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We’ve all been there – browsing through the tempting ‘penny sale’ section and wondering whether we’ve hit the noni juice jackpot. You may even find some Holland and Barrett CBD products on promotion for prices that seem too good to be true. As we know, appearances can sometimes be deceiving. We’re digging up dirt on some controversial high street CBD products in this critical review and offering you an alternative curated model for a safer shopping experience. Prepare for some ethical issues, contamination reports, and fresh insights!

It’s helpful for us to place Holland and Barrett within a much broader mass-market movement – full of choices (and often hidden compromises). If you live in a developed country, it is highly likely that you already participate in the mass-market to some degree: whether it’s through picking up groceries from Asda, shopping for clothes in H&M, or buying furniture from IKEA. These types of stores often represent a substantial proportion of the markets they operate within by offering a wide variety of products at competitive prices. They also capitalise on “brand comfort” by encouraging customers to perceive them as trustworthy, convenient, and familiar sources.

Expectations vs Reality

We don’t expect any surprises when we’re shopping with mass-market outlets  – just the same standardised experience. A McDonald’s burger tastes the same whether you’re in London, England, or London, Ontario. Some of us may feel empowered at the supermarket because we have 100 different versions of the same toothpaste to choose from. However, it’s also possible that some mass-market companies may use their economic influence to exploit consumers: selling dodgy products with inaccurate labels and potentially hazardous ingredients. As a result, this model has faced heavy criticism in a modern world where consumer conscience, environmental impact, ethics, and quality are increasingly important.

Can You Mass-Produce “Wellness”?

While companies such as Holland and Barrett industrially produce and sell “wellness” products like CBD oil on a mass scale, many of us approach personal health as an intimate and multi-faceted topic that demands special care. You could argue that mass-produced products may contradict the values that many of us hold dear regarding our wellbeing. Of course, health is not something you can buy in a bottle – despite what many leading retailers might suggest. In this article, we’ll be reviewing some of the reasons why you should avoid high street CBD products and access top-shelf CBD brands through niche platforms instead. First, let’s consider the background and popularity of stores such as Holland and Barrett.

The History of The Health Food Market

As we know, home farms have persisted throughout history as a way for people to survive independently by growing crops and raising animals to meet their dietary and economic needs. In the 16th century, British townspeople seeking natural wellness products often went to the local ‘apothecary’ – an advanced folk practitioner whose main tools were herbs, plants, spices, and alcohol. Within this tradition, people could experience relief from various health symptoms and engage with trusted local experts.

As far as marketing is concerned, we can trace ‘health foods’ back to the 1920s – a period that was otherwise known for its extravagant parties and wild alcohol consumption. During this time, health food stores began to emerge throughout the USA and the UK, and initially offered natural sugar products such as honey and molasses. By the 1960s, public demand for these stores surged considerably due to the rising popularity of alternative lifestyles. Since plant-based lifestyles and planet-conscious shopping remain at the forefront of our current priorities, health food stores remain highly trendy even in the modern world. As a testament to this, paparazzi often snap pictures of Hollywood celebrities touting grocery bags from American stores like Whole Foods. Now, let’s redirect our attention to the British market by appreciating Holland and Barrett’s history.

The Holland and Barrett Story

Founded in 1870s Britain by Major William Holland and Alfred Slapps Barrett, Holland and Barrett began as a small store in Hertfordshire, about 30 miles outside of London. Initially, it provided clothes and groceries without any particular emphasis on ‘health’ products. So how did it grow into a £1.8 billion franchise with the slogan: “health foods and natural remedies”?

Humble Beginnings

Today, Holland and Barrett is one of the most influential global health food chains. Its decision to start selling CBD products in 2018 was instrumental in bringing legal cannabis extracts to the mainstream marketplace. Perhaps this can be traced back to the early 20th century, when Holland and Barrett decided to expand their humble grocery section. After the business established an additional retail space in Epsom (home of the world-famous Epsom salts), Holland and Barrett representatives later sold the business to prospectors in the 1920s. A series of shifts took place as the company evolved into a global network full of affordable ‘health food’ items such as supplements and low-calorie snacks.

Changing Hands

Did you know that Lloyds Pharmacy once owned Holland and Barrett? This temporary arrangement took place in the 1990s and may potentially be a factor that propelled Holland and Barrett into a more wellness-conscious territory. However, there is a big difference between pharmacies and ‘health food’ retailers. As we know, pharmacies are responsible for supplying customers with licenced drugs and medical products that may either be purchased over the counter or prescribed by professional doctors. On the other hand, ‘health food’ stores are retailers who stock nutritional supplements, whole foods, and specialised products marketed towards people with dietary restrictions.

After Lloyds Pharmacy’s five-year run with Holland and Barrett, NBTY, and The Carlyle Group eventually purchased the health food brand. Today, the once-quintessentially British wellness company has transformed dramatically. L1 Retail – a corporation tied to Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman – calls the shots. With over 9,000 products sold in 1,300 stores throughout the UK, Europe and Asia, Holland and Barrett is truly a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, as with many large forces, numerous scandals have arisen around them – calling the brand’s integrity into question.

Holland and Barrett: Home of Discount Codes and Unpaid Staff?

For a brief time, Holland and Barrett was part of the highly controversial workfare scheme. This alternative welfare system drives vulnerable people to work in order to ‘earn’ the social benefits they qualify for, rather than compensating them with the standard minimum wage. Supporters argue it is a well-intentioned method of helping disadvantaged people transition into the job market, while critics say it is a form of ‘slave labour’. Could Holland and Barrett have offered us popular discount codes at the expense of looking after their staff?

Understandably, companies can save a lot of money and avoid extra responsibilities with ‘volunteer’ jobseekers, but it presents a vast ethics issue. In Britain, Holland and Barrett stores used approximately 1,000 unpaid workers between 2011 and 2012. These temporary recruitment preferences triggered an enormous outcry – climaxing in dramatic and violent protests, as people displayed banners reading: “If you exploit us, we will shut you down.” In response, the company discreetly backed out of the workfare scheme but still opted to advertise apprenticeships compensated at roughly £2.50 per hour.

Further Problems In-Store During the Pandemic

In April of 2020, the BBC reported another Holland and Barrett controversy – this time regarding the company’s decision to remain open during times of lockdown. Due to its stock list of gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan products, the government did not force it to shut its doors. However, thousands of staff members felt the shops were ill-equipped to support new health and safety measures. Despite growing concerns and staff petitions, Holland and Barrett conducted business in-store instead of transitioning to online sales. This decision upset many people, and it may tie in with broader criticisms about mass-market interests.

As we’ve reviewed, Holland and Barrett began as a small, local business (a niche market) run by health food enthusiasts and later morphed into a dominating brand (mass-market) that has faced some criticism regarding its ethics. Before we go on to assess CBD products from Holland and Barrett’s own-brand line, let’s weigh up the pros and cons of niche markets and mass-markets.

Niche Market vs Mass-Market

In business terms, a niche market is all about quality over quantity. It’s a relatively small and highly selective market that offers a range of products or services dealing with a specific theme or issue. Here’s a simple example: if a supermarket represents a mass-market, then an independent bakery represents a niche market. You wouldn’t shop there for random products or general supplies, but if you enjoyed the recipe and trusted the brand, you would make a point of buying your bread there.

While cheaper, factory-made goods may be available at the supermarket, niche markets are devoted to the best practices and high-quality output. Since the consequences of eating defective goods can involve allergic reactions, illness, and even more severe incidents, isn’t it worth purchasing wellness products from reliable brands that can demonstrate their expertise?

Underrated Benefits of the Niche Market

One of the primary challenges associated with the niche market is its pricing. Often, niche markets launch on a local scale before negotiating and striking more competitive deals with international suppliers. Typically, their initial running costs are high. However, their commitment to quality means that they avoid cheap or faulty ingredients. Unlike vast corporations, niche markets may not have access to advanced legal representation. As a result, they may be less likely to exploit system loopholes or ‘hoodwink’ customers with counterfeit products.

Niche markets often require more of an upfront financial investment from customers in the short-term, but you can expect long-term benefits such as:

• Access to advanced expertise and specialised product knowledge
• Genuine customer care and relationship building
• Being part of a like-minded community
• A quality over quantity approach
• Rigorously tested and high-end products
• A culture that places value on environmental and ethical impact

Misleading ‘Benefits’ of the Mass-Market

While niche markets speak to our consciences, mass-markets often talk to our wallets. Hard financial times can drive us to seek out the cheapest options available, without adequately considering the quality of our products. As the old saying goes: “you get what you pay for.” Mass-market retailers can often offer very competitive rates, since they have an extensive and broad range of industry contacts and products. But cheaper isn’t always better. Sometimes, low prices may indicate that companies have made compromises regarding their ingredients, sourcing methods, and ethics. Potentially, this might even be associated with consumption risks in the case of edible products.

While there are some cheap, short-term options available through the mass-market, you may also have to deal with inconveniences such as:

• A generalised knowledge base that may not support your specific queries
• Limited customer care and poor relationship building
• Feeling less connected with a particular community
• A ‘quantity over quality’ approach
• Unclear standards and inconclusive product guidelines
• A culture that places value on making as much money as possible

Now that we’ve addressed the pros and cons of different market styles, let’s look at some industrial challenges related to CBD products.

What is CBD? – A Quick Reminder

CBD (cannabidiol) has taken the UK marketplace by storm over the past few years and shows no signs of stopping! According to recent research from the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC),  British CBD oil users often purchase cannabis-derived products equivalent to the monthly sum of an average electricity bill (£58). While electricity powers our homes, CBD is a natural substance that has sparked considerable intrigue due to its potential wellbeing benefits.

Potential CBD Benefits

Many anecdotal reports suggest that CBD may possibly influence how we experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms connected with common ailments. Studies indicate that this natural extract might potentially be of benefit if you’re facing symptoms of pain, inflammation, and sleep disturbances. Interestingly, CBD use is particularly trending among young and middle-aged audiences – as the Statista infographic below illustrates:

If you’d like to learn more, we have an entire article exploring the possible reasons why people are gravitating towards CBD like never before.

Popular CBD Products

CBD, sometimes known as the “calm compound”, is a prevalent cannabinoid (cannabis molecule) that manufacturers source from hemp plants. As an extract, it is slightly oily – which makes it suitable for combining with base oils and infusing into a wide variety of products.

Among the most popular items, you can find:

• CBD oil (consumed by placing CBD drops under the tongue)
• CBD gummies (chewy ‘sweets’ containing a pre-measured dose)
• CBD capsules/tablets (taken orally as part of a food supplement regime) 
• CBD topicals (applied directly to the skin or infused in bath water)
• CBD vape products (inhaled through an e-cigarette apparatus)

Is CBD Oil Legal?

If you live in the UK, botanical products (such as CBD) oil are legal as long as they comply with safety regulations. The British government currently views cannabis as a Class B drug, but its reputation as a controlled substance is mostly due to the plant’s THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) compound.

Unlike CBD, THC has mood-altering and habit-forming side effects and may potentially produce an intoxicating “high” when consumed in sufficient quantities. Since CBD and THC occur naturally together in the leaves, stems, and flowers of cannabis plants, UK law requires specialised hemp extraction methods to ensure that CBD products contain no more than 0.2% THC. If these products contain excess THC (or any other prohibited substances), they are considered illegal in the eyes of British law.

