Today marks National CBD Day and despite its usage being on the rise in the UK, with over six million adults having used CBD products before, there are still a host of misconceptions about what CBD is, what it can do and its benefits.
The team from CHOICE CBD, one of the UK’s leading premium CBD oil brands, is using National CBD Day as a platform to raise awareness and stamp out misconceptions surrounding CBD oil. Operations director James Leavesley has provided LLM – Luxury Lifestyle Magazine with an insight into one of the UK’s biggest growth markets looking at seven common myths surrounding CBD.
He told us: “Although CBD has become increasingly popular over the last few years, there are still many factors that stop people from trying it for themselves, and a lot them are due to misconceptions. In order to help people to understand that these are simply just myths, I have made a list of the most common false beliefs so that we can hopefully help to educate more people on CBD.”
1. CBD Makes you high
Firstly, CBD is an abbreviation of cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a compound that is extracted from a hemp plant, which is a variety of the cannabis species. Hemp, however, contains very low amounts of THC, which is the chemical found in marijuana that is psychoactive. A lot of people confuse CBD and marijuana, though they are different variety of plants, therefore, do not have the same effects.
2. CBD oil is illegal
The sale of CBD and products containing CBD has been legal in the UK since 2016. It is incorrect to associate CBD with marijuana as CBD adheres to all UK and EU legislation.
3. You need a prescription to purchase and use CBD
As CBD oil is currently legal in the UK you can purchase it from several high street and online stores without a prescription. We do suggest you speak to your GP if you have any concerns about your health and taking CBD, however, you can buy it from a store without a prescription.
4. You have to smoke Cannabis/CBD in order to take it
As awareness grows of the benefits of CBD, there are increasingly more products that offer different ways of use. However, the most popular is Sublingual Consumption or Sublingual Application, whereby you position the CBD drops under the tongue so that they are quickly absorbed through the mucus membranes and into the bloodstream. Absorption usually occurs within 60 seconds and the effect of the CBD is quicker than through the digestive system.
5. CBD and THC are the same things
CBD is a compound typically found in hemp plants, and it is most commonly used to produce CBD oil products. CBD is non-intoxicating and produces no euphoric or psychoactive properties. CBD is completely legal in the UK and is considered as a ‘novel’ or new food, like quinoa, chia seeds and the papaya fruit. THC is a compound found most prominently in marijuana plants and is responsible for the euphoric effects that people experience when they ingest or smoke marijuana. THC products are illegal to possess, distribute or sell in the UK.
6. You can overdose on CBD
There are no cases recorded of anyone overdosing on CBD. If you take an excessive amount, it has been known to cause diarrhoea and drowsiness. Any excess CBD that you take will simply not be absorbed and will be excreted from your body, in a similar way of taking too many vitamins!
7. You will fail a drug test at work or in sport competitions
Cannabidiol won’t show up on a drug test. However, any unregulated CBD products that contain THC could make you fail. In the World Anti-Doping Authority’s (WADA) cannabidiol is not included in the list of prohibited substances, therefore professional athletes can use CBD while competing in any competition – including the Olympic or Commonwealth Games. As CBD is completely legal and is considered a novel food, there is no risk of failing a drugs test when using any of CHOICE CBD’s products.
