As regulations change in the U.S., there’s a lot of conflicting information on whether or not CBD is safe. What are the side effects of CBD? Is it safe for pregnant women to use? And will it get you high?
The answers to these questions are more complicated than a simple yes or no. That’s because CBD research is still ongoing—scientists are discovering new side effects and potential applications on a regular basis.
The good news is that many recent, trustworthy studies demonstrate CBD’s safety and effectiveness. The bad news: not all companies selling CBD companies are following the quality control practices necessary to ensure safety and efficacy.
In this article, I’ll explore some of the potential dangers and side effects of CBD in order to answer the question: is CBD safe? Keep reading to learn more.
Potential Dangers and Side Effects of CBD
CBD is the non-psychoactive chemical found in the cannabis plant. When consumed in isolation (meaning without its psychoactive neighbor THC) CBD will not have any effect on cognition.
Just because CBD alone won’t get you high doesn’t mean it has no effects on your brain and body. Advocates believe CBD could be an incredibly beneficial therapeutic treatment for a wide range of symptoms and disorders.
The list of potential side effects of CBD use is constantly changing as new research emerges. Some of the mild side effects of CBD are difficult to predict due to the fact that so many CBD products are mislabeled. In some studies of pure CBD, however, researchers observed some drug-drug interactions, nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea.
The main dangers you might face if you consume CBD products are product mislabeling and contamination.
How to Tell if Your CBD is Mislabeled
An estimated 60% of CBD products in the U.S. are mislabeled. Some companies could be selling a $100 bottle of CBD that is actually just a cheap carrier oil. Others could be selling a product that has a high potency of THC.
Luckily, there will soon be a way to research and find quality companies and brands that follow quality practices and standards and are transparent about their labeling and test results. . Qredible is an online registry of validated CBD products and brands where merchants and consumers can view verified information about products before you buy them. This includes secured lab reports, which document accurate, unaltered potency information so you know exactly what you are consuming.
How to Tell if Your CBD is Contaminated
The EHP lists 679 contaminants commonly found in cannabis plants. These contaminants include:
- Pesticides
- Insecticides
- Fungicides
- Miticides
- Plant hormones and growth regulators
- Solvents
- Inorganic contaminants
- Metals including lead and arsenic
- Microbes
- Mycotoxins
The only way to know for sure that a CBD product is not contaminated is by reading a current, accurate lab report that you can trust. As the industry stands, the best, unbiased source for independent third-party validation of blockchain-secured lab reports is Qredible.
Q-Verified labs in our system submit lab information directly from the testing equipment into a blockchain vault that makes it impossible to alter or delete the original information. This ensures that you, the buyer, understand exactly what you’re purchasing.
Is CBD Bad For You?
While there isn’t currently conclusive evidence of whether or not CBD is bad for you, the current research suggests that it is safe and could be effective in a variety of therapeutic uses. The conditions and symptoms that could benefit from CBD usage include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Epilepsy
- PTSD
- Opioid addiction
- ALS
- Unmanageable pain
- Diabetes complications
- Neurological disease
- Arthritis symptoms
It’s important to note that while evidence is promising for the effectiveness of CBD in treating the above conditions, it is absolutely not conclusive. More high-quality, peer-reviewed research must be conducted.
Delta-8: Understanding the Risks
Delta-8 has been raising alarm bells across the country for a number of years now. Since it is derived from hemp, it is technically federally legal. However, it is only legal if hemp products contain less than 0.3 percent of the psychotropic Delta-9 THC that can be found in cannabis. Still, Delta-8 products are sold at dispensaries, online, and in bars.
The FDA and other groups have raised concerns about the safety of Delta-8 products, however. Since the beginning of 2021, there have been over 2,300 poison control cases related to the product. Approximately 70 percent of these cases resulted in hospital visits.
Until more research is done regarding Delta-8, the FDA recommends that all consumers avoid ingesting these products. Some states have placed significant restrictions on the sale of Delta-8 products while others have banned it completely. You will also notice other variations of THC coming from CBD manufacturers and distributors such as Delta-10, Delta-0. The same caution should be applied when investigating these products.
Where to Get Safe CBD Oil
If you wish to use it for medical reasons, the safest way to find safe CBD is to speak with a licensed physician. This will help you avoid potential drug interactions and to secure an appropriate dose.
However, recent technological developments are making it easier to get safe CBD oil, edibles, vapes, and more from licensed adult-use retailers.
Qredible is the CBD industry’s only online registry of validated and verified brands that are ready to be 100% transparent with their customers.
In Qredible, you can scan the QR code of a product you’re interested in to view critical safety and quality information such as:
- Lab reports
- Ingredients list
- Customer reviews
- Brand history
- FDA warning letters
- State product recalls
- Licenses and registrations
- Compliance history
- Certifications
All the information in Qredible is verified, validated, and monitored by advanced AI technology and technology-assisted processes. This ensures the utmost transparency, so you can trust the products you’re purchasing.
Qredible: Committed to Trust & Transparency
Q-verified CBD products are completely committed to transparency. Their lab reports (from Q-verified labs) are submitted into a blockchain registry directly from the testing equipment. This means that they cannot be changed or falsified.
CBD brands that have a Q-verified seal willingly publish all information about their products and services. They cannot delete reviews, remove FDA warning letters, or make false claims on their profile. And since their claims and actions are monitored by Qredible’s advanced AI software, they agree to be held accountable.
100% Free and 100% Unbiased
Qredible will be available to consumers at no cost. We never profit from the sale of any CBD products on our platform, so our information is completely unbiased. It’s all a part of our commitment to restoring trust in the CBD industry.
Qredible is on a mission to arm buyers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions that lead to a better, safer industry. To learn more about how Qredible can help you find safe CBD, visit our consumer page.
And don’t forget to look for the Q-verified seal when shopping to make smarter, safer purchases with confidence.
