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Is CBD Safe?
Yes, CBD is generally considered to be safe to consume. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning regardless of the amount consumed, a user won’t get “high” or intoxicated. However, it’s important to be sure you are consuming products with high levels of quality control.
What’s In Your CBD?
Years ago, when users first started seeing CBD products hit the market, there was little to no regulation or quality control. Many products would have labels showing extremely high levels of CBD content, and then later lab testing would prove that the products didn’t actually contain any CBD at all.
Today, the CBD market is quite a bit different. The overall number of smaller manufacturers or brands have left the space, and the vast majority of companies making CBD products today are legitimate, meaning they adhere to quality control measures in production and they implement lab testing on their products. Lab testing is vital to ensure you are consuming a quality product.
Quality products should offer codes or links to Lab Testing results showing what a particular product contains in terms of ingredients, but also ensuring that the product is free from a long list of potentially harmful contaminants such as heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticides, molds, or microbials. For the most part, CBD products sold by reputable retailers today are safe.
CBD Side Effects
CBD (cannabidiol) is generally well-tolerated by most people, but there have been reports of some common and mild side effects:
- Dry mouth – which is often mild and can be alleviated by staying hydrated.
- Drowsiness – Especially at higher doses, and more common when taken alongside other medications that cause drowsiness.
- Changes in appetite – CBD could increase or decrease the appetite of different users
- Digestive issues – like nausea or cramping may be experienced at high doses
- Interactions with medications – CBD may adversely affect metabolism of certain medications, especially those metabolized by the liver.
- Other side effects – like lightheadedness, low blood pressure, or allergic reactions are rare but possible
How much CBD should I take?
While cannabinoids affect each individual differently, most users report effective doses of CBD between 150 and 300 mg per day. The effects of CBD are sometimes cumulative in the sense that you may need to consume CBD daily for an extended period of time before noticing results. New users who are not experienced with cannabinoids may consider starting with 50 or 100 mg daily to gauge tolerance before consuming more.
