While they tend to get grouped together in casual conversation, marijuana and CBD are not the same thing.
CBD, formally known as cannabidiol, is one of the two major plant compounds that make up the cannabis sativa plant. For over 4,000 years, cannabis sativa has been used recreationally and contains more than 60 different plant-based compounds. Aside from CBD, the other major compound in cannabis sativa is THC. THC is responsible for the psychoactive, narcotic, and addictive properties of marijuana.
CBD is a single compound, whereas marijuana is a plant that contains various bioactive components, including CBD and THC. CBD can be made from either marijuana or hemp, which is another strain of cannabis sativa. Hemp has been shown to have a lower THC content.
The CBD rise to fame started in 2014, parallel to a rise in extensive health claims that CBD can treat almost any health condition. This increase in popularity has occurred in all states, and has rivaled searches for other wellness measures such as yoga and nutrition.
The federal Farm Bill of 2018 is also relevant to the CBD craze, as this legislation removed hemp and any of its derivatives from the controlled substances list in the United States. The bill defined hemp as any cannabis that contain less than 0.3% of THC. It’s important to note that the Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of hemp — not necessarily CBD.
Many people have focused on CBD products sourced from hemp so as to not receive the psychoactive and addictive THC molecules. CBD supplement and product brands have also picked up on this and market many of their products as being “pure CBD” that is “sourced exclusively from hemp.” Such products can be found in the form of lip balms, vapors, tinctures, gummies, bath soaps, and beyond.
Nowadays, CBD products are as accessible as chewing gum and can be purchased almost anywhere. It seems that CBD boutiques are popping up on every corner. Aside from the trendiness, CBD is appealing to many because of its plant-based roots and being a seemingly safer option to treat common yet debilitating conditions like pain and inflammation. If it’s coming from hemp, it should be safe, right? The answer is not so straightforward.
There is strong potential for CBD rich hemp extract to be able to provide broad therapeutic use. This use could be for relief from chronic pain, to help decrease anxiety, improve neuropathic pain, or treat epilepsy. Despite this potential, there are many caveats. First and foremost, there is very limited research on the effectiveness and safety of CBD, and there is a lot about the substance that we don’t know.
Some examples: We currently do not know long-term effects of taking CBD for a chronic or prolonged period of time. We don’t know what dose of CBD triggers potential health risks. And we also don’t know how risk changes depending on the type of product, such as an oral supplement versus a liquid tincture versus vapor. We also do not know how CBD interacts with other herbs, plant materials, or medication.
Currently, CBD has been approved in only one medicinal product, which is a prescription medication that can treat seizures in patients with two rare and severe forms of childhood onset epilepsy.
The FDA cautions supplement companies and consumers that it is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or by labeling it as a dietary supplement, such as a gummy. There is a large discrepancy between the accessibility of CBD compared to what is known in the scientific community about its safety and efficacy, a gap that has been called a food market scandal by some researchers.
Because of the accessibility and widespread promotion, many assume that CBD is a perfectly safe and accepted therapy. Some adverse effects have been repeatedly reported, including impaired liver function, sleep disturbances, infection, sedation, stomach upset and anemia. Some researchers believe this is due to residual THC concentrations in the products, contamination with unsafe substances like lead, or incorrect labeling.
One analysis of 84 different CBD products demonstrated that approximately 69% of those products did not contain the amount of CBD listed on the label, and enough THC was found in 21% of the products to cause intoxication.
Before being able to definitely recommend and use CBD to treat various ailments, we need more research on its specifics, standardized regulations and reinforcement of such regulations.
While pure CBD sourced from hemp may be a promising therapy in the future, there is too much that we don’t know about it to safely recommend it at this time. It’s important to consider these points next time you are intrigued by your favorite athlete or celebrity endorsing their CBD brand of choice.
Willingham is a registered dietitian, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and Ph.D. student who practices in an outpatient clinic. She specializes in sports performance nutrition, weight management and nutrition counseling, and aims to promote a resilient relationship between food, mind and body.
