What You Should Know About CBD Oil
Cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive component of cannabis, is gaining a reputation as a fashionable cure for all illnesses. But science knows very little about what it does in the human body, so much about the action of this drug, including whether it works at all, remains a mystery.
There is one exception: Trials of a medical-grade CBD oil called Epidiolex show that it can reduce seizures in certain types of epilepsy. This week , an FDA committee recommended the approval of Epidiolex as a new drug.
What is CBD?
Cannabis contains over 100 chemical constituents called cannabinoids. The most famous of these are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
Meanwhile, there are cannabinoid receptors in our body. CB1 receptors are found primarily in the brain, while CB2 receptors are found in other types of cells, including the immune system and the digestive system. We have these receptors because we also have endocannabinoids , cannabinoids, which are naturally produced by our body.
THC can affect CB1 receptors and is responsible for high levels of marijuana. CBD is a little trickier; it can affect both types of receptors, but often indirectly. The exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
Most cannabis products contain a mixture of THC and CBD, but if you are just looking for medical effects, CBD is the part that interests you. It is possible to buy oils and other products that only contain CBD.
What is it for?
There is strong evidence that CBD oil can treat some forms of epilepsy. Epidiolex, a purified CBD oil made in the UK, reduced seizures by 40 percent in tests of children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. However, some children did not respond to the drug. It is promising, but not a miracle cure.
Moreover, the evidence is sketchy. CBD oil sellers advertise it for dozens or hundreds of health problems. One of them, Medical Marijuana Inc, boasts over 23,000 scientific articles on the medical uses of CBD oil.
The only problem is that most of these articles are about preclinical research. In other words, it is done in test tubes or in mice. Drugs that work in mice sometimes work in humans, but this kind of research is preliminary, and many preclinical studies come to a standstill when tested in humans.
So if you want to use CBD oil to relieve pain, anxiety, or inflammatory conditions (like arthritis), you’re taking a leap of faith from these mouse studies to your own human self. Your friend may have tried this and thinks it works. You may or may not find the same thing.
Experiment with care. All of our usual warnings about the placebo effect and the dangers of relying on reviews remain valid.
What are the downsides?
Any medication that has a real effect on your body can have unwanted effects as well . CBD is no exception.
Unfortunately, the side effects are at least as poorly understood as the potential beneficial effects, so it’s hard to say exactly what to expect. One 2017 review found the most common side effects were fatigue, diarrhea, and changes in appetite.
CBD can also affect liver enzymes, which could mean it could alter the effectiveness of other types of medications you may be taking. The FDA committee that evaluated Epidiolex was concerned that there is a serious potential for liver damage, so liver enzyme monitoring may be required in patients taking the drug. However, if you’re experimenting with CBD oil on your own, you probably don’t have that option.
Another issue is that the CBD oil you order may not contain what it should. A 2017 study of 84 products sold online found that only 31 percent contained the amount of CBD indicated on the label. Another 42 percent weren’t tagged – well, that just means you’ll get more for your money! – and 26 percent contained less than labeled content. In such cases, some of them contain very little of the active ingredient that you pay for. Some of the products also contain THC, although you buy CBD oil, probably because you don’t need THC. (Especially if you are buying it for your sick child.)
How legal is it?
If you live in a state that has legalized cannabis for medical or recreational purposes, you’re fine. But there are also “CBD only” states where cannabis is illegal, but you won’t have a problem using CBD oil. As always, check with your state for the latest information.
Medical Marijuana Inc, one of the largest sellers of CBD oil, claims its product is legal worldwide. But the New Republic reports that the Drug Enforcement Agency is not buying this statement and believes that CBD oil is legally equivalent to other cannabis products. According to state law, it’s possible that CBD oil with small amounts of THC could be illegal even if the law excludes pure THC oil, so it matters what you get. And since the FDA does not and cannot regulate CBD products, no one monitors the safety or purity of those products. Medical Marijuana Inc sells a “filtered, decarboxylated” version of its product that it says is completely THC-free, but also more expensive: $ 165 for four ounces versus $ 119 for crude oil.