We try to clear up confustion concerning CBD. People think it is part of the marijuana plant and that it is illegal. They are both right and wrong. CBD does come from a plant in the Cannabis family, but it does not contain THC, which is in marijuana. Therefore, it is not an illegal substance.
Legal status
As you may know, last year a farm bill was passed which made the cultivation of hemp products legal in all fifty states. Hemp is the name of the plant that produces CBD. https://www.fb.org/market-intel/2018-farm-bill-provides-a-path-forward-for-industrial-hemp The hemp plants which are cultivated for CBD are specifically bred to contain less than .3% THC. The THC is the chemical that makes marijuana a controlled substance.
Seeds or Leaves
To further confuse the issue, the Hemp plant can product nutritive products from both the seed and the leaves. Both can be named ‘CBD Oil.’ The supplements that come from the seed part of the plant are full spectrum and act like a vitamin for the central nervous system. The supplements which come from the aerial parts of the plant are more beneficial for epilepsy, insomnia, pain and anxiety. It is important to look at the label to see which part of the plant the oil is made from so you have the benefits you desire.
CBD oil is nourishing for the endocabinoid nervous system. This is an additional nervous system that was discovered recently. See this link for further explanation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877694/
Research
With the legalization of Hemp, and the new research involving the endocabinoid system, CBD is trending like never before. Because this is essentially a food product, there is wide latitude for production. Every supplement and health food company wants to get in on the action. This is where the problem lies.
Many companies are purchasing CBD oil, branding it with their logo, and selling it. However, research is showing that consumers are taking CBD oil and then failing a drug test. How can this be when there is by definition less than .3% THC in the CBD product? A recent Consumer Reports article gave some statistics:
- In a 2017 study, JAMA found that 18 of 84 CBD products purchased online had THC levels possibly high enough to cause intoxication or impairment.
- Mislabeled CBD products are a growing problem for American workers.
How you can protect yourself
So what can you as a consumer do to protect yourself? You can ask your supplier to present you with a Certificate of Analysis. This paper will show the extraction process and any contaminants. It will also state the percentage of CBD in the product. If you fail a drug test, at least you will have the documentation to prove good faith.
We know that our clinic is competing with Walgreens, CVS, vape shops and others to provide the community with clean, healthy CBD. We now partner with Botany Scientifics for pure CBD products. I am more than pleased with their effectiveness and the lab reports which show no contaminants.
Good, strong, effective CBD is expensive no matter where you buy it. What is even more important than price is the certification that the product is clean, and contains no THC above .3%. Because I am committed to providing safe products and education to support the use of same. Our recommendations have certificates of analysis which prove that there is no harmful residue from pesticides in the product.
Until next time,
Dr. Polly
more information on product
Hi Jacqueline, I am not sure what further information you would like. If you look at our website, you will find various videos and other information. Also, the CV Sciences product provides Certificates of Analysis, so you know you are getting a legitimate product.