The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued an advisory about the potential harms and side effects of CBD, noting that products bought from state-legal cannabis dispensaries may be safer than those available in other stores or online shops, according to a report by Marijuana Moment.
The popularity of CBD products has skyrocketed since hemp was made legal with the 2018 Farm Bill, and it’s estimated that around 270,000 stores now offer CBD-infused lotions, fabrics, food, and drinks. A survey by SingleCare found that one in three Americans said they used CBD in 2020.
The SAMHSA advisory highlights the potential risks associated with using these products – namely due to their lack of regulation by the federal government – such as incorrect labeling and inconsistent quality control. It also mentions how some CBD products are marketed as treatments for a variety of health problems without having been evaluated or approved by the FDA.
Survey results from 2019 showed that 40% of CBD users actually bought products from marijuana dispensaries instead, likely due to its greater quality assurance compared to national stores – even though dispensaries still remain illegal at the federal level.
The DEA recently weighed in on two other cannabinoids made from legally grown hemp: delta-8 THC-O and delta-9 THC-O. As these do not naturally occur in the cannabis plant, but can only be synthetically produced, they have been deemed illegal controlled substances according to DEA regulations.
Separately, the FDA recently discussed how it helped investigate a company selling delta-8 THC gummies linked to serious adverse events – showcasing FDA’s ongoing efforts to ensure safety when it comes to cannabis products.
