CBD (Cannabidiol)
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in marijuana. CBD is not impairing, meaning it does not cause a “high.”
CBD can be derived from hemp or from non-hemp plants. Hemp is defined as any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering substance in marijuana.
CBD is marketed in many consumer products:
- Foods
- Oils
- Lotions
- Capsules
- Cosmetics
Is CBD a medicine?
Scientists are still learning about how CBD affects the body. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a medicine that contains purified CBD from hemp, to help treat rare seizure disorders. The FDA has concluded that this drug is safe and effective for this intended use. However, other marketed products and uses of CBD may not be FDA approved.
Potential harms and side effects
Using CBD products is not risk free. The FDA has limited data on CBD safety. Please consider these possible side effects and risks before using CBD:
- Liver damage
- Interference with other drugs you are taking, which may lead to injury or serious side effects
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Diarrhea or changes in appetite
- Changes in mood, such as irritability
Using CBD during pregnancy is not recommended.
CBD use during pregnancy is not recommended. The potential health effects of using CBD products during pregnancy are currently unknown. In animals, high doses of CBD have caused negative effects on developing fetuses.
We do not know if CBD is passed to a baby through breast milk. Since negative effects have been associated with CBD use, people who are breastfeeding are encouraged to avoid CBD.
Keep CBD products away from children
We do not know the effects of CBD on children’s developing brains. If you use products that contain CBD or THC, keep them in childproof containers and out of the reach of children.
For additional questions, contact your healthcare provider, your health department, or your local or regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if it’s an emergency.