Still Issues with CBD Products

The U.S. FDA issued several Warning Letters jointly with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to companies for selling Cannabidiol (CBD) products with misleading product claims. The FDA previously issued Warning Letters to companies illegally selling CBD-Products.

Misleading Claims

The agency noted that the companies used research studies to "claim or imply misleadingly that their CBD products will cure, mitigate, treat or prevent COVID-19". Up to know, the FDA has not approved or authorized any drug containing CBD for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. Thus, the agency is concerned that due to these misleading claims patients could delay or stop other appropriate medical treatment for COVID-19, leading to serious and life-threatening harm.

According to the FDA it is unlawful to advertise that a product can prevent, treat, or cure human disease unless there is competent and reliable scientific evidence, including well-controlled clinical trials, supporting that the claims are true. For COVID-19 and CBD products, no such study is currently known to exist. Thus, any COVID-19 related prevention or treatment claims regarding CBD products are not justified by competent and reliable scientific evidence, and all such claims must immediately be removed.

The affected companies have been added to the list on FDA’s website of firms and websites that have received Warning Letters from FDA concerning the sale or distribution of COVID-19 related products. Once actions to address the sale of unapproved and unauthorized products, and any appropriate corrective actions have been confirmed by the FDA, the published list will be updated to indicate that such corrective actions have been taken.