CBD products can be found everywhere these days. You can buy CBD oils and groceries at any gas station, drug store, coffee shop, or online at sites like Serene Tree. That begs the question: what is CBD (cannabidiol)?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound found in hemp, or in other words, marijuana. It is one of 400 compounds found in this plant and it has some amazing medicinal properties. People use it to relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, inflammation, chronic pain, insomnia, and more.
The science behind these claims is still in question as we haven’t done enough research on CBD products. One thing is certain, however; Not all CBD products are made to the highest industry standards. Here are some things about these products that you won’t hear from an expert.
CBD products are often incorrectly labeled
The problem with CBD products is that they are not currently regulated by the FDA or any other state regulator. This leads to massive mislabeling of products as there are no test requirements for the ingredients of CBD products. There is also a lack of tests for harmful substances such as pesticides, contaminants and heavy metals.
This leads to a lot of mislabeled products regarding their dosage and content information. For example, a 600 mg bottle of CBD misleads people into believing they are getting a lot of strong oil, but each dose is only 5 to 20 mg. Some manufacturers use a synthetic version of hemp, which was used to hospitalize more than 50 people in Utah in 2018. Little did people know that the product was made from synthetic ingredients. A study conducted by JAMA found that 7 out of 10 CBD products do not have accurate labeling. This makes it harder to find products with accurate labels and safe ingredients.
In fact, it is recommended that you find the best dose as per your requirement by checking the THC dosage calculator.
The hype is stronger than the science behind CBD
While CBD products offer all kinds of health benefits, users have much higher expectations than the actual ones. Many CBD products claim they are the solution for all types of health conditions, but science says their promises are often without evidence. The FDA has only approved one CBD drug called Epidiolex. Today, it’s the only drug that made it through clinical research, and it’s been shown to be helpful in relieving the symptoms of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (rare forms of epilepsy). Everything else is based on user reviews with no proper research to back it up.
The problem lies in the way the law sees cannabis. It is currently listed as a List 1 substance, which means the state considers it unsafe and with no medicinal properties. Instead of examining the benefits of cannabis, the state mostly just examines its drawbacks. In other words, they didn’t isolate CBD to see how it would affect health.
We still need to do the right research on the benefits of CBD. Some private research centers found that CBD helps relieve symptoms of chronic pain, cramps, MS, nausea, etc. The FDA has yet to verify these facts.
The sad reality is that CBD will remain an alternative “drug” until the government completes the testing phase. The official view is that people should avoid CBD products because they are unregulated and can lead to health problems.
Consumers should take full responsibility
Many large organizations are working around the clock researching CBD products and creating federal laws and regulations. This can take years and until then consumers will have to make their own choices based on the information available. There are many different manufacturers of CBD products, but there is always a way to determine which ones use the highest industry standards in the manufacturing process.
Companies that run third-party tests in multiple laboratories and publish their results can be trusted. They want to educate their users about the ingredients in their products, which says a lot about their quality.
Additionally, companies wanting to ensure product quality apply for authentication from the U.S. Hemp Agency, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. So far there are around 30 certified hemp farmers. The organization also certifies CBD products such as foods, supplements, cosmetics, and beverages. They don’t work with smokable CBD products and recommend that you wait for things to be regulated.
The best way to verify that a product is certified is to go to their website. Look for official certifications and lab test results. When they are visible to everyone, the company can be trusted. Still, you are the only person who takes responsibility for using CBD products.
Shiny new future
It is certain that the FDA and other organizations will soon fully regulate the CBD products available on the market. Many of the products you can buy today are safe and made to the highest industry standards. Unfortunately, until some extensive study of the effects of CBD is done, many people will continue to suffer from health problems that would otherwise go away in days.
