The United States House Oversight and Accountability Committee (“Oversight Committee”) has questioned Commissioner Robert Califf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the federal agency’s inaction on the creation of cannabidiol (CBD) regulations as well as its expected resolution of other pressing issues.

Oversight Committee Chair and Representative James Comer said his panel aims to probe Califf on the lack of action from the FDA’s side.

The congressional committee’s inquiry concerns several issues that involve hemp-derived CBD, which is within the regulatory jurisdiction of the federal agency.

Comer, a Kentucky-based Republican, has placed place Califf opposite the committee. The Oversight Committee chair discussed with the FDA Commissioner the federal agency’s passivity on CBD and other hemp types.

He added that the FDA is not only apathetic toward CBD but also unconcerned about many areas of its jurisdiction.

Furthermore, Oversight Committee Chair Comer commented that, according to him, among the few factors that hindered the FDA from resolving other issues are the federal agency’s concentration on the COVID-19 pandemic response and vaccines.

The apathy or inaction of the FDA toward other issues could mean that it has concentrated its efforts on cannabidiol enforcement instead of CBD rules clarification.

For instance, in March 2022, the FDA warned seven CBD producers via letter – together with the Federal Trade Commission – about making COVID-19-related health claims. The FDA expressed that there wasn’t enough CBD toxicity research, and this same insufficiency also applied to recommended dosages and possible harms.