Similar rules apply throughout much of Europe and in numerous other countries. However, it’s best to consult the government guidelines where you live before integrating CBD into your routine. As you can imagine, there are ongoing debates about the extent to which businesses and retailers should be held accountable for the products they sell. Here, Holland and Barrett is no exception.

Holland and Barrett CBD Product Criticism

Recently, a journalist named Jonathan Bucks released a sensational article with the provocative headline: ‘Illegal cannabis oil for sale…at Holland and Barrett’. According to research conducted by Fera Science, some of the CBD oils sold by the popular health food store may potentially contain over ten times more THC than the legal limit of 0.2% per product. These shocking test results centred on Jacob Hooy CBD – a Dutch brand still available in Holland and Barrett stores nationwide.

Jacob Hooy CBD Controversy

Observers first expressed suspicion when they noticed that Holland and Barrett’s online product information conflicted with the official Jacob Hooy website. The health food store claims that these products are “non-psychoactive, and the THC content is tested on every batch to meet specification requirements of less than 0.05%”. Some anecdotal reports have suggested that the Jacob Hooy website formerly listed THC content that exceeded the UK legal limits. Both platforms now refrain from providing scientific analysis or reports to update us. To make matters worse, 2020 studies from the BBC Two series Trust Me, I’m a Doctor indicate that Jacob Hooy CBD oil may potentially contain 40% less CBD extract than their labels suggest.

This situation potentially undermines controlled substance regulations and food laws, which aim to protect the general public and prevent businesses from misleading customers with false advertising. Furthermore, it may possibly lead some CBD oil users to consume excess amounts of THC without realising it – increasing their risk of:

• Screening positive for “marijuana” in workplace drug tests
• Experiencing habit-forming or mood-altering side-effects
• Substance-induced impairment of cognitive functions
• Adverse effects while driving or performing other operational tasks

Unpleasant Surprises in CBD Product Samples

Fera Science also reviewed 31 CBD oil brands sold online and in Holland and Barrett high-street stores, triggering a new wave of concerning claims. Allegedly, almost one-third of the sample’s CBD products tested positive for illegal THC concentrations. One of the products in question may have contained close to 24mg of THC! For reference, experts advise that consuming 10mg or more may potentially be associated with adverse side-effects and psychoactive properties. And, of course, it’s against UK law.

Negative Holland and Barrett CBD Reviews

Numerous Holland and Barrett customers have voiced their opinions on the company’s CBD products through Trustpilot – an online consumer review platform. According to the data present in February 2021, roughly 28% of the feedback posts are negative: almost one in four customers have rated their experience as “bad”.

One customer says that his experience purchasing CBD from Holland and Barrett felt “like an April Fools’ joke”, while several others express their disappointment with the quality and marketing of the CBD products they bought. There are also discussions of anaphylactic shocks and one anecdotal account that Holland and Barrett may potentially prevent negative product reviews from appearing on their website. Of course, we do not know the broader contexts at play in these cases. However, in principle, the customer is always right, and businesses should always encourage their customers to make informed choices.

Broader Problems With Buying CBD Oil on the High-Street

Customers, journalists and laboratory experts have raised some serious issues regarding Holland and Barrett’s approach to quality control and accurate product labelling. However, concerns about authenticity and legitimacy may also apply to the broader selection of CBD oils and other supplements available through British high-street stores.

Analysts from the CMC recently sampled 29 high-street CBD products and suggested that almost half of them contained excess amounts of THC. This review also indicated that nearly 40% of the samples had substantially less CBD than their labels claimed. Researchers also detected toxins such as heavy metals in approximately 25% of the products. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, one so-called CBD product sold on the high-street contained 0% CBD!

While most of us have no problem accepting the mystery ingredients in our grandmother’s cooking, we certainly don’t imbue that level of trust into food and wellness corporations. Widespread talk of Holland and Barrett’s controversial business practices are far from comforting. Likewise, news of possibly misleading advertising campaigns and questionable laboratory results raise other red flags. Thankfully, there are alternative ways to access CBD without putting your peace or wellbeing on the line.

How to Spot the Best CBD Products

As you may have gathered, there is a particular knack for spotting a premium CBD brand. While we sometimes assume that products accepted by mass-market retailers such as Holland and Barrett have passed rigorous in-house tests, this may not be the case. Despite how convenient it might seem to make a quick trip to your local store and leave with a shiny, new bottle of ‘CBD oil’, you may be taking a huge gamble. A lot of work, care and expertise go into manufacturing CBD that’s authentic, safe and high-quality. Shouldn’t we (as consumers) take similar care levels when selecting meaningful wellness products?

If you have enough time on your hands to carry out a self-directed review, the research tips listed below may bring you one step closer to your ideal niche-market premium CBD product. To go straight to the quickest solution, you may wish to skip past this section.

Look For High-Quality Packaging

Since brands often display sample images of their products online, you can use this as an opportunity to gain insights from the product design. While top-rated CBD brands want their packaging to be pleasing to the eye, they also recognise the importance of functionality. CBD is an active botanical compound – which means that exposure to direct sunlight and UV rays can cause it to degrade. For this reason, niche CBD companies generally choose to package their products in amber-tinted glass bottles or opaque containers. Sometimes, the packaging’s surface area is covered with extensive labels to protect the product’s integrity. CBD oil sold in transparent glass or plastic bottles may represent a low-quality (or potentially fake) formula.

When examining product packaging, you should also look for:

• A list of ingredients
• Specifications – such as the spectrum and concentration of CBD exact
• Reassuring bonus signs – such as vegan-friendly and sustainability logos

Expect to See Honest Marketing

While many people share firsthand perspectives of their experiences using CBD, we mustn’t elevate these personal stories above the objective evidence. Since cannabis-derived wellness trends are relatively recent market developments, it stands to reason that research is currently limited. The customer reviews may be glowing, but brands who maintain the best industry practices will prioritise the facts and seek to educate you as a consumer. Often, niche manufacturers who love what they do cannot keep the exciting possibilities of CBD to themselves! The content they share should be thought-provoking and inspiring, without making any blatant health claims.

As you may know, commercial brands who attempt to promote CBD as a “cure”, “treatment”, or “health-boosting” substance may be in direct violation of Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulations. Companies interested solely in making a profit may choose to neglect their responsibilities, but most high-end CBD brands err on the side of caution by investing in diligent marketing.

Some of the materials released by trust-worthy CBD brands often include:

• Research-based blog articles
• Observations from PubMed and other acclaimed science platforms
• Carefully worded campaigns and transparent disclaimers

Look For a Certificate of Analysis (COA)

You wouldn’t be pleased if you hired a self-professed Harvard University graduate who could not supply you with any evidence of their achievements, would you? Similarly, a Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a must-have document that confirms the chemical makeup of any given CBD product. Typically, brands enlist third-party laboratories to produce these conclusive reports and prevent any conflict of interest.

As it happens, there are currently no publicly-available lab certificates to support Holland and Barrett’s home-brand CBD range. This problem also extends to many other companies dabbling in the legal cannabis industry. As you can imagine, thorough testing procedures require additional funding and may highlight legal compliance or food safety issues. For niche-market CBD companies, reputation is everything, and they approach quality-control measures with enthusiasm. It’s vital to look for brands who proudly display their COAs and (presumably) have nothing to hide.

Read Some Press Releases and Customer Reviews

If there is a particular newspaper or magazine you take lifestyle advice from, why not check what they have to say about individual CBD brands? In many cases, this will help you weed out any unwanted products, such as those associated with scams, complaints, or negative reviews. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that some CBD-themed press releases may be slightly biased since the brands themselves might have commissioned them. However, respected publications are unlikely to put their reputations on the line by misleadingly promoting products.

The customer reviews featured on your chosen CBD brand’s official website are a great place to start, but it’s also essential to expand your reach. Depending on who is hosting the website, some companies may filter out any negative CBD reviews submitted by customers. This editing could mean that the feedback you’re reading may only represent one side of the story. As a result, it’s wise to browse customer reviews using your favourite search engine, or top-rated platforms such as Trustpilot. Remember to factor in overall customer service feedback and comments about the products.

Shop Smarter With a Curated Online Marketplace

If the selection tips detailed above seem exhaustive, it’s because they are – and this is just the tip of the iceberg. You can never be too careful when choosing a reliable CBD product. To be honest, learning how to navigate a rapidly expanding marketplace on your own is enough to give you a headache – which is the last thing you want if you’re looking for CBD to help with your pain symptoms! But don’t worry – there is an even smarter way to source your products.

What is a Curated Marketplace?

Put simply, a curated marketplace offers an exclusive range of pre-screened products that have ticked all the boxes before they hit the shelves. There are plenty of great CBD products out there, but finding them can be a mammoth and time-consuming task. Using a curated marketplace can streamline your experience and automatically narrow down your options to only the best. Instead of being under pressure to judge between the “good”, the “bad”, and the “ugly”, all you have to worry about is which high-quality product is most suitable for your needs.

Some of the top advantages of shopping through curated collections include:

• Time-efficiency (as you’ll avoid wasting valuable time on unworthy products)
• Convenience (as all of your options are pooled together on one platform)
• Quality-control (as in-house experts put every product to the test)
• Superior customer care (as you’re dealing with a dedicated and focussed team)
• Secure purchasing (with customer guarantees and fair returns-policies)

Alphagreen: Your Niche-Market CBD Platform

If you’re looking to browse, compare and shop from the world’s leading cannabis-derived wellness brands, Alphagreen offers an unbeatable experience. Our team of experts goes to great lengths to give you every assurance regarding the products on our marketplace. We do the fieldwork behind the scenes, so you don’t have to review lab results, analyse customer feedback, and test products to assess their worth. In the end, our platform represents only the best – with the certificates and reviews to prove it. This way, you’re not left to make any general assumptions or blind purchases.

Some factors that set us apart from mass-retailers such as Holland and Barrett include:

• Our highly selective collection of premium brands
• Our decision to supply copies of COAs for every product
• Our extensive library of research articles
• Our interactive shopping experience (including advanced search filter options)

If you’d like a personalised shortlist of products to suit your needs, our 2-minute quiz is a great place to start! Meanwhile, let’s close with our conclusion and a few frequently asked questions.

Throughout this article, we’ve learned that mass-market retailers generally prioritise quantity over quality without placing focus or expertise on one specific area or service. On the other hand, niche-market retailers hone in on one or two dedicated themes: CBD and hemp, for example. They are committed to high-quality output and treat customers with great care. Over the past few years, there have been several causes for concern regarding the controversial business practices upheld by mass-market health food retailer Holland and Barrett. Chemistry analysts indicate that some of their CBD products may be contaminated, and this problem may also apply to other popular chain stores. As a result, niche-market retailers like Alphagreen are by far the best place to source your CBD – especially since they maintain meticulous and evidence-based selection processes. If you’re looking to buy CBD, choose a retailer who knows hemp like the back of their hand! You won’t regret it.

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

Cannabis products are quite popular in Switzerland. They are considered legal if THC level does not exceed 1.0% per CBD product, which is higher than in most European countries, which set THC limit at 0.2% per product. To ensure high quality of CBD products, Swiss brands gain Bio Suisse certification. There are many CBD stores and cafes in Zürich, where you can try CBD oil, CBD flowers, CBD tea and many other cannabidiol-infused products. These are the top spots:

• – Smoking Grasshopper
• – Green Passion
• – Cannaflora Store Zürich
• – Heidi’s Garden
• – Wholy Rocket – CBD – Cannabis – Hanfladen
• – Biotop
• – Kon-Tiki Coffeeshop & Bar
• – CBD Swiss Cannabis Verkaufspunkt/CBD Shop Zürich | CBD Kaufen Zürich | Headshop Zürich

Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland and the country’s capital. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. Zürich is a hub for railways, roads and air traffic. It is also a global centre for banking and finance. The official language of Zürich is German, but the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect is mainly used. The municipality is home to 434,335 inhabitants, the urban area (agglomeration) around 1.315 million, and the Zürich metropolitan area 1.83 million.

