The market for CBD products is growing every day, new products are regularly coming onto the market with new brands joining in on the craze. Consumers don’t often have a full understanding of what CBD actually is, what it can do and if it’s even safe to use.
Is CBD safe? CBD is safe to use healthwise and legally. Purchasing from reputable, trusted sources and brands minimizes any risk of buying a product that does not contain what it says on the label.
Taking CBD can lead to false-positive results on drug tests, read onto for further explanation.
Potential side effects associated with its use are minimal and uncommon.
Benefits include aiding in relieving chronic pain and reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Many variables have to be considered with CBD because it depends on the product, the quality of it and how some people metabolize CBD differently, just as with any biohacking supplement.
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Healthwise, is CBD safe to use?
Studies have not shown any serious short term side effects associated with the usage of CBD.
Linked side effects include fatigue, appetite changes, and diarrhea; these are uncommon however, therefore, most users are unlikely to experience them.
Long term side effects are still being studied as research has only recently begun with the rising popularity of CBD, most that have been done so far has not shown any ser
Like grapefruit, CBD can interfere with your body’s ability to process certain pharmaceutical drugs as it can increase the level of the blood thinner coumadin in your blood, potentially raising the levels of certain other medications in your blood, it can also inhibit cytochrome p450.
Drugs that are affected by grapefruit do have warnings so watch out for these and avoid CBD when seeing this warning.
Can you overdose on CBD
It is close to impossible to do so. An average 80kg male would need to have over 30 tablespoons of CBD oil to ‘overdose’ (around 414000 mg).
Most dosage recommendations are between 20mg to 2000 mg depending on the ailment. Clinical trials have given CBD doses of up to 1200 mg daily for months without observing any serious side effects.
Legality of CBD
CBD is legally required to contain less than 0.3% THC (0.2% THC in the UK).
The Hemp plant which CBD is derived from has to contain less than 0.3% (0.2% in the UK) in order to be legally grown and used in products.
You can purchase CBD easily online or in stores, as aforementioned, purchasing from trusted, reliable sources is always recommended and always ask your doctor before taking a product to treat an ailment.
CBD and drug tests
CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
The two most well-known cannabinoids are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol), they share the same chemical formula but arranged differently, this difference means CBD does not give a ‘high’ where THC does.
Drug tests don’t look for CBD, they look for THC and its metabolites.
Trace amounts of THC are still present in the majority if not all CBD products. Both the Hemp and Marijuana plants, which CBD is derived from, contain THC.
In Marijuana plants, there is no limit on THC but the plant is illegal.
As stated in the previous section, Hemp is legally not allowed to contain more than 0.3/0.2% THC depending on where you are from.
In a study of a urine test, 14 of 15 patients who were taking CBD tested positive for a THC metabolite as well (what is tested in drug tests to judge cannabis use).
Rose Maxey from Indianapolis was taking CBD pills for her lower back pain. She was requested to take a drug test for a temp job she was applying for.
She failed the test even though she is had never smoked a cigarette in her life let alone cannabis. There is a rising number of cases like this one, stemming from the rising use of CBD products.
Drug tests are behind the current market.
Newer, more accurate tests are being tested and will be used soon enough, eliminating the risk of failing a drug test after taking CBD. Currently, the best way to minimize this risk is to purchase from reputable, trustworthy sources or try alternative types of CBD which do not contain any THC.
There are 3 different types of CBD all containing different things:
- Full-spectrum
- Broad-spectrum
- CBD isolate
Not only does full spectrum contain CBD but THC, flavonoids and terpenes as well, all compounds that are found in the plant they are extracted from. It is the most commonly found and sold type and can be consumed through edibles, oils, and topicals.
Like full spectrum, the broad spectrum contains CBD, terpenes and other compounds but doesn’t contain THC.
Due to this, it is more expensive and less widely available. Studies suggest, however, that THC helps CBD to work more effectively so this type of CBD may be less effective in treating some ailments.
CBD isolate is what it sounds like – only CBD. It does not contain any additional compounds like flavonoids or THC. It is less commonly found but can be bought as a block that can be broken up and eaten.
As with broad-spectrum, THC has been shown to make CBD more effective, this type of CBD may again be less effective in treating ailments.
The lack of THC in broad-spectrum and CBD isolate makes them appealing products as it eliminates the risk of failed drug tests, however, it may make the products less effective in treatment.
If your worries with taking CBD stem from the potential of failing a drug test, try these types.
Effectiveness of CBD
Most users of CBD swear by their product, whether they are taking it for anxiety, chronic pain or to help them sleep, it is said to be very effective.
Finding the right dosage is key, this can take some time and experimentation as no guidelines are fully outlined for all ailments.
Studies and research have been and are still being done on CBD and its usages.
Linked here are many conditions CBD can help with.
Conclusion
CBD is in its early stages of popularity, consumption, and research. It is safe in the short term, with limited side effects.
Long term studies on side effects or risks are underway and are needed to be done as no long term effects are known, and the product is still increasing in popularity.
The benefits are wide-ranging and most users of the product swear by its effectiveness.
There are different types of CBD if you are worried about failing a drug test after taking the product. It is entirely legal as long as it contains less than 0.3% (0.2% in the UK) THC content.