The Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division recently announced that it has referred several advertising claims made by Grade A Nutraceuticals to the Federal Trade Commission for further review and “possible enforcement action,” stemming from advertisements for the company’s CBD oil supplement, CannaPure CBD Oil.
 
The advertising claims made by Grade A Nutraceuticals were initially challenged by the Council for Responsible Nutrition. The CRN received no response after requesting that the company provide substantiation for what it alleged were specific health claims about CBD, which appear likely to raise concerns with the FTC.
 
One Cannabidiol product, Epidiolex, remains the only designated drug that has been approved for use as a drug by FDA.
 
The FTC has been sending out rounds of warning letters to companies making claims about the potential for cannabidiol to prevent, cure, or treat a disease. Grade A Nutraceuticals allegedly specified medical conditions such as chronic pain, schizophrenia, and cancer.
 
The claims at issue included the following advertising statements:
 
–       “CLINICALLY VALIDATED: Experience the medically proven therapeutic benefits of hemp.”
–       “CannaPure CBD Oil helps with relieving all forms of chronic pain by inhibiting neural transmissions in pain pathways.”
–       “CannaPure CBD Oil helps trigger anxiolytic action that improves mood patterns, reducing stress, anxiety, and even panic attacks.”
–       “CBD has been known to clear brain fog, enhancing mental clarity and focus. It may also help improve memory recall.”
–       “Studies have shown that Cannabidiol helps reduce blood sugar levels an also regulate cholesterol for a healthy heart.”
–       “98% Reduction in Anxiety & Stress Related Ailments.”
–       “67% Increase in Cognitive Performance & Health.”
–       “Scientists are calling it ‘miracle medicine.’ A new breakthrough is helping people of all ages with a variety of ailments to completely reverse and treat serious medical conditions.”
–       “Cannabinoid, or CBD, is a miracle product that people across the nation are using to alleviate various conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, nausea, rheumatoid arthritis, Schizophrenia, diabetes, PTSD, alcoholism, strokes, and vascular diseases, and other ailments.”
–       “Cannabinoid is found to have particular benefits in regard to neuroprotection, for example in limiting neurological damage following a stroke and trauma, or in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.”
–       “We also learned that most scientists agree that decreasing stress levels play a part in battling cancer, heart disease, and other stress related illness.”
–       “Fighting cancer cells.”
–       “Helps patients with diabetes.”
–       “Increases brain function.”
 
Accoridng to the National Advertising Division, Grade A Nutraceuticals also purported a story featuring testimonial from Morgan Freeman, which read, “In an interview on a popular late-night television program, Freeman explains how a near-fatal car crash in 2008 left him with extensive nerve damage in his hand, and he also suffers from fibromyalgia. CannaPure CBD has been soothing chronic pain for years, and he has no intention of giving it up. ‘Without this stuff, I’d be in trouble…’ said Freeman. He also confirmed the use of a ‘harmless oil,” which can be bought online without a prescription called CannaPure, CBD, the special oil is helping him live a normal healthy life.

The National Advertising Division reports that it has not received a response from the advertiser after requesting substantiation from its claims or “participate in any way in the self-regulatory process.”