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Some of Zürich’s most notable tourist spots include its 12th-century cathedral, the Grossmünster; its 11th-century Fraumünster church complete with its characteristic Chagall windows; its Bahnhofstrasse high street lined with high-end shops, the Swiss National Museum and, of course, the beautiful Lake Zürich. For some of the most sublime views you could hope to see, there is also the Uetliberg mountain, from which you can gaze at the city’s skyline, lake and the Alps.

In terms of its cultural calendar, Zürich is host to the annual Theatre Spectacular every summer, which has transformed into one of the most important European festivals for contemporary theatre. The city has also put on the Zürich Film Festival since 2005.

Sporting highlights in Zürich’s event calendar include the “Ironman” Triathlon, the “Weltklasse Zürich” athletics meeting and the “Mercedes-CSI” horse show.
The traditional local “Sechseläuten” and “Knabenschiessen” festivals also take place in Zürich, along with the “Streetparade”, the “Dörfli-Fäscht”, the “Tropical Caliente” Festival, the “Longstreet Carnival”, the “Christopher Street Day” and the “Züri-Fäscht”. The long list of cultural and sporting events is what makes Zürich such an exciting city to visit.

Now that you have a flavour of what Zürich is like to visit, let’s turn our attention to its thriving CBD industry. We will be exploring all the best places to experience the green rush in the Swiss capital, so don’t go anywhere!

Zürich CBD Map

CBD is cannabidiol, a cannabinoid, or naturally-occurring compound taken directly from the cannabis plant. Not just any cannabis plant, though; cannabis Sativa.

Cannabis Sativa is made up of two classifications: hemp and marijuana. Both of these plants contain cannabidiol, in addition to over 100 other cannabinoids. Hemp has naturally higher concentrations of CBD than marijuana does, while marijuana has more of a cannabinoid known as THC. THC, short for Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis. It is also psychotropic, meaning it induces euphoric, mind-altering effects on its user when taken in high doses.

In any hemp-derived CBD products, such as those we will be discussing shortly, there will only ever be trace amounts of THC – sometimes none at all. In short, no CBD product will ever cause a “high” as recreational marijuana does.

In recent years, the CBD industry has exploded, ushering in hundreds of new CBD brands all wanting to get in on the trend. One reason for its popularity can be attributed to its many therapeutic applications; there are hundreds of clinical trials that point to cannabidiol’s ability to manage various symptoms and boost wellness in a number of ways.

Sadly, even despite the spike in CBD sales, there remains a stigma around this cannabis constituent, because of its association with “stoner culture”, among other things. Hemp often gets clumped with its controversial counterpart, marijuana, meaning its derivatives like CBD have had to suffer the consequences of this stigma until relatively recently. Some countries are further ahead than others in terms of dismantling this stigma, fully acknowledging the wellness benefits of cannabis and adopting CBD into the mainstream. Others have yet to be convinced.

Let’s see where Switzerland positions itself on the matter.

The number of cannabis users in Switzerland is believed to be around 500,000 out of a population of 8 million. As in many other countries around the globe, recreational marijuana is illegal in Switzerland, though minor possession was decriminalised to a fine in 2012. In 2016, four cities expressed their intentions to pilot cannabis clubs.

Switzerland places its THC threshold at 1.0% THC per CBD product, which is slightly higher than many of its fellow European countries, which have their THC limit set at 0.2% per product. In Switzerland, any cannabis product that contains more than 1.0% THC, then, is classified as an illegal drug. Thus, according to the Federal Law on Drugs, the production, culture, use and possession of cannabis, are all prohibited. A person found guilty of committing this criminal infringement may face a fine and/or up to three years imprisonment.

Since 2017, legal cannabis, or “low-THC weed”,  containing less than 1.0% of THC has been sold at nearly every tobacco store. In terms of medical usage, currently, only one narcotic cannabis drug preparation is officially approved for medical use in Switzerland. Since 2011, though, Swiss physicians can obtain a special permit from the Federal Office of Public Health for their patients, which allows them to prescribe medical cannabis for 12 months. Only two pharmacies in the country are permitted to dispense cannabis tinctures and cannabis oil concentrates for patients with serious or terminal illnesses.

So, to summarise:

• Hemp-derived CBD Oil is legal; providing the THC content does not exceed 1.0%.
• In terms of pharmaceutical cannabis – only Sativex (a drug typically used for MS spasticity, containing a mix of CBD and THC) can be legally prescribed.
• Medical cannabis is legal on a named patient basis.
• Cannabis containing more than 0.2% THC is illegal throughout most European countries however; in Switzerland, 1% is the legal THC limit.
• Low-THC (

In the era of consumerism, everyone has a favourite brand, shop or an online marketplace. Have you ever wondered why do you prefer a brand or a platform over other billion choices that are available to you one click away? Is it their range of products? Or a user-friendly website with the next day delivery at your doorstep? Or maybe it’s their expertise in a niche market? Well, alphagreen.io represents all of the above for the ever-growing nutraceutical and supplements market. Our research and supply of marketplace products will be categorised by four major sections: cannabinoids, adaptogens, cognitive enhancers, and alternative supplements. We will be featuring Cannabinoids such as CBD, THC, CBG and many other compounds found in cannabis plants that are taking over the market of health and wellness lately. Adaptogens refer to another source of wellness benefits and includes natural herbs, roots and non-toxic plants that provide support for the body to resist stressors of all kinds, whether they are physical, chemical or biological.

The origin of using adaptogens comes from Chinese and Ayuveric healing traditions that find wide application even in the 21st century. Cognitive enhancers (CE) are also exceptionally useful nowadays when people are exposed to an enormous amount of information daily, or even hourly. The cause for high demand of such products is due to the CE properties allowing a consumer to improve memory, increase mental alertness, boost concentration as well as elevate energy levels in general. Cognitive enhancers are often called “biohacking” tools that are usually referred to products such as mushroom extracts, herbs, and amino acids.

Alphagreen is Global

We are number one premier online marketplace with offices in London and Germany.. Our curated portal features leading quality CBD wellness brands from all over the world, offering CBD oils, tinctures, oral sprays, edibles, topicals, capsules, cosmetics and other cannabinoid products such as CBG, adaptogens and many more nutraceuticals. We constantly conduct research about new products, health trends and reach out for the best quality products and brands to provide you with the one-stop shop when it comes to supplements and taking care of your health. We work only with established and reliable products and brands that deliver the best results for pain, anxiety, stress, sleep, beauty, intimacy, and overall well-being.

While our headquarter is in London, a big proportion of the team is based in Germany. Our operational teams are further supported by a strong bench of senior executives from the technology, healthcare and private equity industry working as advisors and are based globally between the USA, Canada, Columbia, Europe and even Asia. The thing we all have in common is that we are all a little bit nerdy and driven by data. We leverage our professional backgrounds in finance, medical, and tech sectors to bring you the best products as well as the latest information in the rapidly evolving Cannabis and healthcare sector. Our team is very passionate about cannabinoids and other emerging health products and the benefits they can provide for those in need of treatment. We are strongly committed to acquaint European customers with the best natural products and reliable brands available on the health market.

What is Alphagreen Academy about

When it comes to the matter of health and wellness, there is no room for negligence or carelessness. Health and time are the two things that you cannot buy with money. It is something that we at Alphagreen appreciate very much and treat with extra care. Therefore we are excited to have created our own health and wellness journal Alphagreen Academy. We aim to help you to make the most out of your time and health. There is so much confusion in the internet, in the media and even at conferences about cannabinoids (e.g. CBD). The Alphagreen Academy resource will tackle all issues about this and other emerging life-science fields and provide you with an in-depth view and resolve any confusion you might have.

Our prime goals are to educate our audience on the subject of safe and effective use of supplements in health and wellbeing. We are big believers in knowledge being the biggest power and asset that one can have, so we want our audience to be fully equipped with facts, research and experience of others when it comes to one’s health. We believe that we can help you improve your wellbeing while also saving you a lot of time on research. It is a platform that will become your trusted source for the latest CBD research and information, global trends and innovation in the industry.

Our Resources

We will be covering a vast amount of topics related to using CBD for health purposes. Each subject will be analysed in great depth to ensure that you are aware of all the pros and cons of each consumption method, a type of the product, or dosage. Our objective is to educate rather than advertise anything. This is why we work really hard in order to present you each topic of our discussions from different sides by studying them with a critical and honest approach. The basis for any of the articles that you will see on Alphagreen Academy is primarily based on research using the most trustworthy resources available. As an example, one of our main researching resources is the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) based in America that is a part of the United States National Library of Medicine (US NLM). The NCBI is an institution that accommodates databases relevant to biotechnology and biomedicine and is an essential resource for bioinformatics tools and services.

They aim to develop new information technologies to further understand fundamental molecular and genetic processes that control health and disease. Therefore for understanding and analysing a subject of CBD, it is one of the most valuable resources for our research to have a factual backup. While the scientific articles and studies found among the NLM resources can be quite lengthy and dense on terminology, we do our best to translate the scientific language to English.

We will be covering a vast amount of topics related to using nutraceuticals and supplements for health purposes emerging fields such as CBD. Nutraceuticals is a broad umbrella term that refers to any product derived from food sources with additional health benefits. It is consumed in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods. Supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbals and botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and many other products. The term speaks for itself: supplements are also used as an addition to enhance one’s diet and cannot fully substitute the nutrients found in foods. Both types of products are often used to promote general well-being, control symptoms and prevent physical and mental health distresses. They come in dozens of forms from capsules to edibles and can be consumed in a variety of ways such as oral intake of oils, capsules, drinks or enhanced foods, external use on the body for massage or direct application on inflamed areas, inhalation such as vaping, and many others.

Alphagreen Dream Team

We are big advocates for individualism, and every single member of our team is valuable in their own way. The diversity of our team allows us to always look at subjects from different angles which is key in critical analysis of any information. We take pride in the fact that we are not dictated, pressured or censored by brands, institutions, the government or anyone else in choosing where we want to focus our attention and efforts. Our team of editors in both Alphagreen Academy and Alphagreen Medium blog have the liberty of selecting topics they want to research, which makes our platform not only diverse but also makes us relatable to our audience. We talk about the real challenges or problems that we see, or what sparks our curiosity. Alphagreen team is a well-rounded group of professionals that also has a close relationship with industry executives and leading academic researchers in nutrition and health sector. In addition to our continuous research, partnerships and exchange of experience with the specialists of health and wellness field enables us to always stay up to date with the latest trends and discoveries of new knowledge, brands and technologies.

For example, our team member that is a smoker decided to research the topic of vaping CBD oil and how it works. For another member, mental health was a very close-to-heart subject, so she focused her efforts on the question of how to use CBD oil for anxiety. And the list continues: we choose topics that we are either curious to research, or they resonate with us on a personal level.

