The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warning letters to three companies that sell cannabidiol-infused (CBD) oils, tinctures, capsules, gummies, and creams.
The FTC announced on Tuesday that they had sent the letters to warn the (unnamed) companies that it is illegal to advertise that products can prevent, treat, or cure disease without having the proper supporting scientific evidence.
According to an FTC press release, the companies had advertised that their products were able to treat or cure serious diseases and other health conditions, with one of them claiming that CBD works like magic to relieve even the most agonizing pain better than opioids.
FTC says that the company’s website stated that CBD has been clinically proven to treat Alzheimer’s disease, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, colitis, and cigarette addiction, saying that they had participated in thousands of hours of research with Harvard researchers.
Another company’s website contained claims that CBD products are proven to treat autism, anorexia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, cancer, and AIDS.
A third company’s website advertised its CBD gummies as being very effective at treating the root cause of most major degenerative diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, cancer, asthma, fibromyalgia, and a wide range of autoimmune disorders.
In the letters, the FTC urges all three companies to review claims, including customer testimonials, about their products to make sure that they are supported by reliable scientific evidence.
The FTC warns that selling CBD products with unsubstantiated claims can result in legal action including injunction and an order to return money to customers.
The companies are to notify the FTC within 15 days that they have taken action to address concerns stated in the warning letters.
The FTC and the FDA sent similar letters to three CBD companies in March.
