Washington, D.C.—Virginia has become the first state in the nation to pass legislation regulating CBD as a food product, according to a press release from the Natural Products Association (NPA).

Ina letter to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam,NPA’s CEO and President Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D. inquired about “the Administration and Board’s plans for implementation of the law, especially in light of the position of… FDA,” which, the letter notes, is that CBD is not a dietary supplement or a food product. Noting, however, that consumers are buying CBD regardless—many of them unaware that CBD is illegal and unregulated—Dr. Fabricant asked: “Is the goal of the Commonwealth to challenge the current position of the FDA with regard to CBD, or is it to work with them on developing a Federal Standard with regards to CBD safety and quality standards? Additionally, what is the anticipated timeline for the Administration in the development of a compliance plan for those companies involved with the entire supply chain of CBD regarding daily exposure to CBD, labeling standards, testing standards for THC, and current Good Manufacturing Practices?”
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In the letter, Dr. Fabricant offered to meet with Governor Northam to discuss the matter.

In the press release, Dr. Fabricant added: “While we commend the State of Virginia for taking the initiative to regulate products, we are concerned that a patchwork of state laws could confuse consumers and fail to provide all of the necessary federal safeguards, including setting a safe level of daily consumption for CBD. Unfortunately, this is another example of the states filling a vacuum created by the federal government’s inaction. We have promised to work with policymakers in Virginia and across the country to make real progress on regulating the growing CBD marketplace.”