Gottlieb Resignation Leaves Key Supplement Rules in Limbo

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s surprise resignation earlier this month sent shockwaves through the natural products industries. His departure at the end of March will leave two key aspects of dietary supplement regulation in limbo: the legality of CBD supplements, and the possibility of a major revision of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).

Cannabis & Hemp: A Regulatory Update

The year 2018 was a landmark in the history of hemp and cannabis in the US. It was the year the FDA approved the first natural cannabis-derived prescription drug, and Congress passed a Farm Bill that included provisions legalizing cultivation of, and interstate commerce in, low-THC hemp. But the laws and regulation around hemp and cannabis remain a confusing patchwork, and some states are taking regulatory actions that run counter to the new federal provisions.

Cannabis, Hemp, Marijuana: What’s in a Name?

Amid the current rage for all things cannabis, there is a lot of confusion about the terminology used to describe this plant and compounds extracted from it.

Part of that confusion arises from the Farm Bill of 2018, which changes some federal definitions. These changes have major implications for legal and regulatory policy.  Here’s a guide to common cannabis-related terms and their current definitions.

To BE or Not to BE: New GMO Labels Leave Many (Still) Wondering What’s in Their Food

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its long-anticipated plan to implement national disclosure requirements for genetically modified foods––and GMO labeling advocates say it keeps key information hidden from consumers.

Migrants at the Border: US Citizens Head South for Cheap Medical Care

There are a lot of anxious, needy people eager to cross the line that separates the US from Mexico. Go to the border towns of Southern California and Arizona, and you’ll see them— US citizens heading south to Mexican clinics and farmacias, seeking lower cost surgeries and cheap meds.

Medical and pharmacy “tourism” to Mexico is a large and growing phenomenon, one that has received little attention amid the bitter political rancor over immigration policy and border control.

FDA Revamps It’s Field Guide to Food Additives

There are well over 10,000 chemical additives–flavorings, colorings, preservatives–that the federal government permits for use in food products sold in the US. While a few occasionally grab headlines–think monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, high-fructose corn syrup, aspartame–the vast majority garner very little public attention.

Is the Time Right to Revise DSHEA?

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) has certainly had its share of critics over the 25 years since it was signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton.Some contend the regulation is weak, and that it gives the supplement industry too much latitude, while providing too little consumer protection. On the other side, many argue that the law puts a stranglehold on truthful communication about supplements. Is the time right to revisit–and revise–this landmark law?

Physician Attitudes Shift as Cannabis Goes Mainstream

Several recent surveys indicate that the majority of American medical professionals see therapeutic value in cannabis and cannabis-derived substances, and would support federal legalization of adult-use medical cannabis.

American Botanical Council Leads Initiative to End Adulteration of Herbs

Call it the Eleventh Commandment: “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adulteration!”

Though it may not quite be a divine decree, the elimination of contaminants and adulterants is an imperative that conscientious herbal supplement companies are taking very seriously these days, as the American Botanical Council spearheads a major drive to tackle the problem.

NBJ Honors Howard & Baggerly For Vitamin D Preterm Birth Prevention

For their efforts to promote vitamin D supplementation as a preventive for pre-term births, Carole Baggerly of Grassroots Health, and Karen Howard of the Organic & Natural Health Association were recently recognized with Nutrition Business Journal’s 2018 Education Award.