Lobbyists for GW Pharma are moving in anticipation of the FDA’s expected approval of Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug that has been developed by GW/Greenwich for the treatment of several rare childhood-onset epilepsy disorders.
There are a number of concerns should the current bill winding through the Colorado General Assembly (HB18-1187) gain favor with state lawmakers, according to Veronica Carpio, of the industrial hemp education and advocacy group, Grow Hemp Colorado. Colorado Capitol Watch’s description of the proposed measure is this: The bill makes it clear that if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves a prescription medicine that contains cannabidiol, thereafter, prescribing, dispensing, transporting, possessing, and using that prescription drug is legal in Colorado.
At a recent hemp stakeholder meeting hosted by GHC to discuss the bill, numerous issues were discussed. Among them were concerns about Colorado hemp industry’s investments being jeopardized by an out-of-country pharma company, and worries that the patents on CBD being sought by the company would threaten the industry as a whole in the future.
Other issues raised included unease with potentially classifying CBD as a drug, rather than a food.
“Our legislators love hemp in Colorado,” Carpio said. “Their intentions are good. But we need to know what this bill will mean and how will it affect us.”
Right now, GHC would like to see the bill killed, so that, in a year’s time, “We can see if we can come to terms and see how federal regulations will impact us,” Carpio said.
“It’s better to be conservative and protect our hemp industry in our state,” she added. “I don’t see anything wrong with a protectionist position.”
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