On Friday, May 31, folks across the world tuned into the online public hearing held by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the final verdict on the regulation of cannabis compounds, such as CBD. For the uninitiated, the addition of CBD-infused products in foods and dietary supplements is unlawful under the Farm Bill signed into law by President Trump. From manufacturers and suppliers to state regulators and researchers, more than 100 individuals spoke during 10 hours of testimony. Many advocates touted the benefits of the cannabinoid, clamoring the FDA to act quickly, while others spoke of sheer reefer madness. In the end, it seemed that the Agency needed more evidence on the safety of using CBD-infused products before giving the greenlight.
The growing anticipation of CBD’s future has had many sitting at the edge of their seats. But fortunately, the FDA stated that they will take public comment into account as they draft rules to regulate the CBD industry. Initially, attendants of the hearing requested a 30-day extension of the comment period. However, according to the FDA, “the requests conveyed concern that the current 60-day comment period does not allow sufficient time to develop meaningful or thoughtful responses to the questions that appeared in the notice requesting data and other evidence in support of answers.” After some consideration the Agency extended the allotted time.
In a recent announcement posted by principal deputy commissioner Amy Abernethy, the agency which will determine the future of the CBD industry will be extending the time period for accepting the submission of comments, either publicly or confidentially, until July 16 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time— which is two weeks longer than before. In a nutshell, Abernethy shared that the FDA is seeking to “obtain scientific information about the safety, labeling, quality, advertising, and sale of products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds.”
According to the Daily Journal of the United States Government, this two-week extension granted by the FDA “allows adequate time for interested persons to submit comments without significantly delaying any potential further action on these important issues.”
If you’re an advocate of CBD and want to put a helping hand in determining regulation, we encourage you to submit your comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Agency is seeking feedback in three main areas: manufacturing, safety, and sales.
To ensure your comments are read carefully, they should:
- Detail your personal experiences with CBD and how you’ll be impacted.
- Address any opposing views or any issues in the regulatory action of the matter.
- Be concise and include logically and scientifically sound evidence to justify your claims.
Image credit: Times of CBD
