As regulations are in the works, people speak out about using hemp-derived CBD

Jonathan Miller, a Lexington attorney, has been a long-time advocate for the legalization of industrial hemp, and the products derived from it. He’s now general council for both the U.S. Hemp Authority and U.S. Hemp Roundtable. “We lobby Congress, we worked on the development of the 2018 Farm Bill and have been working with the FDA to come up with a new regulatory structure,” Miller said. He explained that with hemp, “It starts with the growers, which of course are the farmers, then the harvest, then it’s sent off to the processors for the finished product, which is sometimes CBD, or food or hemp fabrics or hemp construction materials. Then the final step is the retail sellers.” The FDA decreed about three years ago that CBD couldn’t be added to foods or sold as a dietary supplement. But, Miller said, they came around, and a few months ago the FDA announced it would be working on a regulatory path for CBD sales. “What’s forced the FDA’s hand is that it’s incredibly popular in all 50 states,” Miller said, referring to CBD oil. “And the fact because it comes from cannabis … there is some controversy. But it’s not a controlled substance, it’s safe. The FDA feels compelled it needs to go through the proper procedures of approval. We’re trying to make it go as safely and quickly as possible.”