CBD Information

CBD oil is increasingly popular, both as a food supplement and as an oil to apply topically to the skin.

 

What is CBD oil?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid – a chemical compound that acts throughout the body, including on certain parts of the brain, and is becoming increasingly popular in the health world. It comes from the cannabis plant; however, unlike its counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the ‘high’ from marijuana, CBD, derived from the hemp plant, is non-intoxicating and some believe it may have potential health and wellness benefits. Once extracted from the cannabis plant, it is diluted with a carrier such as olive or coconut oil – this improves its bio-availability.

 

Is it safe to use CBD oil?

If you’re considering using CBD oil, you should speak to your GP or other healthcare professional to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for you to do so.

This is particularly important if you are experiencing any concerning symptoms, if you have any pre-existing conditions or if you are taking any medication including statins, blood thinning medication and calcium channel blockers.

Although the use of CBD is controversial, it does seem to be tolerated by most people.

CBD oil should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

 

What is CBG?

“The Mother of All Cannabinoids”

Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of the cannabinoids found in Cannabis which is a precursor to CBD. There is very little CBG in plants, and this is why it is more expensive than other cannabis plant compounds and CBD. It is non psychoactive and does not produce a ‘high’.

CBG pairs very well with CBD to enhance the benefits and effects of both.

The quick answer: compliant, responsibly made products are completely legal to buy and use in the UK.

There’s quite a bit more to it though:

Despite growing evidence to support the astounding ways in which the cannabis plant (and the CBD derived from it) interacts with and supports the human body, full legislation of this particular wonder of nature is not even vaguely on the horizon in the UK. Yet.

There have been movements in recent years which have seen regulations changing – the 2018 introduction of cannabis derived pharmaceutical drug Sativex, containing a 1:1 CBD and THC potency, now means multiple sclerosis patients in the UK have some access to medical marijuana. And in November 2019, The Guardian reported that up to 20,000 patients in the UK were to be given medical cannabis over a two-year period as a study into the potential medicinal use of the drug.

However, while this has been going on, the drug class of cannabis has bounced up and down between being a Class B and Class C drug and the largest hemp (cannabis sativa) farm in the UK, largely used for home-grown CBD products, was ordered to destroy its crop without having their license renewed due to confusion over cultivation and harvesting guidelines.

These guidelines have proved to be confusing and challenging to adhere to – compounded by the growing demand for high quality, regulated CBD products. Hemp, which contains little psychoactive THC is perfectly legal to cultivate in the UK with a Home Office license for the cultivation of Industrial Hemp, however, this is only to be used for preparations containing the mature stalk, fibre, or seeds of the plant.

This presents a problem for the CBD industry, as there is very little CBD found in these parts – CBD is mainly found in the flowers and leaves, which are still treated the same as high THC cannabis and have to be destroyed, making the crop uneconomical.

Selling CBD which has been processed and imported from other countries where cultivation and harvesting is legal is approved. Which is why you’ll find most CBD brands working with farmers in France, Guernsey, Switzerland, Croatia, Portugal, certain states in the US and a few other select places.

And there’s more. But before we dive further into CBD legislation and regulation, let’s take a look at why and how cannabis became illegal in the first place…

A brief history of cannabis law

It’s only in the last century that there has been any kind of prohibition against the use and cultivation of hemp (cannabis sativa) and even high-THC marijuana for that matter. Bizarrely, thanks to the evolution of scientific know-how, this has been during a time when we have begun to understand the relationship between cannabis and the human body and the medicinal potential it holds beyond anecdotal evidence.

The first recorded use of the cannabis plant as a medicine dates back to 2700BC, when it is believed that the ‘Father of Chinese medicine’, emperor Shen Nung prescribed marijuana tea for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, malaria and poor memory. But even before that, evidence has been found to suggest the agricultural growth of hemp as far back at the end of the last ice age. Skip ahead, and upon being gifted the plant from explorers coming in from India and China, Henry VIII actually insisted that all farmers grow hemp and threatened hefty fines if they didn’t.

By the early 18th century, many medical formulations contained cannabis. At this point science had yet to catch up, but thousands of years of successful use was enough for almost all physicians to feel confident in readily prescribing it. Unfortunately, this was also along with morphine – a highly addictive and potentially lethal drug which, by the 19th century, many people had developed a serious problem with.

As a result, the US introduced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and created the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. By 1914, drug use was defined as a crime for the first time ever although cannabis was still not made illegal in the US for medicinal and industrial purposes. The UK joined them and made recreational cannabis use illegal in 1928. Moving forward to the 1960s, President Richard Nixon waged his ‘war on drugs’ banning all cannabis under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act as a class B substance, claiming that the plant was of no medicinal use. Speculation since has suggested there were ulterior motives at play here, including a chance to criminalise those of African American and Latin American descent. Again, the UK followed suit.

So, where does CBD come in?

At the same time as the media uproar and propaganda against the growth and use of hemp and marijuana, huge breakthrough findings were taking place behind the scenes.

The first partial structure of CBN (cannabinol) was discovered in the 1930s by British chemist Robert S. Cahn, leading to the full identification in 1940. Following that, in 1942 American chemist, Roger Adams, successfully identified and isolated CBD and soon after, THC. However, at this point there was no understanding of which molecules were causing which effects and more importantly, why.

