Cannabidiol – CBD Products
6/1/2021
A while ago I found myself with a bit of a dilemma; it looked like I was developing arthritis in my right middle finger. I decided to visit my doctor and after explaining my condition, he just suggested I stop driving for a month (I don’t get it!). Shortly afterwards I started getting advice from friends about trying products containing cannabidiol, better known as CBD. So, I purchased a bunch of CBD products (Canna-Hemp Relief Cream, American Shaman water soluble Hemp Extract – Cherry Limeade flavor, and Charlette’s Web Mint Chocolate Hemp Extract). I’m still waiting for some miraculous results! CBD has become quite popular in recent years as more and more States in the Nation are legalizing marijuana and its products; either for recreational use as well as for strict medicinal purposes. By visiting one’s local dispensary, one can see an array of products ranging from intense edibles to topical cremes and liquid tinctures to be added to drinks or other ingestible products.
This all sounds so good that – finally – there is a new field of medicinal alternatives to explore from the traditional over-the-counter health aids that the typical American household has crammed into its bathroom medicine cabinets. But, as interesting and novel as these products may be, the question that still has not been answered to any definitive degree is, do these CBD products really work?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant – a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. And while the number of species within the genus is disputed, three species are recognized: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis, with cannabis sativa being the overwhelming most popular of the three due to its contents of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); the psychoactive component for which the cannabis plant is most notably known.
CBD was discovered (isolated) in 1940 and accounts for as much as 40% of the plant’s extract. As of 2019, clinical research on CBD included studies related to anxiety, cognition, movement disorders, and pain, but so far, there is insufficient high-quality evidence that cannabidiol is effective for these conditions. On the other hand, studies have verified that in humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential. Thus, to date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
One very interesting and noteworthy piece of information suggests medicinal benefits of CBD from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as it has recognized its value to control seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), where test subjects have shown no response to other antiseizure medications. In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and in some cases, it was able to stop them altogether!
Research for other uses of cannabidiol include several neurological disorders, but the findings have not been able to establish a definitive benefit in clinical practice. And in October 2019, the FDA issued an advisory warning that the effects of CBD during pregnancy or breastfeeding are unknown, indicating that the safety, doses, interactions with other drugs or foods, and side effects of CBD are not clinically defined, and may pose a risk to the mother and infant.
At the same time, while there are many claims being made for the therapeutic benefit of cannabidiol, research has not been able to support these statements via sound evidence. For instance, inferences that cannabidiol can be used to treat cancer have been debunked as belonging in the realm of pseudoscience.
As of October 2020, cannabidiol extracted from marijuana remains a Schedule I Controlled Substance, and is not approved as a prescription drug or dietary supplement or allowed for interstate commerce in the United States. CBD derived from hemp (with 0.3% THC or lower) is legal to sell as a cosmetics ingredient or for other purposes not regulated by the FDA but cannot be sold under federal law as an ingredient in food, dietary supplement, or animal feed. It is a common misconception that the legal ability to sell hemp (which may contain CBD), and hemp extracts and derivatives (including CBD), makes CBD legal for sale as a supplement or medicine.
Meanwhile, CBD is currently being used to address anxiety, and for patients who suffer through the misery of insomnia as studies suggest that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep. In addition, CBD may offer an option for treating different types of chronic pain. A study from the European Journal of Pain showed that using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis (hence, my personal interest!). Another study demonstrated the mechanism by which CBD inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain: two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat. However, more studies involving human participation is needed in this area to substantiate such claims.
According to the MAYO Clinic, CBD use also carries some risks. Though it’s often well-tolerated, CBD can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite (hmmm, just the opposite of what THC has been known to promote), drowsiness and fatigue. CBD can also interact with other medications you’re taking, such as blood thinners.
Another cause for concern is the unreliability of the purity and dosage of CBD in products. A recent study of 84 CBD products bought online showed that more than a quarter of the products contained less CBD than labeled. In addition, THC was found in 18 products.
Maybe we just want these products to work. After all, it would quite beneficial to have an entire category of products that create no negative side effects for which we may purchase without getting a prescription or needing the permission from a medical professional. There is also that slight hope that other products – those that contain the psychoactive component, THC, may be the next wave for which scientific evidence may substantiate its medicinal value and thereby possibly open the door for 100% legalization of marijuana. Meanwhile as more cannabis products become legal for sale, an entire new financial market seems ready to burst with lots of investment opportunities for both the American public and Corporations – a definite path forward to ensure a continued strong economic growth for our nation; regardless of their medicinal effectiveness. But as for me? I’m still trying to take care of my damn right middle finger!
You’re only as young as the last time you changed your mind