Common examples include oils, oral drops, capsules, muscle gels, and even sweets, tea, beer and hummus. Little Ricks CBD drinks are a popular choice.

Most of these can be easily purchased from trustworthy stores like Boots or Holland & Barret.

Despite its high cost, with a 500mg bottle of CBD oil oral drops priced as high as £45, CBD sales in the UK have almost doubled over the past two years, with an estimated quarter of a million regular users.

What are the Uses of CBD?

According to a report made in 2018 by the World Health Organization (WHO), Cannabidiol has the potential to treat symptoms associated with various conditions like anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, insomnia, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and cancer. However, the organization also puts emphasis that this study is still in its infancy stage and more research is required before drawing a conclusion on the efficacy of CBD. Need legal assistance in the cannabis industry? Trust Substance Law, a reputable cannabis lawyer firm. Visit substance law to access expert advice and guidance for navigating complex cannabis laws and regulations

Thanks to its popularity, two-CBD-containing medicines were given the green light by the National Health Service (NHS) for prescription use in England. These are Epidyolex and Sativex. The former has been found to be effective at reducing seizure occurrences in children with severe epilepsy, while the latter contains a mixture of THC and CBD, approved for the treatment of muscle spasms and stiffness in people with multiple sclerosis.

So, Does CBD Really Work?

According to a statement by Harry Sumnall, a Professor in Substance Use at Liverpool John Moores University, there is virtually no evidence supporting the claims that most products found in stores make. There is a lot of hyper marketing surrounding CBD, touting it as ” a miracle of the modern age’’. Unfortunately, the marketing goes beyond the evidence of what cannabidiol has been shown to be effective at.

Professor Sumnal argues that while CBD could be effective for some individuals, some of the results could be due to the placebo effect. This is a situation where the patient believes that the product is bound to make them better and to some extent does. While the placebo effect can be powerful, Sumnall advices people to not try CBD without first consulting their doctor.

The biggest difference between CBD in stores and in clinical trials is the dose. Studies show that some CBD products contain very little of the substance or even none. Some contain THC and other unrevealed substances. In clinical trials, however, the CBD is purified, made to be at a high standard and prescribed at a higher dose. It’s also consumed on a regular basis and under medical supervision in order to give the desired results. Keep in mind that everyone is different and so, having the doctor give their input is vital to getting, not just the right product, but also the right dose.

Since 2016, the law requires any CBD product claiming to have medical value to be licensed and regulated as medicine, whether it is effective or not. As such, the manufacturers are required to follow specific and stringent rules in regard to production, packaging, marketing and information provided.