Since I first started covering CBD five years ago, the industry has grown tremendously. The sale of CBD products is one of the fastest growing markets in a generation with sales of $390 million in 2018. The recent passage of the Farm Bill made it legal to grow, sell and consume CBD—cannabis products with a THC content below 0.3%. It can now be sold legally in all states.
Unscrupulous CBD products
As the CBD industry has grown rapidly, so have the unscrupulous products. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that 64% of CBD products were mislabeled. Some of the products studied had no CBD, some had too much and some had too much THC. Other studies have shown that some products contain dangerous synthetic ingredients and some have caused severe illnesses.
There is no accepted dose of CBD. In 2015 and 2016, the FDA sent warning letters to 14 businesses because the CBD content in their products was negligible or less than 1% of content. The JAMA researchers recommend:
...there is a continued need for federal and state regulatory agencies to take steps to ensure label accuracy of these consumer products. Underlabeling is less concerning as CBD appears to neither have abuse liability nor serious adverse consequences at high doses; however, the THC content observed may be sufficient to produce intoxication or impairment, especially among children.
Despite the mislabeling in the industry, CBD has shown remarkable results in epilepsy and has potent anti-psychotic and anti-cancer effects.
Cannabidiol (CBD)
The active ingredients in cannabis are called cannabinoids, and these are unique to the cannabis plant. Already more than 70 different cannabinoids in cannabis have been identified, including not only THC, but also Cannabidiol, or CBD. Other cannabinoids include CBG, CBC, CBN, THCa, THCv, CBGa, CBCa, CBCa, and CBDa among others.
While the chemical structure of these cannabinoids is related to THC, their biological effects are quite different as they have no psychotropic potential. THC is associated with pain relief, suppression of muscle spasms, reduction of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation. CBD is associated with the following:
- Analgesic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-anxiety
- Sleep-inducing
- Reduces nausea and vomiting
- Muscle relaxtant
- Anticonvulsant
- Antipsychotic
- Anticancer
- Improves blood circulation
- Lowers blood pressure
- Antidiabetic
- Relieves autoimmune disorders
- Stimulates bone production
- Antioxidant
- Antibacterial
CBD oil
CBD Oil is extracted from either the mature seeds or the mature stalks of the cannabis plant. It can be used as an ingestible in tinctures, supplements or capsules, as a highly concentrated oil that can be diluted in olive oil or in a smoothie, or as a topical in creams, oils and salves.
You’ve probably heard about Charlotte Fiji, whose rare seizure disorder, Dravet’s Syndrome, was dramatically alleviated by the cannabis extraction, CBD Oil. The CBD oil that Charlotte Figgi made famous is from a cannabis strain grown in Colorado by the Stanley Brothers, well-respected growers of medical marijuana. Charlotte’s Web, named after Charlotte Figgi, is now a recognized strain of medical marijuana with less than 0.3% THC. .
If you need a referral
CBD Oil is generally sold over the counter for stress, anxiety, insomnia, pain, and inflammation. For more serious conditions, consult with a healthcare practitioner experienced with prescribing CBD. And, it’s a good idea to consult with your primary health care provider before you take CBD, especially if you’re taking prescription medications. Here are two doctors experienced with CBD who may be able to offer referrals:
If you are looking for help with Parkinson’s Disease, Maureen Leehey, MD, and her neurology team at the University of Colorado School of Medicine are launching a pioneering study on CBD and Parkinson’s.
CBD and THC for pain
Dr. Rav Iker, author of Cannabis for Chronic Pain, says that his patients have found that CBD alone (less than 1% of THC) is not an effective analgesic for chronic pain unless it is used in conjunction with some THC. According to Dr. Iker,
“the combination of the cannabinoids CBD and THC is the safest and most potent pain-relieving medicine in existence.”
CBD and THC work synergistically: THC appears to enhance the analgesic effects of CBD. According to Dr. Iker, the products that are the most effective for pain have a CBD: THC ratio of 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1. Dr. Iker’s book has an extensive list of the best marijuana strains for relieving pain, including:
- Harlequin
- Cannatonic
- Charlotte’s Web
- Otto
- Haley’s Hope
- Lucy
- Cannatsunami
- Strawberry Cookie
- Remedy
If you are looking for a CBD product to relieve pain, choose one that has the CBD:THC ratios recommended by Dr. Iker.
How to choose a reliable CBD product?
Be cautious about the effectiveness claims of many CBD products on the market today. Be sure and read the list of ingredients; CBD oil should be at the top of the list. If the product were approved by the FDA it would be required to have a Certificate of Analysis, an authenticated document issued by an appropriate authority, that certifies the quality and purity of the product. Does the product you are interested in have a Certificate of Analysis on their website? Here are some other things to consider when looking for a good company and an effective product:
- Is the packaging clear? Does it give you the information you need?
- Is the website helpful?
- Is the product simple and easy to use?
- What is the mission of the company?
- Who are the owners of the company?
- Is the product independently reviewed? Are there user reviews?
- What is the company’s customer service reputation?
- Is the product sourced domestically or internationally?
- What is the carrier oil for the CBD?
- Do you like the taste?
- Are the ingredients organic or certified organic?
- What is the cost of the product? The price per milligram of CBD?
