US Lawmakers Reintroduce Bipartisan Bills to Regulate CBD

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on Congress to regulate CBD, U.S. Reps. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Angie Craig, D-Minn., have reintroduced two bipartisan measures in the House that would require the FDA to regulate CBD using existing regulatory frameworks.

The Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2023, which was formally House Resolution 841, "would subject hemp extract products to the regulatory framework for dietary supplements," while the CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act of 2023, formally H.R. 6134, would establish "regulations for CBD as a food and beverage additive," according to a press release from the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR).

The reintroduced measures come after the FDA announced Jan. 26 that it did not plan to regulate CBD in dietary supplements, conventional foods or animal products and called on Congress to do so.

"The FDA has made it clear that legislative action by Congress is needed to solve its CBD regulatory problem, and these two bipartisan bills reintroduced by Reps. Griffith and Craig serve as the solution," said Jonathan Miller, USHR general counsel.

Miller said the federal agency's inaction to regulate CBD has negatively impacted hemp cultivators and has caused thousands of unregulated products to come to the marketplace, adding that the USHR is excited to work closely with Griffith, Craig, and other co-sponsors on the legislation.

Other industry associations praised the reintroductions.

"We commend the sponsors for introducing this important legislative package and urge Congress to pass all three bills without delay," said National Cannabis Industry Association CEO Aaron Smith. "Doing so will bring about the much-needed clarity to small businesses across the country that responsibly produce health and wellness products and would establish a sensible regulatory framework to protect public safety and ensure consumers are well informed."

President of the Midwest Hemp Council, Justin Swanson, said the organization "continues to support a clear path to market for all hemp-derived cannabinoid products through the already established dietary supplement route. Farmers, small businesses and consumers will benefit from this time-tested approach that provides critical consumer protections without sacrificing innovation in the hemp marketplace."

Dave Crabill, president of iHemp Michigan, said, "Fair and transparent regulation of CBD and other non-intoxicating hemp products is needed to move the industry forward. We feel that this is best for both people and the planet."