Our Professionalism: Two sides of a Coin

Regardless of the reason for our interest in a topic of an article, one thing always remains consistent and runs through all of our work, and it is professionalism (and let’s face it, nerdiness). We take our research very seriously and always strive to provide the most accurate information. We often go into a great deal of details explaining in each article what are the types of cannabis plants, what are the main compounds found in these plants and what are the differences between them, and this makes up only an introductory part. You will find a lot of information about the benefits of using CBD for specific distresses, which will always be paired with information about the downsides of choosing a specific product or a consumption method. Although CBD infused products are usually very well tolerated by people (and, believe it or not, even by pets), there are still potential side-effects that you need to be very aware of. The part about downsides is a significant and detailed section in all of our publications, because we believe that it is always better to be safe than sorry, and also because as we’ve mentioned above, knowledge is power.

Learning from experience

One of our main focuses in Alphagreen Academy will be drawn to the emerging field of CBD and other cannabinoids as an example of many types of nutraceutical products. CBD is still a relatively young industry in the sense of how we perceive it now. One of the main challenges of CBD products research is that most of the studies that have been held and published so far were able to examine short-term effects. In order to fully understand the consequences of using CBD that will have a potential visible impact in thirty or forty years on an older organism is only possible if we gather results of participants thirty years later. It goes without saying that considering how individual every person’s health history is, it will take a very, very large sample size to draw any correlations or find patterns.

So the long-term studies on humans are still ahead of us, and in the meantime, we can only forecast the future impacts and settle for shorter-term effect studies of up to several years. Having said that, Alphagreen Academy team pays close attention to the real user experience that is available to us right now. We analyse reviews on different online platforms that people with experience of using a specific product have had and shared, especially when it comes to the products that we feature and place in our blog and our online marketplace. By providing our audience real assessments by real people, we hope to allow visitors of Alphagreen to build better expectations and learn from others’ experiences.

Diversity of CBD

To further demonstrate the diversity and universality of CBD, we have also dedicated entire articles to particular uses that could be beneficial for one’s health and wellness. There are dozens of conditions which is both fascinating and challenging to comprehend just how universal one compound found in one plant can be. If you haven’t heard, CBD products are used in a large variety of different distresses, such as chronic and acute pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, problems with intimacy, skin problems, sufferings from cancer symptoms, epilepsy, and the list goes on. The studies of areas that can benefit from using CBD can be found in our Medium blog and among Academy articles. We also strive to educate our audience on the variety of different forms CBD products come in and believe us, there are also dozens.

Who would ever imagine thirty years ago that CBD would work perfectly well mixed in face cream and provide healing properties for acne? Or added to lollipops and gummy bears to relieve stress and anxiety? This is the reality now, and we want all of you to take full advantage of the assortment of products CBD can be infused in. Lastly, on the subject of diversity, there are also many ways of how you can use the same CBD products. It is also something that we emphasise in our work to spark your creativity in how to broaden the list of standard use, make the most of your experience with CBD and also get your money’s worth. For instance, a bottle of CBD oil can be used on its own by placing a few drops under your tongue, it can be added to a beverage or a meal, but it can also be used externally as a massage oil for muscle spasm treatment or pain relief. This is just one example of the versatility one product can provide.

CBD market is only the tip of the iceberg in comparison to the variety of other products that Alphagreen Academy will be covering in our research. We are also determined to shed light on adaptogens, superfoods, cognitive enhancers and many other types of nutraceuticals and supplements that will be discussed in great details using the same critical approach as CBD.

Understanding the legal status

Perhaps one of the most confusing things about CBD for an inexperienced consumer is the legal status. Legislation and CBD regulations in each country differ which makes it that much more complex, especially when you order products online that are shipped from abroad, or when you have to travel overseas carrying a product with you. This is something that we in Alphagreen Academy also dedicate a good deal of attention to in order to dispel any doubts you might have about the legal status of CBD in your country. Generally speaking, according to EU regulations, CBD products are permitted as long as they contain less than 0,2% of THC, the psychoactive compound also found in cannabis plants. However, there are many nuances related to the regulations at different stages from cultivation to ready-to-take products which we also discuss in our articles.

Doctors’ view on CBD

It is nearly impossible to have a definite answer to the question of what is the general doctors’ opinion on the use of CBD in health and wellness. Even though there are facts and research, doctors as a separate species tend to have very different views depending on their values, their education and experience (it goes without saying, that you should always keep in mind that not all people dressed in white medical uniform are actually well educated). A very similar debate can be heard among personal trainers, for example, that all have their unique technique of doing each exercise. You know what they say: so many men, so many minds. However, regardless of disputes among specialists in different fields, we often tend to pick one or two whose opinion we trust and value. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t educate yourself first and have an understanding of what CBD is and how it works. However, it is a good idea to ask for an opinion of a physician that you trust about CBD use, the question of dosage, or its compatibility with other medications you might be taking. You will find more in-depth information in our articles.

Academy: The new alternative journalism

Lastly, to add a fly in the ointment: we are living in a time when there is an explosion of information, and it becomes more and more challenging to source the facts and research from the anecdotal flow of stories. Unfortunately, there are many unreliable articles and entire journals dedicated to nutraceuticals and emerging supplements that do a poor job at research and mislead the reader; and spotting them is not always easy. We want to contribute to stopping this disinformation stream of false facts and loud questionable statements that persists in all nutritional content, either preaching or criticising nutraceuticals and supplements products. The mission of our intelligent, knowledgeable team of health and wellness enthusiasts is to improve the industry itself by creating trustworthy, honest and fact-based content free of bias to educate our audience. Alphagreen Academy can be seen as the new alternative natural wellness journalism where the fundamental values are knowledge, quality sources and research similarly to traditional journalism. We are sure that these products should not be surrounded by prejudice or stigma any longer, and be perceived in the same way as other traditional food, beauty, and wellness products. We believe that this is only the beginning of a significant shift and our revolutionary approach that is based on the desire to change the way people think about nutraceuticals and supplements products will make the industry better. We invite you to be a part of it.

Welcome to Alphagreen!

Verified by a Healthcare Professional

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

By Anastasia Myronenko

In this ultimate guide to the most potent CBD oils and tinctures on the market, we will talk about the strength and potency of CBD products from a consumer’s perspective. While many factors distinguish various CBD products, power remains the kicker that still determines both the cost and therapeutic effectiveness.

Moreover, the concept of CBD strength often gets misinterpreted, and several questions need to be clarified. First, how does one measure the strength of a CBD oil or tincture? Second, should the strength really matter for a CBD user? And, finally, what are the unique properties of CBD oils and tinctures? This ultimate guide will leave no unanswered questions or concerns on CBD oils and tinctures. Moreover, we will present you with the list of the top strongest CBD oils and tinctures available on the market in 2020 for your wellness needs.

What is actually CBD? What does it do to human health?

Cannabidiol, which is most commonly referred to as CBD, is basically a plant extract, one of the many compounds of the Cannabis Sativa plant. People frequently confuse CBD with THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, the notoriously famous compound of the Cannabis Sativa. However, CBD is not psychoactive at all, and won’t make you behave “high.” On the contrary, supposedly, cannabidiol will bring you a string of health benefits.

We use the word “supposedly” because the research on cannabidiol is still ongoing. Numerous labs across the world regularly test CBD to provide further proof of its benefits. So far, the available test results look very optimistic. In particular, the use of CBD shows promising returns even to such complicated neurological conditions as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis with very few side effects.

Are CBD products legal in the European Union and the United Kingdom?

All CBD products, including CBD oils and tinctures, are entirely legal in the European Union and the United Kingdom, provided they contain no more than 0.2% THC. However, quality CBD oils typically have zero THC percentage due to sophisticated extraction technologies and strict production control. You can easily find CBD oils sold online and offline in departments of health or food supplements.

Does CBD oil appear in drug tests?

In fact, CBD is never tested in conventional drug tests. If you buy legitimate CBD products that do not contain THC, they will not show up on any kind of a drug test. Yet, the keyword here is “legitimate.” As the CBD industry is basically in the early development stage, buying from CBD oils from unknown companies is quite risky. Such oils might appear impure and contain more than 0.2% THC.

How can CBD products help me?

Among the most common effects of CBD products are chronic pain treatment, relaxation, and stress reduction.

More people turn to CBD for chronic pain management. This is mainly because CBD is not addictive and reasonably safer than traditional prescription pain drugs. Since both animals and humans show high tolerance to cannabidiol, it is literally impossible to overdose on CBD oil.

Numerous clinical research has also backed the positive effect of CBD on the reduction of inflammation and the ability to improve sleep. Therefore, if you take CBD oil after a training or workout session, it will definitely help you relax. CBD oil will loosen you up and warm your muscles. Consequently, it will be much easier to cope with the pains of a hard training session.

At present, CBD is possibly the most famous for its anti-anxiety effect, which is the best-supported aspect of the research on cannabidiol. Hence, a growing number of people use CBD oils and other products with cannabidiol before important big events, such as meetings or public speaking.

CBD oils, CBD oil drops, CBD tinctures, CBD hemp extracts… What to choose?

CBD oil is typically extracted from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant and subsequently filtered for human use. Hence, the appropriate name is actually “hemp CBD oil.” Also, you may encounter the reference to “cannabis oil,” however, this is gradually incorrect. CBD oils are generally recommended to improve sleep, reduce stress, and relax.

CBD extracts are recommended for customers looking to receive the benefits of the whole hemp plant in the natural form, with no additions. CBD extracts are not quite the same as CBD oils. They are also known as CBD paste and remain an even more powerful source of cannabidiol.

CBD oil drops are very popular for their convenience. They typically act as a smart regulation mechanism. Due to their fast action, CBD oil drops can be used both as a daily supplement as well as against the sudden acute symptoms. Also, CBD oil drops can become a smart and discreet way to get an urgent cannabidiol dose when needed.

Unlike CBD oils, CBD tinctures or CBD oil tinctures carry cannabidiol on an alcohol base. Despite both CBD oil and CBD tincture having similar holistic properties, CBD tinctures are digested easier. Apart from that, CBD tinctures usually have a better taste.

How do I take CBD oils and tinctures?

Typically CBD oils and tinctures come in a dropper bottle, and such packaging specifies the amount of CBD in every drop. From there, you can figure out how many drops to use. Yet, sometimes it is harder to calculate how much CBD contains each drop when the packaging only specifies the amount of CBD in the entire bottle. Hence, one should perform additional calculations.

Typically, one drop of CBD oil or tincture equals approximately 0.05ml. Therefore, a 10ml CBD oil bottle contains roughly 200 drops. If the packaging says that a 10ml CBD oil bottle holds 1000mg CBD, then each drop contains 5mg of cannabidiol. If you decide to consume 20mg of CBD per day, then you should take four drops.

The crucial advice for consuming CBD oils and tinctures is not to swallow them immediately. Several studies have shown that the oral bioavailability of CBD is just about 5%, which is critically low. It means that only a fraction of cannabidiol that you swallow with a CBD oil or tincture will eventually reach the target body areas and bring the therapeutic benefits. Therefore, try keeping the oil under your tongue longer, preferably 2 to 5 minutes to preserve the CBD strength. This method should save CBD from a quick breakdown by digestive enzymes.

How much CBD should I take?

It depends on several factors. Among them are individual body weight and body chemistry, as well as the condition you want to treat. Obviously, there are numerous variables to consider before determining the appropriate CBD dosage. Hence, it is important to talk to your doctor prior to consuming CBD products, especially if you mix them with other drugs.

