In our guide to the best CBD Oil UK guide, we will discuss everything from what CBD oil, to the benefits and other important details to be aware of.
It’s no secret that cannabis-based therapeutic products are becoming more widely accepted both online and off and CBD is leading the charge in this new trend.
CBD Oil has been growing in popularity over recent years due to increased awareness online and continual research into the benefits it can provide.
Cannabis comes with its fair share of controversy though and despite its many proponents there still seems to be a lot of resistance from both an emotional and political level even in 2018.
While CBD Oil is not widely accepted for its medicinal benefits the general opinion is changing to a more optimistic one as research continues in seeking the benefits it can offer.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol and is a phytocannabinoid molecule and one of 97 active ingredients found in the Cannabis plant.
CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid and is 100% legal in the United Kingdom. Because CBD is not psychoactive it won’t get you high like the more famous cannabinoid THC will.
CBD Oil is created by various extraction methods using cannabis or hemp but usually the higher the cannabinoid content the better as it will produce more yield with less waste.
After CBD oil has been extracted from the plant the THC molecules are often removed through an additional extraction process.
Until recently the only chemical people commonly associated with the cannabis plant was tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is also the active ingredient responsible for getting you high.
However, as we already mentioned this is only one of a long list of different cannabinoids produced by both the Indicia and Sativa strains of Cannabis plant and is found in much lower amounts in the lesser known Cannabis Ruderalis.
Thankfully science is finally catching up with nature and discovering the wealth of active ingredients stored inside the cannabis plant.
There has been an increasing amount of research done over recent years to discover the full impact and benefits it can offer.
The use of CBD in the mainstream is a fairly new thing in the UK despite there being research dating back decades claiming its many benefits and these days even some high street health brands are starting to open their minds to using CBD in their products.
Benefits of CBD Oil
So what are the benefits of CBD?
While there’s still much research to be done and many discoveries need further validation there are many that believe Cannabidiol to have wide-reaching health benefits.
CBD is widely considered to have a number of benefits on the human bodies endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating various physiological and cognitive processes that take place in the body.
Giving specific advice about the specific medical benefits of CBD is difficult due to the lack of studies that corroborate current findings and speculation, however, there are many articles online that discuss the potential benefits.
Some of these include:
Pain relief and inflammation – studies have found that CBD exhibits analgesic & anti-inflammatory properties. Evidence suggests CBD can modulate pain by inhibiting neuronal transmission in pain pathways. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and Fibromyalgia and the pain associated with MS and terminal illness.
Antipsychotic Effects – CBD has a pharmacological profile not dissimilar to the typical antipsychotic drugs and trials in patients with schizophrenia have been very encouraging.
Reduce Anxiety – Cannabidiol has shown to reduce anxiety in tests with people who suffer from social anxiety and researchers have also suggested it may have a similar effect with other disorders like OCD, and panic disorder.
PTSD – Cannabis has been shown to have great effects on those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Many army veterans suffering from PTSD have attested to this fact.
Helps to Fight Cancer – CBD has been shown to possess antiproliferative pro-apoptotic effects that inhibits cancer cell migration adhesion and invasion.
Relieves Nausea – CBD oil has been known to alleviate the symptoms of chemotherapy that include nausea.
Seizures – Numerous studies have shown that CBD oil can greatly reduce the severity and frequency of several kinds of seizures. There is a growing trend of parents treating their children with CBD rather than pharmaceutical medicines.
Diabetes – Tests on mice have shown CBD significantly lowering the chance of diabetes in non-obese mice.
Cardiovascular Health – A 2013 study showed that CBD protects against the vascular damage caused by a high glucose environment and inflammation.
Since research studies are continuing and there is lots still to be discovered about the marvels of the Cannabis plant more discoveries and benefits are being announced every year.
There are reports that also point to the differing medicinal benefits provided by the many varying terpenes found in different strains of Cannabis plant and as such Cannabis CBD Oil that has been produced from one strain of Marijuana may produce different benefits and effects to another strain.
Charlotte’s web is a now famous example of a strain of cannabis known to have particularly good effect at treating epileptic seizures and was named after Charlotte Figi after her story led to her being described as “the girl who is changing medical marijuana laws across America.”
Types of CBD Oil Product
There are different ways you can use CBD oil that will vary depending on the ailment you are trying to treat or your personal preference.
The CBD products available on the UK market are more limited than in the USA and with stricter regulations due to the legal status of Cannabis in general.
One advantage in North America due to the relaxation of cannabis laws is that it has paved the way for a wider range of cannabis-based products and a lot more research and funding into finding discovering more ways Cannabidiol can be used.
eJuice / eLiquid
If you want to vape your CBD oil then buying eLiquid or eJuice that has been infused with CBD oil is the best way to go.
eLiquid is a popular tobacco cessation method that is used in vaporizer pens and you can also buy CBD infused eliquid for your vape that comes unflavoured as a concentrate or flavoured and diluted for you.
