The alleged benefits of CBDare scattered far and wide, and there is a growing body of research to support this. Studies have shown that CBD has anti-inflammatory and epilepsy-suppressing properties and has even demonstrated the ability to reduce social anxiety.
After the legalization of industrial hemp production, which took place with the approval of the Farm Bill in 2018 in the United States, and the massive influx of CBD products that reach the market, more people are starting to think about: what is CBD?
Outside the United States, countries around the world began allowing cannabidiol(CBD) to be legally used within their borders. In Canada, after the passage of the Cannabis Act, which legalized cannabis for adults both derived from hemp and marijuana-derived CBD, are available in all provinces. The European Union (EU) has statutory guidelines for hemp-derived CBD oil, where hemp can be grown on the condition that the THCcontent does not exceed 0.2%.
This has created the conditions for the CBD sector to thrive in Europe. For example World High Life PLC (NEX: LIFE) is aiming to become the world’s leading CBD and medicinal cannabis player by the acquisition of the most promising UK and European companies.
WHL has recently acquired the UK’s leading CBD company Love Hemp Ltd. Love Hemp produces a variety of CBD products such as sprays, vapes, oils, edibles, CBD-infused beverages, and cosmetics, and sells their products in 1,200 UK high street stores.
With Love Hemp, WHL plans to expand into other European markets, starting with Germany in 2020. Medicinal cannabis and CBD market in the UK and Europe is expected to reach 58 billion euro by 2029, and companies like World High Life PLC are set to dominate it.
There are two classifications for the cannabis plants that produce CBD: marijuana and hemp
CBD from hemp plants contains little or no trace of THC (less than 0.3% according to the federal legislation in the US), and therefore an individual should not experience the high normally associated with THC present in recreational cannabis.
Marijuana-derived CBD is extracted from marijuana plants that are usually grown for their intoxicating properties. Unlike hemp, extracted CBD contains marijuana-derived CBD oil often with THC levels exceeding the legal limit of 0.3% set by the US government. If the CBD oil has a particularly high THC content, an individual may experience psychoactive symptoms similar to those experienced when ingested traditional cannabis. CBD oils containing THC level greater than 0.3% are available only in states where cannabis is legalized for medical use or for adults.
A study from 2011 concluded that CBD is safer than THC and other cannabinoids. Researchers found that high doses of CBD of up to 1,500 milligrams per day were tolerated by human subjects. Compared to THC, CBD did not affect motor or psychological functions or change the heart rate, blood pressure or body temperature.
However, this does not mean that CBD-oil with a higher THC-levels should be avoided, because the combination of THC and CBD has been shown to work together in order to produce an entourage effect that enhances the therapeutic benefits and reduces the negative side-effects. In a study from 2010 in which cancer patients with pain were involved, researchers discovered that the combination of THC and CBD was more effective in treating pain than the combination of THC and placebo.
Is CBD addictive?
The short, simple answer is no. At the molecular level, CBD is non-addictive, and it also produces the so-called non-stoned effect that is experienced with THC.
It is important to recognize that even though THC does not cause the same degree of physical withdrawal symptoms as those caused by opiates or alcohol, regular cannabis use may cause cannabis use disorders (CUD). This condition causes withdrawal symptoms arising out of the development of dependency, causing symptoms that can be described as similar to the symptoms of stopping nicotine. Although cannabis withdrawal symptoms certainly exist, they are usually limited to increased feelings of anxiety, agitation, bad mood and sleep disorders.