It was this month that President Trump legalized the highly awaited farm bill that legalized hemp.
Now the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has said that the agency is looking for “pathways” that would legalize the sale of CBD oil and other cannabis-derived compounds in food, beverages and supplements.
“We recognize the potential opportunities that cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds could offer and acknowledge the significant interest in these possibilities,” Gottlieb said in a statement.
“We’re committed to pursuing an efficient regulatory framework for allowing product developers that meet the requirements under our authorities to lawfully market these types of products.”
The FDA is “aware of the growing public interest in cannabis and cannabis-derived products,” Gottlieb remarked.
“While products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds remain subject to the FDA’s authorities and requirements, there are pathways available for those who seek to lawfully introduce these products into interstate commerce,” Gottlieb said. “The FDA will continue to take steps to make the pathways for the lawful marketing of these products more efficient.”
The agency will hold a public meeting soon to get input on how to legalize the market for cannabis-derived compounds.
“I think it’s really a game-changer,” said Joshua Horn, an attorney in the marijuana arena. “The significance is now you have some aspect of the cannabis world legalized on a federal basis.”
“Canopy Growth will participate in the American market now that there is a clear federally-permissible path to the market,” said Canada’s Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton recently.
