In the blink of an eye, CBD products appeared everywhere. No longer considered just “marijuana-lite,” cannabidiol—a chemical in the cannabis plant that, unlike THC, doesn’t get you high—is now both legal (more or less), regulated by the USDA, and prolific. Of course, though, there are still some folks that raise their eyebrows in skepticism, wondering if the use of CBD oil can truly help the myriad afflictions that people claim it can, or is it mostly just hype?
What is CBD?
Marijuana, more officially known as Cannabis sativa, is most famous for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but there’s actually 104 chemical compounds in the plant, including CBD. This particular chemical doesn’t get you stoned, but it does affect your mind and body. Research even agrees that there’s an effect, though the studies are ongoing. The biggest ailment that CBD is supposed to assist with is anxiety, the prevalence of which seems to be growing nearly as quickly as the market for CBD-infused products.
What Does the Research Say?
Where to begin? CBD might have the potential to treat a wide range of conditions, but the most-studied so far is epilepsy. In a game-changing decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in mid-2018 approved a CBD-based drug, Epidiolex, that treats epileptic seizures. It’s the first time that the FDA has ever given the thumbs up to a prescription drug derived from marijuana. There’s also research supporting the use of CBD for:
Anxiety
THC ups the feelings of anxiety and paranoid, but CBD could reduce them in people with PTSD, social anxiety disorder, OCD, or general anxiety disorder. (Neurotherapeutics, 2015)
Pain relief
CBD reduced chronic pain and inflammation in rodents.(Journal of ExperimentalMedicine, 2012)
Drug withdrawal
CBD could reduce cravings in people addicted to opioids.(Neurotherapeutics, 2015)
Cancer
There’s evidence that CBD inhibits the growth and spread of cancer cells. (British Journal of ClinicalPharmacology, 2012)
Research also shows the potential for treating nausea, Alzheimer’s disease, acne, type 1 diabetes, and schizophrenia. Of course, there’s always a concern about the potential for addiction. Luckily, in a late 2017 report, the World Health Organization (WHO) wrote, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.”
What CBD Products Are Available?
Here’s the real question: These days, what CBD-infused products aren’t available? For starters, you can take pills, chocolates, and gumdrops and apply creams, oils, and rubs. But the market is strong—predicted to reach $22 billion by 2022—and new, unexpected options are popping up every day. For example, there’s now CBD-infused sparkling water, Recess, that comes in three flavors: Blackberry Chai, Peach Ginger, and Pom Hibiscus. There’s coffee—multiple brands, including Flower Power Coffee Co. and Strava—as well as drops to add to your own coffee. There are bath bombs (yes, bath bombs) mixed with CBD, as well as face cream and shampoo. There are CBD tinctures for cats and dogs.
As of December 2018, hemp-derived CBD is regulated by the USDA, but before that, consumers ran the risk that the products they bought may or may not have the amount of CBD that the packaging claims. In 2017, researchers published in JAMA reviewed 84 CBD oils, liquids, and tinctures and found that just 26 of the products contained the amount of CBD that it claimed. Eighteen of the products also contained THC, the compound in cannabis that intoxicates and impairs.
What About the Hype?
For all the research, there’s still a lot unknown about CBD, including exactly how it works with the brain. Last December, The New York Times ran an editorial from Richard A. Friedman, a professor of clinical psychiatry and director of the psychopharmacology clinic at the Weill Cornell Medical College, in which he referred to CBD as an “expensive placebo” rather than a “panacea.”
Additionally, the amount of CBD in commercial products might not really be enough to have any real effect. For example, if CBD coffee contains just 5 milligrams of THC, it probably won’t do much for your anxiety, as you need to get closer to 300 milligrams for that to occur. However, placebos have power—perhaps the idea of CBD is all you might need to reap those calming effects that the compound might provide.
