New WHO Report Shows CBD Is Not Addictive Nor Dangerous

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new report^[1] from their Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD). This report, which focussed solely on cannabidiol (CBD), represents a huge leap forward in dispelling past misunderstandings surrounding the cannabinoid.

The World Health Organization is a United Nations body trusted by countries all around the world. Because of that, this report will be integral in how CBD is viewed from here onwards. Before diving into what the report states, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page regarding what CBD/CBD oil is and what it does.

WHAT IT IS

CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, and it’s a non-psychoactive component. For this same reason, it presents more viable medical applications than THC, the main psychoactive component. Although CBD-rich cannabis strains are quickly gaining popularity, many varieties still have relatively high THC percentages. Even our CBD strains like Painkiller XL and Euphoria each contain 9% THC.

Industrial hemp, however, sustains much lower concentrations of THC, close to 0%. Usually, CBD is the dominant cannabinoid, which is why CBD oil is often sourced from organic hemp. In order to prepare the CBD for safe consumption, CO₂ extraction techniques are used to avoid toxic byproducts from solvents like butane. Extracted from organic hemp, Royal Queen Seeds CBD Oil has less than 0.2% THC. This brings the consumer all the advantages of CBD, without the psychoactive effects or “high” associated with THC-rich marijuana.

WHAT IT DOES

There are so many reasons why CBD is gaining traction amongst the masses in both medical and recreational realms. Topical ointments made from CBD have been flying off the shelves to help skin retain moisture, while combating symptoms of skin conditions like acne vulgaris and eczema. This beneficial mechanism is mainly due to CBD’s noted anti-inflammatory properties.

Even though CBD doesn’t exhibit any psychoactive effects, it still has the potential to offer relaxation to those suffering from anxiety and perhaps even depression. It’s been reported by numerous publications that CBD is effective both on its own and in the presence of THC and other plant components. In the case of THC, CBD is said to mediate the high by lowering the “psychoactive ceiling.” This is largely because CBD is an antagonist to CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, whereas THC is an agonist.

On top of this, CBD is beginning to show potential in fighting the processes of certain types of cancer. It has been observed^[2] that this cannabinoid kills breast cancer cells in a laboratory setting. But this was a study conducted on cells outside of a body, not on rodent subjects or humans. Nonetheless, these findings are certainly encouraging in the face of such a dangerous group of diseases.

Another useful application taking the industry by storm is CBD as an ingredient in sleep supplements. While it may not be a sedative on its own, it has been shown to help regulate the sleep-wake cycle in the presence of other beneficial substances like melatonin.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPORT

Now that we’re all up to speed on what CBD can bring to recreational consumers and medical patients, we can further analyse the WHO report. We recommend you read this piece of literature^[1] in full, but we shall address the main implications of the report. The piece examines what CBD is, its chemistry, uses, pharmacology, toxicology, and even dependence and abuse potential. It’s 27 pages on just one cannabinoid, which is exactly what this world needs: more unbiased information about cannabis!

The sections regarding CBD’s addiction and abuse potential represent an unprecedented opinion from such an influential organisation. In a complementary article^[3], the ECDD sums up the information by stating: “Current evidence also shows that cannabidiol is not likely to be abused or create dependence as for other cannabinoids (such as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), for instance)”. Although cannabis does not contain any chemically addictive compounds, the high induced by THC can become cognitively associated with pleasure, which in turn, might lead to a form of dependence or psychological addiction.

But the even greater news is how the ECDD interprets this information. They continue: “The ECDD, therefore, concluded that current information does not justify scheduling of cannabidiol”. With this, the committee has scheduled a comprehensive review of cannabis and cannabis-related substances for May 2018.

This is extremely good news because it will place more pressure on countries and organisations around the world to reconsider their legislation. This article not only shows how harmless CBD is, but how its illegal status is somewhat irresponsible from a health standpoint. We cannot state with certainty what consequences this report will have, but what we are sure of is that it’s a great step for the cannabis community and patients in need of this medicine.