The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) says the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) should take immediate steps to approve non-psychoactive cannabidiol components such as CBD for general use.
NCIA media relations director Morgan Fox told the FDA Reporter that the association urges the FDA to work with experts to determine the extent to which the substance should be regulated while considering the best practices for CBD already in use by state regulators.
“The degree to which the FDA should regulate cannabis is something that the FDA, the scientific community, and industry stakeholders should consider together,” Fox said.
Medical, Marketing and Media (MM&M) reports the FDA held it’s first public hearing in order to seek public comment on both the manufacturing and labeling of CBD products, as well as the health and safety of the product. One major concern the FDA has in regulating CBD, according to MM&M, is that the compound is also an active ingredient in seizure medication Epidiolex.
“Because of that, the FDA believes that allowing CBD in food products would undermine the drug-approval process, because foods are not subject to the same clinical trials as medicine,” reports MM&M.
Some organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, shared their opposition to the FDA regulating CBD, citing the “the unregulated production, labeling and marketing of these products put people at risk—especially those living with mood disorders seeking to find their personal wellness,” reports MM&M.
Fox feels differently.
“Cannabis policy reform and innovation in the legal cannabis industry has provided relief for millions of patients around the country, as well as spurring research and the development of new cannabinoid medicines in the pharmaceutical sector,” Fox said.
Furthermore, Fox said cannabis is objectively safer than alcohol.
“Not to mention its safer than a vast number of other substances that already have FDA approval, any federal regulations should be no more stringent than those for alcohol,” Fox said.
