Unfortunately, the CBD industry is plagued with bold claims made by companies with questionable ethics, claims that end up being proven as factually incorrect. The ongoing fallout from the spread of COVID-19 has led to the most recent erroneous claim by less than reputable CBD companies, that CBD can prevent or cure coronavirus. Believe it or not, the Food and Drug Administration has recently had to send warning letters to several CBD companies after observing that their “website offers cannabidiol (CBD) products for sale in the United States and that these products are intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people.” To be clear, there has never been any evidence to suggest that CBD can in any way cure or prevent complications associated with coronavirus. The retailers making false claims regarding COVID-19 and CBD, which include Indigo Naturals, Native Roots Hemp, CBD Online Store, and UK-based Nova Botanix LTD, were given 48 hours by the FDA to take corrective measures or face legal action, including seizure and injunction.

Links to each of the letters the FDA send can be found below.

This is yet another reminder of a widespread problem in the hemp and CBD industry – shady retailers taking advantage of consumers with bold statements of cures and remedies for all sorts of ailments. While there is a ton of anecdotal support and studies showing promising results for certain issues such as treating epilepsy, sleep disorders, and chronic pain and inflammation, much more research is needed before we know definitively what CBD can and cannot help with. For the time being, the FDA has made it illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement. Consumers should begin to question a company’s concern regarding product quality if that company is willing to break the law in order to market it.