Are CBD’s Safe?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical often found in marijuana and hemp. CBD does not contain any tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. THC is the compound that causes the “high” that people associate cannabis with. Because there are NO psychoactive ingredients in CBD, it is a non-intoxicating compound with therapeutic properties. CBD comes in oil form, but also in tablets, vapor and capsules. While in the United States the uses of CBD are still in the infancy stages of research, the World Health Organization has done extensive research on the subject and have determined the following:

“CBD has been demonstrated as an effective treatment of epilepsy in several clinical trials. There is also preliminary evidence that CBD may be a useful treatment for a number of other medical conditions. There is unsanctioned medical use of CBD based products with oils, supplements, gums, and high concentration extracts available online for the treatment of many ailments. CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile. Reported adverse effects may be as a result of drug-drug interactions between CBD and patients’ existing medications.” (CANNABIDIOL (CBD) Critical Review Report Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Fortieth Meeting Geneva, 4-7 June 2018)

Benefits and Side Effects

What the WHO report lays out is that while there are some side effects to using CBD (dry mouth, sleepiness, reduced appetite) it’s benefits, according to the WHO, are beneficial in reducing seizures, reducing inflammation, helping anxiety, and managing diabetes. And as the research is still new they are finding more benefits all the time.

So, are they safe? In a word, Yes. Due to the research by the World Health Organization, many countries have opened the doors to allowing the use of CBD as a medicinal product. What a person does need to be aware of though, is if you are under the medical care of a doctor and are being prescribed medication, ask your doctor about the use of cannabinoids.