Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

A place to get your questions answered from McDougall staff dietitian, Jeff Novick, MS, RDN.

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Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby JeffN » Mon Feb 12, 2018 12:07 pm

CBD Supplements have become very popular and I get a lot of questions about them.

The FDA has analyzed CBD products and published the amounts of CBD, THC and other cannabis compounds it found in products it tested in 2015 and 2016. While many of the tested products did not contain the levels of CBD they claimed, most products contained very small concentrations of CBD, while a few others contained very large concentrations (25% to 35% CBD). The FDA cautions that "Consumers should beware purchasing and using any such products."

You can see their reviews and analysis online here:
(Click on 2015 or 2016 to see the results)

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHe ... 484109.htm

Consumer Lab just finished their testing of CBD products. Their results are behind a paywall.

Here are some of the highlights.

- The actual available evidence in humans was limited with most off it being on Dravet syndrome in children and young adults.

- Adverse effects in the studies included diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, pyrexia, somnolence, and abnormal results on liver-function tests and the worsening of tremor and the ability to initiate movement in Parkinson's patients.

- Most studies on CBD use very high doses, ranging from 100 mg to 1000 mg (or more) per day.

- Most supplements contained dosages of CBD between ~5 mg and ~23 mg per serving.

- The cost for 10 mg of CBD ranged from $0.80 to $4.54

- All products were also tested for contamination from lead, cadmium and arsenic and none exceeded the limit (based on CA prop 65 law)

- While CBD appears to be better absorbed through the skin than THC and there is some evidence that in animals, creams and gels containing CBD may help reduce inflammation in conditions such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis, there are no studies on the effects of topical CBD creams, gels or lotions in people.

You can find the details here:

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHe ... etarysuppl

The good news, the products seem to contain the amount listed on the label and passed testing for lead, cadmium and arsenic.

The bad news, the dose for most products was very low compared to the dosages used in most studies. Many supplements list amounts in the 100 mg (or more) but this is for total hemp and not CBD, which is small fraction of the total hemp. To me, it seemed somewhat confusing and potentially misleading - studies use 100 -1000 mg of CBD and some supplements list 100-1000 mg of total hemp content.

Caveat Emptor!

In Health,
Jeff
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Re: Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby JeffN » Mon May 13, 2019 9:20 am

Interesting article on CBD

https://www.consumerreports.org/cbd/cbd ... ainstream/

It will take some time to separate any actual effect from the placebo effect

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Jeff
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Re: Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby JeffN » Tue May 21, 2019 5:39 am

JeffN wrote:
- Most studies on CBD use very high doses, ranging from 100 mg to 1000 mg (or more) per day.

- Most supplements contained dosages of CBD between ~5 mg and ~23 mg per serving.



This study, which showed some benefit, used a dose of 400 or 800 mg which can be 20-40x (or more) what’s in an OTC dose and is what could be in 1/4 to 1/2 of a bottle of concentrated oil.

In Health
Jeff


Cannabidiol for the Reduction of Cue-Induced Craving and Anxiety in Drug-Abstinent Individuals With Heroin Use Disorder: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Published Online:21 May 2019

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18101191


Abstract
Objective:

Despite the staggering consequences of the opioid epidemic, limited nonopioid medication options have been developed to treat this medical and public health crisis. This study investigated the potential of cannabidiol (CBD), a nonintoxicating phytocannabinoid, to reduce cue-induced craving and anxiety, two critical features of addiction that often contribute to relapse and continued drug use, in drug-abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder.

Methods:

This exploratory double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial assessed the acute (1 hour, 2 hours, and 24 hours), short-term (3 consecutive days), and protracted (7 days after the last of three consecutive daily administrations) effects of CBD administration (400 or 800 mg, once daily for 3 consecutive days) on drug cue–induced craving and anxiety in drug-abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder. Secondary measures assessed participants’ positive and negative affect, cognition, and physiological status.

Results:

Acute CBD administration, in contrast to placebo, significantly reduced both craving and anxiety induced by the presentation of salient drug cues compared with neutral cues. CBD also showed significant protracted effects on these measures 7 days after the final short-term (3-day) CBD exposure. In addition, CBD reduced the drug cue–induced physiological measures of heart rate and salivary cortisol levels. There were no significant effects on cognition, and there were no serious adverse effects.

Conclusions:

CBD’s potential to reduce cue-induced craving and anxiety provides a strong basis for further investigation of this phytocannabinoid as a treatment option for opioid use disorder.
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Re: Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby JeffN » Sat May 23, 2020 1:55 pm

A Hidden Origin Story of the CBD Craze
The cure-all debate over the cannabis compound has distracted from the serious — and seriously odd — back story of how cannabidiol conquered the country.
NY Times
5/23/20

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/sund ... d-oil.html
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Re: Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby Langeranger » Sat Jul 11, 2020 5:24 pm

I get the impression CBD is still the Wild West in the realm of things we might choose to swallow.
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Re: Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby Langeranger » Sat Jul 11, 2020 5:29 pm

I'll add, following Jeff's posts above prompts the thought "who needs Google when we've got Jeff." Plus watch any of his DVDs and you soon realize the guy has a humorous streak too. Don
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Re: Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby JeffN » Wed Jul 22, 2020 6:51 am

51 CBD Products Recalled Due to Lead Contamination

On June 23, 2020, InHe Manufacturing, LLC and MHR Brands issued a recall of fifty-one CBD products due to contamination and/or potential with lead. Thirty-six of the products are marketed for people and fifteen of the products are marketed for pets. The recall was initiated after InHe was notified by the Florida Department of Health of the presence of elevated levels of lead in some of its products.

Click the link to see the full list of recalled products...

https://www.consumerlab.com/recall_deta ... llid=14430

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Jeff
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Re: Hemp & CBD: Independent Testing & Legality

Postby JeffN » Thu Oct 08, 2020 4:16 pm

Can CBD Cure What Ails You?
Scientific American
By Carolyn Barber
October 3, 2020


Proponents say yes, but scientific studies on the effectiveness of this chemical derived from cannabis are a mixed bag

https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti ... -ails-you/
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