New Jersey Senate approves resolution urging Congress to set safe level for CBD consumption

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The New Jersey State Senate passed a resolution urging the President of the United States and Congress to issue legislation that establishes a safe daily level of consumption for cannabidiol (CBD). A bipartisan effort, the co-prime sponsors of the resolution were Deputy Minority Leader Senator Bob Singer (NJ-30-R) and Chairman of the State Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee, Senator Joe Vitale (NJ-19-D). The resolution was heard and unanimously approved in the New Jersey State Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee on Thursday, November 14.

The resolution reads: “The lack of clear policy from the FDA and the patchwork regulation of substance by the states create a complex legal framework for companies that sell cannabidiol products for their operations. As a result, interstate commerce for national cannabidiol companies is difficult because banks, insurance companies, and merchant companies are uneasy about providing services to cannabidiol companies at the risk of involvement from the FDA. Therefore, the President and Congress of the United States should establish a safe daily level of consumption of cannabidiol because it would allow individuals to experience the medical benefits of cannabidiol products and generate economic activity by encouraging interstate commerce for cannabidiol companies.”

The Natural Products Association (NPA; Washington, D.C.) worked with lawmakers in New Jersey to pass the resolution and continues its effort with the U.S. Congress to pass a safe level of consumption for CBD. “The states are starting to take action to regulate the growing CBD marketplace but unless we get clear federal guidelines and safety standards consumers are still going to be at risk,” said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of NPA, in a press release. “If Congress allows these products to go unregulated the public is at risk for another vaping-like health crisis. Inaction from the FDA is bad for public health, bad for the benefits CBD offers, and bad for the hemp industry’s growth and job-creating potential.”

Updated 11/13/19 at 11:11 am: A previous version of this article stated the resolution would be heard on November 18. This date was moved up to November 14. 

Updated 11/14/19, 9:30 PM PST to reflect that the resolution was approved on Thursday, 11/14/19.