Beware of Snake Oil Salesmen

Today’s CBD market is like the “wild west”.  There are so many variations of CBD products on the market that often, when doing an informational search, all one gets is a headache coupled with even more confusion.

The FDA has been slow to place controls on CBD products.  Since the Federal Government legalized the production of hemp products in 2018, the FDA has given little thought to the testing and regulation of hemp and cannabis products. Their treatment of these products is almost like that of (sorry to say) a Redheaded Step Child and has opened up the market to a number of “snake oil type salesmen”. I do not think the FDA realized that hemp oil products would become the multi-billion dollar market it has in such a short period of time. Either that or, since their loyalty is to Big Pharma, they are slow to recognize the potential benefits in order to maintain their highly profitable relationship. Regardless, due in part to their lax attitude, many manufacturers have flooded the marketplace with products that promise the world yet have no legitimate viable test results. Because of this, some unscrupulous producers have even found a market for products that have been manufactured in their own garage. Once they have the product(s), all they needed was a marketing campaign, and it’s off to the races. I even recently saw an advertisement claiming that our current President has his own line and is being supported by several prominent television, movie and recording stars. What some won’t do to take advantage of the unknowing public. 

Today’s Blog is not intended to make medical claims regarding CBD products. Our purpose is to help to clarify what CBD is, the methods of manufacture and to help educate people who may be curious about the pros and cons of CBD products made from hemp. 

In June 2018 the FDA approved the drug Epidiolex to treat a rare, severe form of epilepsy.  Epidiolex is available only with a Doctor’s prescription and contains a highly purified form of cannabidiol (CBD). In fact, the active ingredient is nearly 100% cannabidiol. While it is believed to work differently from other prescription medication(s), how exactly it works is virtually unknown. Cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940 and is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. They react with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is a network of receptors and transmitters found throughout the human body.

Few products contain pure CBD. This is where the misleading marketing begins. Folks are bottling and selling CBD using a number of various production methods. Three common methods are:

   1) Solvent extraction which involves the use of ethanol, butane, propane, isopropyl or alcohol to extract the CBD or

   2) Olive oil, which is the oldest extraction method and

   3) CO2 extraction which is currently the preferred method.

The extracted CBD is mixed with a variety of other by products such as terpines and flavonoids which are present in the plants and are known for their flavor and aromatic properties (smell) and aid the plant in defending it from the threat of parasites. They include parts of the entire plant including the stems, stalks, buds, seeds etc. and are often mixed with various compounds to make them more attractive to the consumer. These products have adopted the titles of full-spectrum (which contains small traces of THC) or broad-spectrum and use the term “entourage effect” to tout medical related results. Many call these items “fillers” and question what, if any, real benefit they may have. In recent tests, of several “CBD” products, it was found that many contained a scant 5 to 19% CBD with some containing no CBD at all. To better mask the products lack of CBD, some include a variety of supplements to better enhance health benefit claims. Unfortunately, this is just another way of taking advantage of the uneducated consumer.

A pure CBD product is 99+% pure CBD.  Pure CBD products, made from hemp, contain no THC which is the psychoactive ingredient found in many full-spectrum products. The process of removing all traces of THC, flavonoids and terpines (fillers) is time consuming and costly. That is why most formulators and manufacturers prefer to take the more profitable route and justify it through deceptive advertising. A word of caution though, if you are in a profession that may have a zero tolerance program or if you are simply cautious by nature and afraid of getting “high” then, I recommend you steer clear of products that are full-spectrum or use the terms “entourage effects” in their promotions. Most often, these products contain some, although be it minimal, level of THC in their formula.

New legislation has been introduced which could require regulators to treat hemp-derived CBD as a dietary supplement. This bill, if enacted, will allow the FDA to regulate hemp-derived CBD products hopefully leading to controls being enacted which will establish minimum levels of potency, and proper production requirements.  Hopefully this will provide a clear pathway forward for hemp-derived CBD products that are both healthy and safe for the public.

Thanks for reading our latest blog. CBD Doc.