CBD has had a long journey back into the public consciousness and offers the potential for a wide range of benefits. In order to get the most out of it, however, it’s important to be able to separate CBD oil myths and facts. Let’s take a look at some of the major misconceptions that people have about CBD.
Myth #1: CBD Gets You “High” Like Marijuana
People believe this largely due to a long-term smear campaign that resulted in CBD being included in the scheduling of industrial hemp as a controlled substance along with its psychoactive cousin. Both plants are part of the cannabis family, but, despite the misconceptions about CBD oil, the chemical makeup is vastly different between the two. Industrial hemp, which CBD is derived from, has 0.3% of THC by weight or less–nowhere near enough to get you “high.” Marijuana, on the other hand, can have THC concentrations of 30% or higher, a 100-fold increase.
Myth #2: CBD Is Illegal
Because there was no distinction made between the two plants for so many years, the legal miasma surrounding CBD was pretty murky. That changed on the federal level with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill. It unequivocally recognized industrial hemp and marijuana as two separate plants, effectively descheduling hemp and derivative products. This misconception about CBD oil is largely driven by the departmental guidelines and state laws that have yet to catch up with the federal legislation. As an example, some states may prohibit CBD with any THC content, as any product not THC-free runs afoul of outdated laws.
Myth #3: CBD Is Not Effective
Due to the harsh legal climate, quality, peer-reviewed research on hemp and CBD is not plentiful. The result is a lot of anecdotal evidence, but little traditional science. In addition, the FDA has not evaluated claims related to its use to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, illness, or condition at the dosages available without a prescription. There is a prescription form of CBD available for some conditions, however, so its characterization as “snake oil” holding no health or wellness potential is one of the misconceptions about CBD oil that is most easily disproved.
Myth #4: CBD Oil Is Dangerous
When used responsibly, CBD oil poses no danger to anyone not allergic or sensitive to the ingredients in your CBD oil product. In addition, many dosage forms put you in complete control, giving you the ability to “take things slow” while you evaluate its effectiveness for you.
Myth #5: CBD Does Everything For Everybody
One of the most damaging myths and facts about CBD oil is the wild statements that CBD oil is a can’t miss cure-all. This is largely due to the fact that CBD oil does show a potential for effectiveness in so many areas. CBD works by interacting with your body’s endocannabinoid system. This system in your body works with almost every tissue and organ to maintain your health. Since the endocannabinoid system can affect hormone release, nerve function, and mental disposition (to name a few areas), the interaction of CBD with it can affect those same areas.
That does not mean that everyone will have the same reaction to the same amount of CBD. In the end, it’s up to you to do your own research about CBD. Once you get past the misconceptions about CBD oil, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision.
