CBD is everywhere! We aren’t convinced this is a good thing.
CBD is suddenly EVERYWHERE. Driven in part by the passage of the 2018 farm bill that clarifies the legality of cultivating industrial hemp (and derivative products), enterprising people are putting hemp CBD in everything from beer to burgers, and CBD products are now available at almost every corner store.
As a craft cannabis company that makes CBD products in Oregon’s regulated cannabis marketplace, we are hesitant to celebrate the current hype around the hemp-derived CBD industry. Here is why (and it’s not because these hemp products compete with ours – our sales are growing alongside the explosion of hemp CBD):
• The hemp-derived CBD market is currently unregulated. There are no third-party lab testing requirements, which means you have no verification that what you are purchasing actually has CBD in the bottle or what dose you are actually taking. You also have no way of knowing if a product is contaminated with pesticide/herbicide/fertilizer residues.
• Much of the hemp-derived CBD market is making THC-free products by using CBD that has been fractionally distilled to isolate the CBD molecule. These products are rarely the best choice for consumers, generally only being ideal for people who need to be able to pass drug screens for employment. CBD isolate products are less effective and require a higher dose than a broad-spectrum CBD-dominant product containing a small amount of THC. CBD and THC work powerfully together, and just a hint of THC will enhance the effects of CBD without the risk of feeling intoxicated.
• Putting CBD in everything sends the message that it is safe for everyone to consume freely without regard for dose. CBD, like other cannabinoids, have biphasic properties – meaning that higher and lower doses can have opposite effects. Eating CBD-infused everything could result in consuming an excessive amount of CBD that is less therapeutically effective.
• CBD is a potent inhibitor of a group of liver enzymes called cytochrome-p450. CBD can change how your body processes other substances, including prescription medications. This means that CBD could amplify or negate the usual effects of a medication, which could result in discomfort or even be harmful. CBD should be precisely dosed under the guidance of an experienced medical professional if there is any possibility of a contraindication with a prescription medicine.
Our advice: if you live in a cannabis legal state like Oregon, purchase your CBD from a licensed dispensary and choose a broad spectrum product that contains some THC. These products are required to be lab tested. If you don’t live in a cannabis legal state, purchase from companies that provide third-party lab test results for every batch they make. Unfortunately, this is an uncommon practice because testing costs money. If you are currently taking any medications, talk to your doctor about cytochrome p-450 inhibition before starting to use any CBD products.