Only One-Third of Online CBD Products Found Labeled Correctly
According to a recent study, a shocking 70 percent of cannabis extracts that were tested did not have accurate levels of cannabidiol CBD that were listed on the packaging.
Consumer demand for CBD has soared over the past few years—and many CBD products are sold online. One group of researchers decided to test samples of these CBD extracts and discovered that many CBD products aren’t always accurately labeled. A research letter published by Marcel Bonn-Miller, Mallory Loflin and Brian F. Thomas revealed that out of 84 tested cannabinoid samples, 70 percent had levels of cannabidiol that were not consistent with what their labels read.
In its opening statement, the letter reads, “Discrepancies between federal and state cannabis laws have resulted in inadequate regulation and oversight, leading to inaccurate labeling of some products.” Currently the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate cannabis products as cannabis remains illegal under federal law, and that can lead to published misinformation about what certain cannabis products contain. In the study, 43 percent of products had more CBD than what was labeled, and 26 percent of products contained less CBD than what was labeled.
Some products even contained trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta noted that hidden THC in CBD products is definitely a problem, and that much needs to be done to better regulate the medical cannabis industry. “As things stand now, the supplement industry overall is not regulated,” Gupta said. “You don’t always know what you’re getting, how much you’re getting or even if the active ingredients are in there at all. With medical marijuana, it is almost the opposite situation at the federal level. It is highly regulated.”
While inaccuracies like this may be inconsequential to recreational consumers, patients seeking a particular CBD extract to best match their needs should have the right to safely tested and accurate labeling for their medical treatment. Patients who seek CBD products are often in need of medicine for conditions like epilepsy, PTSD and chronic pain.
As new research and legislation continues to expand in the United States, patients and recreational consumers alike will hopefully see improvements in the system sooner rather than later.