However, even if your doctor doesn’t provide any recommendation for the use of CBD, it is better to start with a smaller dosage, for example, with 20 to 50mg a day and steadily raise it. In a week, you can already increase the CBD dosage by 5mg and continue doing so every following week until the symptoms of your conditions improve; for example, when pain becomes bearable. At the same time, one should keep track of how much CBD you take and whether the symptoms improve.

Strong CBD oils vs weak. Is there a seizable difference?

Obviously, the present-day CBD market charges much higher prices for the oils with higher CBD concentration. Yet, the question arises: does strength really matter? If yes, how much?

The truth is that there is still no right answer when it comes to cannabidiol. A dose that perfectly works for one person might turn completely ineffective for another. Numerous factors make CBD experience entirely subjective. They include individual body parameters, metabolism, as well as how efficient is the bioavailability of different ways of CBD consumption. Yet, cannabidiol users aren’t in the dark completely. Strength matters in terms of efficacy. Basically, it works the following way. The stronger is a CBD oil or tincture, the higher is its potency, and the more effects it typically produces. 

The next question is, what counts as a strong CBD oil or tincture? There are several opinions. Some experts maintain that anything below 50mg CBD per milliliter (or approximately 2.5mg CBD per drop) has an insignificant effect on the body. Others suggest that cannabidiol concentration should be even higher, starting from 100mg CBD per milliliter (or about 5mg CBD per drop).

Apart from the concentration of CBD per se, other aspects also matter. For example, Myron Ronay from BelCosta Labs, Southern California’s premier licensed Cannabis analytical testing lab, maintains that broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD oils have the preference over CBD oils isolates. This is because CBD acts most efficiently when it takes advantage of the so-called “entourage effect” with different cannabinoids and terpenes interacting between themselves in the oil. Other researchers also maintain that full-spectrum CBD oils have higher efficiency compared to CBD oil isolates with the same concentration of cannabidiol.

As a general rule, strong CBD oils and tinctures are recommended for experienced cannabidiol users, already familiar with CBD. Nevertheless, the option of taking high concentrated oils could also suit CBD newcomers wishing to increase their daily CBD input, provided they take a lower dosage. Hence, our guide should be useful for all the people interested in trying strong CBD oils.

Alphagreen’s Curated List to the Strongest CBD Oils

High Strength Pure CBD Oil 20% by Arima

Price: £99.00

CBD Content: 2000mg per 10ml

CBD Type: Full-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Organic Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cannabis Sativa L. Seed Extract

Delivery: Worldwide

Find High Strength Pure CBD Oil 20% by Arima and other high-strength CBD oils on Alphagreen

High Strength Pure CBD Oil 20% by Arima accommodates the maximum strength cannabidiol formula. This potent oil is an excellent choice for experienced CBD users wishing to increase the daily cannabidiol intake. However, CBD novices can also try the product in small doses. Arima makes sure that no harmful additives, such as hormones or GMOs, appear during the production.

The ingredients of High Strength Pure CBD Oil 20% by Arima include full-spectrum cannabidiol. “Full-spectrum” means that CBD is not isolated from other beneficial compounds of the cannabis plant, such as cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytocannabinoids. Together, they generate the beneficial “entourage effect”, which enhances the properties of all the interacting cannabis compounds, including CBD. Therefore, full-spectrum CBD products typically show stronger health effects, especially compared to CBD isolates. Arima carefully monitors the selection of natural ingredients as well as enriches its CBD oils with valuable terpenes.

We love High Strength Pure CBD Oil 20% by Arima for being suspended on a nourishing olive oil carrier. At present, olive oil remains in the top list of the most famous dietary supplements. First, it is abundant in antioxidants, which help to prevent cellular damage by free radicals. When the body accumulates too much of those substances, the “oxidative stress” might happen, leading to the development of dangerous conditions. Antioxidants efficiently neutralise free radicals and keep them at a minimal level.

Second, olive oil remains among the primary sources of healthy fats in the famous Mediterranean diet, also known as “the standard in preventive medicine”. Third, some research maintains that olive oil facilitates the treatment of depression and anxiety. Other studies suggest that regular consumption of olive oil might prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, people following the Mediterranean diet tend to have a higher life expectancy and lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

We love the Arima brand for being the reputable CBD producer for years. The company partners with Sativa Group PLC, which cultivates high-quality cannabis plants. Therefore, Arima releases CBD oil of superior quality, carefully lab tested in the UK. The company’s experts regularly research the natural power of CBD and control the quality of the incoming raw materials.

Infinity CBD Extra Strong CBD Oil Drops 20%

Price: £79.99

CBD Content: 2000mg per 10ml

CBD Type: Full-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Full-spectrum CBD Distillate, Olive Oil

Delivery: The United Kingdom

Find Infinity CBD Extra Strong CBD Oil Drops 20% and other and other high-strength CBD oils on Alphagreen

Infinity CBD Extra Strong CBD Oil Drops 20% stand out among the easiest ways of CBD consumption. Though their action is not that imminent compared to CBD vapes, still CBD oil drops are very efficient in terms of absorption. Usually, it takes about 12-15 minutes to feel the CBD effects lasting for about six or seven hours. Therefore, CBD oil drops also suit people suffering from acute sudden symptoms and pains. Some customers dislike the grassy taste of full-spectrum CBD oils; however, they can easily add them into food and drinks. The only caution is to avoid hot fluids since cannabidiol breaks down at high temperatures.

The ingredients of Infinity CBD Extra Strong CBD Oil Drops 20% include full-spectrum CBD carried on olive oil. Infinity’s cannabidiol remains incredibly close to nature since it preserves all the beneficial terpenes, flavonoids, minor cannabinoids, and waxes, which contribute to the most powerful entourage effect. Overall, full-spectrum CBD oil drops are perfect for people willing to experience the benefits of the whole hemp plant in the natural form.

We love Infinity CBD Extra Strong CBD Oil Drops 20% for the convenience in use alongside the potent effect on human health. A couple of the extra-strong drops is enough to apply sublingually in the mornings and evenings. Users have to place CBD oil drops under the tongue and hold for about a minute before swallowing. It’s a good idea to observe the daily reaction to cannabidiol and write it down in a diary, especially for CBD novices.

We love the Infinity CBD brand for the customer-oriented approach to product creation. The company actively cooperates with active CBD users and medical cannabis bloggers. They consult the company’s researchers about the latest CBD trends and uniquely personal experiences. Besides, the Infinity CBD team effortlessly works to release original CBD solutions to deal with the growing stress of daily lives. The company’s edible CBD products and cosmetic lines deserve particular attention. Besides, Infinity CBD takes testing seriously. The company makes sure that its products do not contain herbicides, artificial dyes, heavy metals, parabens, nicotine, pesticides, solvents, and other toxins.

Kaneh Oil Drops Orange 20%

Price: £132.00

CBD Content: 2000mg per 10ml

CBD Type: Broad-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: 88% Hemp Seed Oil, 10% Full Spectrum Extract (Cannabis Sativa L.), 2% Natural Orange Flavouring

Delivery: The United Kingdom

Find Kaneh Oil Drops Orange 20% and other high-strength CBD oils on Alphagreen

Kaneh Oil Drops Orange 20% contain all-natural ingredients. The company obtains its premium quality CBD with the safest CO2 extraction method, which protects cannabidiol and other vital cannabinoids. Kaneh follows GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards from the early steps of hemp cultivation to the latest stages of the production process. This potent product helps to maintain the wellness balance and makes a great addition to a daily health routine.

The ingredients of Kaneh Oil Drops Orange 20% include hemp seed oil, which is a great dietary addition for outstanding nutrition properties. Hemp seeds are rich in amino acids, antioxidants, omega 3 and 6, phospholipids, and plant-based protein. Moreover, they are abundant in minerals, such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. According to the Pharmacogn review (8(15): 52-60), hemp seed oil especially benefits the skin. The report suggests that it can facilitate the treatment against eczema, acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Also, hemp seed oil hydrates inflamed skin, enhances skin texture, and facilitates skin glow.

We love Kaneh Oil Drops Orange 20% for the delightful orange flavour, which adds the product a personal touch. The flavour goes particularly well with hemp seed oil. Apart from skin treatment, hemp seed oil positively affects the immune system and heart health. Since hemp seeds contain GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid), rich in the lipase enzyme, it helps to prevent heart disease. In particular, GLA removes plaque build ups from blood vessels. Besides, it helps to reduce weight and decrease sugar cravings, working as a natural appetite suppressant. As for fatty acids, numerous studies have shown that they improve arrhythmias and reduce blood pressure.

We love the Kaneh brand for the particular dedication to skincare products and specialising in CBD cosmeceuticals. The company has efficiently proven that nature and science can perfectly work together to enhance the quality of human lives. Kaneh’s founders actively promote the long-lasting rejuvenation through the combination of the best natural ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties of CBD. Besides, the company is very conscious of the product’s packaging and works to eliminate plastic. Kaneh uses bamboo lids and glass as well as puts its soaps into reusable aluminium containers.

CBD Hemp Oil 20% by Hemply Balance

Price: £94.00

CBD Content: 2000mg per 10ml

CBD Type: Broad-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Cannabinoids, hemp seed oil

Delivery: Worldwide

Find CBD Hemp Oil 20% by Hemply Balance and other high-strength CBD oils on Alphagreen

CBD Hemp Oil 20% by Hemply Balance is gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan. The company employs a unique extraction process, which utilises the best parts of the hemp plant, such as small flowers and leaves. Besides, the oil does not contain palatable chlorophylls and unnecessary lipids. Also, Hemply Balance particularly focuses on the increase in the products’ bioavailability. Therefore, CBD Hemp Oil 20% has excellent absorption rates.

The ingredients of CBD Hemp Oil 20% by Hemply Balance boast a rich cannabinoid formula. In a similar manner to full-spectrum CBD oil, broad-spectrum one is abundant in flavonoids and terpenes. At the same time, it is completely THC-free, which means that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been purposefully removed during the production process. Still, broad-spectrum CBD oils generate the entourage effect, though not that powerful as in the case of full-spectrum CBD products. However, many people prefer broad-spectrum CBD ranges to avoid occasional THC traces on random drug tests.

We love CBD Hemp Oil 20% by Hemply Balance for the ultimate strength. This concentrated CBD oil generates sufficient health effects for both people suffering from chronic conditions and imminent injuries. A couple of the Hemply Balance’s oil drops per day facilitates the recovery from various painful conditions, as well as anxiety, gastrointestinal disturbances, and sleepless nights.

We also love the company’s approach to the cultivation of hemp. Though cultivated in Sweden, the cultivation practices originate from Colorado, USA. The hemp is grown far from highways, big cities, and the related pollution. Hence, the end product is 100% natural, organic, non-GMO hemp.

We love the Hemply Balance brand for the distinguished Swedish approach towards production and design. The brand was created and launched in Sweden by entrepreneur Emil Sandin. Prior to that, he spent some time in California studying cannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, diets, and health. Eventually, he decided to launch his own CBD brand in Sweden. There, he discovered that the local CBD market seriously lacked safe and affordable cannabidiol-infused products. Besides, many companies behaved in a “shady” manner by failing to present lab analysis or the percentage of cannabinoids on the containers.

Today, the philosophy of the Hemply Balance brand relates to the eternal search of the “sweet spot” or a perfect balance, when nothing is too much, and nothing is too little. The company focuses on producing top quality broad-spectrum cannabidiol, lab testing, and advanced bioavailability.

