Table 1. Online content of CBD retailers that received warning letters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
CBD, cannabidiol; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; TBI, traumatic brain injury
| Company | Citation | Date | COVID-19-related content | Other medical claims (up to one example per company) |
| Homero Corp DBA Natures CBD Oil Distribution, Manchester, NH | CBD Letter: Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded/Cannabidiol (CBD) Products | 4/20/20 | "CBD oil is being discovered to work for numerous health issues, but it is anxiety that it seems to work most effectively. Though medications provided from the pharmaceutical companies and the medical community can be beneficial, there are side effects and the concern for addiction with regular use. There is an array of advantages associated with CBD oil as a treatment for anxiety. Studies show that 1 single dose is efficient and quick and does not have to be used on a daily basis. Other benefits for anxiety sufferers is that if traditional medication fails or cannot be tolerated CBD offers hope for those stuck with no solution. For those who want to add CBD to a traditional medicine to give it a boost, there is no evidence that CBD cannot interact with other drugs and can be used safely." | |
| Nova Botanix LTD DBA CanaBD, London | COVID-19 Letter: Unapproved Products Related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | 4/16/20 | "Current situation has been striking fear and anxiety amongst many as it goes on a rampage around the world. CBD works with your body to regulate optimal functionality of the receptors that are connected to anxiety, stress and sleep disorders. In addition, CBD may strengthens [sic] your immune system by promoting an overall healthier wellbeing." | "In addition, CBD is known to treat these conditions: joint pain, arthritis, autoimmune disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, migraines, Crohn’s and colitis, inflammation, nausea, Parkinson’s, rheumatism, skin conditions." |
| Gaia Arise Farms Apothecary, Waynesville, NC | COVID-19 Letter | 4/13/20 | "CBD from cannabis improves inflammatory, spastic, and nerve pain, (2) it provides restful sleep, (3) reduction of nightmares for those with PTSD, (4) it reduces anxiety, which causes muscle tension, (5) helps relieve Opioid Addiction, in case the real doctors (or drug dealers) got you hooked. (6) But I’d use our Addiction Protocol, to heal that addiction, along with True Pain Relief w/CBD for the chronic pain." | |
| Earthley, Columbus, OH | COVID-19 Letter | 4/9/20 | "A LOT of people are worried about coronavirus right now. It doesn’t help that no one seems to know exactly what the truth is. We also don’t know what will happen if or when it dramatically spreads in the US. However, we do NOT think it’s time to panic. But if it helps you to feel like you’re ready, just in case … we’re here. And so we’re giving away an Immune Support Collection to one lucky winner!" | "Experience true relief of back pain, muscle pain, joint pain, and more. Our synergistic cream combines naturally pain-relieving herbs like St. John’s Wort and yarrow with full-spectrum CBD. Rub a small amount into the sore spot and feel better soon!" |
| CBD Online Store, Laguna Hills, CA | COVID-19 Letter | 4/7/20 | "Ylan-Ylan is a well-known superfood that boost and support the immune system [sic]. Adding CBD, nature’s strongest anti-inflammatory, will keep your body from becoming inflamed when it throws all it can at a disease, decreasing your risks even more." | "Study: #CBD Helps Heal #Bone #Fractures. What a miraculous molecule CBD is!" |
| Indigo Naturals, Seattle, WA | COVID-19 Letter | 4/6/20 | From blog post, "Can CBD help with viral cytokine storm?": "In inflammatory states (such as cytokine storm), CBD can calm inflammation." (Post is tagged: Can CBD help with the cytokine storm response; Covid19 or coronavirus and cytokine storms; the endocannabinoids system and immune response to coronavirus.) | "Here's the running list of CBD benefits: CBD benefits for Addiction; CBD benefits for Allergies and Histamines; CBD benefits for Anxiety (#1!); CBD benefits for Arthritis; CBD benefits for Autoimmune Disease and the Immune System; CBD benefits for Blood Pressure; CBD benefits for Cancer (#5); CBD benefits for Dementia and Alzheimer's; CBD benefits for Depression; CBD benefits for Diabetes." |
| Native Roots Hemp, Algoma, WI | COVID-19 Letter | 4/6/20 | "Studies show CBD oil helps with: addiction, anxious feelings, appetite, behavioral issues, blood circulation, blood sugar regulation, bone health, cardio health, cellular health, circulatory health, compulsiveness, digestive health, endocrine health, eye health, focus, inflammation, joint discomfort, kidney function, liver function, lymphatic health, lung health, memory loss, mood stability, motion sickness, muscle degeneration, nervous system health, reproductive health, respiratory health, skin health, sleeplessness, traumatic stress, weight management." | |
