Another study showed that many manufacturers of unregulated cannabidiol CBD product labels need to improve their quality control.
Researchers from the University of Kentucky School of Medicine evaluated the CBD content of 80 commercially available hemp products purchased from local and online retailers. A proprietary product, Epidiolex, was also included as a positive control.
Of the 80 products reviewed, 37 (46.2%) contained concentrations of CBD that differed by at least ±10% from what was stated on the label. 12 products (15%) contained < 90%, while 25 products (31.2%) contained > 110%. 44 of the products were purchased from online retailers in the US, with the remainder from local retailers in central Kentucky.
Based on these findings, the researchers advise consumers to be wary of unregulated CBD product research due to the risks of over-or under-consumption of CBD. The former can cause problems with increased side effects and drug interactions, while the latter could mean no therapeutic benefit due to underdosing.
“As consumers take CBD products for an ever-growing spectrum of medical conditions, regardless of medical orientation, the accuracy of content labeling is important for consumer safety.”
The results were published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, which can be viewed in full here.
This is by no means the first study to report labeling issues with CBD; others have come to similar conclusions. Among other things, in April we reported on a study on cannabidiol sleeping pills that found that just over half of products containing CBD had inaccurate concentrations and, in some cases, other problems.
Quality issues will likely remain until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finally issues CBD regulations, which it has been obligated to do for the past few years. And as research into the safety and effectiveness of cannabidiol continues, there will be fewer excuses to delay enacting regulations and start chasing down more industry cowboys.
