UNEARTHING THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF CBD: BY THE EXPERTS
In partnership with Protein Agency, we spoke to six industry experts to unearth the past, present and future of CBD.
Exploring their personal and professional relationships with CBD and cannabis, we’ve asked them questions about current market regulations, the reported uses of CBD, the CBD law in the UK, as well as where the industry is heading in terms of research and innovation. We’ll be sharing insights with you every week – stay tuned!
A HISTORY OF CANNABIS AND MEDICINE
Cannabis has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. Ancient cultures mixed it into other medicines to relieve pain and various ailments. In China, as early as 2737 B.C., it was made into a tea and used to treat malaria and other conditions. But it was not until the mid-19th century that doctors in the west began to take an interest. In Britain, even Queen Victoria took it for period pain long before the CBD UK law was passed. In America, it was widely used as a pain reliever for rheumatism and other diseases.
Evolution of CBD from cannabis
CBD was first isolated from the cannabis leaf in the 1960s, but it’s come a long way since then. As the use of CBD oil has become destigmatised and dissociated from recreational cannabis consumption, more people are turning to it and noticing benefits from its use.
Historic milestones such as cannabis’ role in managing nausea during the AIDS crisis, led to research into CBD as a standalone compound. CBD’s medicinal use received heightened attention in 2018 when the topic of medical cannabis was thrust into parliamentary debate after 12-year-old Billy Caldwell’s supply of cannabis oil which was intended to treat his epilepsy was seized at Heathrow airport. This ultimately led to the first cannabis-based medicines being approved for use on the NHS in 2019.
Acceptance of CBD in the UK
In the UK, a 2019 YouGov survey found that twice as many British adults now support the legalisation of cannabis than oppose it. This really sets the stage for
“The more that you see the leaf and see it in a way that’s not part of stoner culture, it really helps to just put it into people’s minds as like, ‘Oh, actually this isn’t really scary’. I think there needs to be education that’s a bit more wholesome and around the actual plant.” - Claire Davis
TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY: TODAY’S CBD INDUSTRY
The CBD Industry’s Challenge? Aside from CBD UK law, it's that not all CBD is created equal. As consumers demand it, and new brands innovate within the space, the onus is on the industry to be transparent about its supply chain. Every drop of CBII full spectrum CBD oil is developed under stringent quality conditions in exclusive partnership with Swiss CBD specialist, Linnea SA, to ensure quality and reliability.
CBD Is Now Considered a Novel Food
Novel Foods are foods with little to no history of consumption. These foods must be approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for safety purposes before they’re put on the market. The government keeps a list of Novel Foods for public knowledge.
New CBD UK laws, such as the definitive classification of CBD as a Novel Food in the UK, are accelerating a higher standard of industry quality and consistency. More recently, the CBD industry is also benefitting from new research findings. A recent study not only succeeded in creating water-soluble CBD but also found that doing so increases its bioavailability, or the amount transmitted from your blood to your brain.
With the inclusion of CBD Novel Foods to the list, more quality standards have been put in place to protect consumers. CBD law in the UK is moving in the direction toward accessible and safe CBD products.
Independent testing for building trust
As the industry grows, brands must take charge to educate customers on how to adopt CBD as part of their routines. Until more people try CBD and share their positive experiences, brands that self-regulate and pay for independent testing will be more likely to gain consumer trust. All CBII products are independently tested for your peace of mind.
“When CBD is manufactured in the right way and it’s full spectrum, it can be brilliant.” - Poppy Jamie
Global CBD laws: Where is CBD legal?
CBD is still relatively new, so countries have differing policies for its use and legality. Some countries make allowances for both recreational and medicinal purposes, some have barred it outright, and others have no laws regarding CBD yet.
Is CBD legal in Europe? Most countries allow CBD at strengths from 0.05 and 0.5%. Countries such as Ireland, Slovakia, and Sweden label CBD as illegal. Countries like Germany and Denmark allow CBD in some forms but not others.
