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CBD Oil Safety and Side Effects: Is Cannabidiol Safe?

Although people seem to be using CBD oil for all types of different things these days, the truth is there isn’t a great deal of peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials on its safety and side effects just yet.

However, the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s PubMed portal now has over 6800 scholarly articles and counting reviewing CBD … so we’re discovering more each and every week!

In this article, we will share the FDA’s stance on CBD safety and answer some of the most common questions about the safety of CBD based on the latest research available (we update this article often!).

Let’s get started …

Is CBD Oil Safe?

is CBD oil safe

There are several serious safety considerations when taking CBD:

  1. CBD can thin blood, so if you’re on blood thinners, consult a doctor before taking it.
  2. CBD is known to inhibit the CYP450 enzyme system which is a primary means with which the body processes a large assortment of conventional medications (NSAIDs, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, steroids, anesthetics, etc.). Meaning, with both CBD and these drugs in the system, the other drugs may be processed slower than normal.
  3. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:
    • The FDA has seen only limited data about CBD safety and these data point to real risks that need to be considered before taking CBD for any reason.
    • FDA strongly advises against the use of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.” If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it may be best to avoid CBD until studies demonstrate it’s safe.
    • CBD has the potential to harm you, and harm can happen even before you become aware of it.
      • CBD can cause liver injury.
      • CBD can affect the metabolism of other drugs, causing serious side effects.
      • Use of CBD with alcohol or other Central Nervous System depressants increases the risk of sedation and drowsiness, which can lead to injuries.
    • CBD can cause side effects that you might notice. These side effects should improve when CBD is stopped or when the amount ingested is reduced.
      • Changes in alertness, most commonly experienced as somnolence (drowsiness or sleepiness).
      • Gastrointestinal distress, most commonly experienced as diarrhea and/or decreased appetite.
      • Changes in mood, most commonly experienced as irritability and agitation.
    • There are many important aspects about CBD that we just don’t know, such as:
      • What happens if you take CBD daily for sustained periods of time?
      • What is the effect of CBD on the developing brain (such as children who take CBD)?
      • What are the effects of CBD on the developing fetus or breastfed newborn?
      • How does CBD interact with herbs and botanicals?
      • Does CBD cause male reproductive toxicity in humans, as has been reported in studies of animals?

Source: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis

As far as long-term safety, it’s clear we don’t have enough data yet to say whether CBD is safe in the long-term or not.

But here’s one positive: your body does NOT build a tolerance to CBD, so there’s no physical withdrawal symptoms or need to continue upping your dose once the impact you want has been achieved.

According to a report from the World Health Organization:

In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.

There are other pressing safety concerns with CBD, and that brings us to our next topic …

CBD Safety Concerns

The lack of regulations for manufacturers has caused a slew of bad products to hit the market.

Case-in-point: a November 2017 study published in JAMA found that:

  1. Only 26 of 84 samples of CBD oils, tinctures, and vaporization liquids purchased online contained the amount of CBD claimed on their labels (a ridiculous 31%).
  2. Eighteen of them (20%) had THC levels possibly high enough to result in intoxication or impairment, especially among children.
  3. 25% had less CBD than advertised.

If you and your doctor decide CBD is safe for you, choose products from companies you trust who can provide proof of lab testing to verify purity and safety.

CBD Oil Side Effects

According to a 2017 research review, the three most common side effects from clinical studies looking at patients who used CBD (at high doses of 600+ mg) to treat epilepsy and psychotic disorders were:

  1. Strong changes in food intake
  2. Some diarrhea
  3. Tiredness
  4. Dry mouth

Does CBD Cause Liver Toxicity?

In addition to the FDA’s concerns about CBD’s effects on the liver, you may have stumbled upon a Forbes article called “Marijuana Study Finds CBD Can Cause Liver Damage” that reported on a study out of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Check out Project CBD’s retort article “Is CBD Toxic for the Liver?” so you can understand both sides of the story.

Does CBD Oil Get You High?

No, CBD has no psychoactive effects and will not get you high. THC is the compound in marijuana that produces a high. CBD that comes from hemp contains less than 0.3% THC and is federally legal because this is considered too low to have any impairing effect.

CBD may cause you to feel more calm and relaxed, but it’s not going to “get you high” like marijuana, even at high doses.

Recap: What You Should Take From This Article About the Safety of CBD

  1. CBD has the potential to harm you, and there are some serious safety considerations for people on certain medications: i) CBD can thin blood, so if you’re on blood thinners, consult a healthcare professional before taking it. ii) CBD inhibits the CYP450 enzyme, so if you’re taking NSAIDs, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, steroids, anesthetics, etc. they may be processed slower than normal. The FDA strongly advises against the use of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it may be best to avoid CBD until studies demonstrate it’s safe.
  2. Side effects at large doses may include strong changes in food intake, some diarrhea, and tiredness at high doses.
  3. You won’t build a tolerance or get addicted to CBD. There are no physical withdrawal symptoms or need to continue upping doses once you achieve the results you’re looking for.
  4. CBD will not get you high (unless it has excess amounts of THC).
  5. Many products do not contain what their labels say. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Veterans Affairs San Diego, RTI international, Americans for Safe Access, Palo Alto University and Johns Hopkins University analyzed the content of 84 CBD products purchased online and found 70% of products did not contain the amount of CBD stated on the label.

Long story short: if you and your doctor decide that CBD is safe for you, make sure you’re only buying CBD products from companies you trust who can provide proof of lab testing to verify purity and safety.

Here’s a good checklist we like to give people when buying CBD … make sure you’re choosing a product that’s:

    • Full spectrum. A study from the Lautenberg Center for General Tumor Immunology found that test subjects who used full spectrum CBD experienced higher levels of relief compared to people who used CBD isolate.
      • The front label should say “full spectrum.”
    • Sourced from organic, US-grown hemp. Most cheaper CBD products are sourced from Europe and Asia, where regulations can be iffy to say the least. On top of that, products that aren’t from organic hemp are likely sprayed with chemical pesticides and herbicides.
      • Look for the word “organic” on the label (organic certification is still hard to come by for most small companies though).
    • Lab tested. All reputable companies should post their CBD lab test results online to make sure you’re getting what it says on the label (up to 70% of products don’t!).
    • CO2 processed. CO2 is currently the cleanest, chemical-free method to separate cannabidiol from the hemp plant.