On May 28, 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Office of the General Counsel issued a Legal Opinion, which attempts to address open questions relating to interstate transport of hemp. While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production, the current state of the law as to whether it is legal to transport hemp through states that do not currently allow the production or sale of hemp is unclear. We recently published an article…

With CBD projected to be a $450 Million industry in the coming year, FDA hosted a packed house of industry stakeholders last week in a day-long public meeting that was the kickoff of a discussion to determine whether there is a pathway for CBD in ingestible products such as foods and dietary supplements.  See our summary of key themes here and check out this podcast episode to hear five key takeaways. …

Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2020 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill by a vote of 29 to 21. The committee report accompanying the bill included notable language on CBD.  Specifically, it expressed concern regarding potential safety issues such as drug interactions, somnolence, liver toxicity, the presence of THC or other compounds, and aggressive health benefit claims.  These were among the many issues discussed…

FDA’s CBD Public Meeting featured a full house of manufacturers, researchers, health professionals, trade association representatives, and other stakeholders.  Each speaker was given a few minutes to offer their input in response to FDA’s call for submissions relating to health and safety risks; manufacturing and product quality; and  marketing, labeling, and sales.  Here are key themes and highlights: Opening Remarks:  Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless opened the meeting by acknowledging the “explosion” of consumer interest…