Debunking 6 Common CBD Myths

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. You always get immediate results

Perhaps you’ve had friends or family who rave about CBD. Others may say it didn’t work for them. How can it be both? While we all react differently to cannabis, many times people are using CBD products incorrectly—or not giving them enough time to work.

Some people see results right away, but for others, regular use is needed to experience all of the benefits. For most people, this requires consistency. Most of our customers take either 1 or 2 servings a day. 

We recommend starting with a 20 mg serving size, at least once a day, for at least two weeks. Increase, or decrease, your serving depending on how you feel. Some customers find it helpful to keep a journal of their daily servings and how they feel afterward. 

2. CBD is marijuana

While CBD can be made from marijuana, it most commonly is made from hemp.

What’s the difference? Both marijuana and hemp are genetically the same plant: cannabis. “Hemp” is a legal classification for cannabis that contains very small amounts of THC, the compound that produces the “high” feeling people associate with cannabis.

CBD itself is not “intoxicating”—meaning it doesn’t excite or diminish your physical and mental control like other substances (like alcohol) might.

CBD is “psychoactive”—meaning it can affect your mind or behavior. It might make you feel mellower, or ease sensations of pain, for instance.

Many CBD oil products—which are commonly referred to as “full-spectrum CBD oil”—contain both CBD and THC. For most people, the THC content in CBD oil is low enough that it does not produce a “high.” But this is something to keep in mind if you are drug-tested at work, or take very large servings of CBD oil. 

3. 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.” 

4. 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. 

5. CBD is legal

CBD that is made from hemp, and contains less than 0.3% THC (in terms of weight) is federally legal in the United States.

The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp and hemp-derived CBD from the Controlled Substances Act, making it legal to farm hemp across the United States. The Farm Bill also gave the FDA the power to regulate CBD.

The FDA, however, has not approved CBD to be sold and marketed as a dietary supplement. This is because CBD is already the active ingredient in an approved prescription drug, Epidiolex, which is used to treat seizures. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) prohibits ingredients from being marketed as a dietary supplement after being approved for prescription use..

This may seem confusing, as there are currently thousands of CBD products being sold and marketed as dietary supplements. Thus far, the FDA has only enforced violations against CBD products that make health claims in their marketing.

Due to the lack of clarity, states such as California are now taking matters into their own hands—creating legal pathways for CBD to be marketed and sold as dietary supplements.

 

6. Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are the same

There can be a lot of confusion around hemp oil, hemp seed oil, and CBD oil. Sometimes the names are used interchangeably, but they are not the same. 

Hemp oil, or hemp seed oil, is made from the seeds of the cannabis plant. While it may have a variety of nutrients, it contains no CBD.

In contrast, CBD oil (also known as “broad- or full-spectrum hemp extract”) is made from the flowers and leaves of the plant and contains cannabinoids, including CBD. 

It’s a good idea to look at lab reports of the products you use to verify their CBD and cannabinoid content. Pay attention to the product label—including how servings are marked—to understand how much CBD is really in the product.