In their article, “The 20 Best CBD Oils for 2019,”: Rave Reviews compares the top 20 CBD companies. Here are their top five:
- Fab
- Moon Mother
- Recepta Naturals
- Lazarus Naturals
- cbdMD
How do you measure the effectiveness of CBD?
Because the field of medical cannabis is changing so rapidly and research lags behind usage, it’s important to create your own criteria for evaluating a good CBD product and company. Research a company and review its website and customer reviews before you buy. When you use a product, consider the milligrams of the product. Start with a lower dosage at first and increase the dosage after you experience its effectiveness or lack of effectiveness. Keep track of the dosage and what you experience after you take different dosages. Note how many times a day you have to take it. Consider your body weight when determining proper dosage. Don’t be afraid to ask for a refund if a product doesn’t meet your expectations.
About Peggy O’Mara. I am an independent journalist who edits and publishes peggyomara.com. I was the editor and publisher of Mothering Magazine for over 30 years and founded Mothering.com in 1995. My books include Having a Baby Naturally, Natural Family Living, The Way Back Home and A Quiet Place.I have conducted workshops at Omega Institute, Esalen, La Leche League, and Bioneers. I am the mother of four and grandmother of three. Please check out my email newsletter with free tips on parenting, activism, and healthy living.
You forgot the third, cannabis ruderalis.
Thanks, Andy. I didn’t include on purpose as I just wanted to focus on indica and sativa as they are the cultivated ones, and ruderalis, as you know, is the wild variety.
Peggy,
This is a fabulously educational article. Thank you for making the distinctions for everyone clear and easy to understand. We work with CBD here in Colorado grown from Industrial Hemp. Our first harvest happened earlier this year. The future of CBD therapies is now and we are so happy to be able to supply people with high quality CBD products at a good price. Stop by our site to say hi. We are nice people and will work with people to help them get what they need. Don’t see a sale on the site, e-mail us…we’ll give you sale pricing. We are Colorado proud and know what we are doing. One love!! YCBS – Frank
This was an incredibly well-researched and written article that breaks down CBD medicine very well. Interestingly, many people are also finding that the efficacy of extracts based on high THC strains is the same or better than CBD strains when processed in a similar manner, and without decarboxylation it doesn’t get the patient high. Here’s a fantastic example: http://www.healthyhopes.org/blog/watch-this-little-girls-seizures-stop-when-given-emergency-cannabis-oil
Is it safe to take cbd oil as a supplement while nursing?
I don’t know. In the book, Smoke Signals, there’s a lot of information on CBD and some mention of breastfeeding.
Anyone who has red the book could provide the information?
Hi so does the same law stand for the uk..as in less than 0.2 percent thc is legal…we have a child very similar to Charlotte figi with intractable epilepsy x kind thanks mamajose x
Hi Mamajose. I don’t know what the law is in the UK, but here’s a link to a recent eConference on Medical Marijuana and Autism. Perhaps one of the presenters could help you.
Hi Peggy! I have some questions that I would prefer to keep private, is there an email address I can write you so I don’t have to post on this page? Thanks!
Please email me at peggyomara@peggyomara.com
I am desperately trying to get some cbd shipped to me. Do you know if cbd is legal in greece?
I don’t know about the legality of CBD in Greece. However, I know of two companies that make CBD oil from hemp that is not psychoactive and so is not illegal anywhere.
One of the companies is HempMeds with their Real Scientific Hemp Oil. They say they ship worldwide.
The other company is Dose of Nature with their RedStrap Hemp Extracts. Here’s a review I wrote of their products.
I haven’t used either of these products myself long enough to recommend their effectiveness, but I know that both companies are available to answer questions and are very responsive. Good luck!
Are there any studies or articles that I can show my mamas who are looking to use CBD while breastfeeding? I’ve found some, but always looking for more. I am an affiliate for a top notch CBD vendor called AON Mother Nature. We offer several high quiality USDA organic lab tested (labs available), CBD oil products from gummies, vapes, edibles (to come next week)…. So exciiiiiiiting!!!!
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Thank you, Nikki. You might find this article interesting as it talks about cannabis and pregnancy and a bit about breastfeeding. Also, here’s an article on another site that reviews the scant research on medical cannabis and breastfeeding.
I would like to join your fb page. I suffer from anxiety and am breastfeedimg and i would love more information.
Here’s a link to my Facebook Page. Send me an email and let’s talk more. Thank you for your comment.
As I am in the UK where high THC is illegal, do you know if CBD oil is an appetite stimulant please, despertate to help my wife. Thanks in advance?
Here is a study from the National Cancer Institute that says: “Many animal studies have previously demonstrated that delta-9-THC and other cannabinoids have a stimulatory effect on appetite and increase food intake. It is believed that the endogenous cannabinoid system may serve as a regulator of feeding behavior. The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide potently enhances appetite in mice.[38] Moreover, CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus may be involved in the motivational or reward aspects of eating.[39]”
However, delta-9-THC is not in CBD oil, but in psychoactive cannabis. Psychoactive cannabis is definitely an appetite stimulant. Here’s more information.
Excellent article, Peggy, and very timely too. I have a patient with epilepsy who is looking into CBD oil. I will send her a link to your very informative piece. Thank you!
So nice to hear from you, Cynthia. I’m glad you find the article helpful.
Thanks, Peggy for the astonishing guide about CBD. It clears most of the doubts.