Make sure to find out if cannabis oil is legal in your country before ordering it online.
Is CBD legal in the UK?
CBD containing 0.2% THC or less was legalized in 2018 by parliment. Because of the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971, other cannabis products that don’t fit this criterion, like Marijuana flower, are still illegal. All CBII products fall within the legal THC limit in the UK and come from approved hemp farmers, following sourcing standards.
The following sections will answer your questions regarding…
Is THC oil legal in the UK?
Is CBD oil legal in the UK?
Are CBD edibles legal in the UK?
Is Cbd oil legal in the UK?
CBD oil is made by extracting cannabidiol from hemp plants and combining it with a carrier oil such as hemp seed oil. CBD oil is legal in the UK if it contains 0.2% THC or less and comes from hemp plants (not cannabis plants). Any product containing more than 0.2% THC is illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
CBII’s CBD oil is completely legal in UK law. Our products contain 0.2% THC or less and are all sourced from certified hemp plants from approved farmers.
Is full-spectrum cannabis oil legal?
Full-spectrum cannabis oil contains numerous compounds such as THC, CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and many other cannabinoids. It is called “full-spectrum” because it maintains all of the components of the cannabis flower. Other products remove certain cannabinoids. Broad-spectrum oil, for example, removes the THC completely.
So, why leave in the THC? Cannabinoids work better in the presence of each other. CBD is much more effective when even small amounts of THC are present. This is why governments allow small amounts of THC in CBD products. Legal CBD oil in the UK can contain 0.2% THC or less. Pure THC oil is not legal in the UK.
Are edibles legal in the UK?
So, are CBD edibles legal in the UK? The UK law on CBD makes it clear that products can contain CBD as long as the THC content is 0.2% or below and they are sourced from hemp plants. New CBD edibles must obtain novel food authorization from the FSA before being sold.
All CBII edibles follow the rules and regulations set by parliament. Our gummies, like the CBD gummy bears, are also vegan, organic, and sustainably sourced.
Are CBD buds and flowers legal in the UK?
CBD flowers are dried pieces from hemp plants. They look like little clusters or “buds” of green leaves. According to UK law, CBD buds and flowers are illegal because they’re classified as drugs rather than foods or supplements. This is true across the board, even if the flower contains less than 0.2% THC.
EXPLORING CBD AND MENTAL HEALTH
The pressures of modern society have brought about a mental health crisis, with waiting lists for therapy longer than ever. In a survey of UK CBD users, Dr. Hindocha found that anxiety was a top reason for taking CBD. Of course, the cbd products consumed were within the legal thc limit in the UK.
“The great thing with CBD is that it is tactile. You can touch it and feel it, whereas mental health is quite in the head. It does aid relaxation, it’s that ritual element and I think rituals are really important to support mental health.” says Poppy Jamie, co-founder of wellbeing and mindfulness app, Happy not Perfect.
CBD enhances relaxation and rejuvenation
"Poppy Jamie’s own market research found that less than 15% of the people she interviewed could stick to the demands of meditation, a common recommendation for mental wellbeing.
“We don’t have the time anymore. Technology has sped up the world and taken away the time we need to process it. Our attention spans are being split, and we distract ourselves from how we feel by looking at Instagram or responding to emails.” Jamie says.
“Right now, everyone should be taking CBD to support their wellness so they don’t actually make themselves ill as a result. It’s a great tool for wellness, as long as it’s accompanied by other things.” adds holistic practitioner, Mary Biles. "
WHY TAKE CBD?
CBD is growing in popularity as a celebrated addition to holistic health approaches. Since its discovery, CBD has formed a massive following of people who report improved well-being. CBD has the potential to provide a wide variety of health benefits without the side effects or habit-forming qualities of prescription drugs.
So, why take CBD oil?
