How US government structures protect consumers from low-quality cannabinoid products
Given the fact that for the most part our country is a “stock one”, the question arises where can be sent for the implementation of “miracle products with CBD”, which cannot be implemented in the United States. Based on the above, the issue of the need to create the necessary regulatory framework that protects Ukrainian consumers from this kind of manna from heavenly advertising and information company, actively promoted already in Ukraine, becomes relevant.
Three firms specializing in the manufacture of cannabidiol received letters from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warning them of “unjustified assertion that the products manufactured by these companies have therapeutic properties. ” In particular, Advanced Spine and Pain (Relievus, Janison, Michigan), Nutra Pure (Vancouver, Wash.) And PotNetwork Holdings (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) are accused of promoting products containing CBD in self-help sites, online stores, and social networks.
A statement by Dr. Scott Gottlieb states that "the FDA will continue to use the authority it provides to take action against companies illegally selling the above products when, by their actions, they put consumers at risk."
The warnings of the above companies concern dozens of items for which firms allow themselves to make unreasonable, flagrant statements that “products have properties to treat cancer, neurodegenerative, autoimmune and other serious diseases, including chronic diseases, disorders associated with treatment of various types addictions ”without providing any evidence or relevant conclusions provided by the FDA.
As an example, the FDA cites advertising slogans of the above companies:
• “The CBD contained in these products successfully stopped the growth of cancer cells in several different types of cancer associated with problems in the small pelvis, in particular cervical cancer”;
• “cannabidiol reduces the growth as well as the invasion of human glioma cells, which suggests the possible role of this cannabinoid as an antitumor agent”;
• “for patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, CBD is one of the treatment options that significantly slows the progression of the above disease”;
• “cannabidiol demonstrates the ability to block the spinal, peripheral, and gastrointestinal mechanisms responsible for pain associated with migraine, fibromyalgia, ischemic heart disease, and other related disorders”;
• “CBD reduces dependence on morphine and significantly reduces the need to search for narcotic substances.”
For example, the FDA letter to Relievus warns the company about the impossibility of bringing to the market a "new, approved drug for animals with CBD - CBD for Dogs product".
The three companies listed above have 15 business days to notify the FDA in writing of actions taken to correct the violations and prevent them in the future. In case of ignoring notifications by government agencies, they turn to law enforcement agencies to document this kind of facts so that in the future companies will be imposed multimillion penalties and naturally confiscated product groups containing false information.
Mr. Gottlieb is confident that the FDA will continue to monitor the market and take the necessary measures against companies that illegally sell various kinds of cannabidiol products, which describe that they prevent, take part in treatment or treat any there was a disease. In parallel with this, the Food and Drug Administration is striving to develop a regulatory framework that allows product development companies that meet legal requirements to legally market and sell their products. For example, for the first time, the FDA initiates public hearings on products that include cannabidiol, forming a high-level working group and updating the FDA website to provide the public with information on the therapeutic properties of cannabinoids. The official explained that these actions will allow the Office to continue the work initiated by the state in relation to products containing cannabidiol, while at the same time ensuring compliance with existing rules and regulations from industry, as well as civil society.
Commentary of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"
This is not the first time that the FDA sends warnings to companies selling various products with CBDs that have “healing properties”. Since 2015, the FDA has already distributed 47 warning letters to 21 cannabidiol manufacturers banning to write in the products manufactured by them that products manufactured by companies are beneficial to health.
Given the fact that for the most part our country is a “stock one”, the question arises where can be sent for the implementation of “miracle products with CBD”, which cannot be implemented in the United States. Based on the above, the issue of the need to create the necessary regulatory framework that protects Ukrainian consumers from this kind of manna from heavenly advertising and information company, actively promoted already in Ukraine, becomes relevant.