INDUSTRY UPDATES

April 18, 2023

House Oversight Committee Investigating FDA On CBD Regulation

Big news from Capitol Hill.  Upon the urging of the US Hemp Roundtable and other industry stakeholders, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is moving forward with an investigation into the lack of regulatory action on CBD products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to POLITICO. 

As we reported earlier this year, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who serves as committee Chairman, announced his intentions to investigate the FDA and to bring FDA Commissioner, Robert Califf, before his committee for questioning. Rep. Comer is a longtime champion of the hemp industry, having led the charge to legalize hemp in Kentucky in 2013.

In a letter to the FDA, the committee requests specific documentation, including any communications and drafts related to the Jan. 26 announcement on CBD, the FDA’s assessment of the framework that makes regulating CBD difficult, and any scientific data the agency has related to safety of CBD for consumption.

“FDA’s claim of a lack of a regulatory pathway is not only an insufficient rationale for inaction, but it is directly affecting the welfare of the American public,” Comer added. “The good faith actors in the industry are unable to enter the market and provide people with helpful products because they are currently not distinguished under the FDA from the intoxicating products containing Delta-8.”

“We are deeply grateful to Chairman Comer and the Oversight Committee for launching this critical effort on behalf of hemp farmers and CBD consumers,” stated Jonathan Miller, General Counsel of the US Hemp Roundtable.  “The Chairman has been a steadfast supporter of our industry, and we look forward to working in a bi-partisan manner to ensure that hemp extracts like CBD are appropriately regulated.”

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