There are thousands of blogs and websites that write about CBD and all the alleged, positive wellness benefits available to you while you’re taking it. But is any of it true? Can CBD contribute to better health? Well, we are not going to make any health claims because there simply hasn’t been enough battle-tested data for concise scientific conclusions.
However, respected institutions have done studies that have come to some interesting conclusions about how CBD interacts with the body, and what potential wellness benefits may be right around the corner.
The following article brings together the science and the real-world trials that CBD has been through, with the results that people have experienced, so far. We have pulled together published articles from trusted sources for your review. Plus, they provide access to some of the information gathered by medical marijuana doctors, both positive and negative.
What is CBD?
First, it’s important to understand exactly what CBD is, and where it comes from. CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found within marijuana and hemp plants. CBD is one of the hundreds of different cannabinoids, some you probably never heard of, and some you have, like CBD and THC.
CBD is the non-psychoactive component of marijuana and is considered more in the hemp family than in the traditional marijuana family, like THC, which is the active psychoactive part of marijuana that people are familiar with already.
Higher concentrations of CBD are found in hemp plants than in marijuana plants, and hemp is farmed on a large scale. CBD is extracted from the plants for use in oils and other products.
How Does CBD Oil Work?
The interesting part about CBD is how it works within the body. It doesn’t mask or temporarily reduce sensations like pain. That is what traditional types of medications like Tylenol do. CBD molecules find their way into the endocannabinoid system which exists naturally and contributes to one’s bodily functions.
CBD molecules find and interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors located in cells within the endocannabinoid system and other cells throughout the body. It is within this interaction that studies find the best wellness contributions can be measured.
Respectable CBD Studies
In 2016, a study by The National Institute of Health (NIH) found that overall, current evidence indicates CBD has considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders, with the need for further study of chronic and therapeutic effects in relevant clinical populations.
There is a 2020 study by the NIH about CBD and the effects it has on sleep. They point out the potential benefits of acute cannabinoids for sleep improvement, but also the potential sleep-disruptive effects of withdrawal following chronic cannabinoid drug use. Prescriptions for future research in this burgeoning field are also provided.
Many studies have been done since the early 2000s about the effects of CBD on pain in patients suffering from an array of medical conditions. Although all of them conclude that more studies need to be done, there are positive results found within many of the studies.
In patients with fibromyalgia, CBD treatment decreased pain by more than 30% in significantly more patients than a placebo.
Has The FDA Approved CBD for Anything?
Yes! In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first hemp-derived medication to treat seizures in Dravet’s Syndrome patients. After many clinical studies, it was discovered that CBD could effectively reduce the severity and length of seizures without the harsh side effects of traditional anti-seizure medications. Epidiolex is the official name of this medication, which is legal and has been prescribed since 2018.
What Side Effects Can I Expect from Taking CBD?
As with anything you put into your body that gets metabolized, there will be effects that you expect and typically want, and some side effects that might be considered negative. CBD does not change a person’s mood, even at high dosages. There simply isn’t enough THC to make the CBD oil psychoactive in nature.
However, just like when you take regular marijuana with THC, you will get the munchies, which is slang for being suddenly hungry, when taking CBD oil. The ultimate effects & side effects may depend on the types, either Indica or Sativa leaning marijuana strains used, to create the CBD oil. You can turn this into a positive by making healthy eating choices whenever this happens, instead of consuming cookies, ice cream, and cake, which are famous munchies foods.
Some additional side effects that some people report from regular CBD usage include:
- The ‘munchies’
- Feeling sleepy or being more tired than usual
- Becoming un-constipated or being more regular
- Some CBD oil derived from Sativa strains may cause unwanted anxiety
Is CBD Legal in America?
The legalities surrounding CBD had been somewhat confusing up until the 2018 Farm Bill, which was legislation that was signed into law and now governs the legal sales of industrial hemp-derived products. The Farm Bill dictates that hemp products like CBD oil must contain less than .03% of THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.
Now, any CBD oil for sale must adhere to the regulations the Act defined. Plus, states can and do make their own laws that regulate CBD sales in their states.
For example, CBD oil in Florida is legal if it meets or exceeds the 2020 CBD laws, which were officially enacted by the state government. The law states that CBD sold in the Sunshine State must contain less than .03% THC. It must be clearly labeled with a scannable QR code that goes to the 3rd party lab testing for that batch of CBD for sale. This further protects consumers by being transparent and efficiently testing their products for impurities and quality CBD content.
What Additional Ways is CBD Oil Legal?
Another way to legally obtain CBD oil in states where marijuana is legal is by becoming an approved medical marijuana patient and obtaining an MMJ card. These people can visit an approved cannabis dispensary near them, and purchase CBD oil as prescribed/recommended by their physician.
Only approved patients may obtain CBD oil from dispensaries because they are closely monitored by the state and must fully comply with local state laws, which require patients to become certified first.
Recap:
- CBD oil is legal provided it meets or exceeds the 2018 Farm Bill rules & regulations
- State CBD laws can add additional stipulations and regulations to buy and sell CBD locally
- Any company that sells CBD oil online must adhere to Federal laws and any state or local laws where their products are purchased
- Approved patients may obtain CBD from approved medical marijuana dispensaries near them
Wrapping This Up!
We have come leaps and bounds in understanding more about CBD and its effects on human beings, physically, mentally, and emotionally. CBD is not the “fix-all” compound that it was originally touted to be by many different organizations and people. It will not cure anything, nor will it be able to effectively treat anything by itself. We don’t have any scientific evidence to prove that CBD is a medicine, whatsoever.
But still, respected organizations have thoroughly reviewed CBD through clinical trials and in-lab testing. They all concluded that CBD could aid in treating the symptoms from many different conditions while being free from too many side effects that are considered negative.
Many more studies are underway, and more science-based evidence will surely become public records soon. The CBD frenzy that has swept the nation continues to grow and conform to new therapeutic uses that get discovered.