Cannabidiol, also known as marijuana or hemp, contains the chemical Cannabis sativa. Cannabinoids are a group of over 80 chemicals found in the Cannabis sativa plant. While the main active ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol can also be obtained from hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC.
The 2018 Farm Bill made it legal in the United States to sell hemp and hemp-based products. However, this does not mean that all cannabidiol products derived from hemp are legal. Because it is still being studied as a new drug, cannabidiol cannot be legally included in foods or dietary supplements. Additionally, cannabidiol cannot be used in products that make therapeutic claims. It is now legal to sell hemp and hemp products in the United States, thanks to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. That isn’t to say that all cannabidiol products derived from hemp are legal. Cannabidiol cannot be legally included in foods or dietary supplements until it has been studied as a new drug. Furthermore, cannabidiol cannot be used in products that claim to be therapeutic.
What we know and don’t know about cannabidiol (CBD)
Cannabidiol (CBD) has received a lot of press recently, and you might have seen it as a supplement in your post-workout smoothie or morning coffee. What is CBD, exactly? What’s the deal with it suddenly becoming popular?
Cannabidiol differs from marijuana in what ways?
CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol. It’s marijuana’s second most common active ingredient (marijuana). CBD is a component of medical marijuana that comes from the hemp plant, which is a relative of the marijuana plant. While CBD is one of the hundreds of components in marijuana, it does not produce a “high” by itself. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, “CBD has no effects Suggests that in humans it may be abusive or addictive. There has been no evidence of any public health issues associated with the use of pure CBD to date.”
Is cannabidiol legal?
CBD still exists in many parts of the United States, despite its legal status. CBD is legal in all 50 states with various restrictions, and the federal government considers CBD a marijuana class, but it is rarely active. The FDA relaxed regulatory requirements in December 2015, allowing researchers to conduct CBD experiments. Many people who do not have a medical cannabis card now buy CBD online. The government’s position on CBD is unclear, depending on whether the CBD is obtained from cannabis or marijuana. The legal status of the CBD is likely to change and it is difficult to ban the CBD as there is currently bipartisan support in Congress to legalize hemp.
Cannabidiol’s health benefits are supported by evidence.
CBD has been touted for a variety of health issues, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its efficacy in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which do not respond to anti-seizure medications.CBD has been shown in numerous studies to reduce the number of seizures and, in some cases, to completely stop them. Videos of the effects of CBD on these children and their seizures can be found easily on the Internet, and they are quite impressive. Epidiolex, which contains CBD, was recently approved by the FDA as the first cannabis-derived medicine for these conditions.
CBD is commonly used to treat anxiety, and studies suggest that CBD may aid in falling and staying asleep in patients suffering from insomnia.
CBD could be an effective treatment for a number of chronic pain conditions. Applying CBD to the skin can reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, according to a study published in the European Journal of Pain. Another study showed how CBD inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain, two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat. More human research is needed in this area to back up CBD proponents’ claims about pain relief. More human research is needed in this area to support CBD proponents’ claims about pain control.
Is CBD a safe substance?
Nausea, fatigue, and irritability are some of the CBD’s side effects. Just like grapefruit juice, CBD can raise the level of thinner chlorhexidine in your blood as well as other medications in your blood. CBD is primarily marketed and sold as a supplement, not a medication, which raises serious safety concerns. Dietary supplements are currently uncontrolled by the FDA in terms of safety and purity. As a result, you can’t be certain that the product you buy contains active ingredients in the dose specified on the label. Other “unknown” elements may also be present in the product. Other (unknown) substances could be present in the product. We also have no idea what the most effective CBD therapeutic dose is for any given medical condition.
How does it work?
The brain is affected by cannabidiol. The exact cause of these side effects is unknown. Cannabidiol, on the other hand, appears to prevent the breakdown of a brain chemical that affects pain, mood, and mental function. Preventing this chemical’s breakdown and increasing its blood levels appears to reduce psychotic symptoms associated with conditions like schizophrenia. Cannabidiol may also inhibit some of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol’s psychoactive effects (THC). Cannabidiol appears to be effective in the treatment of pain and anxiety.
What are the benefits and how effective are they?
Seizure disorder is likely to be effective (epilepsy). The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a prescription product (Epidiolex, GW Pharmaceuticals) to treat seizures caused by Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex. It’s unclear whether other forms of CBD can help with seizures. For the time being, sticking to the prescription product.CBD has sparked interest for a variety of other uses, but there isn’t enough reliable data to say whether it will be beneficial in these situations.
Likely Effective
Epilepsy is a type of seizure disorder (epilepsy). The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a prescription product (Epidiolex, GW Pharmaceuticals) to treat seizures caused by Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex. It’s unclear whether other forms of CBD can help with seizures. For the time being, stick to the prescription product.
CBD has sparked interest for a variety of other uses, but there isn’t enough reliable data to say whether it will be beneficial in these situations.
Possibly Effective
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that affects people of all ages (MS).In people with MS, a prescription-only nasal spray containing both 9-delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (Sativex, GW Pharmaceuticals) has been shown to help with pain, muscle tightness, and urination frequency. Outside of the United States, this product is used in over 25 countries. However, the evidence for cannabidiol’s effectiveness in treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis when used alone is mixed. According to preliminary research, using a cannabidiol spray under the tongue may improve pain and muscle tightness in MS patients, but not muscle spasms, tiredness, bladder control, mobility, well-being, or quality of life.
Side Effects
CBD is possibly safe to take inappropriate doses when taken by mouth. It has been shown that doses of up to 300 mg per day can be safely used for up to 6 months. Higher doses of 1200-1500 mg per day have also been taken for up to 4 weeks with no side effects.
CBDs can cause side effects such as dry mouth, low blood pressure, mild headaches, and drowsiness. Signs of liver damage have also been reported in high doses of the CBD prescription Ebidiolex.
There isn’t enough reliable data to say whether CBD is safe or what the potential side effects are when applied to the skin.
Warnings and Special Precautions for CBD
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Taking CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding may be dangerous. CBD products may contain other ingredients that are harmful to a developing fetus or infant. Stay away from it if you want to be safe.
- Children may be able to take a specific prescription CBD product (Epidiolex) by mouth in doses up to 25 mg/kg per day. This product is safe to use in children over the age of one who has certain medical conditions. It’s unclear whether other CBD products are safe for kids.
- People who have the liver disease may need to take lower doses of CBD.
- Parkinson’s disease: Some preliminary research suggests that high doses of CBD may exacerbate muscle movement and tremors in some Parkinson’s patients.
Cannabidiol’s final word
The government has chastised some CBD manufacturers for making unsubstantiated claims, such as that CBD is a cancer cure, which it is not. More research is required. but CBD could be an effective treatment for anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. We can’t pinpoint effective doses because there isn’t enough high-quality evidence from human studies, and because CBD is mostly available as an unregulated supplement, it’s difficult to know exactly what you’re getting. If you decide to try CBD, check with your doctor to make sure it won’t interact with any other medications you’re taking.