Naturecan 20% CBD Oil

Price: £99.99

CBD Content: 2000mg per 10ml

CBD Type: Broad-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Broad-spectrum Terpenes, Organic MCT Oil

Delivery: Worldwide

Find Naturecan 20% CBD Oil and other high-strength CBD oils on Alphagreen

Naturecan 20% CBD Oil is 100% organic and designed to shower customers with health benefits. The product features broad-spectrum CBD, without THC traces. Organic MCT oil is used as a carrier for cannabidiol. The daily dosage of this potent product should not exceed five drops per day.

The ingredients of Naturecan 20% CBD Oil include organic MCT oil, one of the most common types of carrier oils for cannabidiol. Unlike natural olive oil or hemp seed oil, MCT oil is obtained artificially either from coconut or palm kernel oil. The abbreviation of MCT means “medium-chain triglycerides”, or specific fats of medium-length chains. MCTs are digested more easily compared to other molecules in food and thus facilitate faster absorption of CBD.

Today, many sportsmen and fitness lovers appreciate MCT oil for its fat-burning properties. The medium-chain triglycerides never break down when moving from the liver to the stomach. Hence they enter cells faster and get subsequently utilised as an energy source. Some studies suggest that MCTs can boost performance and ease up the exercising routine by reducing lactate buildup in athletes.

We love Naturecan 20% CBD Oil for the combination of CBD with MCT oil, which improves the effectiveness of cannabidiol. A lot of manufacturers appreciate the benefits of MCT oil for CBD production, such as the improvement in bioavailability and the speed of absorption. Indeed, an MCT carrier prevents CBD molecules from breaking down in the digestive system.

We love the Naturecan brand for a strict approach to lab-testing. The company has zero-tolerance for any sort of chemical involvement, including pesticides and GMOs. Each product undergoes three-stage lab testing to ensure the best product quality.  Naturecan is a proud member of the top cannabis industry associations – the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) and the Association for The Cannabinoid Industry (ACI), which work for the increase of transparency within the CBD industry in the UK.

The brand is also remarkable for the innovative product selection. At the moment, the company’s website offers CBD edibles, such as brownies, chocolate, cookies, nut butter; CBD oils of different strengths; CBD tablets, CBD capsules, and multiple CBD topicals. Besides, the company sells vitamin supplements and non-CBD vegan options. The brand is well-known throughout the UK, and Naturecan products are popular among TV personalities and sportspersons.

Bottom Line

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the strongest CBD oils and tinctures! Here is a brief summary of the key issues to remember about strong CBD products:

• Strong CBD products, such as oils and tinctures with the concentration between 20-30%, are a better fit for experienced CBD users or people suffering from severe symptoms, such as anxiety and pain. 
• Even such customers should use tiny doses of ultra-strong CBD oils and tinctures.
• One should be careful when choosing a strong CBD product and select only respected producers. The maximum level of THC should not exceed 0.2%. For practising athletes, such level should remain exclusively 0.0%. 
• Always inquire for a Certificate of Analysis from an independent laboratory. The product should be clean from artificial dyes, heavy metals, herbicides, nicotine, parabens, pesticides, solvents, synthetic cannabinoids, and toxins.

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

If you’ve ever bumped your elbow, or if a dentist “touched a nerve” with a bur while treating your teeth, you understand what neuropathic pain is. Yet, people with chronic neuropathic pain experience this feeling daily. Unfortunately, doctors are often faced with a situation where a complete cure is impossible, and attention is focused on controlling the symptoms and adapting to life with neuropathic pain. The aim is to ensure an acceptable quality of life and to relieve pain as much as possible in order to sleep, communicate, and lead a social life. Based on the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics of CBD and Gabapentin, an interaction is unlikely, aside from individual possible side effects. This article reviews how cannabidiol, a cannabis constituent, and Gabapentin, a drug commonly used for epilepsy and peripheral neuropathic pain, manage the pain of various severity and whether cannabis is a potential alternative to old-fashioned pharma. Currently, there is a growing body of research supporting that cannabis, specifically CBD, may effectively treat chronic pain, making it a valuable player in the medical field.

The Importance of Finding the Treatment

The ability to experience pain is an ancient and fundamental protective mechanism that ultimately leads to learning, adaptation and survival in changing environmental conditions. In addition, pain informs about tissue damage and triggers reflex and behavioural responses to minimise and avoid damaging effects. The nervous system is a sensitive and complex structure. Damage to the nervous system is serious, and self-healing of this structure is slow, if at all. As a result, the regenerative capacity of the nervous system is severely limited, and any nerve damage is challenging to treat.

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Neuropathic pain treatment is becoming an increasingly important area of study for clinicians of different profiles because of the widespread prevalence and the difficulties in finding long-lasting treatment. Neuropathic pain can cause suffering and varying degrees of disability for the patient and entail significant medical and social consequences. Despite there being many pharmaceuticals recommended for treating neuropathic pain, picking the optimal treatment regimen is often difficult for clinicians.

What is neuropathic pain, you may ask?

It is defined as “pain directly resulting from injury or disease of the somatosensory system” (Treede R.D. et al., 2008). From a clinical point of view, this means that neuropathic pain can result from damage to both the peripheral and central nervous systems. As defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), neuropathic pain is “pain initiated or caused by a primary injury or dysfunction of the nervous system.” Thus, it differs from the pain that travels along healthy nerves from damaged tissue (for example, a fall, cut, or knee arthritis).

It is defined as “pain directly resulting from injury or disease of the somatosensory system” (Treede R.D. et al., 2008). From a clinical point of view, this means that neuropathic pain can result from damage to both the peripheral and central nervous systems. As defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), neuropathic pain is “pain initiated or caused by a primary injury or dysfunction of the nervous system.” Thus, it differs from the pain that travels along healthy nerves from damaged tissue (for example, a fall, cut, or knee arthritis).

The main factors leading to the onset of neuropathic pain include diabetes mellitus, herpes infection, stroke, multiple sclerosis, malignant neoplasms, HIV infection, as well as post-traumatic and postoperative lesions of the peripheral nervous system (Bouhassira D. et al., 2008). In neuropathic pain, the main pathogenetic mechanisms activate peripheral nociceptors and neuronal and receptor disorders, peripheral and central sensitisation. The resulting persistent and often excruciating pain is resistant to drug treatment with conventional analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Snegirev F.G., 2010). Neuropathic pain affects the patient’s quality of life significantly, compromising their psychological condition. Unfortunately, most currently available treatments for this pathological condition have low to moderate efficiency and side effects that may limit their use. Henceforth, more effective and safe approaches are needed for individuals suffering from neuropathic pain that can reduce the symptoms of the disease and improve quality of life in general.

Drugs other than those used for pain associated with tissue damage, such as pain relievers, are often used for neuropathic pain. For example, drugs sometimes used for depression or epilepsy may be effective in some patients with neuropathic pain. One of these is Gabapentin. The outcome is defined as good if a patient with high pain levels gets rid of the pain by taking the drug without the side effects that would force the patient to stop taking the medication.

Neuropathic Pain Prevalence

According to official statistics, one in five adults in Europe suffers from moderate to severe chronic pain, and only 2% receive qualified medical care. Furthermore, the prevalence of neuropathic pain syndrome in Europe significantly exceeds most chronic pain without neuropathic characteristics (Breivik H. et al., 2006).

Neuropathic pain affects approximately 7–8% of the European population (Attal N. et al., 2010). However, in the 2011 Guidelines for the Assessment of Neuropathic Pain, the Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG) noted the lack of sensitivity and specificity of many screening instruments and their failure to identify the true prevalence of this pathology in the general population (Haanpää M . et al., 2011).

Main Symptoms

For some people, light touching clothes or bedding can cause skin discomfort and even pain. For others, any pressure (such as from socks, shoes, or tight clothing) can cause pain. According to patient surveys, here are some of the most prevalent neuropathic symptoms:

• Burning pain;
• The sensation of electric shock;
• Tingling sensation, “needles under the skin”;
• Piercing, stitching, cutting pain;
• Convulsions;
• Numbness;
• Having trouble sleeping and resting;
• Creeping sensation;
• Painful sensations of cold and heat in the limbs;
• Symptoms of allodynia (a pain provoked by a stimulus that usually does not cause it.)

Treating Neuropathic Pain

The treatment of neuropathic pain has different areas to target, as listed below.

1. To reduce or eliminate the cause of pain with the help of:
   • Anticonvulsant medications. If you are prescribed these medications, it does not mean that you have a seizure disorder. These medications help calm the nerves that cause pain.
   • Antidepressants. If you are prescribed antidepressant medications, it does not mean that you have depression or are being treated for depression. Antidepressants usually help with the psychological side of coping with chronic pain.
   • Opioids. A strong prescription medicine is used to relieve pain.
   • Local anaesthetics. These numb the skin or a small area on the body.
   • Steroid medicines. Used to reduce the nerve inflammation
   • In some cases, nerve blockade is necessary. This method of neuropathic pain treatment includes injection of local anaesthetics, steroids, or other medications into the affected nerves that are thought to be responsible for the pain signals. The effect of these nerve blocks is temporary, so they must be repeated to continue to relieve pain.
2. To maintain an average level of activity.
3. To improve the quality of life.

What About CBD?

The legalisation of cannabidiol (CBD), a potent plant extract of cannabis, came about primarily because of its beneficial health properties. Numerous studies have highlighted the efficacy of cannabidiol for symptoms of various disorders, such as:

• Epilepsy (Epidiolex as an FDA approved drug);
• Bipolar disorder;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Anxiety, social anxiety disorder;
• Neuropathy;
• Inflammation;
• Dystonia;
• Post-cancer treatment nausea (CBD and THC);
• Sleep deprivations, insomnia;
• Parkinson’s disease.

Currently, two varieties of cannabis are distinguished: marijuana and hemp. The well-known constituent of marijuana, THC – tetrahydrocannabinol, is classified as a controlled substance in most countries around the world. CBD, on the other hand, is a non-psychotropic component of cannabis and does not obscure mind state and lucidity. Studies by A W Zuardi et al., 1995 even showed that CBD possesses an antipsychotic effect, blocking THC psychoactive properties. Research from the British Journal of Psychiatry stated that cannabis users with higher levels of cannabidiol in their hair showed fewer schizophrenic-like symptoms (Morgan CJ et al.,2008). A small preliminary analysis of the effects of cannabidiol on psychosis in Parkinson’s disease also yielded encouraging results (Zuardi A et al., 2008).

Is CBD legal?

Under the newly established system, the hemp that CBD is extracted from should not contain more than 0.2% THC in the UK and 0.3% in most of Europe.

Is CBD safe?

Many studies have shown CBD is safe for most individuals and has an extensive dosage range. Doses ranging from a few milligrams up to 1,500 mg have been taken with few adverse effects for up to four weeks and showed no adverse effects even in such a high amount.

What is Gabapentin?

Gabapentin (1- (aminomethyl) -cyclohexane acetic acid) is a structural analogue of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and was initially registered in 1994 as an antiepileptic agent. Now it is sold under the brand names Neurontin and Horizant and reported as an anticonvulsant drug helping people with epilepsy control seizures and neuropathic pain of various aetiology. However, the first mention of the ability of Gabapentin to reduce the intensity of pain syndrome dates back to 1996, when in the Journal Neurology AZ. Segal and G. Rordorf described a clinical case with a decrease in the severity of burning postherpetic pain in a 77-year-old patient while receiving Gabapentin at a dose of 900mg per day. Subsequently, the results of many randomised clinical trials confirmed the clinical efficacy of Gabapentin in the treatment of patients with various forms of neuropathic pain, which served as the basis for including this drug in the current European guidelines for the pharmacotherapy of neuropathic pain as a first-line drug.

