Nearly Half of CBD Oils Are Mislabeled
/By Pat Anson, PNN Editor
CBD oils derived from hemp are increasingly being used to relieve painful conditions. Studies have found the oils effective in treating migraines and fibromylagia, and recent research found that a proprietary blend of CBD oil helped relieve symptoms in 9 out of 10 people suffering from chronic pain.
But a new study at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine found that nearly half of the CBD oil products tested in a lab were mislabeled. Of the 80 CBD oils purchased online or in retail stores, only 43 had concentrations of cannabidiols that were within 10% of their label claims – an accuracy rate of just 54 percent.
One oil had a CBD concentration that was 159% higher than its label indicated. Another oil had only 17% of the CBD it was supposed to have.
“As most consumers are using CBD products as therapeutic treatments for some types of medical condition, the dosing is important when considering the potential for CBD accumulation, elevation of liver enzymes, and drug-drug interactions,” lead author Erin Johnson reported in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
“The findings reported here emphasize the continued need for clear and consistent regulation from federal and state agencies to ensure label accuracy of CBD products and subsequent enforcement. These results also indicate the need for continued development of good manufacturing practices and testing standards.”
In a separate analysis of the same CBD oils, Johnson and her colleagues found that most contained trace amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive substance in cannabis. Five of the 21 CBD oils that were labeled "THC Free" contained detectable levels of THC.
"THC is not allowed at the Olympics. It's not allowed in many sports organizations. But athletes use CBD because it helps them recover, and it helps them with different facets of their training," co-author Shanna Babalonis said in a press release. "So I think that one of the key takeaways from this work is to say that the public needs to question whether there's THC in their CBD products."
The two studies are certainly not the first to find that cannabis products are often mislabeled. They point to a continuing problem since passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp under federal law. Although hemp contains only trace amounts of THC, cannabis companies have found ways to tweak its chemical composition to produce concentrated levels of delta-8 THC, which has a mild psychoactive and intoxicating effect.
The FDA considers delta-8 THC to be an unapproved drug, but because it comes from hemp – a legal substance – its regulatory status is unclear. Recently, the FDA sent the first warning letters to five cannabis companies, not for mislabeling, but for making unsubstantiated medical claims about delta-8 THC.
Until the FDA or individual states confront the widespread mislabeling of CBD products, industry insiders say it’s likely to continue.
“The mislabeling of Delta-8 products is not surprising but is a result of poor quality controls that are present through the category. Delta 8 can be unsafe for people to use, especially if it not labeled. This is due to the psychoactive component of Delta 8,” said John McDonagh, CEO of CBD producer NextEvo Naturals.
“Some states have started to regulate Delta 8 to take it off the market. The FDA is limited as it doesn’t have sufficient enforcement resources, so the best solution for now is for states to take action.”
