CBD: Everything You Need or Want to Know

With the recent developments around CBD legalization in France, online and bricks and mortar retailers are flourishing all over the country. With another market about to gain access to this non-psychotropic component of cannabis, it is the perfect opportunity to take a moment for a quick refresher on the subject. We also take a quick look at what is clear, and what is still hazy in France’s law.

With the CBD landscape finally changing in France, physical stores and online retailers selling this non-psychotropic cannabis are popping up all over the country. And, with many experts boasting of its therapeutic properties (stress and anxiety relief, fight against eating disorders, etc.), and new applications appearing every day, we thought it was a good time to do a quick refresher on all things CBD.

But, before we get into it, a quick reminder: if you’re interested in following all the latest CBD and cannabis news in a simple, hassle-free way, download our free cannabis news app.

Starting with the Basics: What Is CBD?

CBD means “cannabidiol.” It is the second most present compound in the cannabis plant. Unlike the one most frequently found in it, THC, it has no psychotropic effects when consumed.

In total, there are at least 113 types of cannabinoids in cannabis, CBD and THC being only two of them.

Good to Know: CBD Has no Addiction Risks

As explained in a November 2017 WHO report, “In humans, CBD does not show effects indicative of overdose or addiction risks. To date, there is no evidence of health problems associated with the use of CBD alone.”

It is therefore for its therapeutic virtues that CBD is consumed. Cannabidiol acts directly on the central nervous system, it can for example improve the condition of people suffering from anxiety or insomnia, as a report from Harvard University reminds.

Why Use It? What Are its Effects?

Many people also use CBD against chronic pain and inflammation. Studies have confirmed its effectiveness against conditions as serious as arthritis, osteoarthritis and neuropathic pain.

CBD can also help stimulate the appetite, an application that is particularly beneficial for people suffering from eating disorders or who have lost their appetite due to the use of certain medications, or the side effects of chemotherapy.

But one of the most spectacular applications of CBD is in the fight against forms of childhood epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which were not known to be treated until now. Videos showing the immediate effects on children suffering from epileptic seizures can be seen on the Internet, and CBD-based medicines have been launched on the market in recent years.

Legal Ground Still Hazy for CBD in France

Currently, there is a legal blur in France, which allows the marketing and consumption of CBD without legal risks. Many companies and even chefs like the great pastry chef Philippe Conticini have thus started to use and market it, surfing on the current trend.

Moreover, on November 19, 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a ruling following a referral by the Court of Appeal of Aix en Provence.

It considers “that in the state of scientific knowledge and on the basis of international conventions in force, CBD oil does not constitute a narcotic product. It therefore concluded that the free movement of goods is applicable to this product and “that a national measure that prohibits the marketing of CBD from the whole plant constitutes an obstacle to free movement.

However, the Court stated that “the application of the precautionary principle could, subject to scientific evidence, justify regulations restricting the marketing of CBD-based products”. Currently, in France, CBD products are considered as food supplements. And the tolerance against them applies provided that they contain less than 0.2% THC.

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(Featured image by Inspector CBD via Unsplash)

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