Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in marijuana, and it is not harmful, meaning it doesn't cause a “high”.
Hemp
is defined as any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering substance in marijuana. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Epidiolex, a drug containing CBD purified from hemp, to help treat rare seizure disorders. However, other marketed products and uses of CBD may not be approved by the FDA.CBD is not recommended for use during pregnancy as the potential health effects of using CBD products during pregnancy are currently unknown. In animals, high doses of CBD have caused negative effects on developing fetuses. We don't know if CBD is transmitted to a baby through breast milk, so people who are breastfeeding are advised to avoid CBD. We also don't know the effects of CBD on children's developing brains, so it is important to store products that contain CBD or THC in child-proof containers and out of reach of children.
Currently, we don't know how CBD consumption affects a person over time or how the different modes of CBD are used (smoking, vaping, eating, applying it to the skin, etc.). Many companies that sell hemp and CBD products also sell products that contain THC. People should be careful not to confuse THC products with hemp or CBD products as THC can cause psychoactive effects and adverse events. In addition, most CBD products are not regulated by the FDA and may contain other ingredients such as THC, pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria or fungi.
The FDA has not approved any drug containing CBD other than a prescription drug for the treatment of seizures associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome in human patients. The FDA has also sent warning letters to other companies that were illegally selling unapproved CBD products that claimed to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat or cure various diseases. OTC drugs must be approved by the FDA or meet the requirements for marketing without a request for a new drug approved under federal law, including drugs containing CBD. The FDA's role in regulating drugs, including cannabis and cannabis-derived products, also includes reviewing requests to market drugs to determine if the proposed drugs are safe and effective for intended indications.
The FDA has not approved any other cannabis product, derived from cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD) currently available on the market. The sampling and testing of marketed CBD products is another way in which the FDA has compiled more information about the safety profile of these products. It is important to note that before consuming any product containing CBD or THC, consumers should think carefully about potential risks and be aware that these products may have unknown quality and unproven benefits. If consumers experience adverse effects from products containing THC or CBD that pose an immediate danger to their health, they should seek medical attention at the local emergency room and report the ingredients of the products consumed to their health care provider.
