As of December 2018, the most recent farm bill, CBD became legal in the US and it is already exploding into the market place.  But what is it? In this blog, I will give an overview of this new product and the legal requirements for its production.

What does CBD stand for?

CBD is the acronym for Cannabidiol, a rising cannabinoid found in hemp/cannabis plants.

WHAT IS A CANNABINOID?

The cannabis plant  contains a number of compounds known as cannabinoids. There is estimated to be over 100 cannabinoids produced by a single plant.  THC is only one such cannabinoid. Many of these cannabinoids have little research, however, research on cannabinoids such as CBD is constantly expanding.

Where does CBD oil come from?

CBD is derived from the plant, Cannabis Sativa L. This name refers to all varieties of the plant including both hemp and medical/recreational cannabis (formerly referred to as “marijuana”). While hemp and medical/recreational cannabis share similar names, the one main difference is between the levels of the intoxicating compound, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Agricultural hemp is naturally high in CBD and is classified as less than 0.3% THC in the dry weight material. Medical/Recreational cannabis refers to plants with large flowering buds and high amounts of THC, between 1%-30%. This type of product can only be sold and consumed in states with laws around medical or recreational cannabis, while hemp-derived products can be sold all across the US.               CBD Oil products are made with CBD that is derived from agricultural hemp.

Is CBD oil different than hemp seed oil?

The hemp plant has many uses and is a great source of nutrition. Hemp seed oil refers to oils that have been made using only the hemp seeds. Hemp seeds themselves do not contain significant amounts of cannabinoids like CBD, but does contain essential nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids. Hemp-derived CBD oil is extracted from all parts of the plant—which includes the seed, the stem, and the stalk—and contains higher concentrations of cannabinoids, between 5%-50% in concentration.

WHAT IS HEMP?

Hemp oil is generally pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant which are also considered to have health benefits because they contain a large amount of antioxidants, omega 3 and 6 and fatty acids. Hemp oil does not contain the same amount of cannabinoids found in CBD oil which are extracted from the whole plant instead of just the seeds.

Is CBD oil psychoactive?

Although CBD is a component of marijuana (one of hundreds), CBD alone does not cause a “high.” According to a report from the World Health Organization, (https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/5.2_CBD.pdf  ) “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” No, CBD is not psychoactive because it contains only trace amounts of THC.  CBD has surged in popularity amongst the medical community for its safety profile. The therapeutic results achieved  without feelings of intoxication make it a great remedy.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476

What are the benefits of taking CBD oil?

Our everyday stresses can make staying balanced difficult. It can be difficult to stay balanced and healthy. The human body has an internal system called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), that produces its own cannabinoids called Anandamide and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The ECS helps maintain homeostasis and talks to every other organ system in the body. Hemp-derived CBD has the ability to balance the system that’s designed to balance you, via the ECS.

CBD has been lauded for a wide variety of health concerns, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the certain childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which historically have not responded to antiseizure medications. In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and in some cases it was able to stop them altogether. Recently the FDA approved the first ever cannabis-derived medicine for these conditions, Epidiolex, which contains CBD.

In the marketplace, CBD is often promoted to address anxiety and  insomnia. Some studies have suggested that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep.

In addition, CBD studies have been and are being conducted that indicate that CBD may offer an option for treating different types of chronic pain. “A study from the European Journal of Pain showed, using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Another study demonstrated the mechanism by which CBD inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain, two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat. More study in humans is needed in this area to substantiate the claims of CBD proponents about pain control.”

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476

What Illegal Claims are being Made about CBD?

Recently, the FDA sent out warnings to four CBD companies related to more than a dozen products and multiple online platforms, on which the FDA stated the companies made “unfounded, egregious claims about their products’ ability to limit, treat or cure cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmune diseases, opioid use disorder and other serious diseases,” without evidence or FDA approval.

Some of the claims the FDA said these companies made were:

• “CBD successfully stopped cancer cells in multiple different cervical cancer varieties.”
• “CBD also decreased human glioma cell growth and invasion, thus suggesting a possible role of CBD as an antitumor agent.”
• “For Alzheimer’s patients, CBD is one treatment option that is slowing the progression of that disease.”
• “CBD has demonstrated the ability to block spinal, peripheral and gastrointestinal mechanisms responsible for the pain associated with migraines, fibromyalgia, IBS and other related disorders.”
• “CBD reduced the rewarding effects of morphine and reduced drug seeking of heroin.”

In a statement recently released by the FDA, they announced they will hold public hearings  on CBD products to  form  of a high-level working group to provide updates to the agency’s website to provide CBD information to the public.

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm635048.htm

QUALITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR CBD.

For CBD to be the most beneficial, it should be full spectrum.  It is important to understand the quality, purity and potency of the CBD oil you purchase.  Labs should use High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to measure CBD levels, to the milligram, in every batch.  In some cases, a second level of lab testing is conducted to validate potency findings who independently analyzes the CBD.  CBD products should not contain pesticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, residual solvents, heavy metal contamination.

What Does Full Spectrum CBD mean?

Full Spectrum CBD Oil is usually sold in the form of a tincture which is also labeled as an oil. CBD oil is most commonly labeled as either a CBD isolate or a full-spectrum CBD oil. Full spectrum CBD contains less than .3% of THC favored  by those who want the inclusion of plant terpenes for better therapeutic results.  CBD isolate is a pure isolated cannabidiol with plant material removed and is a lower cost per milligram and considered by most to be less therapeutic.

IS CBD LEGAL?

In all CBD products, THC content cannot be  over .3% in order to be legal and not considered to be a schedule one narcotic.

If you have a question about CBD or products containing CBD, please don’t hesitate to call our office.  In addition to handling auto accident and injury cases, The Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt is available to consult with businesses regarding the sale and manufacture of CBD products.

If you or a loved one has been in an accident, the Henderson Auto Accident and Injury Attorneys at the Law Offices of  Laura Payne Hunt, Esq. can make sure that you receive the care you need and deserve, and advise on how to preserve evidence.  If you have been in any type of accident and have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the  Henderson Auto Accident and Injury Attorneys at the Law Offices of  Laura Payne Hunt, PC today.  At our office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to receive.  Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities.  They want to pay as little on every claim as possible.  Henderson Auto Accident Attorney Laura Payne Hunt, Esq. worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening her boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people.  During her time working for an insurance company,  Henderson Auto Accident Attorney Laura Payne Hunt, Esq. reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

At the Henderson Auto Accident and Injury Law Offices of  Laura Payne Hunt, PC we are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur.  For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our offices.  The Henderson Auto Accident and Injury Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt is a boutique, family owned law firm in Henderson that specializes in helping injured people and the community with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, and all types of injury claims.  Please do not hesitate to call Henderson Auto Accident Attorney Laura Payne Hunt, Esq. anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.