Mental relaxation
"In terms of psychopharmacology, we do know that CBD definitely, at high doses, affects anxiety. We have seen that when you stress people out and then give them 400mg and upwards of CBD, it reduces their anxiety and stress levels. So, it might be that people who are generally high in anxiety and stress will respond to those effects of CBD.” - Dr. Chandni Hindocha
Research on CBD and anxiety is evolving. An ongoing Harvard Medical School study is looking at whether 10mg of CBD will reduce anxiety levels. Such a low dose has never been tested before, and if it proves effective, the CBD industry will get its biggest boom yet."
Sleep
Early research into CBD's relationship with sleep is positive. So far, it seems that CBD can improve sleep quality by enhancing mind and muscle relaxation. Other studies suggest that it can reduce cortisol levels, helping the body wind down at night. More evidence is needed to support this claim, however.
Holistic Wellness
At lower doses CBD will not sedate you, but it might help you relax in a more holistic way. The key is in finding the right strength which can take some experimenting and trial and error. Our expert, Mary Biles, suggests keeping a diary and building up until you find your “personal sweet spot”.
How to take CBD
"When it comes to CBD, everyone is different so it’s important to find the dose that’s right for you. We recommend starting low and building up if needed, which is why CBII offers three different strength oils that you can choose from (500mg, 200mg and 100mg). It's best to not consume more than 750mg of CBD daily.
If you're new to CBD, you can start with 2-4 drops of oil in the mornings and night for better sleep and mental relaxation, and work your way up to higher doses.
For gummies, you can chew one in the morning and evening and working your way up."
GENERATIONAL ATTITUDES TO CBD
In our 2020 report, we spoke to six experts on cannabis and CBD, who provided insight into the attitudes of different generations to CBD consumption.
Youth Attitudes
For the 18-24 group, CBD is a natural accompaniment to the health and fitness-focused lives they lead.
They are drinking less alcohol and staying home more, and so in this context CBD acts as a wellness ritual that affirms their values.
Also, they are legally adults and have the rights to make decisions concerning their wellness, and CBD is a safe, healthy, and valuable addition to a daily routine.
Many in this category fought for what they considered to be fair CBD law in the UK.
Is CBD legal in the UK for kids and pets?
CBD for children and animals is still largely unexplored. There's no research supporting the use of CBD for children, so it's inadvisable to do so. There are plenty of holistic options with conclusive research that pediatricians can safely recommend.
Regarding CBD for pets, UK law prohibits administering CBD products to your pet without a prescription. More research is required to guarantee safety and long-term effects on animals. While research is still underway, we recommend following CBD laws in the UK to ensure your pet's safety.
Millennial Attitudes
"Millennials are also taking CBD for general health and wellness reasons. They were also part of the movement to CBD Uk law.
“I’m 36 and I use CBD more as a herbal supplement. It’s something you can take every day to stay healthy to keep all of your systems fluid and juicy and functioning.” - Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey
Life experience: “The post 32-ish group is looking for trustworthy and effective tools. Life has been accepted for all its hardships and they’re just trying to make informed decisions to manage stress levels.” - Poppy Jamie"
OLDER GENERATIONS
"For our expert Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, the generations set to benefit the most the passing of new CBD law in the UK are boomers and seniors.
While CBD adoption within older generations is rising, substantial growth is inhibited due to a lack of clear cbd dosage instructions and research into possible interference with other medication. The CBD law in the UK has no specified restrictions on the use of CBD in older people, and frankly, it might be more beneficial to the older generations. CBD may help with alleviating symptoms of pain, aches, and can improve sleep function and relaxation.
As Jamie puts it, “Older generations want to try new tools but they also want authority figures to guide them through the science and research.”
THE MILLION POUND DROP CBII’S CBD QUIZ! (PART 1)
"We’ve been unearthing all things CBD over the past 6 weeks, thanks to our 2020 research report and our partnering experts.
Covering CBD’s history, the evolving industry, as well as the profiles and motivations of today’s consumers, we’ve put together a quiz to test your CBD knowledge!
