FDA chief ‘very committed’ to making progress on CBD, other cannabinoids

Wondering where hemp-derived cannabinoids are legal in the United States? Check out MJBizDaily‘s new delta-8 THC map.


The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says he is “very committed” to making progress on CBD, but his agency needs more authority to do so.

The comments by FDA Commissioner Robert Califf came Thursday during a U.S. House of Representatives budget hearing.

Asked about “hemp products,” Califf noted there are an “amazing plethora of derivatives of the cannabis plant,” calling it “quite profound and astounding,” Cannabis Wire reported.

He acknowledged that hemp extracts and derivatives are “already in widespread use,” then noted that the FDA’s work to date has been focused on research to assess risks.

“I am very committed to taking a path on this,” he said.

But, for that to happen, Califf said Congress would need to give his agency more authority.

“And just to put a marker down, I don’t think the current authorities we have on the food side or the drug side necessarily give us what we need to have to get the right pathways forward. We’re going to have to come up with something new. I’m very committed to doing that.”

He did not elaborate.

Stay informed with MJBiz Newsletters

MJBiz’s family of newsletters gives cannabis professionals an edge in this rapidly changing industry.

Featured newsletters:
  • MJBizDaily: Business news for cannabis leaders in your inbox each morning
  • MJBiz Cultivator: Insights for wholesale cannabis growers & vertically integrated businesses
  • MJBizCon Buzz: Behind-the-scenes buzz on everything MJBizCon
  • MJBiz Retail + Brand: New products, trends and news for cannabis retailers, distributors and marketers
  • Hemp Industry Week: Roundup of news from hemp farming to CBD product manufacturing
  • And more!

 

A Wisconsin Democrat, Rep. Mark Pocan, pressed Califf to suggest a timeline for possibly allowing CBD as a food additive.

“The research so far has shown that there are some risks with CBD, so we’re going to need a different pathway than just the standard pathway,” Califf responded.