I think we all begin researching CBD with this very questions: Is CBD Safe?
It’s a cannabis plant so we tend to be cautious. We have been pumped stories about THC and how it’s gonna make you crazy and all that.
Well, none of that is really true and cannabis is becoming more and more recognized as a truly amazing natural supplement. It’s even called medicine or medicinal.
But of course, I am talking about cannabis in general and CBD is actually only one cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. All that can be a little confusing.
So let’s break it down so you’ll understand:
Cannabis is a plant and it has cannabinoids. CBD is one of those cannabinoids. Just like THC.
Some cannabis strains are very rich with THC – those are called Marijuana.
Some cannabis strains are very low with THC but very rich with CBD – those are called Hemp
In this article, we’ll focus on Hemp and CBD and our main question: is CBD safe.
Table of Contents
3 main aspects of CBD safety
- Is CBD Safe with other Drug Interactions
- Is CBD Safe in terms of Physiological Effects
- Is CBD Safe in terms of Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Effects
Is CBD Safe with other drug interactions?
You might be taking some Pharma drugs already so you need to know if CBD will be safe alongside those meds. Or will it have some unwanted interactions.
As it turns out studies show CBD is very safe with very rare mild interaction. Extensive studies were done on mice as well as on humans. No negative interactions were reported. However CBD did make the bioavailability of taken Pharmaceutical drugs higher. That means that the dosage of those drugs could be lowered for the same effect.
Is CBD Safe in terms of Physiological effects?
Next is the question if CBD would have any physical effect on you.
The most commonly reported side effects were tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, and changes of appetite and weight. But again all of these were not many and very mild.
Is CBD Safe in terms of Neurological and neuropsychiatric effects?
The most questionable side of CBD safety is probably the Psychological aspect. This is because a lot of people still associate CBD with THC and marijuana.
The reality is CBD is made from Hemp, which is low THC variety of the cannabis plant and not marijuana (a high THC cannabis variety). So even in products made with Full Spectrum CBD (this could be CBD oil, CBD tinctures, CBD edibles, etc.) there’s only traces amounts of THC present and within the recommended dosage it’s not enough to get you high.
On top of that CBD actually has antipsychotic effect. This means it will negate the effect of THC, That is exactly the reason why it works great for anxiety, depression and similar issues.
What kind of CBD is the “safest”?
If you want to be thorough and wanna come to the bottom or this “is CBD safe” question, this is what comes next.
Types of CBD:
Full Spectrum CBD
When we are talking about Full Spectrum CBD this means that the dried (decarboxylated) plant material was extracted and that extract has all of the components of the plant. Nothing was added or taken away.
Than this Full Spectrum CBD extract is added in the process of making the final product.
If it’s CBD oil, Full Spectrum CBD extract is added to a carrier oil or some combination of oils to get the desirable taste.
If it’s CBD chocolate Full Spectrum CBD extract is added to chocolate along with other components like hazelnuts, pistachios, etc.
While I always only recommend products with Full Spectrum CBD you still need to know that traces amount of THC are present and you need to be aware of that. Therefore to be 100% safe you should go with the recommended dosage. If you double or triple the amount you might feel that THC just the same as you would in an actual THC product.
On the other hand, it’s only the Full Spectrum CBD that will create the synergistic effect between all of the components called the Entourage effect. This has the most profound positive impact on your Endocannabinoid System compared to the Broad Spectrum CBD and CBD isolate.
Broad Spectrum CBD
This is a man made Spectrum also called a constructed Spectrum CBD.
Created in a lab, CBD isolate is used and other components of the cannabis plant are added. Components like other cannabinoids and terpenes.
This makes a product have zero THC so you can be safe and sure no weird psychoactive effect will happen.
CBD isolate
This is just what the word means – CBD is isolated making it a totally pure CBD powder.
Usually CBD isolate is about 99.7% pure CBD powder. This is than used to make the final CBD product.
Again you are totally safe when it comes to THC and the “high” THC can give you, but you will not benefit from the the Entourage effect.
What kind of CBD products are the safest?
The most common are:
- CBD oil
- CBD for Smoking
- CBD for Vaping
- Vaping Dry CBD flowers
- Vaping e-Liquid CBD
- CBD Edibles
- CBD Suppositories
CBD oil
In CBD oil the above explained CBD types are mixed in a carrier oil. Mostly organic, cold-pressed oils are used. CBD by itself is expensive, so usually, high-quality oils are used to get a high-quality product.
So is CBD oil safe? Considering it’s made from top quality components it’s probably among the safest types of CBD products.
