There’s no shortage of articles about CBD on the internet.
Unfortunately, most of them are filled with exaggerated claims, misinformation, or promotional material.
Here are some of the common myths we’ve seen.
1. CBD is a magical cure-all
While numerous studies and anecdotal reports have noted the potential therapeutic effects of CBD, claiming it as a universal cure-all is far from accurate.
The effectiveness of CBD depends on a variety of factors including serving size, individual body chemistry, and the quality of the CBD product used. People suffering from stress, pain and inflammation, and sleep issues have shown to potentially benefit from CBD use, but its effects can vary from person to person.
Like any other therapeutic intervention, CBD is not an immediate solution for all health conditions, and it is advisable to have realistic expectations and patience when starting CBD use.
2. Higher doses of CBD are more effective
The assumption that increasing your serving size of CBD will increase its effectiveness is not always correct. Again, it depends on what you're using CBD for, your personal body chemistry, and the type of CBD that you're using.
In fact, studies have suggested a 'bell curve' effect when it comes to CBD isolate products (which have been specially processed to remove all cannabinoids other than CBD). The effectiveness of isolate can actually decrease after reaching an optimal dose.
This phenomenon, along with the lack of clinical data on CBD in general, indicates the importance of "start low and go slow" approach to find your personal optimum dose.
3. You can't fail a drug test after using CBD
The majority of CBD products are derived from hemp and contain only trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%), the intoxicating cannabinoid in cannabis.
However, regular consumption of CBD products could potentially lead to a positive drug test for THC.
If passing a drug test is a concern, using a CBD isolate product, which should be devoid of THC, could be a safer choice. However, even some CBD isolate products have been shown to contain THC — so caution is warranted.
4. All CBD oil is the same
CBD oil can be broken down into three major types: isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. The three types have different cannabinoid profiles.
“Isolate” products are processed until they only contain CBD. All other cannabinoids, including THC, are removed (although, depending on the quality of the product, there may still be trace amounts of other cannabinoids).
“Broad-spectrum” oils are processed to remove THC, but retain many other cannabinoids and plant compounds.
“Full-spectrum” CBD oils can contain all of the cannabinoids and compounds in the plant, including THC (in small quantities).
While we have so much to learn about cannabinoids and how they affect us, early studies suggest there is a benefit to consuming these plant compounds in their naturally occurring ratios. There is even a name for it, “the entourage effect.”
5. CBD has to be expensive to be good
The price of CBD varies widely and is not always an indication of quality. How do you judge between products? We recommend looking at a few things:
- Is the CBD oil certified organic?
- Is it lab tested? (And are the results posted publicly?)
- How is it made?
- Who farms and makes it?
- And finally, how much does it cost?
Looking into these five questions can help you evaluate the quality of CBD you are getting and at what price.
6. CBD has no side effects
Although CBD is generally well-tolerated and deemed safe, it is not without potential side effects.
Some individuals may experience fatigue, dry mouth, changes in appetite, and diarrhea.
Furthermore, CBD can interact with certain medications, potentially altering their effectiveness. This highlights the importance of consulting with a healthcare provider — especially if you're taking other medications concurrently with CBD.