FEATURE - February 2020

Debunking Common Myths About CBD

 

by Crystal Rae Prew

 

Cannabidiol (CBD) is quickly growing to become one of the most popular products

in the health and wellness industry. In fact, a Forbes report reveals that the collective market is expected to exceed $20 billion in sales by 2024.

Despite this, there are still many misconceptions about this herbal remedy, as it is a relatively new product.
 

So, let's take a closer look at the facts underneath these common CBD myths.

Myth 1: CBD Will Cause You to Hallucinate
 

One of the biggest reasons behind the craze around CBD is that it is a naturally

occurring compound found in the Cannabis plant, otherwise known as marijuana.

In popular culture, people associate marijuana with getting high — a mental state

wherein one is not lucid. The property that produces this effect is called

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of the 113 cannabinoids in the source

plant. Unlike THC, CBD does not carry any psychoactive properties that cause

people to hallucinate. However, it is vital to double-check if a product is full-spectrum

or broad-spectrum, as Jill Dutton's fascinating article on the CBD hype notes that

the former contains THC  while the latter does not.
 

Myth 2: There's No Science Behind CBD
 

Due to the source plantʼs prohibition throughout the years, research on CBD and

other marijuana products is still a nascent field, but it is there. Though a universal

consensus has yet to be reached on CBD use as a whole, the growing body of

research does offer up a lot of insight into what the compound can do. In fact, Dr. Tiffany Lester has collated some key findings from CBD research in her article on Parsley Health, explaining that not only has CBD been proven to alleviate social

anxiety and improve mood disorders, but it has also been observed to decrease

chronic pain, lower inflammation, and promote gut health. When taken correctly,

CBD helps regulate metabolism, mitochondrial activity, and neurotransmitter

functions. Further, since CBD is becoming increasingly popular, more scientific

evidence about the product is underway.
 

Myth 3: People Get Addicted to CBD
 

Another common misconception about CBD is that it is addictive, since some

connect it with recreational marijuana use. Contrary to this belief, however, CBD

not only assists those recovering from addiction, but a study published in the

Neuropsychopharmacology journal shares that it can help prevent relapses from

happening to recovering addicts as well.

Moreover, CBD has health benefits that can help decrease the symptoms of anxiety, which plays a big role in the development of addiction. Indeed, US News' contributor

Alissa Rumsey points out that CBD stimulates a serotonin receptor in the brain that counters anxiety, thanks to its calming and mood-boosting effects.
 

Myth 4: Buying CBD is Illegal
 

Since the presence of CBD in the health and wellness industry is fairly new, there

tends to be a lot of confusion on whether or not buying it is legal, especially due to

its close relationship with marijuana. But, it's important to clarify that the majority

of commercially available CBD items are stemmed from industrial hemp, which

means that they are legal to purchase. This is because the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 or 'The Farm Bill' states that CBD derived from hemp, and doesn't

comprise more than 0.3% of THC, is legal. However, if a CBD product is derived

from marijuana, it is crucial to check your state's legal stand on this plant. States

like California, Oregon, and Vermont allow the use of marijuana, whether for

medical or recreational purposes, while states like Arizona, New Jersey, and Texas

only permit it for medical treatment.