U.S. Senators reintroduce bill to legalize hemp-derived CBD in supplements and food

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Senators Ron Wyden (D–OR), Rand Paul (R–KY), and Jeff Merkley (D–Or) reintroduced a bill on July 20 to legalize hemp-derived CBD in supplement and food products. “The Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act” was first proposed back in 2021.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable was one of many hemp-industry groups to support the bill’s reintroduction. In a press release, the group’s general counsel, Jonathan S. Miller, stated, “We commend Senator Wyden for reintroducing The Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act, a crucial piece of legislation that addresses the pressing need for FDA regulation of CBD. This bill provides a much needed pathway for FDA to establish a clear and consistent framework for the production, marketing, and sale of hemp-derived CBD to ensure consumer safety while fostering a thriving, regulated market.”

In a press release, herbal-industry association the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA; Silver Spring MD), which also supported the bill back in 2021 and supports the 2023 iteration, stated, “The Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act of 2023 would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by establishing exceptions to certain statutory restrictions that have prevented the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from setting clear regulatory frameworks for hemp and hemp-derived CBD that would assure consumer access. Importantly, the legislation would subject foods and dietary supplements containing these ingredients to all of the protections afforded by FDA’s current food and dietary supplement regulatory frameworks.”

AHPA President Michael McGuffin added, “Americans deserve to have assurances that the hemp and CBD products they include in their food and dietary supplement choices are properly regulated. AHPA supports this legislation as it would clarify the lawful pathways for bringing such products to market.” (AHPA also supported similar legislation introduced earlier this year, the Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2023 (H.R. 1629) and the CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act of 2023 (H.R. 1628).)