WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – It can help anxiety, aid sleep or even clear up acne. That’s what some CBD advertisements claim.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical found in marijuana and hemp plants. It doesn’t give you a high, but users and advertisers claim it can help a host of health issues.
One expert told us there’s no scientific proof it works.
Theodore Caputi is a public health researcher. He conducted a study on how some medical marijuana companies market CBD. He found they often rely on their users’ reviews and academic partnerships in advertising: not clinical research.
“People have been led to believe all sorts of [health effects] that CBD might have but that aren’t founded in scientific evidence,” Caputi said.
Caputi suggested that more companies should seek approval for use from the Food and Drug Administration: a process that requires scientific research to back up health claims.
The FDA has not approved CBD or investigated it, but it lists potential risks like liver damage and male fertility issues on its website. The Washington News Bureau reached out to the FDA to see if it’s reviewing CBD. They did not grant us an interview.
While CBD is legal, the research process involves working with cannabis, which the Drug Enforcement Administration labels a drug with no medical use.
Getting approval to work with the drug is a “burdensome” process, said Johns Hopkins’ School of Medicine professor, Tory Spindle.
“We’re trying to play catch up and do all the…