Some people like the use vape pens because of the therapeutic process involved in inhaling and exhaling much like cannabis smokers. If you want to try CBD and you enjoy this process then eLiquids are probably for you.
If you are looking for the best CBD eLiquid then you want to check out CanaVape who offer a range of different sizes, strengths, and flavours including unflavoured – more info.
Tinctures
If you prefer not to vape then using a tincture is one of the best ways to administer CBD oil healthily and with fast results.
TincturesTinctures are one of the best types of CBD supplement as they combine CBD oil into a concentrated liquid form which can be conveniently consumed by placing one or two droplets under your tongue using the provided pipette.
Because tinctures are concentrated you only need to use a tiny amount.
Alternatively, instead of placing it under your tongue neat, you can place a couple of droplets into a smoothie or a glass of juice.
Tinctures may just be the best way to try CBD for the first time as the process is easy and doesn’t require any additional accessories like an eCig or vape pen.
CBD Legal & Medical Status in the UK
CBD is perfectly legal in the United Kingdom, however, it is not allowed to be marketed as a medical product and is considered a food supplement.
Any product derived from industrial hemp that has been grown legally under license is exempt from the misuse of drugs regulations provided it is not intended for the delivery of a controlled drug. If the controlled drug cannot be easily extracted and separated and there is no more than 1mg of the drug found in any one package it is perfectly legal.
So CBD products that comply with the above and contain less than 1mg of THC are fully legal and compliant with MoDA 1971.
No products can be marketed and sold as medicine without a marketing authorization or traditional herbal registration from the MHRA.
At present no CBD medical products are available in the UK at the moment and all are sold as food supplements.
CBD products cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18.
All products must be accurately labeled and meet the criteria the association requires and state the total milligrams of CBD and THC content along with dosage instructions.
Independent lab reports must be available to consumers for each batch stating the complete cannabinoid profile.
Responsibly promote the use of cannabis-derived products.
As well as many more obvious rules you would expect for any food supplement product where it marketed for human consumption.
In the future as more research and studies are undertaken we expect to see further developments in CBD’s classification as a medicinal product, however, this remains to be seen at this point in time.
In the USA CBD is completely legal in all of the states where medical marijuana is legal which at the time of writing is 34 states and counting, however, CBD Oil that contains less than 0.3% THC can be shipped to 50 states U.S. Federal law allows for CBD oil if it meets these criteria.
Source of CBD Oil
While many claim it is better to extract CBD oil from the male cannabis plant better known as hemp this produced far less oil since the male plant produces a much lower amount of cannabinoids that its resinous female counterpart.
As such despite containing extremely low amounts of the psychoactive THC it also contains too low an amount of CBD so more plant matter is required to produce the same amount of oil.
On the other hand, hemp-derived CBD oil also known as hemp oil doesn’t need to have such a rigorous extraction process to remove the THC because the male plant contains extremely low amounts of THC which can lead to a higher quality product that contains other beneficial elements.
The other reason this is the most popular approach is to ensure the producers of these products can stay within the legal framework.
While the female plant contains much more THC, processing is often used to reduce this to levels that will not cause a euphoric or dysphoric effect in a person.
One issue with over processing CBD to remove THC and any other cannabinoids is that it can impair the oil and leave a product that lacks the full spectrum of aromatic terpenes.
In the USA CBD, rich plants cannot exceed 0.3% THC without being considered Marijuana / Cannabis.
Fortunately as cross-pollination and hybridization of high CBD content plants continued it is likely that it will become easier to grow specific varieties that contain CBD in abundance naturally without the high THC content.
Common Questions about CBD Oil
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to buying CBD Oil.
Will CBD Oil get me high?
No CBD Oil is not to be confused with the psychoactive ingredient THC.
Will CBD make me paranoid?
No, many people who tried cannabis in adolescence remember a feeling of paranoia and mistakenly associate this with the plant and not THC which is the cannabinoid responsible for this side effect. There are no reports of CBD being linked to paranoia.
Where can I buy CBD Oil in the UK?
CBD Oil is now widely available in the UK both offline and on but not all CBD oil was created equal.
You can purchase CBD Oil from Amazon, Holland, and Barrett or from Cannabis and CBD specialists. I would personally stick to using one of the experts who really understand the science and the product they are selling like Namaste.
Best CBD Oil UK Conclusion
If you are looking for the best CBD Oil in the UK then you want to try Canavape eLiquids or ECS Tinctures as these products come recommended by the experts at NamasteVapes who know what they are talking about.
There may be some products on the market still that are low quality and should be avoided however a lot of this has been cleaned up over the last few years with tighter regulations on how these products can be sold and marketed to the public.
Want to browse through all of the best CBD UK products go to Namaste.
Disclaimer: The statements contained within this post have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or the MHRA. CBD Oil products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.
While most CBD Oil contains a trace amount of THC, usually less than 0.3% using these products can lead to you testing positive for THC on a drug screening test. Make sure you consider this before using any of these products since you may have a legal obligation to completely abstain from consuming THC due to your profession.
