Does it get you high?
CBD oil, or cannabidiol, is becoming increasingly well known to the general public. The oil is used, among other things, to sleep better, with stress, anxiety and pain. But with the popularity of CBD, so does the amount of facts and myths about this oil. What is true and what is not?
1. CBD oil and cannabis oil are the same
fable. Weed plants and hemp plants are not the same plants, but they do come from the same (cannabis) family and can therefore be called both (medicinal) cannabis plants. When you read somewhere about cannabis, it can therefore be about both hemp oil and cannabis oil (marijuana). The biggest and most important difference between hemp plants and cannabis plants is the fact that hemp plants contain little or no THC and a lot of CBD. Cannabis plants contain a lot of THC and little CBD. THC is the ingredient that can get you stoned or high. CBD can reduce or even cancel this effect and does not cause a psychoactive effect on its own. This will not get you stoned or high. Oil with THC (marijuana oil) is not legally for sale and in certain situations only available with a prescription. As a result, cannabis oil is often made yourself, while CBD oil is completely legal for sale in the Netherlands and most other European countries. However, both ingredients are said to have great medicinal benefits. Because of this, both types of oil are also called medicinal cannabis oil. You can also obtain cannabis oil on prescription in certain situations. At the moment this is only possible at the Transvaal Pharmacy in The Hague.
2. CBD can reduce health complaints
Fact. More and more people are using CBD oil for various complaints. It is, for example, a popular product for people with complaints due to fibromyalgia (soft tissue rheumatism) and other pain complaints, for example caused by MS, osteoarthritis and rheumatism. There are also positive comments about the use in epilepsy, sleeping problems, psychological problems and even cancer complaints. Please note: CBD oil does not cure these diseases, it can help to reduce the symptoms of diseases and side effects of any medicines. There are known situations where people – in consultation with their doctor – were even able to reduce part of their medication. They feel more energetic, pain complaints reduced and sleep quality improved. If you also want to try CBD oil yourself, it is wise to report this to your doctor, so that you are sure that there is no interaction with your medicines. Although there are many positive sounds to be heard, not everything has yet been scientifically substantiated. At the moment a lot of research is being done into the exact operation, including by SEIN; the expertise center for epilepsy and sleep medicine.
3. CBD oil works for everyone
fable. Unfortunately, CBD oil is not a panacea and does not work for everyone. So there are people for whom CBD oil has little or no effect. That’s possible, everyone reacts differently to nutritional supplements. So it is mainly a matter of trying it out to experience whether it can do something for you. In any case, it is wise to start with a low dose (for example two drops a day) and to build up slowly until you have found an effective dose for you. CBD oil can take a while to take effect, so give it a few weeks to decide if it’s for you. CBD oil is available in various concentrations, from 2.5 percent to even 10 percent, with 5 percent being the most commonly used. Sometimes it helps to try a slightly higher concentration. The lowest doses are especially suitable for preventive use or for children or animals.
4. All types of CBD oil are the same
fable. Many people think that all CBD oil is the same and only the price is different. But there are differences, namely in the production process, the composition and the concentration:
Oil based on CO2 extraction (raw CBD oil)
The basis of raw CBD oil is a fiber hemp extract whose active ingredients have been extracted from the plant material using CO2 extraction, often the whole hemp plant is used for this. CO2 not only ensures that the CBD is extracted from the plant material, it also takes the fats, sugars, chlorophyll and other substances with it. As a result, these CBD oils almost always contain other cannabinoids in addition to CBD, such as CBDA and CBN. A CBD CO2 extract consists about one third of waxing, giving it the structure of a paste. This paste is diluted in order to use it in drop form. Cheaper brands use olive oil, coconut oil and sometimes water for this. Together with the relatively cheaper production method, this explains part of the price differences. The more expensive brands often opt for hemp seed oil, which benefits the quality and effect of the oil. Raw CBD oil usually tastes a bit sharp and bitter, because hemp has this taste naturally.
Organic CBD Oil Based Oil Extraction
Organic CBD oil is made from only the tops of the hemp plant and uses a different extraction method: oil extraction. The oil is heated for longer, resulting in pure CBD and all other components, which are therefore present in the raw variant, disappear or are converted into CBD. As is said, only the tops of the hemp plant are used in this extraction method, as this is where most of the cannabinoids come to the fore. The result is a pure oil with only CBD as the active ingredient and a smooth and nutty taste. The designation organic is protected in the Netherlands and may only be used when a brand is certified organic by the SKAL. This foundation carries out annual checks on behalf of the government, from production to sale, so that you can be sure that all rules and guidelines are met. The term ‘organic’ is often misused, so keep an eye out for this Skal quality mark if you think this is important.
By the way, it is important to watch out for fakes. Biochemist and cannabis researcher Dr. Arno Hazekamp examined several bottles of oil that were sent to him, and more than half were composed differently than stated on the label. Seven bottles even turned out colored salad oil. Good suppliers have their oil tested independently and can always provide you with analyzes of their oil so that you know for sure that it contains what it says on the label.
5. CBD oil is actually a drug and therefore addictive
fable. CBD oil may be extracted from (industrial) hemp, which falls under the cannabis family, but it does not contain THC. THC is the substance that gets you high or stoned. You cannot get stoned from CBD oil. In addition, CBD has no addictive effect. You cannot become mentally addicted to it, because it is not psychoactive. You will also not get any withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it, so there is no question of physical addiction. It is safe for daily use, but some also only use it when they suffer from more physical complaints.
