And interestingly enough, cannabidiol (CBD) products are leading in this public interest. in a recent “social listening survey*, Brightfield Group revealed that COVID-19 has impacted the CBD industry in the following ways:
- 48% of consumers have stocked up or plan to stock up on CBD. Additionally, 39% of consumers plan to use CBD more frequently.
- Younger consumers are more likely to plan to increase their CBD usage, with nearly half (47%) of Gen Z and Millennial CBD consumers planning to use more frequently, compared to only 37% of Gen-Xers and 27% of Boomers.
*N = 1,676. Survey fielded online from March 16-19, 2020. The sample includes 1,676 respondents in the United States who have used CBD in the last 12 months.
What does this mean to you? You are likely to get an increase in patient/ client questions about CBD, especially from your younger clients/patients. Thus we encourage you to take a moment to refamiliarize with the cannabinoid so you’ll be prepared for the questions that may come your way, starting with the elephant in the room, “Will CBD get me high?”
First, let’s cut to the chase – the answer is a huge “NO.”
The web is full of false or contradictory information, which may confuse your clients. The information in this article will provide you with the tools you need to educate your patients about CBD product safety.
When you’re done reading this, you’ll be able to confidently reassure your clients that they can’t get high from any CBD products you might recommend.
Misinformation about Cannabis is Prevalent
There is persistent concern and misinformation about CBD’s capacity to make people high. This is probably because CBD comes from the Cannabis plant, and when people think of the word “cannabis”, they often associate it with marijuana and its symptoms of intoxication.
When searching for more information about Cannabis, one will often find competing or contradictory data—because the botany of the plant has still not been fully agreed upon.
One study published in the American Journal of Botany proposed two species of Cannabis and stated that “the proportion of high THC/CBD chemotype plants in most accessions assigned to C. sativa was <25% and in most accessions assigned to C. indica was >25%.”
However, opposing research debates the existence of distinct Cannabis species; Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa, and Cannabis ruderalis. The consensus is that legal hemp is derived from the species largely cultivated in the Western Continent.
Today, commercial products made in the United States that contain CBD are made using legal, industrial hemp extract from the Cannabis sativa L. plant, which contains less than 0.3% THC according to the 2018 Farm Bill.
CBD CLINIC™ products comply with these guidelines and will not cause you to fail a drug test.
What Are the Differences Between Marijuana and Hemp?
Before 1937, hemp was a common agricultural crop used for food, clothing, and fuel. However, despite its many uses, it was outlawed because of its similarities to marijuana.
Now, although both marijuana and hemp contain quantities of CBD, this substance is not what produces the “high” effect in people. Just the opposite actually – research suggests that CBD blocks the chemical receptors in the brain from producing an intoxicated feeling! However, these findings have not yet been confirmed by the FDA.
THC gets people high, CBD does not
Cannabis plants are not comprised of CBD alone – they also contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and over 100 other cannabinoids that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. Researchers have discovered that THC and CBD have opposite effects on the brain.
THC serves as a partial agonist at CB1 receptor sites, and it has been found to impact perception, motor function, cognitive processes, and emotions. It may also cause anxiety, amnesia, and intoxication. You can read more about how the endocannabinoid system works within the skin in our article, The Endocannabinoid System and the Skin.
In short, THC is the compound in cannabinoids that gets people high. More importantly, it is illegal in many states or banned from certain professions, which is why many people are interested in CBD.
Want to implement CBD into your practice? Register to speak to an account representative TODAY.
CBD: A possible counteractant to the high caused by THC
As mentioned before, CBD inhibits the actions of CB1 agonists. It has entirely different mechanisms of action than THC, which involves multiple receptors. CBD has a weak bind to CB1 receptor sites, and this action increases the body’s endocannabinoid levels. An article in European Neuropsychopharmacology suggests that it may even prevent some of the impairments that THC creates, but this data has yet to be validated and approved by the FDA.
How much THC is in products that contain CBD?
According to the 2018 Farm Bill, Cannabis and its derivatives may only have less than 0.3% THC – well under the amount needed to get a person high. CBD products cannot contain more than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
The following chart is based on information from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. It will give you an idea of how minuscule the maximum legal amount of THC is in hemp and CBD products.
| Product | THC Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Marijuana in the early 1990s | 3.7-7.5 |
| Marijuana in 2013 | 9.6-16 |
| Hash oil | 50-80+ |
| Hemp | 0.3 |
| Hemp-derived CBD products* | 0.00-0.3 |
*CBD CLINIC products comply with the legal limits outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill.
Are there laws that ensure CBD products are safe and not intoxicating?
Yes, many laws govern the production of safe CBD products.
The CBD manufacturing industry is booming due to recent changes in state and federal laws. Hemp is not considered a controlled substance per the 2018 Farm Bill, which states that:
- Cannabis may be grown across the United States unless outlawed at the state level.
- Labels must explicitly state whether CBD used in products is derived from hemp or marijuana.
- Standard manufacturing rules must be adhered to.
- Individual state laws exist for hemp farmers.
For more information about ensuring that the products you recommend are made with top-quality ingredients, refer to our article: Choosing Quality CBD, Why the Source of Your CBD Matters.
What To Tell Your Clients
- THC is the component in cannabis that gets you high.
- While structurally similar to THC, CBD is a legal compound derived from the hemp plant.
- CBD contains less than 0.3% of THC, will not get them high, and will not cause them to fail a drug test.
CBD CLINIC uses Cannabis that is high in CBD and low in THC, so you can feel safe in recommending these products to your clients. And, you now have all the information needed to address their concerns.
**You can find CBD CLINIC’s batch results by clicking here. Type in your batch number, which can be found on the side of CBD CLINIC packaging.
***You can find CBD CLINIC’s safety data sheets by clicking here.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. It has not been approved by the FDA to diagnose, treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate any diseases or conditions. We use CBD in our products for cosmetic purposes only.
