Everything You Need to Know About CBD Approval by the FDA

The FDA is working diligently to answer questions about the science, safety, and quality of products containing cannabis-derived compounds, particularly CBD. There has been much interest lately around CBD and its potential related to health benefits. Your company has noticed this interest and plan to get into the industry while the market is hot.

 

Before you move forward, there are a few things to understand. Marijuana is different from CBD, although CBD does come from the cannabis plant. CBD is a single compound in the cannabis plant, and marijuana is a type of cannabis plant or plant material that contains many naturally occurring compounds, including CBD and THC. This can be a bit confusing for the average consumer. Essentially, CBD offers a relaxing feeling without the "high" associated with marijuana because it doesn't have THC in it.

 

If it doesn't get you high, it must be safe and easy to bring to market- right? Not quite. The truth is that the FDA has approved only one CBD product, which is a prescription drug product to treat two rare, severe forms of epilepsy. It is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement.

 

Why is this? The FDA has seen only limited data about CBD safety and these data point to real risks that need to be considered before taking CBD for any reason. CBD can cause liver injury.

CBD can also affect how other drugs a person is taking work, potentially causing serious side effects. The use of CBD with alcohol or other drugs that slow brain activity, such as those used to treat anxiety, can increase the risk of sedation and drowsiness. This can lead to injuries. This is a concern to the FDA.

 

Beyond this, there are many important aspects about CBD that we just don’t know. What happens if you take CBD daily for sustained periods of time? What is the effect of CBD on the developing brain of children? What are the effects of CBD on the developing fetus or breastfed newborn? These questions, and others, need to be answered before the FDA begins to stamp approval on products.

 

"But I've seen other companies doing it!" you may say. This is true. Some CBD products are being marketed with unproven medical claims and are of unknown quality. The FDA will continue to find these products and pull them off the market, probably with a hefty fine attached. This isn't what you want for your company.

 

If your company is producing a CBD product, this is all very important information for you. It's worrisome, to say the least. Without FDA approval, you're hitting a real stumbling block. Get rid of the anxiety around ensuring compliance once and for all by bringing in the right legal team. There are FDA law firms who can do it! Just like you brought in a marketing expert to develop your advertising efforts, bring in one of the skilled FDA law firms to work on your FDA efforts. The attorneys at a FDA law firm will focus on the FDA regulations for you, making sure your business meets the necessary requirements. You can go back to doing what you do best, producing a high-quality product!