Government Seeking Public Comments on Cannabidiol (CBD)
The government is seeking public comments on a variety of substances, including the cannabis-derived compound cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD.
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is “requesting interested persons to submit comments concerning abuse potential, actual abuse, medical usefulness, trafficking, and impact of scheduling changes on availability for medical use of 17 drug substances”, including CBD. According to t he FDA, these comments “will be considered in preparing a response from the United States to the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the abuse liability and diversion of these drugs.” WHO will use this information to consider whether to recommend that certain international restrictions be placed on these drugs. The notice requesting comments is required by the Controlled Substances Act (the CSA).
Currently CBD is defined as a schedule I controlled substance, putting it on equal footing as hard drugs like heroin. This is despite numerous states allowing CBD for medical use, and despite a plethora of research showing its medical efficacy.
Those wanting to make a public comment about CBD can do so by clicking here (comments must be made by September 13th to be considered).