2020 -- H 7125

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

TO ENACT LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE FDA TO ESTABLISH GMP STANDARDS

REGULATING INDUSTRIAL HEMP (CBD) PRODUCTS WITH THC CONTENT BELOW

THREE PERCENT, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING A SAFE DAILY LEVEL OF CBD

CONSUMPTION BY CONSUMERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Azzinaro, Corvese, Bennett, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2020

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     WHEREAS, Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical that is prevalent in marijuana and hemp;

and

     WHEREAS, The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, or the Farm Bill, removed hemp

– meaning cannabis or derivatives of cannabis with a very low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

content (below three percent by dry weight) – from the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA)

definition of marijuana; and

      WHEREAS, CBD does not induce euphoria or reinforcing pleasure effects of THC

found in the marijuana plant; and the 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) report on CBD

concluded that “there are no case reports of abuse or dependence relating to the use of pure CBD”

and “there is no evidence of recreational use of CBD or any public health-related problems

associated with the use of pure CBD”; and

     WHEREAS, The 2018 WHO report also cites a human study (Martin-Santos, et al.,

Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 18, 2012) that “administered 600 mg of CBD to healthy

participants detected no THC and trace concentrations of THC metabolites”; and

     WHEREAS, Within the past three years, more than 1,500 CBD products have come to

the market without a clear approach for regulation or any plan from the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) to balance consumer access and the protection of consumer health; and

     WHEREAS, A substantial market for CBD products formulated in drinks, cosmetics,

foods and other consumer products has developed, even where cannabis products are not

recreationally or medically legal, and currently are sold in major retail chains in the United States;

and

     WHEREAS, The FDA states that products such as food additives and dietary

supplements that contain CBD are illegal under federal law, and refuses to issue any regulations

or guidance for the manufacturing of CBD products to ensure quality and safety, including setting

a safe daily level of CBD consumption; and

     WHEREAS, The conflict between the FDA policy and the Agriculture Improvement Act

of 2018 provisions has created a patchwork regulation of CBD by the states that places

consumers at significant health risks with the unregulated manufacturing of CBD products, and

creates a complicated legal framework for CBD companies for their operations; and

     WHEREAS, As a result of this unregulated CBD marketplace, interstate commerce for

national CBD companies is significantly impaired because banks, insurance companies, and

merchant service companies cite potential reputational risks in providing services to CBD

companies because the FDA threatens regulatory actions against these companies; and

     WHEREAS, By enacting legislation that requires the FDA to publish manufacturing

guidelines for CBD products and requires the establishment of a safe daily level of CBD

consumption, the President and Congress of the United States would allow consumers to

experience the benefits of CBD while ensuring consumer safety and generate significant

economic activity from allowing interstate commerce for CBD companies; now, therefore be it

      RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully urges the President and the Congress of the United

States to act quickly to protect American consumers by requiring the FDA to issue manufacturing

guidelines for CBD products and establish a safe daily level of CBD consumption; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United

States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority

Leader of the House of Representatives, and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

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