The current regulatory landscape
Cannabidiol’s (CBD) botanical origins can be sourced from both
Cannabis sativa and
Cannabis indica.
However, hemp is legally defined as a
Cannabis sativa plant containing no more than 0.3 percent Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC or cannabis. THC is well known for its psychotropic side effects considered legal on a state-by-state basis for what is referred to as “medical” and “recreational” use. Until the legalization of the 2018 Farm Bill, there was no distinction in the federal jurisdiction between cannabis and hemp, treating both as schedule 1 substances.
The 2018 Farm Bill established the US hemp policy, making hemp federally legal and distinct from its THC counterpart, cannabis.
1 Since the recent change in legislation, CBD has gained international interest from the public and a variety of industries such as pharmaceuticals, health and wellness, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals.
Paving the way for the future of hemp
As hemp legislation develops internationally, extraction of the hemp plant poses several challenges. A lack of pharmaceutical proficiency and industry-specific innovation when extracting CBD from hemp plant material can result in concentrating THC over the legal limit of 0.3% (w/w) or traces of solvents used in the process within the CBD hemp extract.
Simply put, this means that appropriate diligence and careful selection of your CBD extractor and contract manufacturer is of dire importance to remain safe and legal. As a GMP-compliant provider of CBD, Vantage Hemp Co. ensures the purification and THC remediation of all extracts and finished products produced. Vantage verifies all products for potency internally via HPLC equipment and trained lab technicians and further confirms via third-party lab results.
Darcie Moran, Vantage’s Quality Assurance Manager, quotes; “The only difference between hemp and cannabis is the concentration of THC that can only be determined by an analytical lab, therefore, a discrepancy in lab results could mean the difference of a successful CBD company or one that is illegal and may require a federal recall.
At Vantage, we provide a trusted and legal resource for CBD companies. Our regulatory department is knowledgeable and stays current with the ever-changing hemp/CBD standards for international and state requirements. Laura Eder, our Director of Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance, is a prominent regulatory figure in the CBD space as a former consultant for the ACI and a member of several associations including EIHA, DIA, and RAPS.
With Vantage, you not only get a quality product but reliability and repeatability for consistency to meet the growing market demands for CBD; and a partnership that will persevere through the ever-changing regulations.”
1https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/12/14/the-farm-bill-hemp-and-cbd-explainer/
