If you keep hearing about CBD everywhere, then you’re not alone! The buzz surrounding CBD is everywhere- from health and food stores to newspapers to search engines. You can find CBD infused in popular drinks and snack brands and even in workout clothes now! People are putting it by the dropperful underneath their tongues, swallowing CBD capsules and mixing this hemp extract in their teas!
However, despite it being so popular, many people seem really confused about exactly what this hemp extract does. There’s a flood of misinformation out there in the market. Some believe that CBD is a cure-all for all health issues, while others believe that it is still illegal to use. So, what’s the actual truth? Today, we look at the top 10 misconceptions about CBD that need to be set straight right away.
Before we try our hand at debunking these myths, let’s briefly discuss what CBD is.
CBD: What Is This Sought-After Health Supplement?
One of the many chemical compounds (called cannabinoids) found in the Cannabis Sativa plant, CBD (short for cannabidiol) has a wide range of physiological effects on the body. CBD is found in both hemp and marijuana, two main varieties of the cannabis plant. However, it is found in greater quantities in the hemp plant and makes up about 40% of the plant.
CBD has a range of potential health benefits, which is a reason why it’s gained popularity as a health and wellness supplement. It is mainly used in the form of oils and edibles but can also be vaped and smoked. Anecdotal evidence as well as some animal studies do show that CBD can help alleviate stress, promote better sleep, help reduce minor aches and pains and even reduce redness and irritation associated with skin conditions like acne.
Top 10 Misconceptions About CBD
Let’s now take a look at the top misconceptions surrounding CBD and put the record straight.
Misconception #1: CBD Makes You High
This is the biggest myth out there. To clarify it, no, CBD does not make you high and is completely non-intoxicating. It is actually tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major cannabinoid found in marijuana, that is responsible for causing ‘high’ or euphoric sensations. In fact, a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
This very quality of CBD makes it an appealing option for those seeking pain relief, without the intoxicating and mind-altering effects of marijuana and prescription opioids.
Misconception #2: CBD Is Non-Psychoactive
This is also untrue and a widely misunderstood statement. CBD is non-intoxicating, but it is not non-psychoactive. It is technically incorrect to say so. CBD does have slight psychoactive effects on your mental state. It has been observed to exert a significant effect on mood in some studies and help reduce stress and anxiety.
Misconception#3: CBD Is Still Illegal In the UK
This is absolutely not the case. CBD is perfectly legal in the UK and is not a controlled substance. Therefore, there are no restrictions on its use. It is completely legal, as long as the CBD extract is derived from any one of the 63 EU approved industrial hemp strains. The change in the law regarding CBD came into effect recently.
On the other hand, cannabis oil, which constitutes a cannabis-derived product, is still illegal. It is, therefore, illegal to buy, sell or possess cannabis oil but not CBD oil.
Another point worth mentioning is that for any CBD product to be considered completely legal, it should adhere to the restrictions regarding the THC content. All finished CBD products need to have a THC content of less than 1mg per product. Any product exceeding this THC limit remains illegal and its usage is prohibited.
Misconception# 4: CBD Usage Results in Failed Drug Tests
This is a common myth surrounding CBD. The simple fact is that CBD products are perfectly legal in the UK. Moreover, there is currently no such thing as a CBD drug test. In the UK, only cannabis drug testing is done to detect the presence of THC. If the product you are consuming has no THC (CBD isolate) or less than 1mg THC content, you will not fail. However, an important point to note is that sometimes, unintentional THC contamination or using CBD products with high THC content can cause you to fail a drug test. Therefore, you should be careful and only buy CBD products from trusted vendors who can provide third-party test results.
Misconception#5: CBD Can Only Be Smoked
This is not true. There is a multitude of ways in which CBD can be taken. It can be used in the form of CBD oils or tinctures. It can also be taken in the form of CBD edibles such as CBD gummies or mixed in different foods and drinks. Nowadays, a wide range of CBD infused products is available in the market such as CBD lip balms, CBD muscle balms, CBD bath bombs, CBD cosmetics and even CBD sparkling water, tea, coffee, and honey! The list is endless. Moreover, CBD can also be vaped. So smoking CBD is not the only option.
