What is CBD oil - and is it legal in the UK?

With an average of 300.000 users in the whole UK, it is clear to say that cannabis-derived drugs have reached levels of popularity never seen before by any other natural obtained drugs. As it is stated by GQ Magazine, CBD products have gone through “a brand reimagining” and an extensive “medical research” transforming the substance “from dangerous to desirable”

Consumers of CBD oil, for instance, have declared all the benefits they have obtained from the cannabis extracted compound in the treatment of chronic pain and inflammation, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and epilepsy. But the main issue with the usage of the substance lies in the legal area since it is confusingly associated with the addictive effects of cannabis.

It is important to separate the terminology of the diverse substances that can be found in the cannabis plants; no every compound in those plants is addictive and therefore they can be used in several ways to help people cope with certain health issues. In order to clarify the terminology related to the cannabis-extracted compounds, here you have some valuable information about CBD Oil:

What is CBD Oil?

There are more than 100 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plants; these chemical elements trigger the cannabinoid receptors in the human cell system that takes effect on neurotransmitters release on the human brain. The effects of the plants substances are going to vary according to the part of them where these compounds are extracted.

The two most well-known substances from cannabis plants are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The CBD is not addictive and it can be prescribed by doctors with no problem at all: but THC is responsible for making people “high” when they use cannabis as a forbidden drug which lets to the control of this compound under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Usage of CBD Oil

From a 2017 report made by the World Health Organization (WHO) it was stated that CBD could give relief to people suffering from a series of debilitating ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, cancer and complications derived from diabetes; it also provides comfort to those who suffer from general pain, anxiety, and depression.

Since the report is for such recent date, there are not enough licenses giving CBD Oil the medicine label and it is forbidden to producers to claim the health benefits this substance can provide since they can be fined or even get their business closed.

CBD Oil comes in several presentations: it comes in vape pens so it can be smoked; it is presented in capsule form to be taken under the tongue; it can also be showed in spray form or in drops, or just simply applied topically to your skin. All of these variations can be found on the street and online, along with other products using CBD Oil as part of its components such as creams, tinctures, and gummy sweets.

Is it legal to use CBD Oil in the UK?

There is a great deal of confusion about the legality of the usage of CBD Oil since all substances related to cannabis are linked to the Misuse of Drugs Act and, therefore, people think it is forbidden.

Nevertheless, CBD Oil is an exemption and it is totally legal if there is enough proof that the substance is obtained from industrial hemp strain approved by the EU. Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration is the level of content of THC, which is limited to 0.2%. All the CBD obtained from Marijuana which has a higher THC content which is forbidden in the UK. The best form of CBD Oil is the one obtained by hemp, which results in the cannabidoil compound with the minimum amount of THC in its elements.

Although there is an exception with Sativex, a lab produced a substance, which is a combination of CBD and THC in order to provide relief to multiple sclerosis patients in the UK. This exception is not limited to that exclusive substance; there other cannabis-derived medicinal products are allowed to be prescribed by physicians due to some changes to the law that was admitted the last month of November.

Following this law, the NHS has stated that although cannabis-extracted products can be bought over by the Internet, most of these substances, even if they are categorized as CBD Oils, are less likely to meet the standards of purity established and they are considered illegal and potentially dangerous.

There are several discussions taking place in the core of the political life of the UK trying to admit the recreational use of cannabis in the daily life of British people, but there are several oppositionists to this acceptance of recreational cannabis-related substances. Even, possession of cannabis with uses different than the medicinal one is considered illegal around all the United Kingdom with the legal consequences to the lawbreaker.

Meanwhile, physicians are fighting with some aspects of misinformation by several citizens who considered the use of CBD Oil kind of illegal since it is associated directly with Marijuana. It is hard work to be done, but it is going to be reflected in the well-being of most of the UK citizens in the near future.

In conclusion, there is a widespread acceptance of the usage of CBD Oil in the UK by physicians and a good amount of people, as it was stated at the top of this article (around 300.000 citizens); and with the increasing research done by specialists nowadays, there is a high chance that the usage of CBD Oil will be increased as time goes by. But we have to be very patient about it since the acceptance of CBD oil is practically new and there is not enough support to establish the veracity of the relief provided by this substance with different illnesses that caused severe damage to those who suffer them.

But one thing is working in favor of the increased usage of CBD Oil as a medical drug and it is nothing more than the desire of several people to offer relief and peace to their equals.