American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp (ATACH) to Raise Awareness of Intoxicating Hemp Products in FDA Listening Session
Today, the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH) is meeting with the Food and Drug Administration for a listening session regarding unregulated intoxicating hemp products with the goal to seek regulatory clarity among states and at the federal level.
The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill legalized hemp under federal law and permitted plant materials containing no more than .3% THC on a dry-weight basis. Yet, today hemp-derived products are being sold in numerous states and across state lines that contain significant levels of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Strains of CBD are chemically converted to become intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids such as Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, and others.
The end result is an unregulated market for intoxicating consumer products now available in gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops and online – sometimes for purchase without age verification.
“ATACH aims to educate and raise awareness on the unregulated intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid market and the issues posed to the state regulated markets. The lack of regulation and enforcement is leading to potential risks to consumer health and safety and confusion at the state level on how to regulate these products,” said ATACH President Michael Bronstein.
Lack of regulation creates a domino effect of potential adverse events such as: 1) inconsistent dosing and packaging and labeling, and 2) inaccurate health claims and testing data resulting in consumer confusion.
ATACH will educate the FDA on the current marketplace. Other subjects to be addressed include:
Intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products sold in concentrations exceeding what is allowable in regulated cannabis markets in terms of per serving and per package limits.
Ease of access of intoxicating hemp-derived products to youth and unsuspecting adult consumers who believe all hemp products to be non-intoxicating/impairing.
A survey of FDA regulations currently being applied by state agencies in the regulation of manufactured cannabis products.
In addition to raising awareness within the FDA, ATACH is asking Congress to take steps to create greater regulatory clarity on this issue in the next Farm Bill.
ATACH: The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH) is the leading United States 501(c)(6) cannabis industry trade organization promoting the expansion and protection of legal sales of cannabis and hemp for industrial, medical, and adult use.
