If we had a penny for every time we heard a falsehood or fallacy about CBD, we could stack enough short change to reach the peak of the Eiffel Tower.
Unfortunately, we don’t, but this should not distract from the sheer number of myths surrounding this natural compound and its use in modern society.
To create some clarity, we thought we’d debunk some of these myths and help you to understand a little more about CBD and what it can do for you. So let’s get started:
CBD is a Psychoactive Agent
We start with one of the most common myths, and one which prevents people from consuming CBD and enjoying its unique benefits.
Just to be clear, CBD is not a psychoactive agent, as it does not trigger the mind-altering high that is associated with pure cannabis and marijuana.
Instead, this is attributed to another compound known as tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC to you and me), which is extremely psychoactive and can alter a person’s outlook and perception of the world around them. Given that all CBD products must boast trace levels of THC lower than 0.3% in order to be approved, they’re entirely safe to consume without issue.
This is not to say that CBD does not affect the brain at all, however, as it is known to interact positively with CB1 receptors within the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to regulate mood, appetite and the impact of performance stress.
The key difference lies with the nature of this interaction, while THC directly engages receptors and triggers an almost instantaneous high, CBD interacts in a more subtle way and does not produce a standalone psychoactive experience.
Instead, it works harmoniously with other compounds that interact within the same space, while increasing the levels of serotonin and enhancing various aspects of a person’s psyche.
CBD Oil is Actually Medical Marijuana
Here’s a question for you; do you know the core differences between CBD oil and medical marijuana?
Not only will the answer for many of you be ‘no’, but some of you may have been unaware that there was any difference at all between these two entities.
In fact, there are several degrees of separation between CBD oil and medical marijuana, with these two seemingly similar substances distinguished by a number of subtle and not-so-subtle differences.
The most important point is that CBD and medical marijuana are extracted from entirely different plant species. Not only this, but only a very specific form of cannabis (namely unpollinated female inflorescences) can be officially classed as marijuana, so there’s a world of difference when considering the origins of CBD and its composition.
As a result of this, different methods of extraction and preparation are also used when dealing with CBD. This compound is typically withdrawn using the advanced CO2 extraction process, which helps to separate CBD from potentially harmful toxins to create a clean and pure oil that is entirely safe to consume.
On a final note, it’s worth pointing out that there are even degrees of separation between CBD oil and hemp oil. Although these are both extracted from the same species of plant, CBD is drawn from the flowers, leaves and stalks while hemp can only be taken from the seeds.
It’s a Miracle Cure
Here’s some advice for you; if you ever see a CBD oil brand using bold medical claims to sell its products, you should keep your money in your pocket and seek out an alternative.
While we’d love to claim that CBD oils, CBD tablets, CBD sweets and CBD e-liquids are capable of providing a miracle cure for various ailments, there is simply not enough evidence to support these claims at this stage.
CBD is at the heart of a global growth industry, and one that is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.8% from 2022 to 2030. However, it’s still a relatively young industry, and one that will benefit from continued studies and research over the course of the next five years or so.
Despite this, there is evidence to suggest that CBD can have a number of positive physical and mental health benefits through its interactions within the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Many of these have been proven by informal studies, including one body of research which revealed that the consumption of CBD is capable of reducing anxiety and cognitive impairment.
CBD can also work with CB2 receptors to control the body’s immune response, making it capable of controlling the impact of inflammation and similar conditions.
However, further studies are required to prove the true health benefits of CBD, and for all of its promising characteristics, it cannot yet be sold as a miracle cure.
All Hemp Oil Products are the Same
This is yet another common misconception surrounding CBD and hemp oil products, which are often compared and confused with one another.
There’s one basic problem here; as not all hemp oil products contain CBD while some boast only trace amounts of this compound.
We’ve already said that hemp seed oil is extracted from a different part of the plant, and this has a significant impact on its composition. Some hemp oils will contain less than 25 parts per million of CBD, while they’ll have a much higher THC content.
In contrast, CBD oils can be up to 15% CBD in some instances, while showcasing THC levels lower than 0.3%.
On the subject of composition, most CBD and hemp oil products will have subtle variations. Many will use a full spectrum of natural terpenes to achieve diverse and completely organic flavours, for example, changing the ingredients used across a complete product range.
So if you’re ever shopping for CBD, never make the mistake of believing that all products are the same!
CBD Turns into THC in the Body
While we understand how some CBD myths have come to pass, there are others that truly boggle the mind.
One example is that CBD turns into THC once it has been absorbed into the bloodstream, which conjures up images of innocent consumers suddenly experiencing random highs while at work, family functions and during meal times.
Don’t get us wrong; this idea is irresistible in some ways, but ultimately there’s absolutely no evidence (or basic logic) to support it in any way at all.
Despite this, the idea was not plucked entirely out of mid-air, as it emerged from a study which proved that this conversion was possible in a controlled environment and experimental circumstances.
There have never been any reports of this conversion taking place in normal conditions, particularly once a dosage of CBD has been absorbed into the bloodstream. There’s no real scientific ideas to explain how this could happen either, so it’s a mystery as to how this myth has been sustained for such a long time.
So rest assured, consuming an approved CBD product is entirely safe and will not either convert magically into THC or trigger any kind of psychoactive experience!
The Last Word – Debunking the Myths Surrounding CBD
We’ve selected five of the most common CBD myths here, although we could have picked several more to highlight the confusion surrounding this natural compound.
While some of these misconceptions are laughable, others are quite serious and may prevent some people from incorporating CBD into their diet and realising its immense potential for health and wellbeing.
This is a real shame, so it’s important to keep debunking these myths and ensuring that people know the truth whether or not to buy CBD products.
So feel free to share this with those around you, particularly if they’re interested in consuming CBD to supplement their existing diet!