I read a column in my local paper serving a community north of Boston of about 100,000 people recently where the columnist, who is an MD, extolled the virtues of CBD products in almost miracle drug proportion. I immediately thought to myself about how people are being educated so they can make informed decisions. I quickly realized the only one doing the educating is the manufactures of these products. Let me be quick to point out that I am sure CBD has some benefit for certain applications particularly in a CBD product like Epidiolex which has gone through the stringent FDA process and was approved to treat seizures associated with epilepsy.
Here is the letter I penned to the editor of the Newburyport Daily News:
Bob Keller’s piece in Friday’s Daily News extolling the virtues of CBD is too quick in my opinion and potentially dangerous.
On the FDA’s website, the agency makes it clear that “other than one prescription drug product to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy, the FDA has not approved any other CBD products, and there is very limited available information about CBD, including its effects on the body.”
The FDA goes on to say that unapproved CBD products have not been subject to the rigors of FDA review and evaluation, and there is no data supporting proper dosage and long-term effects on the body.
Also on July 24, 2019, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration pointed out that in 84 CBD products tested, 64 had levels of THC (the psychoactive substance in marijuana) that were inconsistent with their labeling.
Why does this matter? Impairment and workplace safety for one, secondly, people may avoid a doctor in the hope that CBD products purchased in a local convenience store can cure their ill.
Finally and most importantly, teen vaping in our schools has reached threatening proportions. CBD products are easily ingested via vaping, which if you talk to any school superintendent, you will hear that vaping is an increasing issue in our schools.
Too many people, and children, are unaware of the risks of CBD and need to be educated on all sides of the topic.