Leevin Camacho, Attorney General supports the recent crackdown on hemp-derived CBD products and has issued a statement regarding the issue. Since the 2018 Farm Bill passage, cannabidiol associated products have been on a rise in the market in various island stores across the nation.

The statement mentioned that the passage of the bill has given an impression that hemp has been legalized and that CBD containing products are decriminalized. Majority of the people believe that selling CBD is legal everywhere and anyone can do it. The Attorney General assures that “decriminalization does not mean there will not be any regulation.”

Guam Officials Question CBD Crackdown

The statement provided by the Attorney General was issued as a response to a letter delivered by the Guam Officials. Speaker Tina Muna Barnes and acting Gov. Josh Tenorio asked for a written statement on Monday from the Attorney General on his thoughts on the extent to which individuals and business can sell or import CBD products in Guam.

The letter was sent in response to local island businesses who issued complaints because their products containing CBD were seized by Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency officers. Director of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services Linda DeNorcey denied that her officials have rejected the release of products containing CBD because they “might contain THC and also because these products have not been screened by the U.S Food and Drug Administration.” DeNorcey stated that her department did not instruct CQA to confiscate any CBD containing products. Despite the Public Health department’s zero involvement, officials question the reasons behind CQA’s confiscation of these products.

CQA Director Tested Shipments

Ike Peredo, the Director of Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency mentioned to The Guam Daily Post that his officers did start testing some CBD products that arrived through air cargo shipments in February. These products were found to contain trace amounts of THC, the major component of the psychoactive marijuana, which is still illegal under federal law. Since THC is related to CBD, despite its non-psychoactive effects, CBD is classified as a drug. According to Camacho, the FDA can regulate these products containing CBD, most of which still require approval for interstate trade and commerce.

AG Concerned About Consumer Health

Camacho referred to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association which observed that more than 70% of the products containing CBD which are usually bought online were not labeled properly. Thus, a consumer might as well be ingesting THC instead of CBD, which is still illegal. The AG said that his office is worried about consumer safety and that it’s his responsibility to ensure that the products contain the proper ingredients and are properly labeled.

By regulating these products, he wants to ensure that there is minimum harm done, and it may stop businesses from stating false claims about their products. The FDA had previously warned businesses about advertising CBD products as miracle cures to diseases such as cancers, anxiety, depression and other serious ailments.

Compliance issues among CBD products

CBD has faced a good amount of controversy surrounding its efficacy and abuse potential in the past. While it doesn’t give a high like marijuana or other THC-containing products, it’s been reported to help with pain and anxiety.

Nowadays, issues with payments and compliance are huge concerns in the cannabis industry, as well as other CBD-containing products. Among the issues are the exceeding amounts of CBD or THC in the products. For this issue, LegitScript comes into the rescue. They are an online service that verifies and monitors online pharmacies.

They have since launched a program that certifies websites selling CBD products that are legally compliant. As of today, USDA, FDA, and DEA- approved U.S. manufacturers and traders can apply for certification via LegitScript. Currently, the site provides a 10-page introduction regarding marijuana laws and regulations. It aims to help people understand the state restrictions and payment processes involving medical marijuana.

Having the LegitScript certification gives consumers and banks assurance that CBD merchants are compliant with state-specific laws, as well as regulations provided by various U.S. agencies. Even though cannabinoid or CBD-containing products have been made legal in the U.S., some products that contain THC in more than legal amounts are still illegal. This is why it has become difficult to pinpoint which merchants are selling compliant products.

CBD payments made easy

Even though the CBD industry has its regulation difficulties, major companies like Target and Walmart have been reported to be having discussions with CBD manufacturers. Many are also asking for lab and research results on top of CBD samples.

With this, the fact that the CBD industry is increasingly growing is undeniable anymore. Thus, digital payment companies such as Square, have gone into the CBD industry by providing access to basic financial services. This happened just when Elavon recently backed out from CBD companies.

A year after the legalization of CBD in the U.S., Square has stepped in to give businesses in the CBD industry a good financial service that makes it easier to process payments.

A growing industry

It’s been reported that over 7 percent of Americans are using products that contain CBD as of February. Cowen & Co. surveyed 2,500 adults and have found that the CBD market would be worth over $16 billion by 2025. Meanwhile, in a study by Vivien Azer, analyst, there are over 2.7% more people who use CBD more than e-cigarettes. Because of the rapidly growing industry, more people would definitely be in need of safer and more efficient payment options. In the future, more research will back up most of CBD’s health claims, thus attracting more attention from consumers. There will come a time that these certification programs will be a necessity amongst many consumers.

We all know how the Fourth of July could be such a huge celebration in the U.S. Parties, celebrations, and fireworks are on the way. With this fun occasion, we should be reminded how loud noises can be disturbing for our little pets at home.

Dogs are noise sensitive

Noise has been long known to be a huge physical stressor among pets, most especially dogs. Pet owners know how dogs would always be barking and hiding under tables and couches during fireworks seasons like New Year’s or Fourth of July.

In a study conducted among dogs and noise sensitivities, it was found that noise sensitivity was associated with pain. Another study has also found that cortisol, cholesterol and triglyceride levels among dogs became elevated after unpleasant situations like traffic noise, further supporting the claim that noises greatly impact a dog’s emotional and physical health.

Because of this, pet owners are turning to pet supplies stores and pharmacies to find something that will calm their pets down or at least relieve some of their stress and anxiety.

CBD products relieve stress among pets

Cannabidiol or CBD is a component of marijuana that’s gaining a significant following among those who are fond of supplements. It’s been proven to relieve stress and anxiety among pets as well. Moreover, it’s also been proven to be a good pain reliever, thus, would be helpful for dogs who feel pain along with stress from loud noises.

Local veterinarians talked about the use of CBD oil among pets. Although there isn’t enough research available for them to actually recommend them, most pet owners resort to pet products containing CBD to solve the pet stress issue during fireworks.

CBD – a good alternative

Anxiety among dogs and other pets include pressure wraps. This is a method of wrapping a dog’s torso with tight cloth or towel to give the body constant pressure. This works by providing comfort, warmth, and distraction of the dog all at the same time. Another solution is behavior modification. Pet owners can do this by making use of desensitization.

Meanwhile, Teresa McLean, a pet owner, said that she would go for CBD instead of usual go-to’s like Benadryl as this usually gives pets the hype. Moreover, Geoff Moser, the owner of the pet store called Dog Beach, states that he recommends CBD products to pets who suffer from arthritis and cancer, among other things. However, he adds that the relief of stress shouldn’t be solely based on CBD products but rather, be based more on a calm and comfortable environment. Furthermore, he also suggests playing calming music to drown out the noise coming from the outdoors. Some ingredients other pet owners turn to are those products that contain thymine, melatonin and other amino acids.

During noisy celebrations like the Fourth of July, it’s crucial that we don’t forget our little ones at home. Pet owners should make sure they remain comfortable and be as stress-free as possible so they won’t have noise anxiety.