Written by Amanda Golebiewski
In the past couple years, I’ve noticed a trend in food products containing CBD oil. I’ve seen it in gummy candies, beverages, and various snacks throughout the supermarket. They all had claims to help with anxiety, depression, sleep, and more. Being unfamiliar with CBD and its products, I decided to do a deep dive. What are its benefits? How is it being regulated especially within the food industry? Why is it becoming popular now?
History
CBD is a shorthand name for cannabidiol, a cannabinoid that can be obtained from marijuana/cannabis. In the 1970s, scientists from Illinois University developed a process to extract CBD from over the 100+ cannabinoids found in marijuana. While CBD is present in marijuana, it is not the chemical compound that elicits psychoactive effects; that is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). There may be some THC found in the CBD because no extraction is 100% effective but the amount present is not enough to cause any typical reactions you’d have if you had taken THC.
People have used cannabis to combat a variety of illnesses throughout the world since 2727 BC. It was widely accepted for medicinal use until the early 1900s in developed countries. Shortly following, cannabis usage became much stricter; federal laws began to prohibit any usage. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the US began decriminalization and reallowing medical marijuana use. Today it is still not legal in all fifty states.
How It Works/Health Benefits
The human body has something called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system regulates several bodily functions: sleep, appetite, pain, memory, mood, and immune system response. It was first discovered in the 1990s by scientists who were researching cannabis and THC. The ECS is found in all people – even if you don’t use/have ever used cannabis. The body makes neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids which bind to cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system. When your body falls out of homeostasis, the endocannabinoids are sent to bind to appropriate receptors. This is involved in the chain to get the body get back to normal functioning levels. Once the body is stable, the endocannabinoids are broken down by enzymes.
It is not completely known how CBD interacts with the ECS except that it does not bind to the nervous system receptors like THC. Most scientists believe that CBD prevents the enzymes from breaking down the endocannabinoids. This could increase the speed of the neurotransmitter/receptor binding. Some believe that CBD binds to a receptor that hasn’t been discovered yet. Another theory is CBD can interact with other neurotransmitters such as serotonin; a neurotransmitter involved in cognition, reward, and memory processes to name a few.
Ultimately, CBD’s role in the body is somewhat unknown. Despite this fact, studies have suggested it may help lessen anxiety, depression, pain, and nausea. There needs to be more studies both in size and breadth to come to a concrete conclusion. People generally tolerate it well with only rare minor side effects: diarrhea, changes in appetite/weight, and fatigue. On a US federal level, CBD products that are derived from hemp and contain less than 0.3% THC are legal but it can vary from state to state in the US.
Regulations
In the food industry, these regulations can be different. According to the FDA in 2018, it is illegal to sell foods and beverages containing added CBD. In short, it is illegal under law for products to contain CBD under federal law but regulation, enforcement, and punishment is very convoluted. The FDA prohibits the addition of CBD in foods but it loosened the interstate commerce of hemp, cannabis (less than 0.3% THC), and other derivatives like CBD in the 2018 Farm Bill. At this point, it’s been more enforced on the state-level; the FDA has only been sporadically enforcing it. It all varies state to state. Most major retailers who have stores across the country are taking a more conservative approach as in they will not sell any CBD-containing products until the regulations are clearer. It’s confusing because you can argue that it should be considered a Schedule 1 substance because it is a marijuana derivative but it doesn’t have any psychoactive effects like its predecessor. It got even more complicated once the FDA approved Epidiolex; A CBD-containing drug used to treat Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two uncommon and severe forms of epilepsy. Under section 301(II) of the FD&C Act, it is prohibited to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any food to which has been added a substance which is an active ingredient in a drug product that has been approved under section 505 of the Act or a drug for which the existence of such investigations has been made public. So, as a whole, it is not legal to do it but if no one is strictly enforcing it people are wasting an opportunity to get their foot into a door of an expected extremely profitable industry. Business analysts have conservatively predicted the CBD industry to reach $16 billion in sales in US by 2025.
The issue for the consumer is because there is so much confusion there aren’t enough studies on CBD. Manufacturers don’t know the dosage level, its bioavailability, its purity, its interactions with other drugs and much more. The FDA is trying to give clarity to the food industry and their customers but we’re still a little way from that. The method it’s introduced to the person could change its efficacy. When you digest CBD, it has to go through your digestive system. Some could argue that this could dilute its strength but it will remain in the body longer. When you compare it to CBD-containing creams, lotions, and oils that go on the body would be stronger but it also would most likely wear away quicker.
Final Thoughts
In the end, there is a lot of confusion that’s involved with CBD and the food industry. It ultimately seems safe for most of the general public but everything sold currently should be picked apart with a keen eye. The regulatory system for CBD just isn’t there yet so in order to protect yourself it makes more sense to get CBD from a licensed professional and not gummies off Amazon. It seems like it could help anxiety and other issues but many studies still need to done to insure there aren’t any long-term side effects or anything else harmful.
Resources
- https://www.health.com/condition/pain/what-is-cbd
- https://www.cbdcentral.com/the-history-of-cbd/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits#section1
- https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system#thc
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms
- https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2018/10/11/SPECIAL-FEATURE-What-is-the-regulatory-status-of-CBD-in-food-and-beverage-products
Great information.
Great piece of content.