You may have noticed an increase in ads and products promoting CBD oil lately, but you may not know what CBD oil actually is. CBD stands for Cannabidiol oil, and is the non-psychoactive component of marijuana. What that means is that you cannot “get high” off CBD oil. CBD oil can come in numerous forms including lotions, edibles, sprays, vaping liquid, or even capsules.
You may be wondering why an individual would be interested in CBD oil if you can’t get a high off of it. The reason for using CBD oil is typically to help reduce chronic pain or epilepsy. Teens and young adults are beginning to self-medicate with CBD oil to treat symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia. The side effects of using CBD oil are minimal and include dizziness and nausea. The concern with our youth using CBD oil is that there is a severe lack of research and understanding of the long-term effects of using it. In addition, CBD products are largely unregulated, which means that you never know exactly what you are purchasing or the concentration of the product. CBD products can also become dangerous when mixed with other medications or when a synthetic CBD oil is used.
You may also be wondering if CBD oil is legal or not. The answer is it depends. If the CBD oil is collected from a hemp plant, which is a plant with low THC levels that is produced for its fibers and stalks, then the product is legal. If the CBD oil comes from the cannabis crop, a plant produced for its flowers with a high THC level to “get high”, then the product is illegal without a medical marijuana card.
Remember that as a parent, the most important thing you can do is have an open conversation with your child about the risks of CBD oil. If your child is seriously considering using CBD oil or is already using, it’s a good idea to have an open dialogue with your doctor to determine whether it is a safe choice for them. If you would like more information on CBD oil, please click here.
