U.S. Federal Trade Commission Lays Down the Law on Deceptive CBD Claims by Cosmetics & Toiletries

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its first law enforcement crackdown on deceptive claims in the growing market for cannabidiol (CBD) products. Oils, balms, gummies, coffee and other goods were among the product types cited.

The FTC reports it is taking action against six sellers of CBD-containing products for making a wide range of scientifically unsupported claims about the products’ abilities to treat serious health conditions including cancer, heart disease, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease and others.

The agency is requiring each of the companies and individuals behind them to stop making these unsupported claims immediately, and several will pay monetary judgments. The orders settling the FTC’s complaints also bar the respondents from similar deceptive advertising in the future, and require them to provide scientific evidence to support any health claims made for CBD and other products.