Ads Pitching CBD as a Cure-All Are Everywhere. Oversight Hasn’t Kept Up.

The end result should be for people vaping is to stop and the crisis would not exist.

Can't be any worse for you than alcohol - but we need to start allowing more thorough testing of THC, CBD, etc - but universities steer clear of said tests because they don't want to jeopardize federal grants

..."a $100,000 diamond-encrusted vaping device." I'll take 2, please.

I know many, many people who are happy with these products. It would be sad if the government tried over-regulate or prohibited them.

When discussing laws, regulations and health care legislation, researchers and NYT, avoid advice from the profession that directly works with the most patients, registered nurses. American Cannabis Nurse Association has almost 20 years of studies and research on cannabis products. But Schedule 1 prohibition is a taboo restriction keeping patient care experiences of professional nurses muted. Many patients prefer keeping their health progress secret from any federal or popular media investigation because Schedule 1 law can destroy one's career in states where alcohol is still deemed safer than cannabis. Meanwhile CBD therapy is contraindicated when patient is on blood thinners. THC therapy is contraindicated if the patient has a family history with schizophrenia. Side effects and contraindications are not always apparent when the only legal product accepted by FDA and DEA is cannabis grown in Mississippi where the plant is mediocre quality and local laws support fear, loathing and marijuana phobia.

Thank you! I am forever amazed at how so many people refuse to use/trust FDA tested medications that have proven efficacy and safety for years, yet will use CBD or Cannabis products with no proof of safety or even confirmed ingredients because it’s “natural”. How do you know if these products or companies are safe? Especially for pregnant or lactating women! The same people who won’t drink caffeine or take doctor recommended medications during pregnancy, have no problem with using CBD from the internet or their local marijuana pharmacy. Same is true for vegetarians who won’t eat gluten. But yet will use CBD without question. It makes no sense.

Oversight of all food supplements hasn't kept up. The supplement CBD has certain therapeutic indications and other cannabis components may also have benefits. The problem is that, with the amount of distorted and false information out there, even hard core truths like the value of vaccines is being turned on its head. Ignorance, conspiracy theories, etc., are having an outsize effect on peoples' thinking skills.

The crowds of 20- and 30-somethings using CBD to and THC to treat their Alzheimer's disease should be a tip-off that medical professionals have much to learn about the extraordinary healing powers of these compounds.

Strange that this article doesn't mention Epidiolix the FDA approved CBD drug for the treatment of seizures. Obviously CBD is not snake oil. CBD has real benefits even at lower concentrations than the prescription version. It's helping people with pain, anxiety and sleep issues. I buy it for my elderly mom and it helps relieve her aches and pains. Only buy third-party tested CBD brands. Even better if the packaging comes with a QR code that tells you where it was tested.

This is an important article. Thank you to the writer and the NYT for publishing it. As a medical cannabis patient, I'm well aware of what's happening in the marketplace. The consumer must do their own research and educate themselves as to both the benefits and problems with these products. I've spent a great deal of time learning about the health benefits of CBD and cannabis. Believe me when I state that there are clear medical benefits to these products, but you must know which ones to choose and the correct dosages to use. Often, you must experiment on yourself. I recommend finding a legal dispensary and a good budtender with whom you can be honest and open. If you're inclined to CBD products, choose full-spectrum cannabis products that are CO2 derived and have proof of their ingredients. Always look for purity. These products can help, but they aren't a panacea. I'm fortunate. I did my homework.

Caveat emptor. Or, as PTBarnum put it, There's one born every minute.

A recent article in JAMA by Kevin Hill pointed out that there was insufficient evidence for the efficacy and safety of medical marijuana except for a few FDA approved medications, yet the states make it available for 50 different conditions with no oversight by the federal government. Medical marijuana can contain high amounts of THC which is psychoactive and can exacerbate mental illness according to the APA statement to the FDA on its hearing on cannabis products, but there are no warning labels on medical marijuana, which is sold by budtenders, not pharmacists, with no dosage or consistent ingredients. Marijuana has carved out a niche outside the jurisdiction of the FDA and the public has high approval rates for medical marijuana so they are part of this entire unscientifically verified project. They get what they vote for. Where this will go is anyone's guess.

Well done. Although there may be components to the plant which may have benefit, the science has not caught up to public opinion. Marijuana products, including CBD, can be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, rodenticides, bacteria all without public service announcements. Many of the hemp products in Colorado are loaded with THC with no labeling. Patients will go to great lengths to find relief and these products are not tested or regulated enough to ensure public health and safety.

