Earlier this week, the FDA issued an updated warning about the cannabis derivative CBD.
It said, „CBD has the potential to harm you and harm can happen even before you become aware of it.”
„We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD 'can’t hurt,” says FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Dr. Amy Abernethy.
She says that only one prescription CBD drug has been „approved to treat two pediatric epilepsy disorders.”
The rest of the products, she says, „have not been approved by the FDA and we want to be clear that a number of questions remain regarding CBD’s safety – including reports of products containing contaminants, such as pesticides and heavy metals – and there are real risks that need to be considered.”
The agency warns that CBD can cause liver damage. Doctors say it can also affect the way your body metabolizes other drugs, increases the risk of drowsiness when mixed with alcohol and can cause changes in mood.
CBD can be bought in a variety of forms, including lip balm, gummies, drops, capsules and lotions. Some claim it helps with everything from sleeping better to arthritis or eczema.
Andrew Cole, of Uniondale, says he uses CBD oil instead of regular medication to relieve pain that he gets from working 12-hour shifts doing roof and chimney work.
Doctors warn that just because the FDA approved one drug with CBD for one specific condition doesn’t mean it should be considered a cure-all.
The FDA also sent warning notices to 15 companies around the country accused of illegally selling products containing CBD.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly showed a picture of The Feel Good Factory products near a headline stating that the FDA had sent warning notices to 15 companies accused of illegally selling products containing CBD. The Feel Good Factory is NOT one of those companies. News 12 regrets the error.