NEW WINDSOR – Medical professionals and state officials say that CBD, the main product of the hemp industry within the state, is still in limbo, with regards to regulation, despite the steadily growing economy around it.
During an Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) forum Thursday, the second of its kind since February of this year, farmers, medical professionals, scientists and officials discussed the current state of where hemp production and CBD specifically, is at this moment.
Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill in New York, hemp has been legal for cultivation, processing and sale in the state, being removed from the controlled substances list. The CBD, not the psychoactive THC, which is processed from the plant, must be yielded from a hemp plant possessing 0.3 percent, or less, THC.
Despite this, Senator Jennifer Metzger (D, Rosendale) said that the current hemp industry still resides in an uncertain place.
“Under the Farm Bill, the 2018 Farm Bill, it was taken off the control substance list; but, there have been no regulations to enable the industry to take off,” said Metzger. “The industries that have been existing in this, sort of, grey area needed regulatory certainty,” she said.
As of June, a bill was passed by the State Assembly and Senate to address these uncertainties: no standards for consumers, licensing requirements for retail, growing and processing, as well as testing requirements. It has not been signed into law by the governor yet.
Medical professionals also said that the only FDA approved CBD product in the state right now is reserved for epileptic seizures only.
Dr. Kenneth Steier, dean of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown, said that they have been conducting tests on cannabinoids and believes a lack of FDA approval has been hindering clinical endorsement, although many studies have shown the efficacy of CBD.
“All though there is lots of anecdotal reports and studies, showing CBD effectiveness for a variety of things: pain, seizures, anxiety, PTSD, ranging up to autism and a bunch of other things; in terms of FDA approved indications, which is what most physicians would currently follow, that’s the only one currently out there,” said Steier.
Members of the local hemp community said staying with nutriceutic options may be the best way to go since they aren’t privy to FDA approvals.
