CBD: Truths and Misconceptions
CBD its effects and safety
Today we will explore some truths and misconceptions about CBD in the world. The hemp plant has existed on our planet for tens of millions of years longer than humans, presumably appearing together with other plants in the Oligocene era. Humans quickly learned about it and recognized its usefulness, and throughout history it has been used for various purposes around the world. Today, it is considered one of the best-studied plants in the world.
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion in the media and the wider public, as well as among the professional community, about CBD -, about its possible effects and the safety of its use in food and cosmetics. In January 2019, cannabinoids, including natural CBD extracts, were defined as novel foods at the European level. This category includes foods or food supplements that were not used before May 15, 1997. A history of safe use of the food must be demonstrated before such products can be placed on the EU market.
Member States have implemented this in various ways, Slovenia (too) strictly, with inspections aimed at banning or removing products with natural CBD, and activities have been expanded from the food sector to the cosmetics sector, where they even refer to the International Convention on Narcotic Drugs from 1961 in connection with (non-psychoactive) natural CBD extracts.
Problem solving CBD
Solving the problem requires a reasonable approach that will benefit Slovenian users and the industry (separating the “wheat from the chaff”). We do not need additional general fueling of the fire, as was caused by some statements by representatives of public health institutions that part of CBD is converted into THC in the body after ingestion, and that we have more cases of poisoning with CBD-I eat, yes CBD–the drops will not help any patients, that there is no convincing evidence that it would be of any benefit, etc.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has completely ignored these statements: in June 2018, it published a report based on scientific findings, the "Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report", in which it stated that there is no evidence that oral use of CBD CBD-has caused clinically significant THC-specific subjective or physiological effects or detectable plasma concentrations of THC or its metabolites in humans. CBD has evaluated it as a substance that is generally well tolerated and has a good safety profile. In January 2019, it recommended to the United Nations (UN) that CBD products with a maximum of 0.2 % Delta-9-THC are not subject to international control – they are explicitly excluded from control because their use does not pose any relevant risk to public health. And yes, CBD IS useful and is already officially used in medicine, including in Slovenia.
The claims that we do not have proven long-term safe use, despite the fact that we know that this plant has been used by all civilizations that have left written evidence and that this plant has existed on our planet for more than 30 million years longer than humans, give us food for thought. The fact is that regulation of the market for food and dietary supplements containing cannabinoids is necessary, because in the current flood of domestic and foreign products, it is difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff and find a product that will be truly beneficial for our health. Science has already provided a lot of exciting research and the prospects for using cannabinoids to support health or even restore health are good. However, they are often exploited for promotional purposes on both the white and black markets, which is certainly not in the patients' favor. Additional confusion in an already complex field is caused by statements by experts, such as, for example, that CBD can be converted to THC in the body and is therefore dangerous. The fact is that the conversion reaction CBD in THC, known for a very long time, is a very simple reaction in organic chemistry, but under conditions that do not exist in our body, but can be easily provided in the laboratory.
On this topic, the International Cannabinoid Institute ICANNA also provided public statement, which aims to provide the public and political decision-makers with relevant and scientifically supported information about cannabidiol.
Text: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tanja Bagar
More about the author: Tanja Bagar
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