7 Common CBD Myths and Misconceptions

7 Common CBD Myths and Misconceptions

CBD has been here for **ages**, but lots of folks still think it’s **something new**. This is just **one of the big myths** about it and how it’s used. 

Read on for more myth-busting facts about this oft-misunderstood compound!

1. CBD gets you high

A main concern about CBD is that it’s produced from cannabis, which also provides marijuana and THC—the hallucinogenic cannabinoid that gives you a sense of “high.” Even though CBD and THC have wildly different effects on humans, there is often a lingering fear and misconception about their relationship. Many people are confused about CBD’s potential and whether it’s psychotropic.

Cannabis has been grown for millennia across the world. Pretty soon, people realised that the various cannabis strains had a different effect on them. Today, we know that this is due to the fact that some contain high doses of THC while others very little.

Our ancestors had no means to perform a chemical analysis on cannabis. They did experiment with it, though, and with selective growth managed to grow two different types of plants that belong to the same family: industrial hemp and marijuana.

While you may think these are the same, consider the citrus family: it includes oranges, grapefruits, bitter oranges, lemons, cumquats, and limes. Each of these has a very different taste, shape, and colour from the others.

Something similar is true of cannabis. Industrial hemp is used to produce CBD. Its stalks and leaves are turned into rope, textiles, and even building materials. It contains more than 100 cannabinoids and other helpful natural compounds but very little THC. For CBD products to be legally sold and purchased in the UK, THC content must be below 0.2% of dry weight, which is a minute quantity, if traceable. Also, CBD products must be produced from industrial hemp and not marijuana.

Marijuana, on the other hand, is a strain of cannabis that contains high doses of THC. Its consumption is illegal in the UK.

So, hemp products and CBD will not get you high. CBD is not addictive nor is it psychedelic and the World Health Organization has issued a report stating that CBD is well-tolerated by the human body.

2. All CBD products are the same

All CBD products are not the same. If you plan on introducing CBD to your daily routine, you should check the manufacturer, the hemp growth methods, and whether the producer runs lab tests on the product.

Here are some ways in which they differ.

Organic CBD

When hemp is grown, it develops deep roots. These deep roots have been known to clean soils of heavy metals and chemicals, which is why industrial hemp has also been used as a bioremediation plant to relieve soils of harmful compounds.

As you don’t want hemp that has soaked up pesticides and other harmful materials, you should prefer organic CBD products or CBD products that come from well-regulated markets.

Hemp growers from regulated markets

The best and cleanest industrial hemp is grown in the European Union, the United States, and Canada because growers follow stringent growing rules and must apply for licenses. Industrial hemp farming follows strict regulations that help ensure your safety.

Lab tests

Any CBD product should be tested. A third-party lab test will issue a Certificate of Analysis that tells you how much CBD the product contains and verifies that the THC content is below the legal 0.2% threshold.

The Certificate of Analysis will also mention which cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids are found in your product. These are botanical, non-addictive compounds in hemp that work with CBD to make it more effective.

So, read the label of your CBD product to understand the type of CBD used, its concentration, and any additional ingredients.

Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate

You may have noticed that there are many types of CBD products:

  • Full-spectrum CBD contains all the cannabinoids, aromatic terpenes, and antioxidant flavonoids found in hemp. This includes minute traces of THC.
  • Broad-spectrum CBD is similar to full-spectrum—except for the fact that the manufacturer has extracted and discarded the traces of THC. Most other beneficial cannabinoids and botanical compounds of hemp still remain in the product, though.
  • As for CBD isolate, that’s pure CBD without any other elements.

Full-spectrum CBD has all the beneficial wholesomeness of hemp while CBD isolate gives a boost of pure CBD. The choice of product is yours—just remember that all CBD products are not the same.

3. CBD cures everything

Here at CBD4beginners, we believe that CBD has excellent health potential. However, there is still a long way to go until we can find out just how it may be able to help with specific ailments or conditions such as inflammation, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. So far, only one CBD-based medicine called Epidyolex has been approved by the NHS to treat two rare children’s epilepsy syndromes.

There is growing evidence that CBD may help with the kind of chronic inflammation associated with many conditions and diseases. Clinical trials suggest that CBD can be effective with anxiety and sleep disorders as well, and a study showed that people self-treating themselves with CBD for depression showed promising results.