How does Gabapentin work?

Gabapentin, as it states from the name, has a similar effect as a natural GABA brain neurotransmitter – it inhibits brain neuron activity,thus stopping pain.

To be clear, it does not control the nerves to stop them from being painful, but it can block your brain from registering the signal of pain. The exact mechanism of action is not fully understood yet; however, the effectiveness of drugs in the treatment of neuropathic pain is explained by their ability to bind to voltage-sensitive calcium channels in the central nervous system (CNS), mainly to α2-delta protein. This leads to a decrease in the release of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system due to a reduction in calcium influx through closed channels (Bockbrader et al., 2010). In the context of the current trends in the pharmacotherapy of neuropathic pain and the leading positions that antiepileptic drugs, in particular Gabapentin, it is advisable to consider the advantages of the clinical use of this drug in more detail, as any medication can have potential adverse side effects and risk of overuse.

Possible side effects of Gabapentin

The listed side effects are not observed in all patients who have been prescribed Gabapentin.

• Drowsiness;
• Increased fatigue or general weakness;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Dizziness;
• Diarrhoea;
• Constipation;
• Rash;
• Abdominal pain;
• Nervous eye tick.

Research on CBD and Gabapentin

Gabapentin

In 2017 Wiffen PJ et al. published a great review of Gabapentin treatment for neuropathic pain of moderate to severe levels. Thirty-seven randomised, double-blind trial studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, randomising 5914 participants to treat using Gabapentin, placebo, or other drugs. After 4 to 12 weeks, more participants (32%) had substantial benefit with Gabapentin at 1200mg daily, or greater than with placebo (17%). More participants (46%) had the moderate benefit with Gabapentin at 1200mg daily or more than with placebo (25%). In painful diabetic neuropathy, more participants (38%) had substantial benefit with Gabapentin at 1200mg daily or more significantly than with placebo (21%). However, participants experiencing at least one adverse event withdrawal with Gabapentin (63%) than with placebo (49%). Adverse event withdrawal included dizziness (19%), somnolence (14%), peripheral oedema (7%), and gait disturbance (14%). Out of all studies, it was concluded that Gabapentin at doses of 1800mg to 3600mg daily could provide good levels of pain relief to some people with postherpetic neuralgia and peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Evidence for other types of neuropathic pain is minimal. However, it is recommended to start at lower doses of Gabapentin and work your way up to a therapeutic dose.

Cannabidiol

CBD became famous as a treatment for epilepsy, but researchers soon discovered that this interesting cannabinoid could help with a wide range of conditions, such as neuropathic pain. So what do we know about cannabinoids and how exactly CBD tackles this problem?

Cannabinoids are categorised into three main types:

• Phytocannabinoids – the naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabavirin (CBV), cannabichromene (CBA) acid) (CBDa), and tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCa).
• Endogenous cannabinoids – naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the human body (e.g. anandamide, 1-AG).
• Synthetic cannabinoids – artificial cannabinoids created in a lab.

Cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating body functions such as immunity, sleep, and pain. Researchers are just beginning to understand how this hemp extract can help the body cope with pain. CBD helps increase levels of anandamide, a natural compound associated with pain regulation. The cannabinoid increases blood levels of anandamide, a crucial constituent of the endocannabinoid system, which can reduce perceived pain levels.

Other research suggests that CBD can reduce inflammation, which can also help control pain. A 2012 study by Wei Xiong published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found evidence that CBD can reduce pain and inflammation through targeting α3 glycine receptors. In addition, according to research published in the European Journal, cannabidiol helped people with arthritis cope with their pain symptoms. Another Israel study from 2016 examined the effects of CBD on the number of seizures experienced by children with intractable epilepsy. More than half of the patients who saw improvement, reporting their seizures were reduced by 50% or more. The researchers also noted that the patients were more alert and had an improved quality of life. In a 2020 study by Dixon H Xu et al., a randomised study of 29 people with neuropathy received 250mg CBD oil or a placebo. Participants reported no side effects and a significant reduction in intense pain, sharp pain, plus cold and itchy sensations.

Does CBD Interact with GABA?

GABA is the primary neurotransmitter in our nervous system, contributing to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission regulation. It is sometimes known as the firehose for pain and inflammation. Research by Charlotte Marie Pretzsch et al., 2019 found that CBD facilitates glutamate and GABA neurotransmission across the brain through agonism at the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor. MRI scans measured glutamate and GABA in men with and without ASD (autism spectrum disorder) following a single oral dose of 600mg CBD or a matched placebo (at least two weeks apart) in a randomised, double-blind cross-over design study. Generally, CBD was shown to shift GABA levels; however, with autism, it seemed to have less efficacy.

Enzymes break down many drugs in the liver, specifically by the cytochrome P450 system. As the same system breaks down CBD, it may compete or interfere with these enzymes, leading to too much/not enough of the drug in the body, called altered concentration. In turn, altered concentration may lead to the lowered medication efficacy or an increased risk of side effects. Such drug interactions can cause unpleasant and sometimes serious problems.

The unique liver enzyme system metabolises most drugs, but Gabapentin is digested differently. It is eliminated from the systemic circulation by kidneys (renal excretion) as an unchanged drug. Gabapentin elimination rate is constant, and its half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing. In older people and patients with impaired renal function, gabapentin plasma clearance is obviously reduced. In worst cases, Gabapentin can be removed from the plasma by hemodialysis. According to the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine research, Gabapentin is not on the list of potentially dangerous drugs when co-administered with cannabinoids.

However, you have to be precautious as using Gabapentin and cannabis products with THC may cause the following effects:

• Increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.
• Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impaired thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. 
• It is best to avoid or limit alcohol use while using these medications.
• Avoid activities requiring mental alertness, such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the drugs affect you.
• If you have any questions or concerns, speak with your doctor. It is essential to describe all medications you use, including vitamins and herbal supplements. Do not stop using any drugs without first talking to your doctor.

Why CBD is still a Good Alternative

Gabapentin has been reported to have several adverse effects, including:

• Limb swelling;
• Shortness of breath;
• Back or chest pain;
• Vomiting;
• Urinary problems;
• Lack of concentration;
• Suicidal tendencies, especially in high doses.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), like Gabapentin, for causing severe breathing problems among patients with respiratory comorbidities (like COPD). Another issue with Gabapentin is that it provides only temporary relief, not curing the cause of the problem. Altogether, a growing body of research shows that cannabis is an effective pain treatment with fewer side effects than many other alternatives.

Possible Side Effects of CBD

Side effects for CBD are rare, especially when taken within the recommended dosage. Only minor side effects have been reported from CBD use. These include:

Digestive problems – CBD, including the FDA-approved Epidiolex, may cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, and changes in appetite.

Dry mouth – In a survey of 1,500 people, researchers found that nearly 12% of respondents experienced mild dry mouth after using CBD.

Drowsiness – This side effect of CBD oil was found in studies investigating the chemical’s impact on sleep. Exposure to high doses of CBD may help people sleep more soundly, while lower doses have been shown to promote alertness. However, some people have reported fatigue after exposure.

Whole-plant extracts high in THC may initially be effective pain relievers, but they do not represent the optimal pain-relieving strategy. Consider balanced THC/CBD foods or CBD-rich foods instead, as these may provide the best long-term treatment for chronic pain conditions. CBD does not appear to cause serious adverse side effects, such as affecting your blood pressure, body temperature, or heart rate. This is one of the main reasons why CBD is gaining popularity among scientific researchers and health professionals.

What Type of CBD Product Should I Use?

CBD is found in various products today, from oils and edible to cosmetics, topical and vaping fluids. It is important to choose the product that is right for you. What does this mean in practice? For example, if you suffer from general pain, using ointments or balms will not target the internal cannabinoid system but may ease inflammation on the skin. For headaches, migraines and most types of pain, the most effective way is to use internal products, such as oils, capsules and vapes, which can increase cannabinoids in the body. Products for external and internal use can be combined to increase effectiveness; for example, lubricate the affected joints with balm and carry a bottle of CBD oil or capsules to target the bloodstream.

To Summarise

Many drugs have been developed for pain relief, but most of them are based on artificially synthesised chemical compounds. Not only is CBD natural, but it also has one of the essential advantages – no significant side effects. When consuming CBD, listen to your body: you can start with a small amount, gradually building it up to the one you need to achieve the right results.

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

We all remember those lectures from high school teachers, parents, and authority figures warning us about “weed” and its negative legal consequences. So how should we respond when we see cannabis logos at health stores and CBD products being used out in the open for the world to see? Is CBD oil legal? This article will briefly review the complicated history of cannabis laws and regulations and some recent breakthroughs that have helped make products like CBD oil UK law-compliant. Let’s get started.

Introduction

Does cannabis raise a red flag in your mind when you think about it? If so, you’re not alone. While CBD and other natural wellness substances have skyrocketed to popularity within the past few years, cannabis remains taboo. Within society, we tend to interpret it in extreme ways: people either shun it categorically as an ‘illegal’ substance, or embrace it subversively as part of a counter-cultural lifestyle. However, there is so much more to the story than these two contrasting opinions. As a quick disclaimer, we cannot offer any legal advice, and recommend that you direct any pressing questions to a registered professional, such as an attorney.

To appreciate the discussions ahead, let’s briefly define cannabis and some other associated terms that will appear throughout this article.

Cannabis

What is cannabis? Botanically speaking, cannabis represents an entire family of tall and rapidly-growing plants known as the ‘cannabis genus’. There are three main species within this group: Indica, Ruderalis, and Sativa. Throughout the globe, many indigenous communities have gravitated towards cannabis as a versatile resource to support construction tasks, folk remedies, nutrition, and recreational activities. In more recent years, researchers have devoted special attention to these plants and their potential benefits in clinical and therapeutic fields.

According to pollen fossils, modern cannabis originally came from Northern China and may represent over 20 million years of growth and adaptation. Today, farmers cultivate cannabis for various purposes – subject to corresponding regulations. In recreational drug form, cannabis is often referred to as “marijuana” or “weed”, depending on where you live.

Hemp

As a subspecies of cannabis Sativa, hemp (or ‘industrial hemp’) is second only to bamboo in terms of how quickly it grows. This time efficiency, combined with its eco-friendly nature and strong plant fibres, makes hemp a popular industrial crop. Over the centuries, people have used it to create everything from clothes and soaps to heavy-duty naval equipment. Nowadays, nutrient-rich products like hemp seed oil are also popular. We will soon discuss why hemp is not a suitable choice for people hoping to get “high”. Under a present-day microscope, hemp possesses a unique treasure trove of chemicals – much to the excitement of scientists and product developers. These naturally-occurring substances include terpenes (fragrant plant compounds), essential oils, and cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids

Sounds very “sciency”, doesn’t it? However, there’s no need to panic. Chemically speaking, cannabinoids are distinctive plant compounds that belong to the cannabis family. Over a hundred of these compounds are present in hemp plants – potentially offering different effects when consumed. For example, exposure to significant amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) may produce an intoxicating effect that some people describe as feeling “stoned”. While CBD is also a cannabinoid, its potential implications are very different to those of THC.

