CBD is a new wellness trend with the potential to permanently transform our health and the way we view holistic treatments. Since the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018, which legalized the farming and processing of hemp, the CBD gummies market has been booming. People are taking CBD gummies for anxiety, chronic pain, and insomnia, and scientific research is going full steam ahead investigating the powerful benefits of the hemp-derived substance. For more information, check Verma Farms.
Not only does CBD show powerful antiinflammatory properties, it also appears to have analgesic, antiseptic, sedative, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseizure, and neuroprotective properties. Researchers are currently conducting studies to see if CBD may be helpful in treating or preventing a number of diseases and symptoms, including:
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Acne
- Eczema
- Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
- Epilepsy
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Endometriosis
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Certain Cancers
- Symptoms Related to Cancer Treatment
Any time a substance shows such promising effects for so many different health problems, of course, there is a concern about the potential for addiction. Opioids showed powerful potential as an effective painkiller for people who suffered chronic conditions and could not otherwise find relief, but the popularity of the drug category led to overwhelming levels of misuse, abuse, and addiction. No one wants to see what happened with the opioid crisis happen again.
Fortunately, according to the American Addiction Center, studies are indicating that CBD gummies are very non-addictive, and they show little potential for abuse.
What Are Symptoms of Addiction
Addiction is a very serious problem for people from all walks of life. Everyone is at risk of becoming addicted to certain substances, and chemical dependence can ruin or even end lives. Symptoms of addiction include:
- Use over a longer period or greater amount than intended
- Inability to control or reduce
- Large amounts of time acquiring and/or recovering
- Cravings
- Interference with other responsibilities
- Continuing use despite problems in social life and employment or school
- Using when dangerous to do so
- Developing tolerance
CBD is in fact not particularly conducive to any of the situations that lead to addiction and its accompanying symptoms.
Is CBD Legal?
The FDA took CBD off its controlled substance list in 2018. It is now legal to produce CBD products that are derived from industrial hemp and contain less than 0.3 percent THC. There is a complicated stipulation, however, that puts CBD in a legal grey area. The FDA has stated that CBD is not approved as a food additive, supplement, or therapeutic treatment (except in Epidiolex, which is intended to treat certain types of severe epilepsy). This means that CBD gummies are technically illegal.
No need to worry that your house is going to get swarmed by the DEA just because you take CBD gummies for anxiety. After their announcement about CBD’s products being limited to topicals that come with no medicinal claims, the FDA further clarified that they were only interested in enforcement with companies that market to minors, make medical claims, and use unsafe manufacturing methods.
Is CBD Safe?
People everywhere are taking CBD gummies and CBD oils as a natural way to alleviate symptoms that they previously could only treat with prescription drugs. CBD works with every system in the body, by supporting the healthy functioning of the endocannabinoid system. This system is a network of neurotransmitters and receptors that receive information about internal and external changes, then communicate instructions for restoring balance and homeostasis.
Taking CBD can cause side effects, but they are rare and generally mild. These include diarrhea, nausea, changes in appetite, dry mouth, and lethargy. CBD can also make it more difficult for your body to eliminate certain medications from your system, causing an excessive buildup over time. If you are considering taking CBD and are on other medications, talk to your doctor. You may need to have your medication dosage lowered because your body will hold onto it for longer.
Is CBD Intoxicating?
Unlike another popular cannabinoid, THC, CBD is not intoxicating. One of the reasons CBD poses a lower risk for dependence, abuse, and addiction, is because of its lack of psychoactive effects. Yes, it lowers anxiety and reduces pain and inflammation, but it does not cause people who take it to feel any differently on an immediate and conscious level. The effects of CBD are gentle and occur gradually over time.
You usually have to take CBD gummies for two weeks or more before you really notice the full effects, and they generally show up as just feeling better and having more room to manage problems effectively. People who take CBD on a regular basis find that they are suddenly doing better at taking a deep breath when they are stressed, climbing the stairs doesn’t hurt as much as it used to, and they are feeling much more rested in the morning.
Final Thoughts
CBD products are showing promising effects in the treatment of symptoms and diseases related to every system in the body due to their prolific nature. The ability to treat issues that traditional methods have shown high addiction rates for raises the concern that CBD may be addictive as well. However, studies are indicating that the powerful benefits of CBD do not come with any sort of physical or emotional dependence, and CBD products have no psychoactive effects that produce intoxication or cravings. In contrast to traditional prescription drugs, you can take CBD to reduce your pain, anxiety, or inflammation, without the worry of becoming addicted.