While CBD is a traditional product, it was illegal for a long time in the United States. Finally, in 2018, the federal government legalized CBD but with certain restrictions. Being a newly legal product, a lot is yet unknown for its legal status, particularly about CBD regulations for pets.
Many pet owners want to give CBD gummies in UK to their pets But fail to do so because of a lack of information about its legality. But not anymore! Here is all you want to know about the regulation of CBD pet products.
Marijuana and Hemp
While exploring the legal status of pets, a widely seen confusion is about the difference in terms, such as hemp, Marijuana, Cannabis, etc. So, let us understand them.
- Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis
It is a plant species and a member of the flowering plant Cannabis. This plant contains two varieties, Marijuana and Hemp.
So, if you see the term Cannabis in any legal document, they are talking about both Marijuana and Hemp.
- Marijuana
It is a type of Cannabis Sativa plant that contains more than 0.3% of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. Under federal law, it belongs to the category of schedule 1 drug. This category of drugs also includes lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), heroin, peyote, and methaqualone.
So, whenever you read it on a pet product, know that it has a high amount of THC ( a psychoactive compound)and is illegal under federal laws.
- Hemp
It is a Cannabis Sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% of THC and is rich in cannabidiol. Hemp and hemp derivatives, such as CBD, are considered legal by federal law.
While Marijuana has recreational use, most people grow hemp for medical purposes. So, whenever you see a pet product mentioning hemp or CBD, know that it is federally legal and has less THC.
Now you know the difference between the confusing terms. So, you are ready to understand the effects of the farm bill on the regulations over CBD pet products and various aspects of it.
Farm Bill and CBD Pet Products
The farm bill distinguished hemp and Marijuana, legalizing hemp-derived CBD pet products legal in the United States.
However, before you purchase any CBD product for your pet, such as CBD gummies, ensure that it is from a trusted source. Since the market is highly unregulated, there is a chance that a low-quality product contains high amounts of THC.
The Food and Drug Association is trying to set up regulations for labeling, marketing, and making claims on CBD pet products. The following table summarizes the farm bill.
| The Farm Bill Did | The Farm Bill Did not |
| Discard hemp from the list of controlled substances. | Legalize Marijuana or CBD derived from Marijuana. |
| Empower USDA to regulate hemp production as an agricultural commodity.
| Take away the state laws that prohibit hemp in their states. |
So, are there no regulations for hemp products? Yes, but most of them are for marketers.
Regulations on CBD Pet Products
If you ask people about using CBD products for their pets, you might get many positive reviews. Many pet owners report several benefits from CBD gummies, such as:
- Relief from inflammation and chronic/acute pain.
- Increase in activity and movements.
- Helpful with anxiety and stress among their pets.
Ironically, a hemp pet product cannot claim these benefits on their products. It is illegal for any CBD pet product to mention claims made by pet medications, such as treatment for any medical issues in pets.
The primary reason behind it is the lack of research on CBD products for dogs and cats. The available resources are either from anecdotal experiences or from interpreting human use.
These reasons stop the FDA from approving CBD products for pet use.
Stand of AAFCO On CBD Pet Products
The Association of American Feed Control Officials controls animal drugs and animal feeds. It issued a guideline in 2019, mentioning that manufacturers should avoid adding hemp products in pet food.
It noted, “…materials and products that are CBD-infused need to be treated as drugs because the intended uses are largely associated with drug claims. This means that parts of the hemp plant will not be appropriate for approval as an animal feed ingredient. [a]side from CBD, there are parts of the plant, such as the hemp seeds, that have the potential be approved for animal feed.”
So, AAFCO does not think CBD will add any nutritional benefit to animal food. Thus, they will regulate it as a drug.
CBD Pet Products and Prescription
Many pet parents have this question about whether they need a prescription to purchase CBD pet products or not.
To purchase any CBD pet product, you do not need any prescription in the United States. However, this does not mean that you carelessly buy CBD products for your pets. A Penn Medicine study in 2017 reveals that only 30% of CBD products purchased online aligned with their labels, with a margin of 10%. Moreover, most of them contained higher than 0.3% THC.
So, before you buy a CBD product for your friend, perform extensive research on the company. Read their online reviews, ask your acquaintances whether they have ordered from that site, and read the customer feedback. These things will help you confirm that the CBD product is safe for your pet.
Can I get Professional Help?
Most pet parents avoid any professional help ( for CBD pet products) because they are unsure whether a veterinarian could recommend CBD or not. It depends on your veterinarian’s comfort in talking about CBD products, your state, and their research on CBD regulations.
Some veterinarians may give you some basic guidelines, while others refrain from talking about it. Moreover, veterinarians have to follow the regulations of the state veterinary medical board. The board has the power to restrict vets from speaking about CBD.
So, you might have to search a bit to contact a vet who talks about CBD freely.
Conclusion
CBD for pets is legal yet unapproved by the FDA. The pet owners cannot get the regulations removed until there is significant research, trials, and studies on CBD and other cannabinoids from hemp plants. That will offer a clear understanding of the positive and negative impacts of best cbd shampoo for dogs. This process will take time. Until that, you might let your pet enjoy the benefits of CBD, as observed by other pet parents, after consulting a professional.
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