If the response by Diamond's executives are true that independent testing failed to show any synthetic additives to their product, perhaps they should find better, more accurate testing laboratories. Without standards, it may actually benefit manufacturers and distributors to use less experienced, least capable labs...though consumers and patients will be subject to greater risk.

After six months using medical marijuana in PA, and trying more than a dozen different varieties, each with a different measured % of THC, CBD, and terpenes, I am not much more knowledgeable about the most effective type of marijuana for my diagnosed medical conditions. All have been safe, as I've had none of the negative side effects mentioned here, only sleepiness, like the pharmaceuticals I had been taking. But it is important to add some more CBD controls, as those products are definitely less controlled, widely available OTC. Overall, the cannabis product proliferation now happening here is more than a nuisance of excessive capitalistic marketing. It wastes money I could use on only the most effective products, as now it is the wild west of demand over supply. More cannabis medical research is the answer, not more undefined product proliferation.

Cannabis and CBD products are starting to emerge at an alarming rate due to legalization. My advice is if you are going to purchase any CBD products is to do your own research on the company, read the independent lab reports (if there's not one, don't buy it...) and just be a smart consumer like with any other supplement. You wouldn't buy gas station vitamins, why would you buy gas station CBD? Or, just use cannabis for it's healing properties... I know plenty of medical cannabis patients who have benefited greatly from it. I would try it in a heartbeat for my tic disorder if I wasn't so scared of losing my job (which is another issue entirely that should be addressed)

We purchase CBD don the Internet from a company that I believe is reputable. We purchase a balm for localized application and gel caps. Both contain CBD isolate. My Wife suffers from chronic pain that can be classified as annoying. We have been VERY pleased with the outcome. In regards to the FDA. As a retired food professional, I am familiar with daunting task the agency is faced with on the food side. The FDA is significantly under-funded. So I’m sure the situation is equally bad on the drug side. As citizens that expect results from our federal agencies, why are you surprised at the current situation when our politicians spend more time bickering about stupid things regarding their re-election vs making sure our taxes are not mis-managed and enticing each of us with promises of lower taxes. You get what you pay for. You get what you vote for.

A physician friend of mine raved about the benefits of CBD and hemp extract to the point where I decided to try it to help me sleep better. While the hemp extract gummies that I took each evening (total hemp extract 100mg) did help me sleep better, I also experienced a significant drug-drug adverse effect after taking the gummies for a few weeks. I have been taking simvastatin 40mg daily for high cholesterol for over a decade with no problems at all. After taking the gummies, I started to feel significant muscle pain and weakness, a known adverse experience for some patients taking simvastatin. I did some research (which I admittedly should have done before taking the gummies) and learned that there are a variety of cannabinoids that are strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4, one of the main enzymes that metabolizes statins as well as numerous other drugs. If you inhibit this enzyme, the amount of statin or other drugs metabolized by it will go up, perhaps dramatically. There is no doubt in my mind that the hemp extract gummies that I was taking elevated my simvastatin levels to the point that I experienced an AE that I had not experienced in all of the years that I have been taking the product. In a worst case scenario, very high levels of statins can lead to a potentially life threatening condition know as rhabdomyolysis. While I am happy that there are many people who have experienced positive results with CBD, I think that the product(s) need to be regulated.

The FDA has no jurisdiction over CBD, so it is actually doing all it can. If there's a problem with labeling, it's the jurisdiction of the FTC. If there's an illegal substance, it's the DEA's area. Because CBD is usually an additive, it's more like caffeine than a supplement. Caffeine is regulated by the FDA, but is GRAS, so isn't really regulated. Is CBD GRAS? It depends on which experts you ask. And here we are.

Where is the FDA? This stuff has serious side effects but yet the FDA remains silent. What about the Balance of nature vegetable capsules where they air on radio anecdotal stories of various diseases being cured? Where are FDA and FTC on that one. Oh they are doing everything they can?

I have my doubts that the FDA is "doing all it can" here, but, if their regulatory staff is indeed maxed out, I would expect the FDA commissioner to request additional resources from his boss, the secretary of health and human services. My strong suspicion is that the FDA's hands are tied by the very powerful supplement lobby, especially in the Senate, and especially from Utah, where quite a number of supplement makers and distributors are located. And, just to be clear, I am all for letting people use nutritional supplements, but many of these ads are solidly over the line by promising health benefits without the data needed to back those up.

I tried CBD oil and got absolutely no health benefits whatsoever except that it did help me lose weight now that my wallet is $200 lighter.

