Government
FDA takes another look at CBD, but insiders are skeptical much will change
U.S. health regulators are taking their closest look in more than three years at the idea of incorporating cannabinoids into dietary supplements.
But hopes are dim that Tuesday’s daylong review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Science Board will finally deliver a path to treating CBD like other dietary supplements – regulated but sold without prescriptions.
“It’s hard to get too excited about anything anymore,” said Vince Sanders, a CBD manufacturer and retailer in Missouri who traveled to Maryland in 2019 to attend the FDA’s first CBD hearing and has since seen the agency take little action to guide how CBD can be made outside pharmaceutical channels.
Tuesday’s meeting is an informational discussion by the FDA’s Science Board, an advisory panel made up of outside nutrition and drug-safety experts.
The panel meets intermittently, and the virtual daylong discussion Tuesday focuses on “challenges in evaluating the safety of dietary supplement and food ingredients with predicted pharmacological activity, utilizing cannabinoids as a case study.”
The hearing notice doesn’t mention CBD.
Still, several CBD manufacturers have submitted comments in hopes of seeing federal health regulators acknowledge that CBD is widely available and in need of guidelines.
“The majority of our industry either regulates itself with food and dietary supplement GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), or you have players that aren’t regulating themselves at all. It’s terrifying,” said Laura Eder, director of regulatory affairs and quality assurance for Vantage Hemp, which makes hemp-derived CBD in Greeley, Colorado.
How we got here
The FDA has been ostensibly considering CBD regulations ever since the agency was directed by Congress in 2018 to oversee how hemp products could be sold.
But the agency has repeatedly said it can’t set any regulations for over-the-counter hemp products because it doesn’t have enough data to say they’re safe.
The FDA also says that because CBD is an active ingredient in a prescription drug, Epidiolex, it can’t regulate nonpharmaceutical CBD.
Instead, the FDA has confined its cannabinoid enforcement activity to issuing warning letters to companies making egregious health claims.
At the same time, the agency has repeatedly discounted industry-funded research on the safety of CBD products as insufficient.
Last year, the FDA rejected efforts from two companies to market full-spectrum CBD as a new dietary ingredient.
So the fact that an advisory board is even talking about how to evaluate the safety of things such as cannabinoids in foods and dietary supplements could offer clues for companies trying to set themselves up for the day when FDA’s posture might change.
The Science Board meeting is “a peek behind the curtain,” said Emily Leongini, an attorney who specializes in FDA regulations for Arent Fox in Los Angeles.
“Is this meeting going to be the watershed moment where FDA announces that they’re going to allow a certain amount of CBD in food? No. But is it an important meeting in the grand scheme of things? I think so.”
Cynicism abounds
Leongini’s prediction that Tuesday’s meeting won’t immediately break FDA resistance to nonprescription CBD mirrors what several industry insiders told MJBizDaily.
In fact, many question why the Science Board is even taking up cannabinoid safety when the agency repeatedly says it isn’t safe without a prescription.
“I don’t view this as an attempt by FDA to try to move the needle. I just see this as them kind of building up their dossier of why they’re not going to be easing the burdens for industry,” said Jonathan Havens, a Washington DC-based cannabis attorney with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr.
“It will probably result in more of the same, which is FDA saying, ‘We don’t have a sufficient basis or sufficient data to change our position that CBD is not a permissible dietary ingredient.’”
So far he FDA has dismissesed industry-funded safety research.
The silence exasperates manufacturers such as Sanders, owner of Kansas City, Missouri-based CBD American Shaman, a retail chain with more than 300 locations in 38 states.
“If you present (the FDA) with facts, they don’t pay any attention. … It just gets shelved.”
Next steps
The agency’s silence on over-the-counter CBD means companies are left to guess the best ways of making products.
“You just keep pounding away, doing it right every day, day in and day out, trying to raise the bar and do the best you can,” Sanders said.
