Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, says he plans to grill the FDA Commissioner Robert Calif over the agency’s failure to regulate CBD.
He revealed the news in an interview with the Hemp Roundtable, a leading hemp advocacy organization.
“I want to bring the FDA commissioner in front of the committee, and this is one of the things that we want to talk about. It’s not just their lack of action with respect to CBD and other types of hemp — it’s their inaction regarding a lot of areas of their jurisdiction.”
Many in the hemp industry, including stakeholders and lawmakers, have grown frustrated with the inactivity of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are hoping to see cannabidiol properly regulated as a supplement.
The lack of regulations means that the quality and safety of the CBD products being sold remain a problem and even its status as a dietary supplement — which is how most people are using it — is in question.
The FDA believes that additional research is needed to ensure the safety and efficacy of all CBD products.
It recently released a statement saying that it will not regulate CBD as a supplement and that a new regulatory framework is needed specifically for CBD products. The FDA also stated it’s willing to work with Congress on new regulations and will continue to warn CBD vendors who make low-quality products or promote health claims.
Hemp industry members, including the Hemp Roundtable, were disappointed by the news.
Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.
