Operation CBDeceit Implicates Several CBD Companies

Over the years, there have been many stories surrounding the FDA sending letters to CBD companies making false or misleading health claims. There have also been counts of the FDA sending letters to CBD companies claiming that’s their products contained certain ingredients in concentrations thereof that, in fact, it did not. There was even a whole study on the deceit of CBD companies that we covered! Just recently, the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, announced that they would be joining the crackdown along with the Food and Drug Administration on CBD companies. This joint operation is underway and being dubbed “CBDeceit”. On December 17th, the agency reported settling with six CBD companies. These agreements set forth require that companies cease making any unsupported health claims and that they will pay a monetary judgment to the Federal Trade Commission. On December 22nd, five letters were sent to CBD companies regarding health claims, specifically in relation to the CBD within the product. Let’s look at some of the fine details regarding the agreements reached between the FTC and the six CBD companies in question.

The Details of the Agreements/Settlements of Operation CBDeceit

Reef Industries, Cannatera, and AndHemp

• Fine: $85,000
• Violation: Misleading statements regarding CBD being scientifically proven to treat or prevent various illnesses and conditions across social media and on the company’s website.

Steve’s Distributing aka Steve’s Goods

• Fine: $75,000
• Violation: Misleading statements regarding CBD and CBG in relation to having antibacterial properties and preventing or reducing the risk of diseases, including but not limited to strokes and heart attacks.

Control Health

• Fine: $20,000
• Violation: Claiming that CBD is safe for everyone, that it works better than opioids, and that CBD can treat pain as well as cognitive decline related to age. This is in addition to customers reporting that they are charged for and received numerous bottles when only purchasing one.

Isle Revive

• Fine: $20,000
• Violation: Claiming that CBD is safe for everyone, that it works better than opioids, and that CBD can treat pain as well as cognitive decline related to age. This is in addition to customers reporting that they are charged for and received numerous bottles when only purchasing one.

Epichouse (First Class Herbalist CBD)

• Fine: $30,000
• Violation: Misleading claims that CBD could prevent several different conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

CBD Meds / G2 Hemp

• Fine: N/A – Must notify customers of the FTC order
• Violation: False health claims in advertising on website and YouTube ad campaigns.

EasyButter /HempmeCBD

• Fine: $36,254
• Violation: Claims that CBD could cure and treat aspects such as AIDS, cancer-related side effects and symptoms, as well as substance abuse.

While the FTC was able to reach an agreement with these six companies, there are five other CBD companies to which they have issued letters to. These letters do not levy the companies to pay any sort of monetary fine, but it does, however, order them to address the violations the FTC and FDA outlined within the letter. These companies include the following.

• Next L3vel Services Group (DBA This Stuff is Good For You)
• Bee Delightful
• New Leaf Pharmaceuticals
• Wellness Biosciences
• G&L Wellness

Due Diligence Will Serve You Well Against Weed Washing Companies 

Within the cannabis sector itself, the CBD industry is infamous for misrepresentation and greed. Right now, cannabis is avantgarde and CBD is alluring because people can tap into the benefits without getting high. But because of the CBD craze that has ensued in the last several years, it has facilitated countless situations of fraud. So much so, that a term that has been coined specifically for CBD companies that practice these business behaviors. Mostly in the beauty industry, it’s reserved for those that make claims about ingredients in their products that are false or misleading. That term is ‘weed washing’.  When purchasing CBD products, there are many things as a consumer that you can do to ensure that you are getting a reputable product that includes exactly what the label says.

When vetting CBD products, you must do your research. It is unfortunate that you cannot simply just trust that businesses are working with morals and good practices. Here are a few things you can do to help validate the quality of CBD products before making a purchase. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is. Also, though many may argue that you get what you pay for, and this is true in some essence, just because something is inexpensive it doesn’t necessarily mean it is ineffective, and just because something is expensive, it doesn’t automatically mean that it is of high quality.

• Check for 3^rd Party Lab Testing
• Ensure that it is CBD Oil and not Hemp or Hemp Seed Oil – There is a difference!
• Read Reviews
• Ask Your Friends

We hope that one day, infractions on businesses such as these will only come when they are precisely stating that their product contains something that it does not. When it comes to many claims made by these companies, there is a science to back them. However, once again, it all comes down to the federal illegality of this plant and the grey area between state and federal governments.