Pssst…this quiz is open book! Scroll up or check out our Unearth highlights from the past 6 weeks – you’ll find some handy hints and useful facts.
Okay, fingers on the buzzers…"
1. WHICH BRITISH MONARCH TOOK CBD TO COMBAT PERIOD PAIN?
a) Queen Anne
b) Queen Victoria
c) Queen Mary
2. IN A SURVEY OF UK CBD USERS, OUR EXPERT DR HINDOCHA FOUND THAT ANXIETY WAS A TOP REASON FOR TAKING CBD.
a) True
b) False
3. WHEN WAS THE CBD UK LAW PASSED BY PARLIAMENT?
a) CBD UK Law was passed in 2011
b) The UK law on CBD was passed in 2018
c) 2021 was the year CBD law UK was passed
4. FROM POPPY JAMIE’S OWN MARKET RESEARCH, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE SHE INTERVIEWED COULD STICK TO THE DEMANDS OF MEDITATION TO SUPPORT THEIR WELLBEING?
a) Less than 30%
b) Less than 20%
c) Less than 15%"
5. IN THE UK, A 2019 YOUGOV SURVEY FOUND THAT TWICE AS MANY BRITISH ADULTS NOW SUPPORT THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS THAN OPPOSE IT.
a) True
b) False
6. IS CBD ILLEGAL ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM?
a) CBD law UK states that CBD is 100% legal
b) CBD UK law bans CBD in Ireland
c) CBD law UK bans CBD in Scotland
7. WHICH CBII CBD FORMAT WOULD YOU PREFER TO TRY?
a) Oils
b) Capsules
c) Gummies
d) Skincare
8. THE CBD FLOWER UK LAW RULES THAT...
a) CBD law in the UK made the CBD flower legal
b) CBD flower is banned according to CBD UK law
c) CBD flower is legal if it contains 0.1% thc under CBD law UK
Thanks for playing! We hope you enjoyed our quiz (and maybe learnt something new). Psst - scroll down for the correct answers!
Gender-based attitudes
As we continue our education on the profiles of CBD consumers, our experts take a look at the attitudes of different genders to CBD consumption.
“Women might feel more of an effect because they generally weigh less, and get more of it in. But there could just be genuine pharmacological differences in how CBD acts on males and females.” - Dr. Hindocha
Join us as we discover what each gender is taking CBD for and why...
WOMEN: PERIOD PAIN AND MENOPAUSE
Many women turn to CBD to combat period pain. From low mood to abdominal cramps, the discomforts of menstruation lead many women to spend more time and money on self-care to make themselves feel better at that time of the month.
Our expert, Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, has experienced very positive reviews of CBD from the menopausal population. She found that CBD was a huge component for individuals who didn’t want to feel high but definitely wanted to feel a certain ease.
Is CBD legal in the UK for pregnant women?
CBD is not considered safe for pregnant and nursing women. Early animal studies point to possible toxicity when nutrients make their way to the fetus. The Food Standards Association (FSA) ensures the safety and legality of all novel foods. To prevent any adverse health effects, the FSA urges mothers to not use during pregnancy.
Until these findings are confirmed, mothers should wait until they finish nursing to resume taking CBD.
MEN: MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Since the change in CBD UK law - CBII has been experiencing growing demand for CBD from male consumers. It could be that the rise of the men’s grooming market, combined with an increase in column inches dedicated to male mental health, is driving demand.
Our expert Poppy Jamie believes that CBD, “if marketed to men better,” could easily fill a gap in the market.
We’d love to hear why our male community is interested in taking CBD so we can help you achieve your own personal wellness journey. Keep in mind that the CBD law UK restricts THC content to 0.2% and our products are compliant with these restrictions. Share your journey with us on Instagram - we'd love to hear about it!
CBD AND SUSTAINABILITY
For the CBD industry, today’s requirements for greater environmental responsibility are an opportunity to create new ways of cultivating an ancient plant and win back consumer trust.
