Follows Years-Long Advocacy Effort By Natural Products Association
WASHINGTON – New draft legislation released today in the U.S. Senate includes a provision directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set a safe level of consumption for CBD products. The provision is part of a broader bill introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level.
“Setting a safe level of consumption for CBD products is long overdue, but it remains the best path forward for consumers and the industry,” said Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D. President and CEO of NPA. “Unlike other federal bills, this one would do what NPA alone has long called for: it would direct FDA to expedite a rule that sets an upper limit for daily consumption. Setting this limit provides clarity for CBD innovators, and also creates a clear path to the well-regulated CBD marketplace that consumers deserve.” While we still believe dietary supplements and foods should be under one piece of legislation, this is a positive development for consumers who use these products every day, and we look forward to working with Congress and the FDA to ensure that we have clear federal guidelines and safety standards for CBD products.”
NPA has led efforts to urge the FDA to regulate CBD since 2017, including regular official testimony, top level meetings with FDA officials and supporting legislative action on the issue. For example, NPA-crafted legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that provides resources so the FDA can perform a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) and set a safe level of CBD for consumers to use each day. The process would follow the same precedent as red yeast rice, which allows a natural product to contain a level of a drug ingredient that the FDA has determined to be safe. With the exception of Epidiolex, all CBD products in the U.S. are considered illegal by the federal government.
