CBD Liquid Products Are Impure, Says Consumer Group

A consumer watchbog organization reports that many commercial CBD liquid products have failed to meet standards for purity and safety. Results of laboratory studies conducted by the Center for Food Safety found unacceptable levels of pesticides, heavy metal contamination, glyphosate and other adulterants in a range of CBD products made by almost half of the manufacturers surveyed.

Only 4 percent of the CBD companies surveyed were given a grade of “A.”

A New Industry, Poorly Regulated

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis, or marijuana plant. Unlike tetrahyrdocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), CBD does not give the user an altered consciousness, or “high.” Anecdotal evidence indicates that CBD is effective in preventing seizures in children suffering from certain types of epilepsy, such as the Lennox-Gastaut variety or Dravet Syndrome. The first prescription form of CBD was given FDA approval for this purpose in June 2018.

Other claims made for CBD include the treatment of neurological disorders, anxiety, dyskinesias (moverment disorders) and pain. However, there has been little research to support such claims.

Herein lies much of the problem surrounding products derived from CBD liquid. Because the CBD industry is fairly new, regulations and controls have yet to catch up. Manufacturers of CBD products have allegedly made claims that may at best be exaggerated, and at worst could be total fabrication. These allegations of deceptive marketing have led to increased public and regulatory scrutiny of these companies, as well as growing litigation over the past several months.

FDA Sends Warnings

In July 2019, the FDA sent a warning letter to Curaleaf, one of the largest companies in the CBD liquid and products industry. According to the communication, Curaleaf had been marketing its products as new drugs in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as these products had not been FDA-approved, according to Hemp Industry Daily. Prior to that, the FDA had sent similar warning letters to NutraPure LLC, PotNetwork Holdings, Relievus and three other CBD manufacturers, instructing them to cease making unsubstantiated claims about their products’ health and therapeutic benefits.

Unfortunately, beyond these warnings, the FDA has failed to take aggressive regulatory action with the CBD industry. Meanwhile, plaintiffs are moving ahead, taking legal action against companies who make exaggerated and false claims about CBD products.

Toxicology Reports Bode Poorly for CBD Liquid Products

Rebecca Spector, head of the Center for Food Safety’s west coast office, expressed surprise at “…so many CBD companies failing to meet basic requirements to ensure their products are safe.” Amazingly, only six of the companies whose products were tested have organic certification through the USDA – and only two offered products free of glyphosate, the herbicide that has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is currently a cause of action in several thousand injury lawsuits.

Amid growing litigation and increasing FDA scrutiny, the CBD industry appears to be headed for some rough times. At the very least, manufacturers of CBD liquid products will be subject to stricter regulation and oversight in the future.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.