In 2018 the Agricultural Improvement Act more commonly known as the Farm Bill removed hemp and hemp seeds from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) schedule of controlled substances. The Farm Bill also established that cannabis sativa that contains less than 0.3% of Delta-9–Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per dry weight of the plant is hemp. Hemp has higher percentages of Cannabidiol (CBD) compared to THC, making it an important plant for the medicinal marijuana. CBD is a psychoactive cannabinoid, but does not produce the “high” like THC.

CBD has been marketed to help with anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, inflammation, and arthritis, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which typically don’t respond well to antiseizure medications. In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and, in some cases, stop them altogether. Epidiolex, which primarily consists of CBD, is the first cannabis-derived medicine approved by the FDA for these conditions.

Concerns

Risks include liver injury, harm to the male reproductive system, and side effects, such as changes in alertness and other symptoms. In addition, drug interactions – taking CBD with other medications — may increase or decrease the effects of other medications, which may lead to more side effects from, or decreased effectiveness of, the other medications. Limited studies and manufacturing regulations are concerning, as studies have shown that the majority of products containing CBD are mislabeled by containing less or more CBD than on the label or containing other cannabinoids. Studies have shown that vaping CBD, produces other cannabinoids, such as Delta-8-Tetrahyrdocannabinol and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol.

Hemp in New York State

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers a USDA approved to license hemp growers and seed sellers authorized by New York State law. The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) regulates hemp used or marketed for its cannabinoid content. OCM requires anyone who is manufacturing, processing, or selling cannabinoid hemp to first obtain a license. If a consumer has an adverse health event, report it at OCM’s Incident Reporting Form. Contact OCM’s Cannabinoid Hemp Program at hemp@ocm.ny.gov .

Resources

CDC’s About CBD

FDA’s CBD in Foods

Johns Hopkins Medicine “What We Know and Don’t Know About CBD

Office of Cannabis Management’s Cannabinoid Hemp Program

The Public Safety Risk of Hemp Products Sold at Unlicensed Retailers