Hemp Products With CBD - Healthy Or Dangerous?

CBD products are trendy. Users hope for health-promoting effects. However, some hemp products contain alarming amounts of psychoactive THC.

Hemp (cannabis) is an ancient crop. It has been used for a variety of purposes for thousands of years. Ropes and textiles can be made from plant fibres. The seeds are edible and contain oil. In the meantime, the uses of the plant have grown significantly - for example, as an ecological insulation material.

But hemp is still best known as a pain killer CBD drug in the form of hashish or marijuana. Hashish is obtained from the resin of the female hemp plant, marijuana from dried leaves, flowers and inflorescences.

In Europe, only the cultivation of industrial hemp with a THC content of no more than 0.2 per cent is allowed.

THC

The ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short, is mainly responsible for the psychoactive, i.e., intoxicating effect.

CBD

In addition to THC, female hemp plants also contain cannabidiol (CBD). It is said to have various effects, including antispasmodic, calming, anxiety-relieving and hunger-inhibiting.

CBD products are characterized by the fact that the CBD in the products is more concentrated than it naturally occurs in the plant. In return, the products are said to contain minimal THC.

CBD products are currently in vogue. The range of products on the Internet is almost unlimited - from teas and cosmetics to various foods such as CBD oil. You can even find them in drugstores, for example as chewing gum or drops. CBD oil can also be bought in some pharmacies. There are also more and more special hemp shops that also sell CBD products.

Ten millilitres of CBD oil sometimes cost more than 100 euros. The dietary supplement has many fans who swear by its positive effects. For example, pain patients claim that CBD helps them better than pain medication with its side effects. Others, on the other hand, report disappointedly on the Internet that CBD did not help them.

Misleading Health Promises Prohibited

Manufacturers and sellers of CBD products cannot advertise these with disease-related statements like, "helps against disease XY". This is strictly forbidden for food and dietary supplements. Statements aimed at promoting health are only permitted if the statement has been scientifically proven and approved by the EU. There is currently no such approval for CBD.

Side Effects Of CBD

According to the consumer advice centre, CBD triggers drowsiness and drowsiness in every tenth. Insomnia and restlessness are also possible side effects. Other undesirable effects can include diarrhoea, loss of appetite, or skin rashes.

Is CBD Legal?

Opinions differ here. The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) writes that there is no known "case" according to which CBD in food (which also includes food supplements) is marketable, i.e., it may be sold.

However, in November 2019, the Administrative Court also prohibited a Hessian manufacturer from further selling CBD foods. Further legal proceedings regarding the marketability of CBD are ongoing.

Novel Food Regulation Of The EU

In the novel food catalogue of the European Union, CBD is listed as a novel food. Food is classified as novel if it did not exist in Europe to a significant extent before 1997. These foods or food ingredients must first be tested for their safety before they can be approved.

There are currently two applications for approval of two trans cannabidiols as novel foods. Nothing has been decided yet.

Manufacturers Still Sell CBD Products

However, some manufacturers argue that their (edible) hemp products are not novel foods. They simply sell their products now - in a legal grey area. Dirk Lachenmeier from the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office finds this extremely worrying:

THC In CBD Products

Dirk Lachenmeier and his colleagues have examined 67 CBD products so far. A quarter of them are classified as harmful to health by food controls because they have too high THC content.

Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that after consuming the recommended dose of a CBD product on the packaging, you will be tested positive for THC in a drug test. Dirk Lachenmeier from the food control department, therefore, recommends not to sit behind the wheel afterwards.

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also warns that the THC content in hemp products is often too high, and therefore, health problems are to be feared.

The consumer advice centre advises against buying CBD products.

How Serious Are Hemp Seeds?

Cannabis seeds naturally do not contain THC. They are considered to be valuable suppliers of high-quality oils, vitamins, minerals and proteins. However, other parts of the hemp plant may get into the seeds during harvest, so that small amounts of THC can occur. If you want to be on the safe side, you can use nuts and oilseeds such as linseed or sesame instead.

Incidentally, the hemp oil obtained from hemp seeds should not be confused with CBD oil, for which any oil is enriched with CBD.