Shoppers seeking cannabis oil are now able to purchase the product on the high street.
Holland & Barrett, which has 750 stores in the UK and Ireland, has announced it has seen a surge in sales since it began selling CBD oil in January.
The retailer, whose sales have soared by 37 per cent, is selling the oil, derived from a natural compound found in the cannabis plant, for £19.99.
Campaigners have repeatedly claimed it can help multiple sclerosis sufferers, curb pain and even treat anxiety.
However Holland & Barrett’s product has been launched as a food supplement, meaning the firm can’t claim any of those benefits.
Holland & Barrett, which has 750 stores in the UK and Ireland, has announced it has seen a surge in sales since it began selling CBD oil in January
The retailer has avoided the lengthy process of gaining a medicinal licence in order to get it onto shelves across the UK.
Government advisors made it legal to buy CBD oil in England and Wales in 2016 and admitted it had a ‘restoring, correcting or modifying’ effect on humans.
However, its legal status has confused thousands as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency back-tracked on its position just a few weeks after.
Suppliers now have to obtain a licence to sell it as a medicine, following the decision in October two years ago – but some weave the strict rules.
Holland & Barrett began selling CBD oil in January, and is now planning to bring out a new range containing the cannabis derivative.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of more than 80 cannabinoids, natural compounds found in the marijuana plant.
Extracted from the plant as a mineral-rich oil, it is usually bottled with a dropper – but also comes in the form of chewing gum, soap or as a vape oil for e-cigarettes.
It has no side effects, either, and is not addictive.
It has been reported to help people with epilepsy, rheumatism, migraines, psoriasis, acne, multiple sclerosis and depression.
Crucially, cannabidiol oil does not contain any THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. In other words, CBD does not get you high.
The Cannabis Trades Association UK shows that there are now 250,000 users of CBD Oil across the UK, which is up from the 125,000 recorded this time last year.
Reviews on the Holland & Barrett website say CBD Oil is excellent and has helped ease pain for a wide range of problems.
The company also say it’s one of the most asked about products in store and at their call centre – customers want to know how it works and what it can help them with.
A spokesperson from Holland & Barrett said: ‘We have been surprised at the success and popularity of CBD Oil since launch.
‘We knew that there were numerous trends surfacing around this liquid but we didn’t expect to see sales increase this dramatically’.
‘We are constantly looking to bring, new and innovative products to market that help our customers. It is great to see in this instance that we can help with the demand.’
WHAT IS CANNABIS OIL AND IS IT LEGAL IN THE UK?
Government advisors made it legal to buy CBD oil in 2016
Government advisors made it legal to buy CBD oil in 2016 after they admitted that it has a ‘restoring, correcting or modifying’ effect on humans.
However, the oils legal status has confused thousands across England and Wales, after the MHRA back-tracked on its position just weeks after.
Suppliers now have to obtain a licence to sell it as a medicine, following the decision in October two years ago – but some weave the strict rules.
Manufacturers are able to avoid regulation by selling it as a food supplement – ignoring the lengthy process of gaining a medicinal licence.
CBD oil, which can reportedly help with back pain, anxiety and epilepsy, has yet to be approved for use on the NHS in Scotland.
Billy Caldwell, from Castlederg, Northern Ireland, made headlines in April when he became the first Briton to be prescribed CBD on the NHS.
CBD, which reportedly has no side effects, influences the release and uptake of ‘feel good’ chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
The compound has been credited with helping to relieve pain and stiffness, as well as aiding conditions such as anxiety.
CBD comes in many forms, the most popular being an oil – which users spray under their tongue – or gel tablets which melt slowly in the mouth.
Neither form contain THC – which causes the ‘high’ in cannabis.