True Terpenes Responds to FDA Questions on Cannabis Terpenes

SILVER SPRING, Md., June 17, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- True Terpenes has submitted their final comments and response to the FDA following the historic hearing on cannabis and hemp.

Following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill the useage of hemp, cannabidiol and terpenes has expanded exponentially. In response the FDA has moved to research a new framework for regulating the use of hemp in food. To gather information on the topics the FDA held a public hearing on May 31, 2019. The FDA said the goal of the public hearing was to obtain scientific data and information about the safety, manufacturing, product quality, marketing, labeling, and sale of products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds.

The FDA received almost 400 requests to present and/or provide oral remarks at the hearing. Due to time and space constraints, less than half of those who requested to speak could be accommodated. However, True Terpenes Chief Science Officer David Heldreth was selected to testify at the FDA.

While most of the hearing focused on CBD, Heldreth and True Terpenes are most interested in the future of hemp terpenes.

Terpenes are the compounds responsible for the scent and taste of plants such as lavender (linalool), rosemary (alpha-pinene) and hops (myrcene) and even cannabis. True Terpenes is a Portland, Oregon based company focused on utilizing botanically-derived terpenes to replicate the aroma, flavor and effects of cannabis. The lack of any cannabis allows their products to be food grade and utilized in food, drink and related products. This is because hemp-derived terpenes are not currently allowed in food products.

However, True Terpenes advocated for the FDA to allow the use of hemp terpenes in food and beverage products. The FDA board asked Heldreth to supply a follow up on information related to how extraction methods increase terpenes and cannabinoids, and the safety of those items for use.

"Imagine hemp leaf salads with terpene dressings, hemp terpene flavored sodas, or your favorite beer with a skunky hemp note," Heldreth told the FDA during the hearing.

True Terpenes' formal response includes data on the safety of terpenes, quantities found in food products and the benefits of steam distillation for reducing cannabinoid content in hemp food products.

True Terpenes is also suggesting that the FDA consider developing a standard for the testing of pesticides, solvents, heavy metals and other contaminants. True Terpenes has developed their own system known as True Grade as a model standard for the industry to adopt for consumer safety. While food grade is a designation regulated by the FDA and related laws, True Grade is representational of the toughest standards for cannabis inhalation products in the United States including states like California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Visit TrueTerpenes.com to view the entire response to the FDA or learn more about the company. The FDA is accepting written and digital comments for those who were unable to attend until July 2.

SOURCE True Terpenes