Two consumers have filed a class-action lawsuit against a California CBD company for selling unapproved drugs, dietary supplements and foods, the latest in a series of suits that have hit the CBD industry since the Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to 15 companies last month.

Farmers should join the enthusiasm about industrial hemp’s huge potential, ranging from medicinal uses to bioplastics, chemicals, fuels, paper and bioremediation – but proceed with caution.

When it comes to food or “health” products containing cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, the federal government is not keeping up with the marketplace, where sales of CBD products topped $500 million in 2018.

The legalization of hemp in the 2018 farm bill has led to enthusiasm for the plant’s market prospects, but experts say farmers need to be careful before they leap headlong into the industry.