CBD Firm Targeting Veterans, Military Takes Broadside On COVID Claims From US Agencies
Executive Summary
FTDA and FTC warn Patriot Supreme about noncompliant claims on its website and social media pages promoting CBD to prevent or treat infections from the coronavirus. However, a release Patriot Supreme distributed in July promoting CBD as a COVID-19 remedy remains in online circulation.
US regulatory agencies’ latest COVID-19 consumer health fraud target is an Arizona firm that markets its cannabidiol products to military members and veterans and that announced more than 400% sales growth from consumers’ response to the pandemic.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission submitted a joint warning letter to For Our Vets LLC, dba Patriot Supreme, referencing as noncompliant claims on its website and its social media pates promoting CBD to prevent or treat infections from the novel coronavirus.
The warning published on 20 October identified as violative claims on Patriot Supreme’s website including “there has been an increased interest in CBD and Covid-19 to treat lung problems and symptoms (mental or physical) associated with the coronavirus,” and CBD “is already being used to treat serious medical problems … where pain and/or inflammation are a major factor. This is why CBD has piqued the interest of the medical world as a significant aid to reduce inflammation for the COVID-19 lung inflammation.”
The Mesa, AZ, firm’s claims on its social media pages linking CBD use to preventing or treating COVID-19, followed or accompanied by a picture of its CBD products and a link to its website, included:
- “With the corona virus outbreak, researchers have been testing various drugs and methods that can help us cope with the virus and cure its symptoms. One such method is CBD, that is one of the extracts from cannabis. It has been determined that CBD may be beneficial in curing inflammation of the lungs caused by covid-19 (CBD inflammation covid).”
Patriot Supreme Offers cbd in roll-on formats, above, as well as capsules, oils and powders.
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“‘What we are seeing here is, what we feel, a direct effect from what's happening with the coronavirus. Our customers are suggesting that using CBD is helping to ease the symptoms of COVID-19. We are seeing people literally flocking to purchase high quality CBD for the potential relief it gives,’ states Justin Elenburg, Patriot Supreme's CEO and Founder.”
The firm’s website no longer features the claims the FDA and the FTC identified in their 16 October warning as violative. However, a press release Patriot Supreme distributed in July that promoted CBD as a COVID-19 remedy remains in online circulation. The release features the statement by the firm’s CEO that the regulatory agencies also found on its website.
“Patriot Supreme, the veteran-owned company behind 0.0% THC CBD for veterans and military families, has reported a substantial increase of 432% in its online sales since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the firm states in the release.
It adds that its “experienced a steady increase in sales” since its launch in 2019, but “has seen its largest jump ever in recent months, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic.” As well, in addition to veterans and military members, “a sizable portion of sales during COVID-19 [are] coming from non-military members,” Patriot Supreme stated.
The firm noted it had recently launched CBD gummies with melatonin to help relieve anxiety and stress and support normal sleep cycles. The product is gluten-free and is made with ingredients originating from US crops that are organic and GMO-free.
The warning also advises Patriot Supreme that it had 48 hours from receipt of the letter to respond to the FDA in an email describing the specific steps it’s taken to correct the violations, with an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as copies of related documentation.
Patriot Supreme was added to a list on the FDA’s website of businesses and websites the agency has warned about making fraudulent COVID-19 claims. Through 21 October, the list included 119 entries. (Also see "No Facility Inspections? No Shortage Of Bogus Pandemic Claims Found Online By US Agencies" - HBW Insight, 31 Mar, 2020.)
Like other firms on the list, after Patriot Supreme has “taken corrective actions to cease the sale of [its] unapproved and unauthorized products for the mitigation, prevention, treatment, diagnosis, or cure of COVID-19, and such actions have been confirmed by the FDA, the published list will be updated to indicate that [it] has taken appropriate corrective action,” the warning states.