products are just that.
NIH invested $15 mil-
lion in research in
2017, a promising start.8
It has been proved
to help one condi-
tion. Last summer,
the FDA approved a
drug containing CBD
called Epidiolex, which
has been shown to
reduce severe, mostly
untreatable epileptic
seizures in children.9
You can’t be
certain what you’re
buying. In states
where marijuana is
legal, you can purchase
CBD products at li-
censed cannabis
dispensaries. Those
products are tested to
make sure they contain
what they claim. Else-
where, because CBD
is not yet regulated by
the FDA, it’s up to man-
ufacturers to do the
quality control. A 2017
Journal of the American
Medical Association
analysis reported that
almost 70 percent of
products sold online do
not contain the amount
of CBD stated on thelabel, with some con-
taining more and some
containing less. Look
for companies that test
their products and
share the results, such
as Bluebird Botanicals,
Charlotte’s Web, and
Floyd’s of Leadville.
Also, CVS and Wal-
greens have begun
selling topical CBD in a
few states and certify
that their products are
lab-tested for quality
and purity.10
You might
experience side
effects. While
CBD has no known seri-
ous risks, Dr. Devinsky
points out that it can
cause fatigue, weight
loss, and diarrhea. It
could also interact with
some medications.
Talk to your doctor
before you start taking
CBD (or any other new
drug or supplement).11
It might take time
to kick in. Vaping
and liquid forms
may provide fast relief
for acute pain, but most
CBD products take days
or weeks to show anybenefits. You may have
to try several products
before you find one
that helps you. In states
where marijuana is
legal, dispensers are
trained to assist.12
Your pet might
benefit. Ask
your vet about
CBD tinctures, cap-
sules, and treats for
horses, dogs, and cats,
marketed to help re-
lieve hip and joint
pain, anxiety, and
seizures.13
It offers one
big promise.
According to the
World Health Organiza-
tion, CBD is nonaddic-
tive, which means it
could be an alternative
to habit-forming opioid
drugs. In their new
book Cannabis and
CBD for Health and
Wellness, Aliza Sherman
and Junella Chin, DO,
write, “We believe
someday cannabis will
be in everyone’s medi-
cine chests like it used
to be.” Assuming, of
course, CBD lives up to
its hype.Reader’s Digest 13 Things
38 july/august 2019 | rd.com