BBHW advocates for regulatory frameworks grounded in scientific evidence, rather than outdated stigmas. We support policies that reflect the latest research on the safety and efficacy of botanical products.

By aligning regulation with science, we have an opportunity to develop a future-facing, trusted, and robust national framework governing botanicals in the United States. We believe that such a framework should protect Americans by both preserving their ability to access safe, effective, and responsibly produced botanicals and by preventing bad actors from marketing unsafe drugs under the guise of botanical products.

Achieving these objectives will require evidence-based policy governing formulation, purity, consistency, efficacy, labeling and other key areas.

Today, the United States has a patchwork of laws and regulations governing botanical products, leading to gaps and inconsistencies in consumer protection. Together, we can solve these issues to the benefit of all Americans.

The most important focus areas for BBHW include purity, formulation, availability, consistency, labeling, marketing and enforcement. A small minority of jurisdictions maintain total bans on some safe and effective botanical products, depriving Americans of access to trusted brands and promoting black market alternatives. At the same time, due to gaps in regulation, bad actors are selling unsafe and deceptively marketed drugs through legal channels.

Intelligent public health policy will ensure access to proven, safe, and effective botanicals while cracking down on unsafe drugs that have filtered into legal retail settings.

As the leaders of America’s botanical industry, we take very seriously all harms associated with unsafe drugs sold with dishonest associations to real botanical products. To combat this problem, greater accountability will be required.

BBHW supports clear and enforceable standards governing purity, formulation, consistency, labeling, marketing, and other areas essential to public health and informed choice. When suppliers and retailers operate outside the law, they should face serious consequences. Cracking down on particularly egregious offences, such as selling dangerous synthetic drugs with dishonest marketing and labeling, should be considered a top priority.

Removing bad actors will ensure the health and safety of Americans seeking legitimate botanical products and maintain the availability of botanicals they rely on.