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7 Common Misconceptions About The Cannabis And CBD Industry
Due to its alleged medicinal and relaxing effects, CBD has gained popularity over the years. There are even plenty of legitimate articles trying to testify its benefits. Additionally, it’s been observed that animals too can experience the said effects of CBD, which only increase its users.
With that said, cannabis and CBD companies are on the rise. As a result, there are now various CBD products available on the market––from oils, lotions, tinctures, and even gummies. However, the rise of CBD also has its downfall. For one, plenty of sources from various sites produce accurate and misleading details about the product, which only confuses many people.
So in addition to reading Leaf Nation’s cannabis guides or other sources to keep you informed, here are some common misconceptions about CBD that you may have heard:
Non-psychoactive
This misconception—and often the one being usually advertised—is the idea that CBD is non-psychoactive. It’s often stated that CBD is the non-psychoactive version of THC.
On the contrary, research has shown that CBD has anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and antidepressant effects. These characteristics alone would show that CBD is indeed a mood-altering substance, which, technically speaking, is psychoactive.
However, it would be more accurate to consider CBD as non-intoxicating, which THC is. Legally speaking, the change of “non-psychoactive” to “non-intoxicating” is important since the improper use of the term can result in dangerous consequences. In fact, Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act forbids any deceptive practices that’ll affect commerce, hence mislabeling your products may result in the violation of this act. (1)
Illegal
Perhaps the most often misconception about CBD concerns its legality. Also, this may be the reason why some people are hesitant about trying it in the first place.
Signed into law on December 20, 2018, The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 changed the legal definition of marijuana to exclude hemp. This is because marijuana, in general, is a substance that contains more than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the psychoactive substance of the plant. On the other hand, hemp has less than 0.3% THC, which means that it’s not a controlled substance, like marijuana, and you don’t need a DEA registration if you wish to grow or research hemp plants. (2)
Because of the law, hemp-derived products aren’t illegal. Still, you have to check with your local state law, especially since some states aren’t clear about their stand about hemp-derived products yet. (2)
You can overdose
There’s only little to zero chance of overdosing on marijuana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, one may argue that there are cases that marijuana usage may have been linked to death. But it’s important to note that marijuana isn’t the one responsible for the death, per se, but perhaps an underlying medical condition. So technically, death due to marijuana is close to impossible. (3)
Nevertheless, it’s important to refrain from consuming large amounts as it may cause paranoia, delusion, increased heart rate, panic, and many more.
A high dose means high-effectivity
Speaking of dosage, there’s a misconception that the higher the dose of CBD you take, it’ll become much more effective, which is why it’s tempting to take high doses at once. Besides, who wouldn’t want to immediately relax, which CBD is said to provide.
However, do note that the effectiveness of CBD, as well as THC, isn’t solely based on the amount you’ve consumed. In fact, it’s based on what effect you’re after. For example, if you want to stay alert and focused, it’s advisable to go for a low dose. On the other hand, if you’re using Cannabis as a sleep aid, then go for a higher dosage.
CBD shows up on your drug tests
Generally, drug tests are made to check for THC. Since CBD isn’t a drug and doesn’t have the same chemical structure as THC, you can rest assured that it won’t show up on any drug tests.
However, it’s important to note that some CBD products contain THC, although in small amounts (0.3%). In this case, a drug test may reflect this result. So if you want to avoid this from happening and still want to use CBD, make sure that you’re only consuming CBD isolates. This form of CBD doesn’t contain any additional substances, including THC. This means that your drug test results will be clean. (4)
Cannabis consumers are lazy
One can attribute the cause of this misconception to popular media and propaganda that portray the typical cannabis consumer as lazy and disinterested.
On the contrary, the cannabis industry is a billion-dollar industry, which implies that regular cannabis users aren’t lazy. On the contrary, most of them are successful entrepreneurs. Also, there’s no evidence that links the use of cannabis with low intelligence or motivation. Thus, the whole concept of cannabis users being lazy is unfounded. (3)
CBD should be smoked
As mentioned above, there are plenty of ways to use CBD. Because of the various ways to consume the product, it’s incorrect to say that it ought to be smoked. In fact, if you have lung problems, which means you avoid smoking but want to enjoy the supposed benefits of CBD oil, you can try mixing it with food and drinks. Moreover, if you want to harness CBD’s benefits on your skin, you can also use it topically. (2)
Essentially, there are plenty of ways to consume CBD, not just smoking. But the best way to consume it depends on what particular benefit you’re trying to achieve. This is where talking to a medical professional comes in. It’s best if you listen to their advice so you can truly enjoy CBD.
Takeaway
Despite its popularity, there are still many things that people, researchers, and regular users alike don’t know about CBD. That’s why it’s important to be fully informed before consuming anything. Also, asking questions and having research-backed answers won’t only inform the public about the truth behind the cannabis and CBD industry, but it’ll also open an avenue to fact-check any notions about CBD.
References
- “Five Common Misconceptions About CBD”, Source: https://thecannabisindustry.org/member-blog-five-common-misconceptions-about-cbd/
- “5 Common Misconceptions about CBD”, Source: https://cannacon.org/5-common-misconceptions-about-cbd/
- “7 Common Misconceptions About Cannabis”, Source: https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/20/07/16695702/7-common-misconceptions-about-cannabis
- “Fact or myth: 8 common misconceptions about CBD”, Source: https://www.wishtv.com/sponsored/fact-or-myth-8-common-misconceptions-about-cbd/