Worldwide, cannabidiol (CBD) oil has been on the rise and fueling the billion-dollar healthcare industry because it has been touted as one of the effective remedies for anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, and other medical conditions. But, is CBD oil legal? Is it really effective at subsiding pain and anxiety?
When it comes to the intoxicating effects of marijuana, most people are often familiar with a compound known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). What is CBD then? CBD is one of the therapeutic chemicals called cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant.
Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD has no intoxicating effects, which is why more and more people have been using CBD oil to reap its therapeutic benefits without getting high.
CBD oil is extracted from the flowers, leaves, stems, and stalks of the hemp plant.
CBD oil has been found to have therapeutic effects on certain types of seizures, according to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018. The report also mentioned that CBD oil might help with chronic pain, anxiety, psychosis, inflammation, neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, drug addiction, cancer, and other medical conditions.
There is less evidence of CBD oil treating these conditions when compared to certain types of seizures. However, that did not stop people from using CBD oil for pain, anxiety, diarrhea, or other health issues.
There are many positive anecdotal reports suggesting that CBD oil can help manage anxiety and chronic pain; however, the clinical evidence we have is less but promising. So, researchers say we still need to conduct larger and longer-term studies to look at the bigger picture.
CBD oil seems safe and effective for most people, but its efficacy may vary from individual to individual. If you want to try CBD oil for anxiety, chronic pain or any other health issue, make sure you check with your doctor first.
Is CBD Oil Legal?
In the United States and the United Kingdom, hemp-derived CBD oil is legal but marijuana-derived CBD oil is not legal. The federal government considers hemp a plant of the cannabis family, which contains less than 0.3 percent of THC and considered marijuana a plant of the same family, which contains more than 0.3 percent of THC.
Marijuana-derived cannabis plants are known to have a lower CBD concentration than hemp plants, which is why most CBD oil products use CBD derived from hemp, not marijuana.
Marijuana is known to have higher THC concentration so it is not ideal for producing CBD oil products. On the other hand, hemp plants have a lower amount of THC and a higher amount of CBD, making them ideal for producing CBD oil products. The bottom line is if you use CBD oil that comes from hemp plants, it is legal. However, CBD oil made from marijuana plants with higher levels of THC is legal if your state has legalized the use of marijuana.
