The Pros and Cons of CBD Going Mainstream

The pros and cons of CBD going mainstream

pros and cons of cbd

There’s no doubting it. CBD, the increasingly popular derivative of cannabis, is here to stay. From being hailed as the ultimate panacea to its boosting of an already booming industry, for better or worse, cannabidiol has become part of mainstream consciousness and it’s only getting bigger. It’s shown up in a range of everyday products, from fast food to skin care, and it’s currently legal in 48 states.

According to a survey done by Consumer Reports, an estimated 64 million Americans have tried CBD at least once in the last two years. Even better, three-quarters of those people said it was moderately effective for the reason they took it, while 48 percent said it was extremely effective. Not bad for something that, just five years ago, was relatively unknown. With this kind of momentum, legality in all 50 states may be soon on the horizon and global domination is only a matter of time.

Now, with CBD’s meteoric rise in mind, let’s explore some of the pros and cons of its mainstream success.

The pros:

Health benefits

CBD’s health benefits have been widely extolled. Its most popular benefit is its anti-inflammatory properties, which help, not only the knee and hip joints but the entire body. It’s also been found to help treat a variety of illnesses and ailments, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, PTSD, pain, and cancer.

Thanks our ‘endocannabinoid system’, which helps us access the cannabis plant’s health benefits, CBD may hold the cure for even more maladies. Only time, and more research, will tell.

All-natural

As it’s derived from the cannabis plant, it’s all natural. It wasn’t made in a lab and it’s a great alternative to painkillers and a number of other medications. In fact, it’s been so effective that many have used it to replace their old prescription medications.

Pet-friendly

Humans aren’t the only ones who can benefit from CBD’s healing properties. It’s also known to be effective in treating separation anxiety in dogs, including a range of other ailments that similarly affect humans, like a lack of appetite, pain management, and seizures.

Mainstream acceptance

CBD’s acceptance into the mainstream signals good things for cannabis on the whole. It’s helped destigmatize cannabis and fostered a new, more health-centered image. Gone are the days when its reputation as a gateway drug preceded it. Today, it’s no longer seen as teenage drug fodder, and its benefits have been embraced by people of all ages - from kids to the elderly. Even celebrities have gotten into the mix, with people like Martha Stewart and Mike Tyson looking to get into the CBD business.

Although the benefits of CBD have been widely extolled, it’s equally important to dive into some of its cons.

The cons:

Legality

Here’s where things get a little bit dicey. Although the 2018 Farm Bill sought to legalize hemp-derived CBD, it’s still in the process of implementation; that’s why arrests are still happening. Recently, a 71-year-old woman was arrested in DFW International Airport after CBD oil was found in her bag. The woman, a Fort Worth native who resides in Mexico, had to spend two nights in jail and later faced a grand jury for a felony drug charge. Luckily, the jury did not move the case forward and the charges were dropped.

Due to its lack of federal approval, CBD products are not regulated by the FDA. Only one, Epidiolex, which is used for the treatment of epilepsy, is. Lack of FDA regulation means that fake products can still seep through the cracks. According to some studies, the fakes that have been found had similar effects to synthetic marijuana, which can be extremely dangerous.

This also means that, although CBD products should only contain trace amounts of THC (limited to only 0.3 percent), some products have been found to contain much higher amounts. This has caused some people (school bus drivers in particular) to test positive for THC in drug screenings.

Efficacy

Despite its numerous health benefits, CBD is by no means a cure-all. More research still needs to be done before we know the full extent of it effects. In addition, what may work for one person won’t necessarily work for everyone.

Negative effects

Although rare, CBD may have some negative effects on certain people. Adverse effects have been reported to include gastrointestinal discomfort, fatigue, nausea, and changes in appetite. Although it may be tempting to just jump into using CBD, the correct dosage is important. Start small first.

Conclusion

Many of CBD’s cons rest on the fact that its legal status is still contested. Without federal backing, outside of seizure medication Epidiolex, research into its benefits is still limited. However, the future of CBD is ncredibly bright and, as kinks in the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill get worked out, we can expect bigger and better things still to come.