All that changed when Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, hailed as the Godfather of CBD, began to uncover some of the inner workings of CBD and THC, partly through one significant study where 8 epilepsy patients were given 300mg of CBD daily for four months. Half of the subjects stopped having seizures completely after the trial and the others noticed a dramatic improvement.

But the real understanding of how CBD and THC (and since, other cannabinoids and terpenes besides) interacts with the human body first came to light when the first endocannabinoid, Anandamide, was found in the 1990s, quickly followed by the discovery of an unknown molecular signaling system: the endocannabinoid system. A totally transformational moment in cannabis study.

In 1996, California re-legalised medical marijuana and numerous other states did the same over the next 10 years. A number of other countries also relaxed cannabis laws, making way for essential trials and research to learn more about the plant and the impact CBD and over 120 other cannabinoids have on the human body. But laws surrounding CBD and cannabis use in the UK remain very tight.

 

CBD law in the UK – a 2022 overview

Although regulations surrounding CBD in the UK are pretty firm, there has been a lot of movement in the industry and, undoubtedly, more change is yet to come. However, what that will look like is anyone’s guess.

What we do know is that:

• CBD products sold in the UK are not for medicinal use. They are considered to be a food supplement (when ingested) or a cosmetic (when applied topically).
• Selling CBD products processed outside of the UK is legal in the UK, providing they contain no controlled substances such as THC or CBN and are derived from hemp.
• THC remains illegal. The maximum legal limit in the UK is 1mg per container (regardless of how much product within), which effectively means a non-detectable amount for most products.
• Medicinal cannabis has been legalised for prescription in the UK for special cases.
• CBN is also considered to be a controlled substance and is illegal in the UK.
• The Misuse of Drugs Act (MODa) makes no distinction between hemp, cannabis or marijuana.
• CBD flower is not legal in the UK.
• Cannabis oil is not the same as CBD oil. Cannabis oil is usually referring to an extract which contains THC and is therefore illegal in the UK.
• CBD is still an unregulated market in the UK.

 

Travelling with CBD Oil

Check with authorities in the country you are traveling to before you leave. Don’t forget to include any countries where you might be changing flights, although you’re not leaving the airport, you’re still landing there and subject to their laws. If you’re flying via Dubai or Singapore, make sure you’re fully aware of the laws in those states before you take off. Another great tip is to ask your airline if you can take CBD Oil on the plane, as they may be able to help.

 

The CBD industry is still maturing

At the moment, there are many CBD products available in the UK which contain little to no CBD at all (despite stating they do), as well as products which contain higher than legal levels of THC and toxic substances.

This isn’t so much about specific regulations but more about enforcement – after all, Trading Standards and Product Safety laws that make such practices illegal for any products have been around for a long time.  While this evolves, as always, it’s down to you as the consumer to do your research and know that you’re only buying from the best.

Third-party testing and lab reports that are available for you to read are a must. If they’re not available on the website, ask for them. If a brand says they don’t have them or won’t pass them over for you to look at, walk away!

As the science of cannabinoids and the ECS is still so fresh, there’s still a lot to learn about this wonderful plant. But now, 30 years on from the discovery of these, results from long-awaited, in-depth trials and studies are finally coming to light. The more we find out, the more incredible it all appears to be and we can only hope that legislation will continue to evolve accordingly.

For now, you can rest assured that Sileo Health is dedicated to earning our customers’ trust and pushing the CBD sector forward through exemplary standards. We will always do our utmost to ensure that our products are sourced from the best available CBD on the market.

 

Wondering what the right amount of CBD (Cannabidiol) is for you? When using CBD oil for the first time, we recommend starting with a low dose and building up to a serving that’s most effective for you, as there are many factors including your personal body chemistry, metabolism, body mass and the condition/problem you are treating which can influence the perfect amount for you.

How to take CBD oil: use the built-in dropper to administer the oil under your tongue. Hold it there for around 90 seconds so that the mucus membranes in your mouth can absorb the oil’s active ingredients.

By consuming CBD oil in this way you bypass the digestive system and liver metabolic systems, allowing the CBD to reach your bloodstream and endocannabinoid system more quickly.

 

Recommended CBD Oil Serving

 

500mg (5%) CBD Oil:

• Ideal if you are new to CBD
• Each drop contains approximately 2.5mg CBD
• Shake the bottle well before each use
• For the first week, start with 5 drops (approx 12.5mg) – either before bed or first thing in the morning
• After 7 days add a second serving of 5 drops, taking your total daily dose to 25mg
• After another 7 days, if you feel you need more, increase up to to 10 drops (25mg) twice per day. You may want to consider our 10% strength oil.
• Do not exceed 70mg CBD (28 drops) per day

1000mg (10%) CBD Oil:

• Each drop contains approximately 5mg CBD
• Shake the bottle well before each use
• Start with 5 drops (approx 25mg) – either before bed or first thing in the morning
• After 7 days you may wish to add a second serving of 5 drops, taking your total daily dose to 50mg
• Do not exceed 70mg CBD (14 drops) per day

Important: our CBD products are not medicinal nor are they intended to prevent, treat or cure any ailments or disease. The statements and references to the products found throughout our site have not been evaluated by the FSA (Food Standards Agency) or MHRA.