SUSTAINABLE PLANT GROWTH
There are several ways to grow cannabis. But there’s no denying that, whether it’s cultivated indoors, outdoors or a mix of the two, it consumes massive amounts of natural resources. The UK law on CBD emphasizes production only from legally-sourced hemp.
As the global industry for cannabis products booms, steps must be taken to mitigate its impact on the planet.
“Hemp has been grown in the world for a long time, but now you have to be smarter with the way that you reuse water and what plastics you’re not using. CBD has created a boom in sustainable agricultural practices because you just have to be more innovative for your CBD to pass certain laws and pass certain lab tests.” - Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey.
The Future of CBD
With signs of progress already apparent, the future of CBD looks promising. By putting people and the planet first, brands will ensure sustainable growth for the long-term.
Most people are afraid of trying cbd because they are worried about legalities. However, industry growth banks on the integrity of producers to independently test and ensure compliance to the uk cbd law.
We're anticipating even more acceptance by the public, trust by healthcare providers, and a more relaxed approach by Parliament to CBD law in the UK.
Sustainable growth will be supercharged in the industry as the destigmatization of one of nature's most helpful gifts to the human race continues.
The Challenge
Brands must come together as an industry to push for more research, greater regulation and continue to educate their customers and the media about every aspect of their products.
"Brands should put education first as part of their mission. There needs to be a lot more guidance for consumers around what is safe CBD, and actually effective CBD” - Poppy Jamie
The CBII example
CBII is passionate about helping improve the wellbeing of people by being a leader in safe, premium CBD sourced from hemp. Developed under stringent quality conditions in Switzerland and bottled in the UK, CBII independently tests every batch of the full spectrum extract for CBD you can trust, in compliance with the UK cbd law.
[Premium CBD sourced from hemp]
Beyond CBD
CBD is just one of many compounds within the cannabis plant. Several industry insiders are turning their gaze towards other THC-free cannabinoids to understand how they can be incorporated into products alongside CBD.
The more we push the way we take CBD and the way we create CBD for consumers and ourselves, the more we push the evolution of how we use it and what else we can use within the plant.” - Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey."
STARTING AND CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
"CBD kind of gave me pause in a sense like, ‘Okay, this is how. This is the tool that will bring us to legalisation’. Being able to advocate by and large for cannabis.” - Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey
DISCUSSING THE PLANT
For Claire Davis, this goes back to the original “spiritual, of the earth” characteristics of cannabis. “People need to see it as more of a plant and less of a compound,” she says. She hopes this will be a mindset that companies incorporate into their business plans to ensure the industry’s future longevity.
“We see CBD shifting the conversation more towards plant medicine, more towards legalisation and being that tool for peer reviewed scientific studies, research and articles.” - Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey
POPULAR PERCEPTIONS
With CBD oils and related beauty products now available in some of the UK’s top retailers, the industry has come a long way in winning wider acceptance and a premium perception.
This suggests that, slowly, CBD is starting to shed its former associations and gain recognition in its own right. People are looking forward to a time when the CBD UK law will encourage more public trust and interest in CBD as a lifestyle addition.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Aggrey believes the internet has greatly helped people feel more comfortable talking about it openly.
“I think social media has been a really huge component in bringing a larger population to an issue”, she says.
“When people are brought to an issue [via social media], they have the ability to act, whether it’s voting for certain laws, or participating in certain studies, questionnaires and conversations within their families and schools.
“I think that really shifted the CBD conversation.” - Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey
THE CBII STANDARD
CBII are passionate about continuous education on all things CBD.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Unearthing CBD series, and invite you to look back through our highlights to catch any that you’ve missed!
Look out for our quiz finale next week!
Got a question for our experts?
We’d love to hear your CBD success stories, or why you’re interested in trying CBD for the first time. Join us as each week as we unearth more about CBD right here and in our Instagram stories every Wednesday.
