CBD (or cannabidiol) is, after THC or (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), one of the best-known compounds of the “cannabis Sativa L.” plant, also called hemp or marijuana. Depending on the crosses, some plants will have a higher or lower THC or CBD content or are undetectable. THC is the psychoactive compound of cannabis that gives the “flying” effect. Considered a drug, it is prohibited in France. On the other hand, CBD is authorized and in recent years, more and more shops with storefronts or on the internet have been seen selling various CBD-based products. But is it entirely legal, in what form can we buy it, and what is the interest of CBD? Let’s take stock just as a new regulation is being put in place in France.
The legislation around CBD in France is about to change
While in 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that CBD not be classified as a controlled substance and that a WHO expert committee “concluded that, in its pure state, cannabidiol (CBD) does not seem to have any potential for abuse or to be harmful to health”, in France, so far, the regulation relied on a 1990 order that specified: “the cultivation, import, export and industrial and commercial use (fibers and seeds) of varieties of Cannabis sativa L. meeting the following criteria are authorized: the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol content of these varieties is not more than 0.20%”. However, a finished product sold in France was not supposed to contain THC. Sanctions have been applied against sellers of products containing CBD and not respecting this regulation.
However, in 2020, a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) referred to by the Court of Appeals of Aix-en-Provence reshuffled the cards a bit. The CJEU considered that, based on scientific knowledge and on the basis of the international conventions in force, CBD oil did not constitute a narcotic product. It deduced that the provisions relating to the free movement of goods were applicable to this product and that a national measure that prohibited the commercialization of CBD derived from the whole plant constituted an obstacle to free movement. The CJEU, however, specified that such a measure could be justified by the objective of protecting public health, provided that it was necessary and proportionate.
A new regulation, being written for several months, is about to be born thanks to an order that has just been made public on the occasion of its notification to the European authorities. The order will allow, under certain conditions, the commercialization of products derived from the whole plant as well as the possibility of selling in France finished products.
Uses and dosages of CBD products
Unfortunately, the lack of scientific data on the effects of CBD goes hand in hand with gaps in dosage and frequency of use according to the expected benefits. The consumer is not well informed about what to buy and how to use the chosen product. Indeed, there are many products with various CBD levels available: massage oils, capsules, teas, e-liquids for electronic cigarettes, flowers, resins, cosmetics, etc. It is not easy to choose or to know what dosage of CBD will be effective for each person, depending on their expectations of the best cbd uk.
On this topic, Zach Gharbi, phytotherapist and volunteer at FibromyalgiaSOS, suffering from various chronic pathologies, has experimented with and appreciated, in recent months, the effects of CBD on his symptoms: “Personally, I have been taking CBD for about 18 months. I go through a French website, which fully respects the legislation and explains well the use according to the forms of CBD available as well as the dosage according to the indications. According to the information I have collected, the feedback from patients, and my personal experience, in the context of fibromyalgia, it is necessary to take forms that are sufficiently dosed in CBD to hope to have an effect on pain. Long-term use seems to be more effective than occasional use in case of acute pain. It is also better to choose natural and organic products because swallowing pesticides at the same time is not interesting. I recognize that in France, it is not easy to find reliable products and information. For my part, I find that CBD mainly acted on my stress level which has dropped, and which allows me to better manage pain and improve my quality of life in general.” (Find below, Zach Gharbi’s testimony about CBD).
The survey published in its January 2021 issue by the magazine 60 million de consommateurs (60 million consumers) shows that the market is indeed in need of better regulation, for the benefit of consumers and as these are expensive products. Thus, out of 28 CBD-based products tested, the survey revealed only one case where the product contained more than 0.2% THC, on the other hand, it highlighted weaknesses in the labeling of the CBD rate which is not always announced and not necessarily reliable when it is. One of the creams tested did not actually contain detectable CBD, while in most of the oils and e-liquids selected, the CBD rate was higher than that announced. For a bag of CBD flowers, sold at 225 € for 25g, the CBD rate was even twice as low as that announced. At such a price, this lack of rigor seems detrimental.
