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About CBD, which is not the same thing as THC
Health  |  Sat - August 10, 2024 6:51 pm  |  Article Hits:148  |  A+ | a-
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in cannabis. CBD is not impairing beauce it is nonpsychoactive, which means it doesn’t cause a “high.”

Scientists are still learning how CBD affects the body. It may help manage certain health conditions, improve mood, and reduce pain. However, using CBD products is not risk free. There are possible side effects and risks associated with CBD use.

By now, you may’ve heard someone mention CBD, and as many as 25% of adults in the United States have either tried or are interested in trying CBD products. Many businesses that sell hemp and CBD products also sell products that contain  tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is psychoactive compound found in cannabis that does cause a "high," so be careful to not mistake THC products for hemp or CBD products

CBD Use in the United States

CBD can be derived from hemp or non-hemp plants. Hemp is defined as any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)A, the mind-altering substance in cannabis.

In 2018, the U.S. Congress passed and signed into law the Agriculture Improvement Act. This law removed hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act, effectively legalizing CBD if it comes from hemp. However, a few states have not removed hemp from their state’s-controlled substances acts, so legality of CBD products differs across states.

CBD is marketed in many consumer products, such as:
• Foods
• Oils
• Lotions
• Capsules
• Cosmetics

How CBD Can Affect Your Health

Is CBD a medicine? Scientists are still learning about how CBD affects the body. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a medicine that contains purified CBD from hemp, to help treat rare seizure disorders. The FDA has concluded that this drug is safe and effective for this intended use. However, other marketed products and uses of CBD may not be FDA approved.

Potential Harms and Side Effects

Using CBD products is not risk free. The FDA has limited data on CBD safety. Please consider these possible side effects and risks before using CBD:
• Liver damage
• Interference with other drugs you are taking, which may lead to injury or serious side effects
• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Diarrhea or changes in appetite
• Changes in mood, such as irritability

Using CBD During Pregnancy is Not Recommended

CBD use during pregnancy is not recommended. 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. It is not known if CBD is passed to a baby through breast milk. Since negative effects have been associated with CBD use, people who are breastfeeding are encouraged to avoid CBD.

Keep CBD Products Away From Children
‎
We do not know the effects of CBD on children’s developing brains. If you use products that contain CBD or THC, keep them in childproof containers and out of the reach of children. For additional questions, contact your healthcare provider, your health department, or your local or regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if it’s an emergency.

Unknowns

There is a lot we do not know about CBD. Currently, it is not known how CBD use affects a person over time. It is also unknown how different modes of CBD use - such as smoking, vaping, eating, or applying to the skin, etc. - affects people.

Risk of Unintentional Poisoning

Many businesses that sell hemp and CBD products also sell products that contain THC. Individuals should be careful to not mistake THC products for hemp or CBD products. Products containing THC can result in psychoactive effects and adverse events. Additionally, most CBD products are not regulated by the FDA. As such, consumers should be aware that products labeled as hemp or CBD may contain other ingredients, such as THC, pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria, or fungi.

The CDC released a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory in 2021 to inform consumers that CBD can be synthetically converted into Delta-8 THC, which is psychoactive and not well understood. This alert warns consumers about the potential for adverse events due to insufficient labeling of products containing THC and CBD.

What to Do If You Have an Adverse Effect of a Product that Contain THC or CBD

If consumers experience adverse effects of THC- or CBD-containing products that are an immediate danger to their health, they should call their local or regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 or seek medical attention at their local emergency room and report the ingredients of products they have consumed to healthcare providers.
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