THE WHAT? The appointment of a cannabis policy expert at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has been welcomed by CBD stakeholders, according to Hemp Today. 

THE DETAILS The FDA has hired Norman Birenbaum as Senior Public Health advisor in its Center for Regulatory Programs. Birenbaum was previously director of cannabis programs for New York. In this role he supervised regulation and policy development for the state.

The stakeholders are said to hope that the appointment signals that the agency may establish a regulatory program. 

Jonathan Miller, General Counsel at the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR), stated that the USHR would be “working closely with (Birenbaum) on the development of a regulatory framework for CBD products to ensure consumer safety and product quality across the country.”

THE WHY? Miller said: “After four years of inaction, we are hopeful that the appointment of Norman Birenbaum by the FDA signals a positive step forward for the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD.”