The federal government has stopped warning CBD companies to stop making coronavirus-related claims and started suing them.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced this week that the owner of Whole Leaf Organics, Marc Ching, has settled with federal authorities and agreed to stop making any health claims about three of his products – CBD-EX, CBD-RX, and CBD-Max. One ad touted the CBD treatments as an “anti-viral wellness booster.”
Ching does not accept liability in the order, but he agrees to stop any implications that his products treat or prevent COVID-19 or any disease.
The company was warned last year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that CBD is not a safe ingredient for foods and dietary supplements.
The court settlement with the FTC represents an escalation of federal action when it comes to companies making cannabidiol-related health claims.
“Let’s be clear: companies making these claims can look forward to an FTC lawsuit like this one,” U.S. Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Andrew Smith said in a statement.
