CBD edibles can’t be labeled organic, says EU court

CBD edibles have become a popular supplement for relaxation — but that hasn’t stopped the EU’s top court from taking a high-strung approach to the bloc’s food rules. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled Thursday that CBD-based food products cannot be certified as organic. The hangup: they’re not technically legal on the EU market.

It’s a bummer for consumers looking to grab some gummies with CBD derived without pesticides — and for the Professional Hemp Trade Association, which launched the case in France. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive chemical component found in marijuana that’s gained a reputation as a way to take a chill pill without getting high. In some European countries, wellness shops are using a legal grey zone to sell CBD products that aren’t explicitly marketed for human consumption — often with a wink.

In France, some hemp sellers wanted to sell them with an organic label. But the the judges shut that down. The European Commission classifies natural CBD as a so-called novel food, and it has yet to receive authorization to be sold on the EU market.