If you’ve heard of CBD oil then you’ve most definitely heard about its potential health benefits. However, many are still unsure about CBD and whether it’s something they should try.

Despite the booming hemp industry and products flooding local shelves, people are still confused about CBD. 

That’s why today we thought we’d address some of the most common myths and misunderstandings surrounding CBD.

CBD Is The Same As Marijuana

Many people misleadingly assume that CBD is the same as marijuana or cannabis, but this isn’t quite accurate. CBD is primarily sourced from hemp, and this is where it gets a bit confusing. 

That’s because hemp and cannabis are the same species of plant. The difference is that hemp is high in CBD content and is generally defined as having little to no THC content. 

Cannabis, on the other hand, is very high in THC content and contains little to no CBD content. The difference between hemp and cannabis is primarily the chemical composition. 

Why doesn’t hemp produce THC? Well, it does, just in minuscule amounts. A plant’s genetics and the environment will ultimately determine the chemical composition of hemp or cannabis. 

CBD doesn’t make you feel high or stoned as is with marijuana or cannabis. In short, CBD doesn’t have the same psychoactive effects as cannabis or marijuana, and although it doesn’t make you feel “high”, it is reported to cause feelings of bliss and relaxation. 

CBD Doesn’t Work

Skeptics of CBD will often suggest that any effect from CBD is just a placebo effect and that it doesn’t work. While the placebo effect is a real phenomenon, CBD is much more.

This myth would be akin to saying that the “high” you get from cannabis is just a placebo effect. It’s not.

Research has revealed that cannabinoid compounds, such as CBD, can interact with many different metabolic pathways in the body and brain.

CBD influences signaling in the endocannabinoid system, as well as various other homeostatic systems including dopamine, serotonin, opioid, musculoskeletal, immunological, and others.

As scientists continue to explore exactly how CBD interacts with our bodies at the molecular level, it’s quite clear that CBD’s properties are much more than just a placebo effect.

That being said, everyone has a unique response to cannabinoids such as CBD or THC due to their genetic disposition and other variables.

Although rare, some people may not respond very much to CBD while others may be very sensitive to it.

CBD Is Bad For The Liver 

One recent myth that has gone viral about CBD says that it may cause liver toxicity, similar to alcohol and other drugs. According to a leading industry think tank, Project CBD, -

“This sensational claim was based on a dubious study of CBD and liver toxicity conducted by researchers at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

The study claimed that CBD might be just as harmful to human livers as conventional pain relievers (NSAIDs). The study's claims went viral due to a Forbes article that Project CBD calls – breathless reporting focused on a single, flawed, pre-clinical study and exaggerates it to the point of falsehood. 

According to the study, four and a half mice died from chronic administration of CBD, and one and a half mice survived. Does that mean that half of a mouse survived?

First off, the study gave mice CBD made from hexane extraction, a known neurotoxin. Second, they were force-feeding mice 246 mg/kg up to 2,460 mg/kg of CBD.

They also tried “smaller” doses of 61.5 to 615 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days. These dosages are at least 100x more than what is generally recommended for the FDA-approved CBD-isolate Epidiolex, which is only 20 mg/kg.

It is true that CBD, in higher doses (20-50mg/kg) can alter the way that certain types of pharmaceuticals (those that come with a grapefruit warning) are metabolized, which could lead to toxicity.

The toxicity isn’t from CBD though; it is from the pharmaceuticals not being processed properly and it is typically observed in people consuming hundreds or thousands of milligrams of CBD per day.

This is most important for children with epilepsy being administered CBD along with other epileptic drugs but also applies to anyone taking pharmaceutical medications. For the record, there is no evidence of lasting harm or stress upon the liver upon cessation of CBD treatment.

Anyone interested in diving deeper into this myth is highly encouraged to read the full report on the topic over at Project CBD.

CBD Isolate vs. Full-Spectrum CBD 

Too many people still don’t understand the difference between CBD isolate and Full- or Broad- Spectrum CBD. 

In short, CBD isolate is pure CBD or cannabidiol, and CBD with spectrum includes most of the other naturally occurring plant compounds.

There are hundreds of other compounds, such as terpenes, flavonoids, and secondary cannabinoids like THC, CBG, CBN, and others, in CBD-rich hemp that play an important role in the beneficial properties of CBD oil. 

While CBD isolate has its benefits and uses, it is limited in its effects by what’s known as a bell-shaped dose-response curve. That means that taking more isolate won’t increase the effect.

However, research indicates when CBD is administered in the presence of other naturally occurring plant compounds, a synergistic mechanism, known as the entourage effect, occurs that allows the beneficial effects of CBD to surpass the dose-response curve.

Many people taking CBD isolate report a powerful effect, but then again, others say that it didn’t do much of anything. Scientific research suggests that this has to do with genetics and the purpose of taking CBD in the first place (pain, stress, sleep).

For some circumstances and situations, isolate may be sufficient, but for others, it might not. Unfortunately, pharmacology of CBD is much more nuanced than we fully understand yet, especially when it comes to managing symptoms related to medical conditions.

Always consult a medical professional to manage serious health problems.

Learn More About CBD

Thanks for reading our article on debunking the most common CBD myths and misunderstandings. 

You can learn more about CBD’s properties, the entourage effect, and more in our other articles linked below. 

Want to try CBD? Click here to view our newest catalog of high-quality CBD available in the UK and EU. We’ve got something for everyone!

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