As part of its ongoing efforts to address “unanswered questions about the science, safety, and quality of products” containing cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a multi-disciplinary conference to be held on November 19, 2020.  Hosted by the FDA’s Office of Women’s Health, the public meeting will discuss potential biological and psychosocial differences in use and responses to CBD and other cannabinoids.

The FDA’s upcoming conference aims to delve into scientific evidence suggesting the presence or absence of sex and gender differences in use and responses to CBD and other cannabinoids.  The conference will pay particular attention to the use of CBD and other cannabinoids during pregnancy, which the FDA considers “an important public health concern.”  The FDA’s conference announcement follows the agency’s public advisory issued in October 2019 against the use of CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.  Earlier this year, the state of California also added marijuana smoke and THC to its list of chemicals triggering Proposition 65 warnings for potential reproductive harm.

The FDA’s upcoming scientific conference will be held entirely online, and further information about the conference and links to register for the event can be found here.