But beware of anyone claiming that CBD can cure everything, from cancer to specific chronic or acute conditions. Yes, it may help you manage your well-being better. It’s also a helpful tool to handle stressful situations—but CBD is definitely not a magical cure-all.

4. A higher dosage is always better

Let’s start with the basics: there is no recommended dosage for CBD. When you start your CBD journey, you have to assess its effect on your own, with the help of your GP.

The most common suggestion is to start low and increase the dosage gradually until you achieve your expected health outcome. It can take time—sometimes weeks—for the body to adjust to the presence of CBD in the bloodstream. Taking higher doses will not accelerate the process.

Remember that CBD may also be biphasic: it has different effects when taken in small and large doses. Smaller doses may be more invigorating but larger ones more calming.

While CBD can’t cause an overdose, there is no point in taking a higher dosage to achieve a specific result. Factors such as your metabolism rate, weight, diet, and exercise routines can affect dramatically how your body utilises CBD and how much it needs. You need to evaluate your engagement with CBD and how it interacts with your body.

5. Since CBD is natural, I don’t need to check with a doctor

Although CBD is a botanical compound, it doesn’t mean you should take it without consulting with your GP. Many botanical ingredients and supplements can interact with medicines—even over-the-counter ones. Even grapefruit affects liver enzymes and can block the absorption of certain medicines.

Before taking CBD, discuss with your GP and mention any medicines you are already taking. Your doctor will make informed suggestions about how to include CBD in your routine without unbalancing your existing pharmaceutical regimen.

6.      CBD is only for medical use

At first, the CBD market was pretty unregulated. This led to a considerable amount of misinformation and myths, with wild claims about CBD’s health potential. Many manufacturers promised unlikely or unproven health benefits to increase their sales. Even today, you can find several websites with claims that are completely unsupported by the evidence.

As a result, many people currently use CBD for medical reasons. For example, research is showing that people with fibromyalgia are substituting CBD for their prescribed medicines.

This is hardly surprising, as existing medicines—often pain-relieving opioids—have unpleasant side effects. Patients who decide to switch to CBD typically report fewer side effects, better pain management, and ultimately better health.

Many people also take CBD to manage pain, whether it’s chronic or temporary. And quite a few take it for anxiety, stress, depression, or sleep problems.

People who turn to CBD often want to incorporate into their routine a natural compound that can help them manage their daily routine better. Some take it early in the morning to energize them; others prefer to take it late in the evening to help them relax and go to sleep. Others turn to CBD when they have some stressful days ahead of them, to help them handle them.

CBD, however, is not intended for medical use. As a reminder, there is only one NHS-recognized CBD-based medicine.

7. CBD is new

People across the world used CBD for millennia to help with inflammation and pain management. Until the early 20th century, CBD was legally consumed in many Western countries—only to be banned alongside THC.

After a century of obscurity, CBD has now exploded into our lives. There is currently such a wide selection of novel CBD products, from CBD patches to CBD cosmetics and CBD bath bombs, that it’s very easy to include in your daily life. Accordingly, the CBD market in the UK is expected to surpass the £1 billion mark by 2024.

CBD is the new reality in people’s lives

This dramatic growth means that more people are taking it to improve their quality of living and overall well-being. As a result, misconceptions and myths abound.

The simple truth, however, is that, while CBD is not a cure-all, it may help in certain scenarios. With the right information and some careful research, you can find the right CBD product for you.

If you suffer from a medical condition, talk to your GP who will recommend the best approach for your needs.

If, on the other hand, you feel you need a product to keep you going when you need something to help with your sense of well-being, then CBD may be the right answer for you. Check with your GP and slowly introduce cannabidiol to your system to assess how it makes you feel and whether you are experiencing your better self.

As CBD has few side effects, you can usually take it for long stretches of time if you feel it helps. With more information popping up daily about CBD, many Britons understand it better and give themselves the opportunity to try it. 

Hopefully, this article on the most common misconceptions about CBD has helped you make an informed choice when you buy your CBD. If you’re keen on trying it out, check out our reviews on the best CBD oil in the UK and the best CBD UK stores!

Nicholas C. Rossis

Nicholas Rossis, PhD is a specialized, NSF-trained writer who has written hundreds of posts on CBD and nutritional supplements. His work combines critical acclaim with the analysis of the latest news, studies, research, and legal developments in the world of CBD, providing readers with valuable data and insights.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *