If you’re feeling a little blue and want to find that extra boost of happiness, CBD is the answer. The use of these gummies is currently a hot topic. With so many people using it as a natural remedy for different ailments, it is legal for federal employees to consume these gummies. What if your boss found out, or were you on a field interview?
These gummies are edible and can help reduce neuropathic pain, vomiting, and inflammation. However, these are not legal in the United States. It is unclear whether or not federal employees are allowed to consume these gummies.
However, federal employees still have many questions about its edibles and what they can and cannot consume. This blog breaks down the legality of high quality CBD gummies in detail and explains whether or not federal employees are allowed to consume them. So, let’s not waste any time? Keep reading this blog post to understand the legality of consuming these gummies or edibles for federal employees.
The legality of CBD gummies
CBD-infused edibles are still illegal. The laws regarding edible CBD oil use in the US are not clear.
Federally, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulates all CBD edibles. According to the DEA, it is a Schedule 1 drug. It includes drugs with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The FDA approved Epidiolex for the treatment of rare forms of epilepsy. This drug is now in Schedule 5, covering medications with the lowest risk of addiction or abuse.
The 2014 Farm Bill also contains a provision that allows legal cultivation of hemp, provided you use it in agricultural research or similar programs. The confusion surrounding the same persists.
The 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known by the Farm Bill, legalised CBD, derived primarily from hemp. The average CBD from hemp contains 0.3% THC (by dry mass). CBD derived from marijuana still falls under the illegal substance category.
According to the 2018 Farm Bill regulations, any cannabinoid– a group of chemical compounds found within the cannabis plant- extracted from hemp will be legal if produced in compliance with the Farm Bill and associated federal regulations and association state regulations by a licensed grower.
People make these gummies from hemp plants, and therefore, they are legal to eat federally. However, they will still consider it illegal if its product has a high THC level but was not grown, harvested, or cultivated by a licensed farmer or company.
Although you can consume hemp-derived CBD legally, it cannot still be sold or promoted as an edible supplement. FDA must first approve the product.
Can federal employees consume CBD gummies?
You need to understand the basics of this topic first. Marijuana, a psychoactive drug, is currently illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. It is a product from the cannabis plant.
Hemp is another name for cannabis plants. Recent federal law clarifies that hemp is not the same as marijuana. Although hemp and marijuana were traditionally considered the same species (cannabis), in the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill), hemp was re-defined as any cannabis plant with 0.3 % or less of Tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive substance.
Marijuana is a cannabis plant that carries more than 0.3% THC. THC is the main active component in marijuana. The Farm Bill legalized hemp in 2018. However, marijuana remains illegal.
While most federal agencies have issued statements to employees stating their position on its use in the workforce, they are not all consistent. NASA is more concerned about THC being detected in drug tests of people thinking they are taking these gummies. However, the US Navy and the Department of Defense state that its use is prohibited regardless of legal status. Senators and congress members on the other side of this aisle take their gummies into work and brag about how amazing they are.
What’s the deal? It is legal at the federal level. But federal employees are still banned from using it, at least in part. So why is there so much confusion about who can and what form to take?
Why is it illegal?
Federal law requires that industrial hemp, used to produce most CBD, contain 0.3 percent or less THC. However, no one can certify the amount of THC in hemp being grown. Hemp cannabinoids vary wildly depending on the growing conditions and strains. As of now, each company is responsible for certifying its products’ cannabinoid content. It can be pretty costly, as a third-party lab must test each batch of CBD.
A reputable company invests in certifying the CBD content of all their gummies. However, other companies skimp on this step to save money and time. These products may contain varying amounts of CBD or THC. CBD brands that fail to test their gummies are likely to mislabel them. It is usually just an indication that the gummies don’t contain as much CBD as they claim. Sometimes, this can mean that there is more THC than was intended.
It is still illegal at the federal level, regardless of where you live or your views about THC. Federal employees who use these products are a concern. Federal agencies are most concerned about their employees inhaling THC from these products. A failed drug test will result if there is THC and not CBD.
So, federal employees should be cautious when using CBD-derived hemp gummies oil. Even though hemp has minimal THC, it could still cause a positive drug test. Many hemp products aren’t well-regulated. You may accidentally purchase its oil partially derived from marijuana. If you’re a federal employee working in a TDP, this could have profound implications.
Takeaway
CBD is an all-natural, non-addictive, and non-psychoactive substance. You can use CBD-based products to treat many conditions, such as chronic pain, IBD and anxiety, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Federal employees want to treat their symptoms with these gummies and keep their jobs.
Federal agencies are concerned about THC exposure, which is federally illegal. However, if the FDA can develop regulations that will allow them to monitor and certify the amount of THC in CBD products like cbd cherry gummies, then accidental THC should not be an issue. Federal agencies must, at the minimum, trust their employees to manage their intake.
Federal employees might consider taking CBD isolates while they wait. They should not bring their CBD stash to work, but they should treat symptoms and stay under the radar.
Alicia Saville did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She is interested in mental health and well-being.
