What is CBD? Celebrities, and their pets, use it. Many people swear by it to help them with various health problems. So why does the market seem inundated with it and what’s all the fuss about CBD? I decided to research it as I had many questions about it too.
What is it?
CBD (or Cannabidiol) is a common compound in the Cannabis sativa plant. The most famous is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) the active ingredient that creates the “high.” The plant is believed to have originated in Central Asia and first documented in 2800 BC.
Much interest has been seen in CBD and its potential for health benefits. It doesn’t cause a “high” by itself and can also be manufactured in a laboratory. CBD is well known as an oil, but it’s sold as an extract, capsules, patches (adhesive patches applied to the skin), vapes, and topical preparations for use on the skin. CBD is also infused in food, drinks and beauty products. The oil is mixed with a carrier oil.
Legal?
All 50 states have laws legalizing CBD with varying degrees of control. In 2018, the Farm Bill made hemp legal in the U.S. The Farm Bill removed all hemp-derived products, including CBD, from the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that CBD is legal if it comes from hemp, but not if it comes from cannabis (marijuana).
Marketing CBD added to food or labeling it as a dietary supplement is currently illegal. The FDA has seen only limited data about CBD safety and this data points to real risks that need to be considered before taking CBD for any reason. Some CBD products are being marketed with unproven medical claims and are of unknown quality.
Science stuff?
CBD has been advertised for a wide range of health issues, without the “high”, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating childhood epilepsy syndromes that don’t usually respond to antiseizure medications, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Epidiolex, containing CBD, is the first cannabis-derived medicine approved by the FDA for these conditions.
CBD is also advertised for providing relief for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia and staying asleep, chronic pain, pain and inflammation due to arthritis, inflammatory and neuropathic pain, drug addiction, back pain, psoriasis, osteoarthritis, and even cancer. It is important to note that these claims are based on some studies and further research is needed. The most effective therapeutic dose of CBD for any particular medical condition is also unknown.
Any side effects then?
These include nausea, fatigue, irritability, dry mouth, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, and drowsiness. CBD may also interact with other medications you may be taking, such as blood thinners. More concerning is that CBD is primarily marketed and sold as a supplement, not a medication and the FDA does not regulate the safety and purity of dietary supplements. You cannot be sure that the product you are buying has the active ingredients at the dose listed on the label and may contain other unknown elements.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you are encouraged to avoid CBD. As quality assurance is a big concern in the industry, make sure your CBD products are tested by a third party to confirm the label’s accuracy. A third party is a reputable independent organization with no ties to the company selling the product.
It may yet prove to be a wonder product in the medical field, but much more research is needed. I for one am going to keep a close eye on this “wonder product”.
