Things you should remember to safely use CBD

Cannabidiol or CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not provide a euphoric feeling or the feeling of being high to its users, per The Guardian.

Different products, from food and drinks to medicines and topical treatments, have been made using CBD as an active ingredient. The U.S. Food and Drug Authority even approved the first drug, Epidiolex, to have CBD as its main component. Though several studies have already been made, there is still no concrete proof as to how and why CBD does what it does. This is why users or people who intend to use CBD products must be cautious. Here are some reminders:

Consult with your doctor

Consulting your doctor to make sure that you are safe to take a CBD product is already a given. Another reason that you should consult with your doctor is to make sure that your healthcare provider is also informed that you are taking CBD. Your doctor could also help identify the best treatment for your condition. Remember that there are a lot of ways to consume CBD.

Moreover, your doctor could also help you determine which other drugs might react with CBD, avoiding a potentially harmful reaction from your body.

Follow the dosage

Some CBD products are sold in certain dosages—for drinks, for edibles and for medicines. Most companies that sell CBD products usually provide the recommended amount of product to consume. Some of them even sell their products per serving. For instance, there are CBD drinks that are sold per shot, which is the recommended amount.

CBD safety
Make sure you follow the recommended dosage of the CBD product you are going to consume. (Source)

Don’t expect the effect that you want

While studies have cited that there are several benefits to using CBD, it does not necessarily mean that it would work for everybody. Some people can tolerate higher dosages and some people don’t. Some people could feel some effects and some people would feel nothing. Some people have testified that CBD has cured their anxiety and insomnia, but it is possible that CBD will not work the same way for you.

Pace yourself and observe

Upon using CBD, be mindful of what your body is telling you. Check if you are feeling any irregularities that might have been caused by the product. This could mean plenty of things—your body does not react well with CBD, there is a problem with the product or the CBD negatively reacted to some of your medications.

Treat it as a supplement and not a cure

Though sometimes prescribed, some doctors do not recommend CBD to replace actual medications, per Consumer Reports. It has not been proven to actually cure diseases, though some trials have shown that CBD could help manage some diseases like epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and even cancer. But it still does not mean that it can cure any disease. Basically, it just helps increase the quality of life of the patients with these diseases.

Source it through legal channels

Another thing you should remember to ensure your safety when taking CBD is to purchase the product from legal retailers. Most of the legal retailers focus on the quality of the raw materials they source, whether it’s hemp or marijuana. This is to ensure the quality of their products as well.

Aside from safety, purchasing CBD through legal channels also protect you from committing a crime, as CBD is still under the controlled substances on a federal level.

There are a lot of benefits that one can get from consuming CBD, but it pays to remind yourself that some of these effects may vary depending on the consumer.