FDA maintains ban on CBD in food, but promises further review

(This is an abridged version of a story that appears at Hemp Industry Daily.)

While the President’s signature on the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and its derivatives, how those derivatives are used is still under the purview of U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In a response released Thursday, the FDA reiterated that CBD and THC are still not legal to add to food, but promised further review of its guidelines.

“It’s unlawful to introduce food containing added CBD or THC into interstate commerce, or to market CBD or THC products as, or in, dietary supplements, regardless of whether the substances are hemp-derived,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb wrote.

The agency acknowledged “substantial public interest in this topic and the clear interest of Congress in fostering the development of appropriate hemp products,” saying it will give the cannabinoid an updated review “in the near future,” with no exact date for an announcement.

(Click here to read more about the FDA’s position on CBD and THC.)