“You just count on the fact that at some point in time, the opportunity is going to be there. You’re going to get the right people in the FDA, or the right situation, or Congress will pass a law where we can actually regulate this and move on with real business.”
For Vantage Hemp’s Eder, a 20-year pharmaceutical industry veteran who also made the trek to that 2019 hearing, skepticism about Tuesday’s hearing was overcome by her belief that consumers need better regulation of CBD.
“The common person who’s purchasing this has no idea if what they’re buying is safe,” Eder said.
She hopes the FDA will acknowledge that its opposition to CBD regulation hasn’t stopped folks from selling it.
“The cat is out of the bag. If you go to any store, any gas station, any salon, there are CBD products on the shelf, down to your local mom-and-pop store, not to mention the online presence,” Eder said.
“There is no way to pull back what is already there and try to enforce taking products off the shelf, when we all know that FDA does not have the manpower to enforce that.
“So the critical need right now is to implement a guidance for industry … because it’s critical for the safety of our consumers at this point.”
Hemp Editor Kristen Nichols can be reached at kristen.nichols@mjbizdaily.com.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/fda-takes-another-look-at-cbd-but-insiders-are-skeptical-much-will-change/
HARIDWAR, Uttarakhand — Officials from the Dehradun-based Vigilance Department have arrested Haridwar District Supply Officer Shyam Arya and two other employees on charges of accepting a bribe of ₹50,000, authorities confirmed. The arrests took place during a planned operation after investigators laid a trap at the District Supply Office in response to repeated complaints from the public.
According to vigilance sources, the accused were caught “red-handed” while receiving the alleged bribe, reportedly demanded in exchange for official services within the department. The operation, coordinated from the state capital of Dehradun, underscores the department’s commitment to tackling corruption.
Complaints That Triggered the Operation
The arrests followed months of complaints alleging that officials at the Haridwar District Supply Office were routinely soliciting illegal payments for government services. These included the issuance of ration cards, approvals for licenses, and other administrative clearances under the public distribution system.
Vigilance officials said preliminary verification of the complaints indicated a recurring pattern rather than isolated incidents. Following this assessment, the department used a standard anti-corruption tactic of laying a trap to obtain direct evidence of bribe solicitation and acceptance.
Inside the Supply Office
After the arrests, vigilance teams established a presence inside the office, sealing parts of the premises while examining files and records. Investigators are reviewing documentation related to recent approvals and transactions to determine whether the alleged bribery was systemic.
The accused are also being questioned to identify potential accomplices and to ascertain whether accepting bribes was a routine practice. Officials noted that the investigation could expand depending on findings from the document review and interrogations.
A Broader Anti-Corruption Push
The case has drawn attention across Uttarakhand’s administrative machinery, particularly within the Supply Department, which plays a vital role in delivering welfare services. Vigilance officials said the arrests reflect a “zero-tolerance” approach toward corruption and warned that similar operations will continue wherever credible complaints arise.
The state’s anti-corruption drives have intensified in recent months, emphasizing both deterrence and accountability. While the investigation in Haridwar remains in its early stages, officials say it highlights the risks faced by public servants accused of exploiting their positions and the growing willingness of enforcement agencies to act on citizen complaints.
Business
A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social
When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.
For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.
Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.
The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System
The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.
The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.
The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.
Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.
Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging
Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.
It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.
The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.
Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.
The Economic and Social Impact
The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.
It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?
A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started
The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.
Now the call is for bold next moves.
- Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
- Include CBD under Medicare coverage
- Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing
These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.
What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine
For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.
It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.
It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.
New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.
The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.
The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.
After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.
In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.
The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.
Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.
Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.
The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:
- Regulators alleged in August that Albuquerque dispensary Sawmill Sweet Leaf sold out-of-state products and didn’t have a license for extraction.
- Paradise Exotics Distro lost its license in July after regulators alleged the company sold products made in California.
Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/
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