On Nov. 25, the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to 15 companies for illegally selling CBD (cannabidiol) products in violation of federal law, including adding CBD to human and animal foods, marketing CBD products as dietary supplements and promoting CBD products for treating diseases or other therapeutic human and animal applications.
The FDA has taken no further action against the companies:
- Koi CBD, Norwalk, California
- Pink Collections, Beverly Hills, California
- Noli Oil, Southlake, Texas
- Natural Native, Norman, Oklahoma
- Whole Leaf Organics, Sherman Oaks, California
- Infinite Product Company, doing business as Infinite CBD, Lakewood, Colorado
- Apex Hemp Oil, Redmond, Oregon
- Bella Rose Labs, Brooklyn, New York
- Sunflora, Tampa, Florida/Your CBD Store, Bradenton, Florida
- Healthy Hemp Strategies, doing business as Curapure, Concord, California
- Private I Salon, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Organix Industries, doing business as Plant Organix, San Bernardino, California
- Red Pill Medical, Phoenix, Arizona
- Sabai Ventures, Los Angeles, California
- Daddy Burt, doing business as Daddy Burt Hemp, of Lexington, Kentucky
The FDA also published a revised Consumer Update of health issues raised by CBD studies, including:
- Liver injury
- Harmful drug interactions
- Drowsiness
- Gastrointestinal distress, most commonly diarrhea and/or decreased appetite
- Mood alteration
- Interference with the development and function of testes and sperm
- Decreased testosterone levels
- Impaired sexual behavior in males
The FDA raised concerns about the cumulative effects of CBD over long periods and in vulnerable populations including children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Due to the “lack of scientific information supporting the safety of CBD in food,” the FDA concluded that CBD cannot receive the “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) rating for use in human or animal food.