AHPA President Michael McGuffin discussed opportunities and challenges for companies marketing hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) in products labeled as dietary supplements at the 26th Annual Hemp Industries Association Conference (HIACON) held in Charlotte, NC this week.

McGuffin highlighted AHPA's recent efforts to advocate for a legal pathway to market for dietary supplement products with hemp and hemp-derived CBD and to provide guidance to industry to help ensure the responsible commerce of these products.

"The 2018 Farm Bill took the historic step of legalizing the cultivation and sale of the hemp plant and any of its parts and derivatives (including cannabinoids) that contain no more than 0.3% of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)," McGuffin said. "AHPA continues to advocate for FDA to use its statutory authority and be provided additional resources to regulate CBD products as dietary supplements without the need for a multi-year rulemaking process. This is the best, most efficient, and most timely way to both set a clear regulatory framework for the marketplace and better assure consumer protection."

McGuffin stressed that progressive action by FDA to quickly create a legal pathway to market for hemp and CBD supplements would help ensure companies fully comply with all supplement provisions of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), including accurate product labeling, current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), and the prohibition against making any drug claims. AHPA recently adopted a guidance policy to encourage the responsible industry to be mindful of the federal regulations that apply to these product categories and a free status report to help these companies understand the current legal status of hemp and hemp-derived products. 

"FDA’s current position on the lawful status of CBD shouldn't be misinterpreted to mean that FDA does not regulate supplement or food products that contain hemp or CBD," said AHPA President Michael McGuffin. "Hemp and CBD companies should maintain compliance with established regulations for dietary supplement and food products to ensure quality and safety."

McGuffin also participated in an FDA regulatory panel discussing the future of CBD and hemp extract regulation with representatives from Hoban Law Group, the U.S. Hemp Authority and ValidCare.

HIACON is the longest standing hemp conference in it’s 26th year. This year’s theme represents the strides for the hemp industry nationwide and where it is going in the future.