NAPLES, Fla. — A major medical marijuana company with locations in Southwest Florida is under fire from the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA sent Curaleaf a letter of warning over concerns that the cannabis company is marketing some of its products containing cannabidiod - or CBD - as being effective treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, opioid withdrawal and pain.
The FDA is concerned that those claims could prevent patients from seeking approved treatments.
"It should be taken as a supplement or as a preventative, not so much as a treatment," said Nick Garulay, CEO of Revita Oil in Naples, which sells CBD oil.
"Stating that CBD oil treats a condition is really not the best way to approach it," Garulay added. "Stating that CBD can help replenish your body's natural ability to heal itself is probably a much better statement to make."
CVS, which entered into a partnership with Curaleaf earlier this year, announced that it would stop selling the Curaleaf products named by the FDA.
A statement from Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. read in part:
"The Company will respond to the FDA letter within the required 15 working days...the Company is fully committed to complying with FDA requirements for all of the products that it markets."
Marketwatch reported that Curaleaf's shares dropped almost 7 percent Tuesday after the FDA's letter was sent.
