respond with a plan to remedy the regulation violations. As a consumer with some interest in CBD products, you should check the list of companies that have received violation letters before making a purchase.

Now that you know CBD products aren’t FDA-approved for the treatment or remedy of any medical condition, you can analyze products and advertisements closely.

If you choose to use CBD products, discuss it with your doctor first to make sure the products won’t interact negatively with your prescription or over-the-counter medications.