With claims of reducing anxiety, improving sleep and soothing pain, CBD is the latest health craze. The chemical extracted from the cannabis plant is legal and doesn’t have the psychoactive compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) that gets people high, so it can be sold as a supplement. It’s available as a cream, sweet or vape liquid and has been incorporated into skincare products and even sexual lubricants. Its popularity has soared, with a quarter of a million UK regular users, according to GQ. But some say it’s been overhyped and that many of the benefits are unproven. Others worry that the rapid growth in the industry is attracting “CBD cowboys” and opportunists trying to make quick money.
The body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) controls a wide range of vital processes, including hormone production, the balance of neurotransmitters in your brain and how energy is used by your muscles. ECS can also help your body deal with stress and mood problems, as well as chronic pain and inflammation.
CBD targets the ECS, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about how it works or what results it might produce. It may be that it reduces anxiety, relieves chronic pain or improves sleep quality – although there’s no scientific evidence of this yet. It’s likely that it works by interacting with the ECS and helping it to perform its job more effectively.
It’s important to buy your CBD from a reputable supplier and be clear on what you’re getting. You should be able to see the certificate of analysis for each batch. And check the label for a list of ingredients – some CBD products contain added flavours, additives and other ingredients that aren’t CBD, and this can alter the effect it has on your body.
Buying from a trusted supplier will also ensure that you don’t break the law by purchasing CBD that’s not legally allowed in the UK. Currently, to be legally sold in the UK, CBD must have less than 0.2% THC – the part of the cannabis plant that gets you high – and come from approved industrial hemp plants. It’s also illegal to buy or sell CBD that has any level of THC, or from marijuana-derived plants (skunk).
The Food Standards Agency recommends taking no more than 200mg of CBD per day and checking with your doctor before you start a new supplement. You should avoid it if you take certain medications, as CBD can affect the way your body breaks down or absorbs them. It can also interact with some antidepressants and blood thinners. CBD UK