FAQ

Are CBD products legal in all 50 states?
Yes, as long as they are derived from hemp, not marijuana, and contain less than 0.3% THC. No medical marijuana card is required to buy or use hemp-derived CBD products.

Will CBD interact with my other medications?
At low doses of CBD, less than 150mg total per day, it is unlikely that significant drug-herb interactions will occur. However it is always possible that drug-herb interactions can occur, and this is more likely the higher the dose. CBD and other plant cannabinoids can potentially interact with many pharmaceuticals by inhibiting the activity of cytochrome P450, a family of liver enzymes. If you are taking a medication where maintaining a certain blood level is critical- such as anti-seizure, anti-viral, blood-thinning medications- talk with your health care provider or pharmacist before trying CBD. 

Does CBD affect appetite?
Unlike THC, CBD has negligible effects on appetite and satiety.

Does CBD cause side effects?
Typically CBD is not associated with many side effects but these have all been reported:
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Rarely can cause feelings of mild intoxication

What is the right dosage of CBD?
An effective dosage can range from as little as a 5mg of CBD per day up to 150mg per day. Make sure to start low and go slow. Take a few small doses over the course of the day rather than one big dose. Use the same dose for several days. Observe the effects and if necessary adjust the amount. Don’t overdo it.

Will CBD extract influence results of a drug test?
Most drug tests screen for the psychoactive compound THC, not cannabidiol (CBD). However, full-spectrum hemp extracts may contain trace amounts of THC, so could cause a positive result when screening urine and blood specimens, especially when taken at high doses. I recommend a prudent and cautious approach to taking CBD rich hemp extracts in the context of urine drug screens.

What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?
Although both hemp and “marijuana” are technically variants of the Cannabis sativa plant, there are significant differences between them. Hemp is considered “industrial” under current regulations, and is defined as having less than 0.3% THC 

In the US, the legal definition of “industrial hemp,” (as defined in Section 7606 of the Agricultural Appropriations Act of 2014), is "the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” 

Marijuana generally refers to Cannabis sativa plants that have a high concentration of THC, and the word stems from the recreational use of THC rich cannabis for the purpose of getting “high.” Hemp plants possess a high concentration of CBD, with only traces of THC, and hemp extracts are associated with medicinal use.

Will CBD make me feel high?
Cannabidiol (CBD) has many health benefits, without producing the psychoactive, "euphoric" effects of THC. “Relaxing but not intoxicating” is how some of my patients have described the effect. That said, I did have one patient that felt that a low dose of CBD did make her feel high. This is why I recommend starting with very low dosages.

Is it safe?

- CBD exhibits no effects on humans indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.

- To date, there is no evidence of recreational use of CBD or any public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.

- Chronic use and high doses up to 1,500 mg/day of CBD are reportedly well tolerated in humans.