5 FAQs About CBD
Author: Debbie Humphrey
Senior Care in Clearwater, FL and Surrounding Areas
CBD products have become commonplace at convenience stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and veterinary clinics in the last few years as more and more people are using them as a natural option to help manage various health conditions for themselves, their families, and their pets.
Because of its explosion in popularity and it’s CBD Awareness Month, I think exploring 5 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about CBD as published by Norml.org is important to understand more about this interesting ingredient considered to be a natural remedy.
What is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound derived from the hemp plant that does not include the high-inducing component THC, but instead, contains a psychoactive that positively impacts the neurotransmitters in the brain resulting in relief from many conditions.
Norml explains further, “Cannabidiol… is one of over 100 distinct cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Like other cannabinoids, CBD is most prominently found in the resinous portions of the cannabis flower rather than in other parts of the plant, such as the stalk, seeds, or leaves.”
Is CBD available by prescription?
CBD products derived from hemp are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, but these products are generally not subject to regulatory oversight. CBD derived from traditional cannabis may be subject to state-specific regulations governing the production and sale of marijuana products.
In 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration approved the prescription medication Epidiolex, which consists primarily of a standardized formulation of plant-derived CBD extracts. The FDA explicitly approved it for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, although a doctor may elect to prescribe it ‘off label’ for other conditions. Initially classified as a Schedule V controlled substance, Epidiolex is no longer scheduled.
Are commercially available CBD products safe and effective?
In recent years, marketers have advertised a variety of CBD-related products online and in other venues. However, third-party analytical testing of some of these products has consistently found them to be of varying quality and safety. In some instances, products have been found to contain far lower percentages of CBD than advertised. In other instances, products alleging to be THC-free have been found to possess THC as well as other psychotropic adulterants. Further, in almost all instances, commercially available CBD products contain far lower quantities of CBD than are necessary to yield therapeutic effects in clinical trials.
Did the 2018 Farm Bill change the legal status of CBD under federal law?
Provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill amended the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 so that hemp plants containing no more than 0.3 percent THC are no longer classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. The Act also broadens the definition of ‘hemp’ (Section 297A) to include “any part of the plant, including …. extracts [or] cannabinoids that do not possess greater than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis.” This language allows for the legalization (under federal law) of some CBD-specific products, presuming they are derived from dually state/federally licensed hemp producers who comply with both state and federal regulations and are marketed in such a way that does not violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act.
In 2023, FDA officials announced that they were abandoning efforts to provide new regulations for hemp-derived CBD products and acknowledged that the agency could not do so without further guidance from Congress.
Is traditional hemp a viable source for CBD?
Industrial hemp is traditionally grown for its fiber content. By contrast, cannabinoids are most prominently expressed in flowers, and to a lesser extent, in leaves. While the presence of CBD has been documented in some specific hemp strains, analytical data assessing cannabinoid content in hemp plants remains limited. This absence of data has led some experts to question the viability of traditional hemp plants as efficient sources of CBD extraction as compared to traditional cannabis plants.
I strongly recommend that seniors always consult with their physicians or primary care providers before adding CBD products to a daily medication regimen, and most certainly before replacing prescribed medications with CBD to address specific medical issues.
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