While the elimination of CBD from the list of prohibited substances by athletic federations and international institutions has led to more athletes using CBD, “There's a lot of confusion or lack of clarity from the FDA on how we're supposed to behave or market,” said Floyd Landis, founder of CBD brand Floyd's of Leadville.
As a consumer, Landis saw the benefits of CBD, so the former pro cyclist launched his Colorado-based business in 2016. But as an entrepreneur, he quickly learned that the CBD industry is rife with challenges.
“There has been some clarity since then, the USDA and the Farm Bill a couple of years ago actually made it clear that it was legal to grow it and use it. But now, we still have the issue about what to do with marketing and claims we can make or not make, and how to label it and all these things, so it's been an unusual journey,” said Landis.
Looking ahead, Landis hopes the 2023 Farm Bill will answer all the questions that keep the industry up at night.
“Really what we would like is just to be given guidance on what the category is,” said Landis. “Trying to figure out whether we can call it a dietary supplement or food or anything like that, we just need some guidance on what category we’re in so we can sleep at night.”
