The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill on December 20 is a major step forward for the burgeoning cannabidiol (CBD) market. The bill legalizes industrial hemp, a variety of cannabis from which CBD can be extracted but does not produce mind-altering effects. Hemp has less than .3 percent of THC, which is the non-psychoactive component of cannabis.
There is a great deal of enthusiasm among professionals and product manufacturers about CBD and because of its demonstrated effectiveness in helping to reduce pain and inflammation and decrease pain signaling to the brain. Non mind altering or habit forming, CBD is absorbed through the skin where it interacts with the body’s own CB2 receptors. It then connects with these receptors to provide anti-inflammatory pain relief.
Under the new law, hemp is removed from control by the Justice Department where had been regulated under the Controlled Substances Act and now is classified as a crop, falling under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, the Food and Drug Administration will continue to regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived products. From the FDA press release:
“…These changes include removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, which means that it will no longer be an illegal substance under federal law.
Just as important for the FDA and our commitment to protect and promote the public health is what the law didn’t change: Congress explicitly preserved the agency’s current authority to regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and section 351 of the Public Health Service Act. In doing so, Congress recognized the agency’s important public health role with respect to all the products it regulates. This allows the FDA to continue enforcing the law to protect patients and the public while also providing potential regulatory pathways for products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds.”
Still the implications for the CBD industry are significant, with the expectation that there will be more investment in CBD to meet a growing consumer demand. CBD is now considered part of advanced clinical care and increasingly taking its place at the table of massage therapists, chiropractors and other medical professionals. In the consumer market, CBD also can be found in health products, pet snacks and supplements and beverages. Food manufacturers also are looking at CBD as an ingredient.
Lab+Blends offerings
The Lab+Blends product line introduced this year contains CBD as a main ingredient. Many of these products also include a number of pain-relieving ingredients including menthol and lidocaine.
Topical Products:
- Lab+Blends CBD Maximum Strength Cream
- Lab+Blends CBD Eczema Relief Cream
- Lab+Blends CBD On Target Lotion
- Lab+Blends CBD Triple Recovery Gel
- Lab+Blends CBD Pain Salve
Oral Products: