- The FDA warns companies that use false claims for their THC and CBD products.
- The companies allegedly claimed that THC and CBD products could cure or alleviate certain health conditions.
- According to experts, people with heart problems should not use THC products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to five companies that illegally sell THC and CBD products, falsely claiming that they can diagnose, cure, prevent, alleviate or treat various health conditions.
According to the FDA warning, companies have been selling products with delta-8 THC, a compound that has psychoactive and intoxicating effects. There are currently no FDA-approved drugs that contain delta-8 THC.
Most THC and CBD products are unregulated and therefore cannot claim health claims as the FDA has not evaluated the safety, side effects and quality of many CBD and THC products.
Health experts recommend that you consult a healthcare provider and use CBD and THC products with caution.
“It’s a jungle out there. Most Internet sources and budtenders are useless; remember they have no formal training and their job is to sell, not give advice,” said Dr. Daniele Piomelli, director of the UCI Cannabis Studies Center, Healthline.
“At the moment, it’s not much beyond the old trial and error,” Piomelli added.
FDA-branded products contain delta-8 THC instead of delta-9 THC. THC is usually the psychoactive compound in cannabis products.
According to Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, medical toxicologist and director of comedy at the National Capital Poison Center, delta-8 THC has a chemical structure very similar to delta-9 THC, but is less potent.
Delta-8 TCH is present in small quantities in cannabis plants, and these products can be made from CBD. Higher amounts of delta-8 THC are needed to achieve the same clinical effects as delta-9 THC.
The delta-8 THC products on the market are synthetic, says Dr. Yalda Shokoohinia, a senior scientist at the South Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
“The dosage, clinical effects, and safety of delta-8 THC have not been widely studied in humans, and it is unclear what a ‘standard’ dose of delta-8 THC represents,” says Johnson-Arbor.
According to Johnson-Arbor, the standard dose of CBD is not well understood and there is limited evidence on the ability of the compound to treat or prevent disease.
Piomelli says that with very few exceptions, the positive health effects of THC and CBD have not been supported by sufficient data.
For THC, exceptions include nausea and chronic pain treatment, as there is substantial, though inconclusive, evidence that THC can help with these problems.
The exception to CBD is that it can help with seizures, according to Piomelli.
Epidiolex, a prescription drug that helps treat two types of rare seizure disorders, is the only FDA-approved CBD product.
“Other claims are often based on small clinical studies or animal experiments, which are not enough to make a recommendation,” Piomelli said.
According to Shokoohinia, while some studies have shown beneficial effects on the health of cannabis and hemp products, companies cannot claim that these products can treat or prevent health conditions as they are not regulated by the FDA.
More clinical and toxicity studies are needed before these products can be approved.
“Herbal / botanical products are useful remedies for health, but like chemicals, they can also have adverse effects, contraindications and toxicity,” Shokoohinia said.
At high doses, CBD can cause liver damage and potentially contribute to male infertility and decreased alertness, according to Shokoohinia.
Piomelli says self-medication is always risky.
He recommends talking to a doctor who can offer recommendations on the use of cannabis products.
At the very least, it is advisable to exercise caution when using cannabis products for health problems.
“Start with a low dose, go up slowly, control yourself,” Piomelli said.
According to Piomelli, people with heart disease should not use THC, and people with high blood pressure or heart medications should avoid high doses of CBD.
Adolescents should avoid frequent or high doses of THC, Piomelli added. The FDA recommends that pregnant or breastfeeding people avoid cannabis completely.
Shokoohinia recommends looking for products with informative labels on the amount of compounds.
“For CBD oil labels, look for mg / ml to determine the concentration; for jelly beans, make sure you read the portion to know the concentration of each gum and not just the whole container,” he said. Shokoohinia.
Shokoohinia also recommends looking for a third-party test analysis certificate, which can show the amount of CBD or THC in the product and whether it has been tested for contaminants, pesticides, heavy metals, and mold.
The FDA has issued a warning to five companies that have been selling THC and CBD products illegally, falsely claiming that they can diagnose, cure, prevent, alleviate or treat various health conditions. Most THC and CBD products are unregulated and therefore cannot claim health claims as the FDA has not evaluated the safety, side effects and quality of many CBD and THC products. Health experts recommend talking to a doctor and caution when using cannabis products to treat health conditions.
