CBD has the potential to cause harm, and this can occur before you even realize it. It can interfere with the way other medications you are taking work, leading to serious side effects. The FDA has approved a drug containing a highly purified form of CBD, Epidiolex, based on clinical trials that showed it reduced seizures in children with two rare forms of epilepsy. From these trials, researchers also know that CBD can cause adverse reactions such as diarrhea and fatigue.
Participants in the trials had higher rates of infection, difficulty sleeping, and decreased appetite. There may be interactions between CBD and immunosuppressive drugs used in transplants or chemotherapy, as well as warfarin, as there may be a potentiation of anticoagulant effects with marijuana, including CBD. The FDA is currently conducting a long-term study of black market CBD products to understand their characteristics and make informed decisions on how best to protect public health. Examples of false claims about CBD can be found in warning letters from the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to CBD companies. Animal studies have also found that CBD may have anti-inflammatory properties that can treat chronic pain or inflammatory diseases in animals, and other limited research suggests that CBD could help treat psychological disorders. The FDA also warns that tests of some CBD products have revealed the presence of contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals, and that some did not contain the declared levels of CBD.
Some cases allege that manufacturers' CBD products made false medical claims or were mislabeled as dietary supplements, or there were false claims about the amount of CBD present in the product. A recent study of 84 CBD products purchased online showed that more than a quarter of them contained less CBD than labeled. CBD oil has also shown promise as a treatment for mental health conditions such as anxiety, and for reducing some of the side effects of cancer treatment such as nausea. While some CBD suppliers send their products for independent laboratory testing, other suppliers don't have or have a verifiable way to test what's in their oil. While both CBD and marijuana are derived from the cannabis plant, CBD does not contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to produce mind-altering effects.
No one should use CBD products without consulting their doctor, and it should not be used as a substitute for medical care or prescription medications. Stuart Titus, CEO of Medical Marijuana which is involved with CBD products in the United States, expressed concern about the FDA update, saying it combines Epidiolex side effects with general CBD products. The FDA has stated that it has not been able to conclude that CBD is safe for use in animal or human food, noting that the sale of foods or beverages containing CBD is illegal in the United States. On the other hand, CBD extracted from cannabis plants contains more than 0.3% THC and therefore is considered illegal under federal law. There is no evidence to show that botanical forms of CBD have more “drug interaction” than normal foods, or that the natural botanical form of CBD confers the “liver toxic effects” mentioned by the FDA in its statement.
