PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Fall 2019

12 •  PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters  •  Fall 2019 According to the Harvard Health Blog, the number one safety concern with CBD is not its side effects (nausea, fatigue, irritability, and medication interaction) but rather that it is primarily marketed and sold as a supplement. The FDA does not regulate the safety and purity of dietary supplements. Since no one is policing the purity, identity, and composition of CBD products on the market, low quality and tainted products are flooding it. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that nearly 70 percent of CBD products sold online are mislabeled, meaning some contain no CBD at all while other contain amounts much higher than what’s listed on the label. Low quality products may have higher than 0.3 percent THC, residual chemical solvents from the extraction process, like butane, or pesticides. Ultimately, it’s up to the consumer to do their homework. Be wary of “cure-all” or outlandish claims. A company making a claim that their product will cure a disease is a huge red flag. In addition, there are no standard dosing guidelines so figuring out the minimum dose needed is by trial and error. Is it safe? Despite CBD ’ s legal uncertainty, it is certain that CBD is