Smoking CBD
Smoking is the least safe for you, well because it’s smoking. The combustion of the dry CBD flowers, plus the roll-paper is bad for the lungs.
I understand you might be okay and even like smoking. But the reality is that on one hand, you are using CBD to heal, on the other hand, you are hurting your body by inhaling smoke with all sorts of harmful particles. On top of that, the evolution of cannabis and CBD consumption brought on a range of far better options.
It should be a no brainer for you to switch to a safer CBD consumption option. And for smokers, the very next option is way safer.
Vaping CBD
Is CBD safe when you vape it?
When I first found out about vaping I knew this was a brilliant idea. And back then it was just about vaping dry herbs. E-Liquids came along much later.
Vaping Dry CBD flowers
Vaping dry herbs is just about the safest option when it comes to inhaling CBD. You get so many benefits and the risk of inhaling harmful combusted particles is literally zero.
Dry herb vaporizer heats up to about 200 degrees Celsius or 390 degrees Fahrenheit. That makes the active components of CBD flowers literally evaporate and you get to inhale “only the good stuff”. There’s no burning or combustion possible since the heat is too low.
Vaping e-Liquid CBD
Modern smoking alternatives brought about e-Liquids. The chosen type of CBD (remember it can be Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum or isolate) is mixed with the chosen e-Liquid. This is usually VG (Vegetable Glycerin) or PG (Propylene Glycol) or possibly a combination of both (2).
Now VG or Vegetable Glycerin is a natural chemical, derived from vegetable oils.
PG or Propylene Glycol is a synthetic product obtained from the hydration of propylene oxide, which is derived from petroleum products.
Is CBD safe in this form? When it’s mixed with Vegetable Glycerin and Propylene Glycol?
The general opinion is that PG and VG are both safe. But there was a recent outbreak of vaping lung disease now known as EVALI (3) or E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury. Federal investigators have not yet identified a single ingredient (though there could be several) that causes EVALI.
My suggestion, to be on the safe side is to avoid e-Liquids.
CBD Edibles
When the safety of CBD is concerned CBD Edibles are my favorite subject. Specifically, CBD chocolates since CBD is super soluble in oils and fats.
Also, Cocoa is considered a superfood. And so is dark chocolate. You can make it Vegan and also sugar-free. And when you add some Full Spectrum CBD you have an incredible package.
So is CBD safe when it’s used mixed in food? It’s as safe as we have discussed in the previous chapter. And if the chosen food further supports your health, well that’s even better.
CBD Suppositories
Suppositories are probably the most awkward way of medicine application (4). A suppository is a small, round or cone-shaped object that you put into your bottom. Once inside, it melts or dissolves and releases the medication.
Suppositories are definitely not the most pleasant product you’ll ever use. But they can make it easier to take a medicine that you can’t swallow or that your stomach or intestines wouldn’t absorb well.
Also with taking CBD as Suppositories, you avoid the gastrointestinal tract that can be very aggressive and may lover CBD’s bioavailability.
Is CBD safe take as Suppositories. Again this is one of the safest methods of administration.
Is CBD safe – Conclusion
In 2011 a truly epic review of more than 70 different studies was done about the safety of CBD (1). In 2017 that review was updated and extended. So we are talking about new information here. The focus of all of the reviewed studies was mostly on clinical studies and CBD potential interactions with other drugs.
The results in 2011 showed that CBD has a favorable safety profile and in 2017 that was reconfirmed. So none of the studies found CBD to be anything but safe.
Furthermore, there’s a growing body of testimonials from people using CBD and also Full Spectrum CBD in their everyday life. Treating everything from anxiety and depression to pain and even cancer.
Very few report back about any negative side effects at all. Mostly mild and mostly just tiredness, dizziness, and diarrhea.
On top of that, I can personally say that I work with many of our customers as well as with my own kids and family. And we have never had a negative reaction, ever.
So my conclusion is that CBD in all of its forms (from CBD isolate to Full Spectrum CBD) is very safe and nothing to be afraid of. Quite the opposite. It should be taken daily even for a healthy person. It acts anti-inflammatory, any-psychotic, reduces stress and builds up your Endocannabinoid system. Your body simply works better and copes better with the ever-changing and stressful environment.
About the Author
Matt Hrovatt
Matt is an inventor. He loves to create new products and loves to help people looking to help themselves. He's always working to improve and grow. Together with Ally, he's also a family man and a proud father of Nik, Naj, Tristan, and Rubi. Matt is a filmmaker by heart so he's always shooting videos with his kids. He's also very passionate about natural health.
