Opinion: The FDA is the right agency to regulate CBD products, but it needs help
The dietary supplement industry has been begging for federal oversight of products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant that is being incorporated into a bewildering range of oils, tinctures, edibles, and other products. Certification by the Food and Drug Administration that these products are safe and useful against many common ailments could unleash a $60 billion annual market by 2030.
But the FDA turned down industry trade groups, and for good reason. Regulators can set standards only for products they understand, and right now the evidence on CBD safety is thin to nonexistent, and is similarly speculative on its effectiveness.