Misconception# 6: CBD Takes Time to Work
This is not always the case. The timeframe and effects of CBD are dependent upon the method of consumption as well the person consuming the CBD. Different ways to consume CBD such as vaping, edibles, tinctures all have different bioavailability (how much CBD enters the bloodstream). For example, putting a few drops of CBD tincture under your tongue will allow the CBD to enter your bloodstream faster, as opposed to mixing it in a drink and consuming it. The effects of vaping cannabidiol can be felt within a few minutes.
Misconception#7: CBD Is Addictive
CBD is not addictive in any form. A recent study shows that even high doses of CBD of up to 1500mg per day were tolerated well by the human subjects. CBD poses no danger of abuse or drug dependency. This is because, unlike THC, CBD does not cause any intoxicating effects. On the contrary, CBD is observed to be actually effective at helping minimise addictive side effects of other pain management medications. Moreover, it also helps thwart addiction to other harmful substances.
A 2013 study highlighted the effectiveness of CBD as a means to reduce tobacco cigarette consumption. 24 regular tobacco smokers were studied. The researchers gave half the subjects a CBD inhaler while the other half were given a placebo. The instructions given were to use the inhaler when they felt the urge to smoke. Over a one-week duration, it was observed that those treated with CBD showed a reduction in smoking by 40%, while those given a placebo demonstrated no significant difference.
Misconception#8: CBD Is Sedating
CBD is not a sedative. While it’s true that it produces soothing and calming effects, the misconception that CBD is sedating may have sprung up for another reason. Some unregulated products containing CBD extracted from marijuana can have high concentrations of CBD, which can cause a sedating effect. Moreover, currently, there is medical research ongoing on CBD’s effects on anxiety. However, it’s important to understand that anxiety relief and sedation are not the same things!
Misconception #9: More CBD Is Better
Some people are under the misconception that taking a high dose of CBD is better than taking a small amount. This is not necessarily true. Several studies suggest that the therapeutic amount of CBD per serving differs for each individual. In reality, the entourage effect of full-spectrum CBD is quite effective at low doses. There are several factors that determine your ideal CBD dosage. These include:
This is another common misconception. The fact is that there are several CBD oil formulas on the market. These basically fall into the three categories of Full- spectrum, broad-spectrum and CBD Isolate.
- Your weight
- Health status
- Frequency and length of use
- Metabolism
- The health issue you’re addressing
Misconception#10: All CBD Oil Products Are Made the Same Way
Now the worrying thing is that since the CBD market is quite new, the regulations for the extraction and production process are still evolving. This gives an opportunity to vendors to sell low quality and unsafe products. Therefore, as a customer, you should do your own research before you buy any CBD product. To avoid subpar products, you should be wary of CBD products with misleading labels and deceiving buzzwords like ‘pure’, ‘organic’ and ‘all- natural’. You should also beware of products labelled hemp oil or hemp seed oil, as they typically do not contain any CBD. You should only buy CBD products that have undergone third-party lab testing, and which adhere to proper CBD oil labelling regulations.
Many times, it happens that you might be satisfied with one CBD product, and you might think of switching to another product in the hopes that it will give you the same results. This might not always happen. To get high-quality CBD, it must undergo high-quality processes from the very start, from how it is grown and extracted to the final manufactured product.
You should only buy from a trusted company that adheres to these high-quality standards. On CBD Village, you can find a host of CBD brands that fully adhere to all EU regulations and are hugely popular among CBD users. So, if you have had a bad experience with a low-quality CBD product, don’t lose hope in CBD. Instead, look for a high-quality CBD product from a renowned CBD brand on CBD Village.
Key Takeaways
Given that CBD is rising in popularity at such a fast pace, there are bound to be misconceptions regarding it. However, it is always important to do your own research and not just believe in rumours and myths. Hopefully, after reading this article you would now have a better idea of what CBD really is and will do your part to dispel any misconceptions you hear.
The post 10 Misconceptions About CBD That Need to Be Set Straight Now! first appeared on CBD Village UK.