Amazon’s official policy prohibits the sale of hemp products containing CBD/cannabinoid, but search the term “CBD” in Amazon’s search engine and more than 10,000 products will match your request. Organic & Natural Health Association put Amazon’s bestseller, New Age Premium Hemp Oil to the test by hiring an independent, third-party lab, California-based Alkemist Labs, that has experience testing for the presence and levels of cannabinoids. After testing a sample of New Age Premium Hemp Oil 1000 MG, the Alkemist Labs report showed 7.7 mg of CBD per 30 drops, which is equivalent to 1 percent.
“It’s really important for consumers to know that because Amazon doesn’t allow the sale of products with CBD, there are no reputable companies selling CBD on their site,” said Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of Organic & Natural Health Association. “Amazon allows companies to tag products with whatever words they choose and they also allow them to purchase CBD ads. This is what populates so-called CBD products on Amazon when consumers search for them, but it’s very misleading. Amazon is not a retailer you should be making quality CBD purchases from, and if you do, then you are likely overpaying for low-quality supplements.”
Howard said her organization started looking into Amazon’s CBD selling practices when reputable supplement companies were being denied by Amazon to sell CBD/cannabinoid or full-spectrum hemp oil. If a company attempts to list a CBD/cannabinoid or full spectrum hemp oil product on Amazon’s site, it will get rejected with a redirect to its drug and paraphernalia policy and the following statement from Amazon: “This product has been identified as a prohibited CBD/cannabinoid product. Items containing CBD/cannabinoid or full spectrum hemp oil, including topical products, are prohibited from listing or sale on Amazon.”
“So basically, Amazon states it has banned the sale of CBD supplements on its site, but allows advertising and tagging of CBD instead, inviting an influx of products to consumers that the FDA has been warning about,” said Howard, whose organization also tested three other hemp oils being sold on Amazon, and did not detect any CBD. “Essentially, the public is being defrauded twice. First, Amazon’s bestseller, New Age Premium Hemp Oil contains CBD even though its label does not list CBD. Second, those searching for CBD products are being misled into buying products containing zero CBD.”
Howard said label claims made on New Age Premium Hemp Oil are also illegal, listing that the product works to: “Naturally relieve aches and pains, including: multiple sclerosis pain, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis aches, sore muscles, runner’s knee and joints, neck and back pain.”
In recent statements, Amazon has been vocal about prohibiting the sale of counterfeit products, telling USA TODAY that, “Amazon strictly prohibits the sale of counterfeit products. We invest heavily in prevention, take proactive steps to drive counterfeits to zero, and work with and empower brands through programs like Brand Registry, Transparency and Project Zero.”
For more information, visit www.organicandnatural.org.
