CBD or Cannabidiol is more popular today than ever with the general public. According to a report by the Brightfield Group, the CBD market in the European Union will grow by as much as four hundred percent over the next four years. Despite the many positive forces, there are still a lot of myths and prejudices about the oil.
Is CBD really the panacea that can rid us of various ailments? Or is it mostly commercial nonsense? And is it actually legal? Marie Claire found out!
What exactly is CBD?
CBD oil or Cannabidiol is a non-psychotic cannabinoid extracted from the leaves of industrial hemp. Unlike CBD sold on the black market, this plant is perfectly legal. This is because the plant is genetically modified in advance so that the THC levels are much lower than in the natural plant. This process is repeated until a version is obtained with a THC level of 0.2%. CBD then appears in the form of oil or capsules or it is used as an ingredient in other products such as cosmetics.
CBD oil therefore absolutely cannot be compared to CBD oil, which just contains a high dose of THC and is therefore strictly illegal. THC is the ingredient that causes the effects of CBD that are considered negative. This substance causes a user to feel stoned or high after ingestion. So with CBD oil, which contains only a minimal amount of the substance, this is not the case!
Proven effect
CBD’s popularity is due to the many recent studies that have already proven the benefits of the ingredient. The oil especially rose in prominence after a CNN documentary about a three-year-old girl with epilepsy. The girl had been having very severe seizures since birth and largely got rid of them through CBD oil. In addition to epilepsy patients, there are others who can benefit from Cannabidiol. Here are some of the already proven benefits:
- Anxiety and stress. One of the most well-known uses of CBD is as a sedative for anxiety and stress. Preventive administration can help reduce stress in public speakers and it is also said to help with anxiety attacks.
- Relief from pain. CBD is also often taken by people with pain conditions, such as those caused by rheumatism. It is said to help suppress inflammatory and neurotic pains. Its relaxing effects also help against pain.
- Epilepsy: CBD can have a positive effect on people with severe epilepsy where other medications do not work. The very first drug containing the ingredient and approved by the FDA, Epidiolex, is used to treat epilepsy.
- Addiction: The relaxing effect of the oil is also shown in research to help people who wish to quit smoking.
In addition, the oil is said to have many other benefits. The research on these positive forces is so far limited and therefore not yet proven. Nevertheless, we give them to you in the meantime:
- Sleep problems. Another logical application of the oil is in people with sleep problems. The oil helps to make your muscles relax and would give you a deeper night’s sleep.
- Diabetes. Research on mice has shown that CBD can help stabilize blood sugar levels. For now, no research has been conducted on humans.
- Parkinson’s disease. Some initial studies provisionally provide neutral or slightly positive results for the use of Cannabidiol in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. It is thought to have a positive effect on the quality of life of the patients.
The main question is of course: can you buy and use CBD legally in Belgium? At first sight, you will find a lot of contradictory answers on the Internet. CBD oil is not forbidden in Belgium because it is not psychoactive and you can’t get high from the product. Yet it is still in a kind of gray zone regarding legality, since the Belgian legislation has not yet established laws about it. Read the Readers digest top 8 effects of CBD oil in this link.
Selling CBD is not prohibited in Belgium, as it contains under 0.2% THC, the maximum allowed level in the sale of hemp products. But that still doesn’t mean it’s legal either, as FDA approval is always required… and so far only the drug Epidiolex has been approved!
Nevertheless, the Belgian government is working on it. Recently it was reported that some government parties have submitted a proposal to make the cultivation of medicinal CBD legal. To be continued without any doubt!
