CHFA argued that hemp-derived CBD is a natural health product

Canada, October 1, 2019 (THE GROWTH OP)- Proposed framework will not allow businesses to fulfill consumer demand for CBD health products or help to displace the related growing illicit market.

The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) wants to make it easier for you to get your hands on CBD.

In a proposal submitted to Health Canada this week, the CHFA argued that hemp-derived CBD is a natural health product that should be available outside of licenced cannabis dispensaries and without a doctor’s note.

“Health Canada has proposed a pathway that would maintain the status quo, keeping the production and sale of all ‘cannabis health products’ under the Cannabis Act and its regulations,” said Helen Long, president of CHFA, a trade association dedicated to natural health and organic products.

“As a naturally occurring substance, CBD should be regulated as a natural health product. We doubt that the proposed framework will allow businesses to fulfill the large consumer demand for CBD health products, nor will it displace the growing illicit market for CBD health products.”

With negligible levels of THC present in hemp-derived CBD, the association noted there is no need to regulate it under the Cannabis Act.

Instead, it proposes an alternative that would require amendments to the Industrial Hemp Regulations, the Natural Health Products Regulations and the Prescription Drug List to allow for the extraction, production and sale of hemp-derived ingredients outside of the Cannabis Act. The ingredients would then be permitted for use in natural health products under the NHPR.

“Canadians are already using CBD for a variety of health-related purposes: whether it’s pain relief, helping them to sleep or calming their stress,” said Long. “The problem is access to legal CBD health products is limited. It doesn’t make sense for Canadians to access CBD for their health through recreational channels, and they should be able to go to their local natural health product retailer to purchase an NHP that contains CBD.”

The CHFA has also launched an awareness campaign, CBD is natural, calling on consumers and industry leaders to voice their opinions on the matter to local politicians ahead of the election.