| NeuroXPF, Las Vegas, NV | COVID-19 Letter | 3/31/20 | "Energize your immune system by igniting your endocannabinoid system with CBD! Learn more at http://NeuroXPF.com" | "Research has shown that CBD can improve brain functions and even heal brain tissue damaged by TBIs. Take 15% off your order at http://NeuroXPF.com in honor of #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth with coupon code: cbd4brain" |
| Mr. Pink Collections, LLC, Beverly Hills, CA | CBD Letter | 11/22/19 | "Not only CBD oil can help to relieve health problems such as anxiety, depression, reduce seizures and also combat insomnia but it can also help for muscle recovery." | |
| Whole Leaf Organics, Sherman Oaks, CA | CBD Letter | 11/22/19 | "CBD-EX combines the best in cancer fighting elements, into one simple capsule." "Our formulations have been proven to be effective at reducing inflammation, and minimizing the way cancer cells manipulate neighbor cells - the key factor in being successful when trying to be proactive against disease." | |
| Infinite Product Company LLLP, Lakewood, CO | CBD Letter | 11/22/19 | Now selling "Nano CBD Hand Sanitizer" | |
| Organix Industries/Plant Organix, San Bernardino, CA | CBD Letter | 11/22/19 | “Vaping CBD oil is one of the preferred methods to ease side effects of diseases, illnesses, and ailments including leukemia, all types of cancers, stress, anxiety, joint pain, seizures, inflammation, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and the list goes on.” | |
| Red Pill Medical, Phoenix, AZ | CBD Letter | 11/22/19 | "When CBD reaches a family of receptors, or cells that receive stimuli, called vanilloid receptors, the interaction results in lower inflammation and levels and pain perception, according to a study published in Current Neuropharmacology. And a study published in July 2016 in the European Journal of Pain found that CBD could help people with arthritis manage their pain. The animal study looked at whether using a CBD gel transdermally (on the skin) would reduce inflammation and signs of pain, and researchers concluded that the topical product did offer relief from pain-related behaviors without evidence of side effects." | |
| CDRL Nutritional Inc, Concord, CA | CBD Letter | 11/22/19 | "CBD is a powerful antioxidant that has several beneficial applications to help you with: anxiety, alcoholism, back pain, chronic pain, diabetes, depression, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, migraine, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia & psychosis, and much more," | |
| Private I Salon, Charlotte, NC | CBD Letter | 11/22/19 | "Although inflammation is often seen in a negative light, it's a vital immune response to infection.... Therefore, preventing inflammation when it is actually needed can lower immune function and make people more susceptible to disease. CBD and other cannabinoids may be able to help balance that function in the body." | "The receptors that CBD oil targets are in the endo-cannabinoid system, which can be found in the nervous system, digestive system, in your brain, and throughout your entire body. When your endo-cannabinoid system is not balanced, you suffer from things like stress, depression, hypertension, fatigue, migraines, chronic pain, and more." |
| Rooted Apothecary, Naples, FL | CBD Letter | 10/10/19 | "Save up to 40% - Corona Relief Efforts. No one planned on this.We recently ran a discount and to those of you who purchased product, we continue to be thankful for your support. Now it's our turn to go a step further. We are offering our biggest discount ever! The economic impact is widespread, the fear is more contagious than anything else, and who knows when things will 'normalize.' But, we do know the science behind hemp-derived CBD and how it interacts with the Endocannabinoid System in each one of us. Right now, more than any other time in recent memory, this plant has a BIG chance to prove what it can do." | |
| Curaleaf, Wakefield, MA | CBD Letter | 7/26/19 | Claims have been removed from Curaleaf Hemp, which was cited in the FDA letter, but many remain on Curaleaf's other websites and social media accounts, e.g. this from curaleaf.com/az: "You’ve likely heard marijuana referred to, in not so nice terms, as a gateway drug. This long-spanning theory suggests marijuana users are more likely to partake in harder drugs than non-users. Major studies have taken place in the last few years that not only debunked this persistent myth, but have shown the opposite to be true. In fact, the results of recent drug addiction treatment studies show cannabis is effective in helping those addicted to opioids safely withdraw from, or exit, the drug." |