Are There Serious Health Consequences From Using CBD?

This is the biggest question on the minds of potential CBD consumers. Most people are uneasy about the things that they don’t know or don’t understand. Therefore, it is only natural that those who aren’t familiar with CBD & THC Products are naturally a bit hesitant to make the leap to regular consumers, let alone first-time consumers. But rather than just relying on the opinions of friends and family, more and more research is coming out in support of the safety of CBD as well as its benefits.

What is CBD Made Of?

Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is one of more than a hundred different chemicals found in cannabis called cannabinoids. These compounds have a variety of different properties and effects on the human body once ingested or absorbed. The most famous of these cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol, which is more commonly referred to as THC. Unlike many of the cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis strains, THC can induce psychoactive and cardiovascular effects. This is the main component responsible for getting cannabis users ‘high’ while they smoke or vape the flower. Other sativa hybrid strains like Fruity Pebbles that contain THC can also have some of their cannabinoids isolated and extracted from their flowers. This is how CBD isolates are produced.

CBD isolates are made up of the extracted cannabinoid plus other oils or ingredients a producer adds to make the product unique. These usually only have minor effects on the health and wellness benefits one can gain from use. 

But if CBD comes from cannabis, is there a chance that it also has THC? Most CBD isolates do contain a small percentage of THC, but the amount is so small it is almost negligible. In the United States, CBD extracts are required to keep their THC concentrations at 0.3% or below. Given that most CBD oils are administered in single drops, the effects of THC are equally negligible. In fact, the main reason why THC isn’t completely absent from CBD products is that removing all other cannabinoids can be both a costly and expensive process. 

Don’t believe us? Then just ask the United Nations.

What Are The Health Effects?

In 2018, the United Nations conducted a study designed to test the health effects of cannabidiol consumption in healthy individuals. Using a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, this sample was given a combination of cannabis-derived products, some of which were CBD with active amounts of THC (high concentrations), those with low levels, and those that just had CBD. The results indicated that CBD was essentially just a placebo, meaning that it did not demonstrate any sign of influencing the physiological effects or abuse potential of THC, nor did it replicate these effects on its own. 

Similarly, the report outlined CBD’s relatively strong safety profile. According to the United Nations research team, the potential therapeutic effects of CBD were well tolerated amongst its participants. Comparative studies have humans tolerate the effects of CBD even at high dosages. This is a highly encouraging figure that suggests CBD has a high safety profile compared to even other supplements. But these studies only discuss the safety of CBD. What are its benefits?

As research continues to be conducted around CBD and its effects, the cannabinoid has been shown to elicit very positive health benefits for particular symptoms. One of the reasons why CBD has become such a popular wellness supplement is because of its past success in treating anxiety and depression symptoms. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, the unofficial father of cannabinoid research, has conducted multiple studies that effectively demonstrate CBD’s positive effects on those with anxiety and depression. CBD has also shown, through a series of pharmaceutical trials, to help reduce the frequency of seizures in those with rare or severe epilepsy.

With all this in mind, CBD has shown to be a particularly useful active ingredient in a variety of therapeutic forms of medicine. But how should you safely enjoy CBD?

How to Enjoy CBD Safely

CBD oils, extracts, and isolates are typically ingested through a droplet under the tongue. This is believed to be one of the more effective ways to administer CBD and experience its possible health benefits. While it may be very difficult to ingest too much CBD, one should start small and work their way up. Just like anything, it is important to find a dosage that meets your own comfort level. After all, every person is unique, and we all have different tolerance levels for a variety of experiences and substances. 

A recommended starting point for CBD is around a couple of drops every six or so hours. You can increase the number of droplets and the time window based on your own experience. In any case, one should, however, consult a healthcare professional before they start administering CBD. It is always better to be safe than sorry.