There are countless herbal remedies and other nutraceuticals that go unregulated, untested and unproven. Many of them are worthless, and some dangerous. Why is CBD any different than the rest of them?

I was glad too see that the article mentioned CBDistillery. Of the products I researched, to the extent possible, they seemed to be the most ethical in their clams and disclaimers, and most thorough and open in disclosing their science and processes. I have used their full-spectrum soft gels for nearly a year to help with pain from arthritis in a hip that will inevitably need to be replaced. The results for me have been great. Before, I was taking large doses of various OTC pain meds. By combining with CBD, I have drastically reduced that intake. CBD is not all things to all patients, and should be viewed as such. But consumers should do all they can to ensure they are getting the real thing, and not "snake oil".

I am a retired physician (35 years in Family Practice). I’ve always been skeptical about use of scientifically untested products. In the case of CBD I can only offer my personal experience. My wife has arthritis which was disabling for many years. Since she started using a cream and tincture contains CBD she has been able stop the use of opioids and has gained increased function of her extremities. It has also aided her sleep pattern. I have suggested it to several friends, some have benefited and some have not. I buy the CBD product from a small independent company and have asked for and received independent laboratory testing on each of the products. I would encourage anyone who is interested in using CBD, to first request independent testing for the product. If it is provided and appears to be free of anything other than CBD and <.3mg/g of THC, it’s worth the try.

I had spinal surgery recently. Naturally that entailed a lot of peripheral pain. A couple of friends gave me some CBD cream. I used it, applied it to the afftected areas once the wounds healed. I didn't want to apply it to the areas until the wounds healed because it's not FDA approved and I had no inkling about its sterility. Useless!

States with legal cannabis have extensive testing for unwanted ingredients - for example, California, Oregon, and Colorado. With the spread of legalization there will be more extensive testing and a safer marketplace. Seems like states that have not yet legalized cannabis and have unregulated black markets are the real culprits.

This is the same lifecycle as essential oils, a few years back. The unscrupulous will prey on the naive, with wild and aspirational claims. They will get rich. A few serious players will test and ensure quality, safety and more, in place of FDA refulations. One or two brands will be true to science, and actually come up with a few quality applications. A new fad will come along, and the unscrupulous will hawk some other "miracle drug".

This is reminiscent of the old patent medicine days, where hucksters pushed often dangerous products making all sort of absurd curative claims. One wonders how, in 2019, this can still actually happen.

The FDA refuses to ban cigarettes that cause the death of more that 450,000 Americans EACH year. That should tell you something about the FDA.

Beware of the fad. Nothing takes care of EVERYthing. I spoke with someone who thought it would boost her post chemo immune system. What else is in it- yes indeed. One should take this consideration when ingesting anything. A larger question for me is: what does it really do? Quite snake oily indeed.

Our government does a terrible job policing bogus and deceptive marketing for not only CBD (which in most cases is dosed so low that it can't really have any effect), but also, hair growth, wrinkle creams, sexual enhancements, memory pills, and testosterone. They are allowed to become multi-million dollar industries at the expense of naive consumers, that in most cases, cannot afford to waste their money. Disgraceful.

CBD and THC ratios are important. For example, for sleep, you would want, ideally, a two parts CBD to one part THC ration. 8% THC to 12-16% CBD. THC at that low level will not produce a "stoned" effect. It does accelerate the effects of the CBD. But, dosage and percentage is a personal decision. There are plenty of varieties from which to chose...

Our FDA regulatory system is quite corrupt. The FDA approved the opioids as safe, and where we with that. The FDA only regulates (as in bans) things that compete with the medical and pharmaceutical industry. The FDA and EPA do not protect us from dangerous chemicals and approves most GMOs (to our detriment). So, I can't see them doing anything useful with regard to CBD other than banning them to benefit Pharma.

The problem is the regulatory agencies and the lack of leadership at the federal level, and this is not anti-Trump as it’s been going on for several administrations. Legitimate manufacturers cannot run the risk of the lawsuits while there is no coherent regulation. CBD is no longer a controlled substance but you can’t get a trademark and can’t put it in food because the FDA refuses to bless it. So, you prevent the Cokes and Pepsi’s of the world from producing and selling and who is left? Companies with less to lose if the FDA does step in and shut them down. How does a manufacturer get product liability insurance in this market? It’s hard. So, there are opportunities for risk takers, but do we really want risk takers selling us products we ingest or rub on our bodies?

In the current situation, there is no reason to bother discussing this. If regulations were put in place, the President would simply repeal them by Executive Order.