Doctors' opinions have limited value on this topic because, right now, there simply isn’t enough research regarding CBD's therapeutic relevance and risk. If you decide to try CBD, you're basically your own guinea pig.

Now, I am cool with that, if you're cool with that-- as long as you educate yourself as best as possible, be attune with your body as best as possible, and seek consultation from professionals and your support system as best as possible.

If you just want general guidelines for being your own guinea pig, skip the next two paragraphs. If you'd like to educate yourself a little, LIKE I JUST TOLD YOU TO, read all the way through.

What is CBD?

Let me take a second to describe what CBD actually is (keeping in mind that chemistry was my worst subject in high school). CBD is one of over 80 chemicals found in the cannabis plant. Routes of administration include smoking, ingestion, and skin absorption via butters, balms, massage oils, tinctures, capsules, edibles and vaping oils. You've probably heard of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), marijuana's most infamous chemical, due to its psychoactive effects. CBD is separate from THC. The various chemicals of the marijuana plant interact with specific receptors in the human body. THC is mostly attracted to and interacts with the receptors in the brain, which partly accounts for its euphoric effect. CBD is mostly attracted to and interacts with receptors found throughout the body's immune system, which is why it does not produce euphoric effects.

The Research So Far

Therapeutic applications of CBD are mostly in the pre-clinical research phases (meaning it hasn't been tested on humans yet). Rats and cells have had the benefit of CBD treatments and some data suggest that CBD could help with nausea, anxiety, inflammation, psychosis, pain, tumors, neurodegeneration and more! The FDA did just approve CBD as a treatment for epilepsy because, as usual, Europe has been way more chill about allowing research with marijuana. It is worth noting that promising results with rats and cells do not always translate into significant or helpful results in humans.

However, even if the clinical trials are great and the FDA approves it, it doesn't mean the product is right for you or without risks (look at the mess we're in with prescription opiates).

With that being said, what we're liking about CBD at the moment is it seems to be alleviating a variety of symptoms with minimal side effects and no studies have reported a development of tolerance. For more specific information, check out this article and this article.

Having said all that, if you decide to make yourself your own little guinea pig in CBD research, here are the things I encourage you to consider:

For those in recovery from substance use disorders:

I consider CBD to be a "gray area" for folks in recovery. I define "gray area" to mean that it's not off-limits for people in recovery, but a person needs to examine their motives and maybe have some accountability within their support network. Other examples of "gray area" medicines include Benadryl, cough syrup, and some muscle relaxants. I don't think folks in recovery should be deprived of the benefits of modern medicine, but I do think they have to be particularly mindful (I mean, I think everyone should be mindful, but whatever). Additionally, recovering friends should beware of trying to imitate their "using lifestyle" even though CBD really doesn't make you high. A client told me about a group of his friends in recovery who were driving and passing around a vape with CBD oil in it. I wouldn’t call that a relapse, but behavior that mimics using behavior can be a slippery slope for some.

For our free market capitalists:

CBD is not regulated, monitored or controlled as of yet, so it's the wild west out there in terms of quality, potency and purity. Joe Dirt could be preparing, bottling, and shipping the CBD you're about to put into your body. And I get it, a bunch of garbage gets into our bodies anyway-- all I'm saying is do your research. Don't buy your CBD product from a gas station on a whim. Read reviews from legitimate companies. Call dispensaries and ask questions from folks who are in this industry about what companies have legit products. The FDA has issued warning letters to these companies for their products not having the amount of CBD they advertised, so be cautious.

For those taking medication:

Lack of research about CBD means we're not able to predict how it impacts or interacts with other drugs. For example, some chemicals change how quickly or slowly a medication is metabolized in a person's body. This means a person may end up having too much or too little of their medication in their system. And while CBD does not bind to the receptors in the brain, it is not yet clear whether CBD has any indirect influence on the brain's neurotransmitters. Or the body's hormones, for that matter-- there's a lot we don't know, folks! Regardless, people should consult and/or inform their doctors that they're taking CBD.

For those subject to drug screens:

Most drug screens don't detect CBD itself and theoretically work wouldn't really care because it's not psychoactive. High-quality CBD should not contain THC (because, remember, they are separate chemicals), but trace amounts of THC are sometimes present in CBD products. This is generally associated with low-quality extraction processes or the products coming from states where marijuana is legalized, so no one cares about the THC content. If your workplace performs random drug screens or you may have to submit to a pre-hire drug screen, you'll really want to make sure you're not getting Joe Dirt's CBD or just hold off on being your own guinea pig.

These are just a few things to consider if you're thinking about trying CBD. Just to reiterate: do your research, listen to your body, and utilize your support system.