There has been a noticeable uptake in interest in products containing CBD on the market today. Current statistics show that the global CBD market is poised to be worth over 22 million dollars by the year 2026, with the United States as the world’s number one consumer of CBD products. Clearly, CBD is here to stay…at least for now. With so many questions surrounding the use of products containing cannabidiol, we want to address usage head-on. One of our primary objectives here at Innova Primary Care is to educate our patients and the public at large. We believe that transparency and honesty are two of the most significant components of the patient/provider relationship. As CBD products and supplements have become more popular, we find ourselves fielding questions from our patients daily. Here is where we stand on the matter.

If you are confused by CBD, you are not alone. A survey from 2019 found that over sixty-percent of those questioned didn’t know what CBD is. There seems to be mass confusion when it comes to the origin of CBD and its effects on the body. CBD, cannabidiol, is derived from the flowers of the Cannabis sativa plant, also known simply as cannabis. CBD is just one of the approximately 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, which contains more than 400 compounds, 80 of which are biologically active, according to the FDA. And no, CBD will not get you high unlike it’s more well-known counterpart THC. 

With the prevalence of CBD products on the market today, it is only natural to be curious about their efficacy. Will a CBD supplement be the answer to your chronic pain? Can a lotion containing CBD or a post-workout drink with added cannabidiol ease your sore muscles? 

Many people do not know that cannabis is considered a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA. The Drug Enforcement Agency groups all drugs into a classification system known as schedules based on their medical use as well as the likelihood of abusing the drug. Schedule 1 drugs are considered those substances that can be abused with ease and show no medical use. LSD, ecstasy, peyote, methaqualone, and cannabis are all in this category. To further murk the waters, the regulation of CBD varies widely from state to state. There is often confusion about where the CBD in question came from marijuana or hemp. CBD is not regulated by the FDA either, which means that there is no guarantee the product you are consuming is safe. 

While there is tremendous interest in the medical efficacy of cannabis, it remains a Schedule 1 drug at this time until research can conclusively determine its place in the medical world.  

CBD products range from pills and creams to tinctures, gummies and edible products, and beyond. You can even find CBD products for your pets. Items containing CBD make claims that they can alleviate anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, inflammation, and more. CBD may even make your pooch less susceptible to the fear of thunder. While this sounds great, the reality is the FDA does not regulate CBD. Because of this, you cannot know for sure what is within the product you are consuming or using is safe.  Companies marketing merchandise containing CBD cannot make any medical claims. Bottom line: consumer beware. 

Are there any FDA approved medications containing CBD?

As of now, the only product containing CBD approved by the FDA is a drug called Epidolex. Epidolex is a prescription medication for use by patients ages two and older suffering from either of two forms of severe epilepsy, Dravet Syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. When you consume CBD, it may contain trace amounts of THC, which can get you into legal trouble. Is it really worth that possibility?

What does Innova have to say?

With all of this in mind, you may be wondering where Innova Primary Care stands on the issue. Each day we speak with patients who earnestly want relief for their pain, medication, anxiety, and other health issues. Please know, we want those we serve to be well. Our goal is to provide relief and solutions for our patients. All of our physicians and practitioners are on top of current research. Your health matters to us, and we will always provide our patients with evidence-backed solutions. At this time, we cannot offer you advice, nor can we recommend CBD and any products containing cannabidiol at this time. We cannot guarantee the product in question is safe, and until further information from valid scientific research becomes available, we will not put anyone’s safety at risk. 

While products containing CBD are well worth investigating, and there may be potential for many positive outcomes related to products containing cannabis, the potential for abuse with marijuana is very high. While CBD does not present users with the high often associated with THC, another component of marijuana, there are still no research-proven medical uses for CBD, apart from Epidolex. The jury is still out on whether or not CBD will ever become legal. Because we value your health above all else at Innova, we cannot recommend products containing CBD. However, we do promise to walk with you every step of the way on your journey to healing and present you with safe and sound practices and treatments to assist you. Your well-being is at the heart of all we do. If you have more questions regarding CBD, please speak with your provider to get more in-depth answers regarding our position.