All Your CBD Questions—Answered

CBD’s popularity is growing by the minute. This is great news for decreasing stigma increasing access to safe cannabis-based therapies. It also means people are asking questions—and rightfully so! Here are some of the most common questions about CBD, answered.

Is CBD psychoactive?
The short answer to this question is no. The long answer is that CBD is psychoactive, but not in the way you might think. The true definition of psychoactive is “affecting the mind or behavior” and since CBD exhibits anti-anxiety properties and has other effects on the brain, it cannot technically be described as non-psychoactive. Many CBD experts prefer labeling CBD “non-intoxicating” instead. If you’re using CBD topically, intoxication is not a concern since it will not deliver significant amounts of cannabinoids to the bloodstream.

Is CBD (really) legal?
There’s no arguing with the fact that CBD is widely available; you can find it online, in stores, and even in restaurants. But is it really legal? CBD falls into a legal grey area and its status seems to be constantly in flux. Thanks to the most recent version of the Farm Bill, which made the hemp crop legal and officially defined it as Cannabis sativa with less than 0.3% THC, the industry has been able to take a large step forward. There is, however, still confusion over how to regulate CBD products, especially those taken internally for health purposes. It could change in the future but as of now, there’s been no significant interference with buying, possessing, and selling CBD products across the country.

Is the CBD industry regulated?
The CBD industry is brand new and that means regulations are close to non-existent. That said, the FDA is keeping an eye on CBD companies to make sure they’re not making unfounded claims and periodically testing products to make sure they contain what they say they contain. When they find a violation, they write a warning letter to the company, which is then made public. Of course, the FDA isn’t able to test all the thousands of products on the market, so as a consumer, it’s important to find a company that’s going above and beyond in terms of quality. Look for a company that is being transparent about their sourcing, extraction method, and lab testing procedures right on their website.

Is CBD safe—and can I overdose?
One of the most common misconceptions about cannabis is that it’s dangerous, when in fact, it’s much safer than alcohol, tobacco, and even many pharmaceutical drugs. When it comes to CBD, there’s still a lot to learn but so far it appears to be extremely safe within a wide range of dosages—orally and topically. In fact, there’s even an FDA-approved drug based on CBD that has gone through clinical trials that evaluated it for any safety concerns. That said, it’s always a good idea to let your doctor know if you’re taking CBD regularly, especially if you’re using it regularly or at higher doses since it can interfere with certain medications.

- GRETCHEN LIDICKER