Demand for products containing CBD is on the rise across the country, its medicinal properties that help treat a variety of health issues has made cannabidiol products a favorite among Americans. As more states start legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, the demand for products containing CBD may also rise. However, regulatory agencies like the FDA have not issued any specific regulations to produce CBD products. This lack of regulation by the FDA could lead to CBD products affecting consumers instead of helping them treat their illnesses.
What is it Used For?
CBD oil products claim to treat or help with a variety of health issues including stress, anxiety, obesity, pain management, insomnia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, depression, migraines, inflammation, and more. Despite the lack of clinical research thousands of people continue to use CBD oil to manage their health issues and claim that it has truly helped them. CBD oil’s natural and medicinal properties are one of the reasons why so many people are attracted to the product. The FDA and the medical community support the use of CBD to treat two rare forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Studies have shown that CBD helps stop or reduce the number of seizures in patients. Further research is needed to understand how the medicinal properties of CBD could help treat or manage other diseases besides epilepsy.
How Safe is CBD Oil? Concerns in the Medical Community
CBD oil is used to treat several disorders and help with health issues such as anxiety and stress. Although CBD oil has been shown to help treat diseases such as epilepsy, there are still some side effects to be cautious of when taking this supplement. According to the Mayo Clinic and studies by Harvard some of the possible side effects include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
It’s been discovered that CBD can also negatively interact with other medications you’re taking such as blood thinners. Some of the concerns in the medical community about CBD oil is that it is sold as a supplement and not as medication, the FDA regulates supplements and medication very differently. Also, it is hard to determine the amount of CBD the product contains, and further study is needed to determine the exact therapeutic dose to treat certain medical conditions.
Legal Actions Against CBD Oil Companies
Every product manufacturer must abide by regulations set by the FDA and other industry agencies, these regulations are in place to protect consumers from defective or harmful products. If a product causes an accident resulting in injuries or death or if it harms a consumer in any way, the company can be held liable for these damages if they are found to have acted negligently. Personal injury attorneys can determine if a company was negligent and could have acted differently to prevent such injuries or accidents. Currently two major CBD companies face class action lawsuits in California claiming that they misled consumers by marketing their products as dietary supplements.
Further research is needed to determine all the health benefits of CBD products and their safety. If you decide to try CBD oil or other products containing CBD, talk to your doctor first to determine if it won’t affect other medications you’re taking and if it will help with your health issues.