By As cannabis and CBD reform blooms across the West, hemp-derived cannabinoid products are receiving increasing attention as lawmakers continue to raise red flags over the lack of regulation and the intoxicating potential of these products. ing.
In the past few months, many states have moved to implement new policies restricting or prohibiting the sale of psychoactive hemp-derived cannabinoid products such as delta-8 THC. Similarly, many have cited issues surrounding regulatory gaps surrounding hemp-derived products in the market.
Among them is CBD Oracle, a consumer research company that aims to improve safety and transparency surrounding cannabis products.
We recently took a look at CBD gummies and other hemp products available for purchase on Amazon.com.The company says it “confidently tells you” that Amazon does not allow CBD gummies on its platform, but CBD Oracle's new independent analysis Such products make a difference.
A look at Amazon's approach to hemp and CBD products
While Amazon technically doesn't allow CBD products, CBD Oracle is addressing this hurdle by allowing sellers on the site to avoid the term “CBD” and instead use “hemp” on packaging and product descriptions. I would suggest avoiding it for the most part.
Neurogan CEO Jan Brandup said Amazon's “hemp products” have nothing to do with actual hemp, but rather use the term as a sales strategy.
“It is alarming how easily consumers can be fooled into trusting these products simply because they are sold on a reputable platform like Amazon,” Brandup said in a statement. Ta. “In the worst case scenario, you could run out of money.”
Sunday Scaries CEO Mike Sill agreed, adding that many of Amazon's products are automatically unreliable and ultimately of poor quality due to the regulatory nature of the platform.
“If you search for ‘CBD gummies’ on the platform, reputable brands won’t show up in the search results,” Schill said. “That's because trusted brands like Sunday Scaries, Charlotte's Web, and cbdMD cannot be sold on Amazon without being banned.”
Rather, Schill said, these companies engage in “brand burning,” meaning that once they are kicked out of Amazon, they essentially reupload the same products to the site and use new names just to continue selling them. This means changing the brand on the packaging.
“Their business model is not focused on building a reputable brand and providing consumers with the highest quality and safest products. They just want a quick sale. and will do whatever it takes to 'stay alive' in the Amazon,” Schill said.
So what exactly is in Amazon's “hemp” products?
Investigating the contents of Amazon's “hemp” products
In an effort to analyze the specific content of CBD products on Amazon, the company purchased 56 of the site's most popular hemp products and tested them through InfiniteCAL Labs. Most of the products (80%) were gummies and included eight tinctures, two topical creams, and one pack of mints. The majority (89%) also made specific numerical claims regarding dosage.
Approximately 30% (17 of 56) of the products tested contained CBD, with an average of 547 mg per package. However, there was wide variation in the amount of CBD between products, with a minimum of 28 mg and a maximum of 1,582 mg of CBD. CBD Oracle points out that this at least shows that Amazon isn't completely dishonest about some of its products containing hemp and hemp compounds, but it's still a violation of Amazon's policy and legally May not be compliant.
THC is also prohibited for sale on Amazon, but six of the products tested (11%) contained cannabinoids, three of which contained primarily delta-8 THC. Ta. Although all products were below the THC threshold set by law, 2018 Farm Bill, the three Delta-8 products “contained very high amounts of THC”: 641, 2,507, and 3,028 mg per pack. The product with the highest THC content was 76mg per gummy.
The majority of products tested (35 out of 56, or 62.5%) did not contain any cannabinoids, and more than a third (24 out of 56, or 43%) contained hemp. did not.
InfiniteCAL Lab Manager Dr. Eric Paulson explains that hemp is infused into consumable products, typically through cannabinoid-free hemp seeds or extracts extracted from leaves, stems, and buds. It explains that it creates a product that
“Simply put, when you buy 'hemp' on Amazon, you're likely actually buying an expensive jar of gummy bears. Gelatin and sugar are sold at a premium price.” CBD Oracle points out in its report.
The report also confirmed that a whopping 96% of the products tested did not advertise accurate dosages.
“Assuming the dosage list refers to cannabinoids (and not just the total mass of hemp seed oil), only two products have been confirmed in lab tests to have doses within 10% of the doses listed on the label. ,” the report states. “They contained, on average, only 25% of the advertised dose. In most cases, this was less than the advertised amount, but primarily delta-8 THC. One product containing twice the promised dose.
Furthermore, 52% of the products appear to have unapproved medical claims, and nearly 95% of the products have a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which is usually considered mandatory for reputable companies selling hemp products. ) was not provided.
Growing problems and potential solutions
Although this report focuses on products from Amazon, CBD Oracle notes that this trend is prevalent as other companies such as eBay, Walmart, and Alibaba carry similar products, and in some cases, the exact same options. It is pointed out that
The authors say that beyond safety and health concerns, the sale of these products could undermine the broader hemp and cannabis industry and progress on reforms that many are actively calling for. It points out the potential impact.
“Amazon has shown that it does not understand the difference between hemp seed oil and hemp extracts containing cannabinoids,” said Kelly Lombardo of Forge Hemp. “Amazon doesn't seem to care as long as sellers are vague about what's in their products. This is a problem because U.S. consumers want more information about hemp and CBD. Return policies may encourage more consumers to try hemp products, but if the consumer experience is negative, it will negatively impact the industry.”
CBD Oracle also lists some potential solutions to resolve these issues, including stricter validation and adherence to COA guidelines, even if not completely removing products that make false claims. It is primarily Amazon's responsibility. They point out that customer influence tends to be limited and that individual efforts to counter or report these products can ultimately lead to frustration and wasted time. doing.
The authors also note that the current model of blanket bans on CBD, which encourages companies to be dishonest and actively avoid it, may not be the solution.
“Even establishing minimum requirements for cannabis sellers, including providing up-to-date testing reports, would be enough to send snake oil sellers into the wild,” the report concludes. “Can you pretend that CBD isn’t available on your platform? No. But customers who are buying CBD on your platform (which you already have, whether you like it or not) can’t use the label You're much more likely to get a safe product that delivers what it says it does.”
