10 Resources That’ll Make You More Knowledgeable About CBD

Here are 10 resources for learning the facts about CBD.

The Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA oversees the classification and regulation of both pharmaceutical drugs and nutritional supplements in the United States. It recently approved a medication called Epidiolex, which contains a refined form of CBD, for the treatment of early-onset seizure disorders. However, the organization has not approved other forms of CBD for the treatment of any medical condition and has warned several companies for making unsubstantiated claims about CBD’s therapeutic value. On May 31, 2019, the FDA is holding a public hearing on cannabis and cannabis-derived substances, which is likely to impact the CBD industry.

The World Health Organization.

The WHO is a United Nations agency that handles issues of international public health. In June 2018, it released a critical review on CBD. The document covers the chemical composition and pharmacology of CBD, its therapeutic applications, and possible adverse effects. The WHO concluded that CBD products, such as CBD Oil and CBD Gummies, are generally well-tolerated and has no effects indicative of dependency or abuse. The report includes an extensive list of references for further research.

The National Institute of Health.

A branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH is one of the world’s leading medical research centers. If you’re looking for scientific evidence of CBD’s health benefits, the NIH’s database of peer-reviewed journals is a great place to start. You can read abstracts (and full-text articles from open-source journals) discussing the results of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, which are the gold standard for medical research. A cursory search revealed articles on CBD’s potential to reduce spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, relieve nerve pain, and impact the growth of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

If you’re mainly interested in CBD oil as a treatment for seizures, UAB is at the forefront of this research. The university’s landmark study followed 72 children and 60 adults withseizures that did not respond to traditional anti-seizure medication. Subjects taking CBD experienced a two-thirds reduction in seizure frequency and a significant decrease in adverse effects.

Cornell University.

Cornell is studying CBD from many different angles, from the role of honeybees and companion planting in hemp production to CBD’s pet care applications. Researchers at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a study that suggested CBD could relieve pain and improve mobility in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis.

The CBD Project.

While government agencies and scientific literature provide the most detailed and accurate information about CBD, the technical jargon in these documents makes them inaccessible to the average citizen. Fortunately, other sources are available.

Founded by two journalists, the CBD Project provides information in an easy-to-understand format to empower people to take an active role in their health. The website seeks to overcome the stigma surrounding cannabis-derived products and support the efforts of physicians and researchers to publish data on CBD’s efficacy. The group also conducts training workshops for health workers.

CBD Central.

Although the 2018 Farm Bill legalized domestic cultivation of hemp containing less than 0.3 percent THC, state and local laws regarding the production and sale of CBD oil vary. For example, CBD oil is fully legal in Oregon, but in neighboring California, legality is questionable because CBD derived from industrial hemp is not an approved food additive. In Alabama, CBD is only legal for clinical trials, while in Ohio, CBD is only approved for certain medical conditions, and patients must obtain it from a licensed dispensary. In Arkansas, purchasing CBD is legal, but farmers are not yet permitted to grow hemp for CBD production.

CBD Central helps cut through the confusion by providing up-to-date information on state laws and regulations. The website also explains legal definitions and important court cases and discusses the impact of CBD use on drug tests.

Guide to CBD.

This website provides definitive guides to using CBD for specific health conditions, including inflammation, migraines, depression, and ADHD. Each long-form blog explains the causes and symptoms of the disease or disorder, current treatment options and their side effects, and the reasons CBD might help. The authors link to scientific studies and other online sources.

CBD School.

This blog covers the latest news and trending topics related to CBD, such as the effects of vaping CBD oil, dosage guidelines for using CBD as a sleep aid, information on drugs that interact with CBD, and tips for applying CBD oil topically. Well-edited articles include headings and summaries for easy reading. The website also features product reviews, podcasts, and videos.

Remedy Review.

Dedicated to an evidence-based approach to hemp-derived products, this site uses third-party laboratory testing to verify product labels and holds CBD brands accountable. Remedy Review tests CBD oils for cannabinoid content and terpene profile as well as residual solvents and contaminants like bacteria, heavy metals, or pesticides. It also evaluates brands based on their hemp sources, product strength, value, flavor, transparency, and corporate citizenship. Check out the 2019 guide for some of the best brands on the market.

What other resources have helped you understand CBD? Let us know in the comments.