What is CBD?

Soline Doyle
ACTIVEurope
Published in
2 min readJun 2, 2019

CBD stands for cannabidiol.

CBD is a naturally occurring substance found in the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the cannabis plant.

How is CBD different from the ‘drug that gets you high’?

Even though CBD is a component found in both industrial hemp and marijuana, it does not cause a psychotropic “(“high”) effect Indeed, according to a report from the World Health Organization,

“In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.… To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”

The evidence for CBD health benefits.

According to Peter Grinspoon, M.D. at Harvard Medical School, the strongest scientific evidence for the effectiveness of CBD lies in the treatment of some of the rarest and most severe childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which typically don’t respond to anti-seizure medications.

CBD is commonly used to address anxiety. For patients who suffer from insomnia, studies suggest that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep.

Several studies, including one by the American Academy of Dermatology, also suggest that CBD could help skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis by reducing inflammation and relieving dry skin.

CBD extracted from the hemp flower can be found in consumers goods and as an ingredient for medicinal uses

Where can I buy CBD?

Hemp-extracts including CBD are fully legal. However, there’s no clear and specific regulatory framework at the EU level or in most Member-States be it in cosmetics, food supplements or e-liquids. In other words, it’s difficult to know exactly what you are getting.

That’s why with ACTIVE we’re working to build a safer industry for consumers and professionals.

Write to us at laurene@tradeactive.org

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Soline Doyle
ACTIVEurope

Dual Master’s in European Affairs and International Public Policy — Digital, New Technology and Public Policy — Sciences Po Paris/LSE