CBD is becoming a popular treatment for a variety of different conditions.   Marijuana can be used to treat a variety of health conditions.  The marijuana plant has over 100 ingredients in it that can have some health benefits.  Two of the main ingredients are CBD and THC.  THC is the component that makes you “high” or sleepy.  CBD or cannabidiol has no psychoactive properties and therefore can not make you “high.” Both THC and CBD have medicinal properties.  Hemp, is a plant that is related to marijuana, that has virtually no THC in it.  Because if this hemp based CBD is considered legal in all 50 states, unlike medical mairjuana which is not legal in every state and where it is legal, residents need to get certified to purchase.  There is no real difference between the CBD in hemp and the CBD in marijuana, so many are turning to hemp based CBD.  However, even though hemp based CBD is technically legal, it is not regulated by the FDA (or anyone really).  Because of this, very few brick and mortar stores or chains where you might be likely to purchase this (CVS, GNC) do not sell hemp based CBD.  Most hemp based CBD is purchased online.  The problem is that in addition to having so many choices and not knowing what to buy, because it is not regulated, it is hard to know what you are actually getting.  My local news station (NBC4 Washington -see video below) just did an outstanding piece on this.  With their own independent testing, they found that the amounts of CBD listed on the bottle were often incorrect.  In addition CBD bought online can have pesticides and parasites.  CBD can be a wonderful tool to improve your health, but you must be very cautious where you buy this.

Author Matthew L. Mintz, MD, FACP