There seems to be a stigma attached to CBD and medical marijuana, especially in the 50+ age group. We are afraid of getting ‘high’ and being out of control. I notice it with my friends and I understand it. Before researching and going to a clinic, I had no idea what CBD was all about or how I could benefit from CBD oil. In my mind, I thought I would get high while trying to get better. I didn’t know enough about it, so it was an educational process. Add the controversy surrounding CBD and people still have concerns. Rightly so.
Why the Confusion
Even though CBD and CBD products have been around for several years and are legal in most of the states and, technically, in Canada, there is still controversy surrounding CBD. It is not a narcotic or a non-psychoactive compound. Many strains have high levels of CBD with little or no THC, the compound we associate with the ‘high’ or euphoria. Research shows it is effective because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties.
Part of the confusion might stem from confusing CBD products with Medical Marijuana and Recreational Marijuana. I will give a very brief description of all three.
CBD: Simply put, it is a compound and one of the key ingredients in cannabis. Contrary to what many people still believe, you won’t experience the euphoric state we associate with THC. You can experience relief from pain and relaxation without the high. CBD does not cause mind-altering side effects and can be safely given to children.
Medical Marijuana: Medical marijuana uses the whole unprocessed plant which contains the psychoactive compound THC. It contains various amounts of THC ranging from very low to high, for a host of medical conditions such as epilepsy, arthritis, chronic pain, diabetes, and many more. The THC can have some adverse side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, increased appetite, imbalance, euphoria, anxiety, and paranoia. In spite of the benefits though, medical marijuana is still illegal in many states. The FDA does not approve or recognize the plant as a medicine.
Recreational Marijuana: Recreational marijuana is just that, is usually high in THC which causes euphoria and does not require medical approval.
Recent News
Facebook recently suspended a grocery store’s ad account for discussing CBD oil.
In its excitement at having Governor Eric Holcomb sign a bill to legalize CBD oils in Indianapolis, the owners of Georgetown Market posted on their Facebook the news, hoping to share it with its customers.
Imagine their disbelief when their ad was blocked and their account disabled by Facebook!
According to Facebook, the grocery store was promoting an illegal drug.
Even though this was appealed and Facebook backtracked and reversed its decision, this is the kind of activity that contributes to the confusion and controversy surrounding CBD oils as it is neither illegal nor a drug, for that matter.
In Canada…Controversy Surrounding CBD
While legal, Health Canada has also put restrictions on CBD. The THC content must be lower than 0.3% in its finished state. If it tests higher, it could be illegal. For those requiring a higher THC content, you can obtain it legally by having an ACMPR / MMAR / MMPR (Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations/Marijuana Medical Access Regulations/Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations) prescription. In this case, you can legally obtain a certain amount for personal use.
And what about our pets – is it safe? Even though people throughout Canada have been using CBD oil to manage chronic conditions in their pets, and it is readily available from several sources, veterinarians in Ontario are still reluctant to prescribe it as a form of treatment. At this time, there is no approval for medicine containing cannabis by Health Canada for animals, thereby making it illegal for Veterinarians to prescribe it to their patients.
Dr. Andrew Jones, a veterinarian from British Columbia, Canada has different views. With a career that has spanned 17 years, he pursued alternative remedies for pets and when his dog Lewis suffered from Cancer, he turned to CBD oil. He claims that there are virtually zero cases of serious toxicity in dogs and cats as a result of the consumption of THC. He also claims that there is a substantial body of research on CBD and cannabidiol for pets and that medical marijuana, especially CBD oil, has a huge place in health care for our pets.
Continued Use
Despite the controversy surrounding CBD, people continually use it to manage epilepsy, cancer pain, chronic pain, sleep deprivation, arthritis, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, diabetes, and anxiety disorders to name a few.
Contributing to the Controversy Surrounding CBD
In addition to Facebook suspending ads in Indianapolis which they consider illegal, there are many other reasons why the controversy surrounding CBD lingers. For example:
– The DEA allows the issuance of permits for the growth of the plant but denies almost every permit they receive.
– The FDA does not approve CBD for any medical treatment.
– The US government currently holds a patent on CBD for its medically proven ability to limit neurological damage.
– While CBD is legal in many states in the US, it is illegal to have or use CBD oil in Idaho but is allowed in every surrounding state.
– The FDA has granted the University of California researchers permission to study the effects of cannabidiol on children with seizures (see item number # 2 – no wonder there is controversy).
– Despite the many stories documenting the results of using CBD oil, the government still claims there is not enough research to prove medical benefits.
What are your thoughts on CBD products? Are you confused? Afraid to try them? Have you used them with any success? Please share your comments below.
Mary Ann shares her passion and personal experience with CBD and medical cannabis as well as the experiences of others. Do visit regularly to find out the ins and outs of CBD and medical marijuana products. If you are passionate about something and would love to share it on your own website, then click here to get started.
This is very interesting thank you – I had not realised how much controversy there is around CBD.
It sounds like someone needs to make a clear legislation – if it has so many good uses without the “high” then shouldn’t it be legal…? Facebook sounds like they need to get their algorithms in place to distinguish this better from real illegal substances.
Do you use CBD?
Hi Allie. Thank you for your comments. I agree with you about the legality. There are so many documented cases of how CBD has helped people. Yes, I do use the CBD oil for pain in both my hips and knees. I know it works because I recently ran out, thinking my husband was ordering some (he uses it for his back) and he thought I had ordered it. Last night, I could barely walk up the stairs, both knees were so sore. I will be targeting specific illnesses that CBD products have been used for in future postings. Again, thank you for taking the time to read the article and provide your comments.
I’ve had personal experience and success with both CBD and THC oil. I cured a mouth ulcer with THC and a family member (who’s 79!) with cancer greatly benefitted from it too.
To stop the ‘high’ when using THC oil just take a rice grain amount of CBD afterwards and it takes the euphoric or ‘monged’ out feeling away.
I trust plants over big pharma any day. The cures are here and made illegal because drug companies go bust if we aren’t using their toxic ‘medicines’.
Thank you for commenting. I agree. Big Pharma will get their greedy hands on the products and personally, I think the quality will suffer and that toxic chemicals will be added. My supplier in Canada offers very good quality products and I hope that continues.
Good advice about stopping the ‘high’ as I have very little tolarance for THC so my oils contain little to none.
I’ve had personal experience and success with both CBD and THC oil. I cured a mouth ulcer with THC and a family member (who’s 79!) with cancer greatly benefitted from it too.
To stop the ‘high’ when using THC oil just take a rice grain amount of CBD afterwards and it takes the euphoric or ‘monged’ out feeling away.
I trust plants over big pharma any day. The cures are here and made illegal because drug companies go bust if we aren’t using their toxic ‘medicines’.