Nutrition Insight reports
The US Hemp Beverage Alliance is calling for low-dose, hemp-derived delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) beverages to be regulated by the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in response to Congress’ request for information on regulating cannabidiol (CBD) as a food and supplement.
The organization suggests that CBD should be incorporated into food and supplements regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as it is a non-impairing compound.
On the other hand, TTB is suitable to regulate beverages containing potentially impairing levels of THC legally derived from hemp as this agency “already provides a robust precedent to ensure quality, safety, taxation, chain-of-custody oversight and fair competition of adult-use beverages,” according to the Hemp Beverage Alliance.
“Because of FDA’s refusal to regulate CBD, the growth of the market for hemp-derived cannabinoid products has been weaker than most people expected,” Christopher Lackner, executive director of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, tells Nutrition Insight.
“The demand was there, the supply was there, but the regulatory linchpin connecting the two wasn’t. As a result, the industry has not realized its true potential.”
The alliance highlights that regulatory decisions regarding hemp beverages should be guided by consumer safety, age limits, serving size, unambiguous labeling, regulatory clarity and marketplace consistency.
Regulatory framework
The alliance encourages Congress to appropriate funding to TTB to develop a regulatory framework for beverages infused with THC derived from legal hemp and programs to educate companies, policymakers and the public about these products.
Education programs should emphasize safety, responsible consumption and the restriction of such products to adults aged 21 and older.
Moreover, the organization asks Congress to encourage uniformity in labeling requirements among states to empower consumers and reduce state-by-state requirements for beverage companies.
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