CBD is short for cannabidiol – a popular cannabis compound that may carry many potential wellbeing benefits. Manufacturers source CBD from the leaves, flowers, and stems of the hemp plant in a controlled environment through various extraction and distillation processes. It is naturally oily, with an ‘earthy’ taste and smell. As a supplement, it may be a helpful option for people seeking to enrich their wellbeing, but be sure to avoid falling for any common CBD myths.

According to the National Health Service (NHS), CBD may be used to effect some of the signs and symptoms of common health issues. CBD may have an anticonvulsant effect and impact muscle cramps, so some manufacturers may develop it at higher-levels to influence those living with refractory epilepsy. It may also be anxiolytic and antipsychotic – some reports suggest it may potentially help with some of the symptoms associated with mood disorders.

In rare cases, wellness professionals may issue cannabis-related prescriptions – such as Epidyolex and Sativex – to support individuals suffering from illnesses such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. While there is limited evidence to support its broader prospects, there is enormous public demand for over-the-counter CBD products as trendy self-care tools.

According to a recent review published in the Cannabis Industry Journal, over 8 million people in Britain use CBD, and the numbers continue to rise. In the UK and numerous other countries, CBD oil is widely available, and companies are under pressure to conform to changing government guidelines. Before we go on to appreciate the juridical status of CBD oil, let’s examine

Cannabis and UK Law

As we know, there is often a lot of friction between cannabis and the law. In the world of nature, we can trace cannabis plants back millions of years. In the human-made world, the legal regulation of cannabis is a much more recent development. But how did a plant that was once used by royals (such as Queen Victoria) become an illegal drug?

Before the Law

As we’ve learned, the cannabis plant family is originally native to central Asia – thousands of miles and several oceans away from countries like the United Kingdom. The circulation of hemp seeds may be linked with broader migration patterns, as people became more mobilised and new modes of transportation appeared, so hemp sprang up in more places.

At one point, British farmers who didn’t grow hemp were at risk of breaking the law! Hemp was vital in supplying natural ropes and sails for ships: an ‘essential service’ at the time. It wasn’t until the 19th century that cannabis began to be associated with potentially ‘dangerous’ recreational uses, academic interest, and moral panics.

The 1920 Dangerous Drugs Act

During the First World War, the Home Office in Britain identified substances such as opioids and cocaine as threats to military efforts – arguing that defensive measures needed to be in place to prevent people from accessing ‘dangerous drugs’. These regulations extended to all civilians at an administrative level, and the 1920 Dangerous Drugs Act issued a ban on the sale and non-medical possession of certain restricted substances. Many of these are what we would refer to today as “hard drugs”. In September of 1928, the government amended this Act to include cannabis.

According to James H. Mills, this decision may have been motivated more by sensational stories and sailors’ antics rather than public health concerns.

By the 1970s, the phrase ‘dangerous drugs’ was replaced with ‘controlled drugs’, and the government established a new act. At this point, migration trends had changed, an economic recession was imminent, and various anti-establishment movements became popular (for example, ‘alternative’ hippy and punk lifestyles). The use of cannabis and psychedelic drugs increased dramatically in this climate.

The Misuse of Drugs Act came into effect from 1973 onwards and prohibited all civilian activities involving controlled drugs: possession, production, selling, trafficking, and more. The drugs referenced in this motion were classified as ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘C’, depending on their perceived severity; with Class A drugs associated with the greatest danger, and Class C drugs representing less of a threat to public safety. These laws are still in effect in modern Britain, but cannabis has occupied several different positions over time.

Guilty as Charged?

Between 2004 and 2008, the UK Home Office downgraded cannabis from a Class B drug to a Class C drug: sharing a category with anabolic steroids and other synthetic substances. This decision may possibly have been motivated by emerging evidence that reviewed cannabis as a low-risk substance with potential wellbeing benefits. However, cannabis was later re-classified as a Class B drug – which caused a considerable uproar. When will cannabis be legal in the UK for recreational purposes? Will it ever be? As we know, the debates regarding this topic are raging on. In the UK, authorities legalised medical cannabis in November 2018, and this motion also paved the way for various other extracts to emerge.

It’s incredible how much commotion one plant family can cause, isn’t it? Thankfully, there is a way for us to explore cannabis-derived wellness without getting caught up in a legal whirlwind. Today, a new product is ripe with potential – CBD oil.

CBD oil (also known as ‘cannabis oil’ or ‘hemp oil’) is a hemp product that has gained widespread support from consumers worldwide. Typically, manufacturers make it by mixing their CBD extract choice with a blend of natural base oils (such as olive, coconut, and jojoba). The result is a botanically-infused oil that conforms with one of the three ‘spectrums’ detailed below.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

Full Spectrum means that the CBD extract contains a natural ensemble of other compounds such as terpenes, THC and additional cannabinoids. It potentially provides a richer profile, as some researchers suggest that these hemp compounds may work synergistically to produce the “entourage effect”.

Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

Broad Spectrum CBD is quite similar to Full Spectrum. However, manufacturers employ additional efforts to ensure that Broad Spectrum products do not contain THC molecules. Sometimes, professional athletes and other individuals working in fields with a zero-tolerance drugs policy might opt for this category instead of Full Spectrum.

CBD Isolate

CBD Isolate refers to CBD extract in its most distilled form. Rather than representing an eclectic mixture of naturally-occurring plant chemicals, CBD Isolate is ‘pure’ cannabidiol. It is free from THC, terpenes, and any other unwanted compounds. Some audiences feel that this allows them to be more precise with their dosage, while others enjoy its comparatively subtle taste and smell.

Potential CBD Oil Benefits

At this point, you’re probably wondering: “What’s so special about CBD oil?” Perhaps you’ve even heard people in your circle recommending it as a so-called ‘wonder product’ to accommodate a variety of different lifestyle complaints. These rumours certainly sound attractive, but is there any objective evidence to back them up?

Currently, objective reports are too limited to support any definitive commercial CBD oil statements. So far, emerging studies indicate that it may potentially impact a wide variety of common symptoms – including some which are associated with:

CBD Oil vs Hash Oil

Did you know there over 1,000 famous words refer to cannabis and its associated products? If you’re a newcomer, these can be very difficult to navigate. For example, you may assume that ‘hash oil’ is the same as CBD oil, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While legal manufacturers carefully extract CBD from cannabis in line with UK government regulations, hash oil is a psychoactive form of cannabis that is currently illegal in the UK. This categorical distinction is primarily due to the significant presence of the THC compound. Let’s explore this concept further.

THC vs CBD – What’s the Difference?

While they are both three-letter acronyms for popular cannabinoids, THC and CBD are often treated differently by researchers and legal institutions. As we appreciate the contrasts between these two substances, it’s good to consider things scientifically.

The Basic Science of CBD

Technically, CBD was the first cannabis compound to be spotlighted – thanks to the scientific breakthroughs of an American chemist named Roger Adams in the 1940s. Sometimes known as the “calm compound”, CBD is one of the most significant substances present in cannabis plants, and studies suggest that it may potentially be:

THC Chemistry

People began talking about THC in the 1960s – approximately two decades after the early CBD breakthroughs. An Israeli chemist named Dr Raphael Mechoulam is generally credited with bringing THC to fame. It is interesting to note that international governments began issuing new cannabis laws in the years that followed his iconic observations. Studies suggest that consuming THC may potentially be associated with:

When it comes to CBD and the law, THC is one of the principal liabilities. Manufacturers are legally obliged to exercise great caution regarding their CBD products’ chemical makeup. Is THC oil legal in the UK? Currently, it’s against the law. However, CBD oil is a more nuanced case.

CBD Oil and UK Law

So far, we’ve established that cannabis is a controversial substance that states have controlled through a variety of different laws within the last 100 years. However, many people maintain a keen interest in cannabis-inspired wellness products and their potential benefits. As an extract derived from hemp, CBD may represent a fresh and legal opportunity to invest in self-care. However, it’s essential to be aware of the associated regulations.

Throughout the rest of this article, we’ll be looking at the factors influencing how we regulate CBD oil in the UK. Is CBD oil legal in London, Edinburgh, and beyond? Let’s answer this question by reviewing content from:

• The Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
• National Drug Licencing Fact Sheets
• Food Standards Agency (FSA) CBD guidelines
• The 1990 Food Safety Act

CBD as a form of “Medical Marijuana”

The MHRA is a government-appointed body tasked with overseeing medical products’ efficacy, quality, and safety. In 2016, the MHRA released public statements in response to emerging CBD trends. At the time, the agency defined CBD health and wellness products as “medical products”. These products require an official licence to ensure their quality before being legally sold or marketed. However, recent updates from the MHRA seem to acknowledge that not all CBD products are medicinal.

When manufacturers develop CBD oil for non-medical purposes, it should comply with other regulatory frameworks – such as food laws and controlled substance laws. The MHRA warns that manufacturers could face severe consequences if their CBD products are not in line with broader schemes.

Is CBD a Controlled Substance?

CBD is not a controlled substance or an illegal drug in the UK. However, its association with cannabis has attracted particular attention from authorities, especially regarding its potential THC content. According to British law, law-abiding CBD developers must source their products from licenced hemp crops, cultivated by registered growers. Since hemp is a subspecies of cannabis that is naturally low in THC, it is ideal. If CBD products have a THC concentration of 0.2% or under, the government does not object to them. However, if these products contain extra THC or any other controlled substances, regulations classify them as controlled substances – liable to suffer heavy penalties!

CBD and the Food Standards Agency

You’ve likely heard of products such as CBD gummies before, but did you know that most items in the UK CBD market are foods or food supplements? This categorisation doesn’t just apply to CBD edibles, but also dietary supplements such as CBD oil, tablets, and capsules. While hunger is rarely the primary motivator for consuming CBD, UK food laws attempt to offer a protective structure intended to safeguard CBD users.

Often, food manufacturers like to promote the latest snacks as “brand new”, but they might not be new from a legal standpoint. Technically, a ‘novel food’ is a new edible product or ingredient that we didn’t consume in Britain before 1997. These foods can include international products such as chia seeds, edible plant extracts and foods manufactured with state-of-the-art methods.

Regulative authorities such as the Food Standards Association (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) categorise CBD oil as a novel food product.

These organisations assess the CBD products in the UK marketplace at their own discretion, and offer broader business guidelines.

Often, food manufacturers like to promote the latest snacks as “brand new”, but they might not be new from a legal standpoint. Technically, a ‘novel food’ is a new edible product or ingredient that we didn’t consume in Britain before 1997. These foods can include international products such as chia seeds, edible plant extracts and foods manufactured with state-of-the-art methods.

Regulative authorities such as the Food Standards Association (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) categorise CBD oil as a novel food product. These organisations assess the CBD products in the UK marketplace at their own discretion, and offer broader business guidelines.

From the 31st of March, 2021, the FSA will require UK CBD companies to secure official market authorisation to legitimately conduct their businesses. This technical submission involves approximately 18 months of extensive testing, toxicology reports and many other factors. Most likely, National Trading Standards and local entities will enforce these policies – and they may have the power to seize or remove unauthorised stock from the marketplace. While the situation is complex and difficult to judge at this stage, it does represent a massive step towards quality control. Keep an eye out for more content on CBD and the ‘Novel Foods’ Act.

CBD and Food Safety

Roughly 65 pages in length, the 1990 Food Safety Act details the necessary and wide-ranging standards that all food businesses operating within the UK must meet. It approaches the food market as a matter of public health while also setting firm parameters to prevent consumers from being exploited. The 1990 Food Safety Act covers a wide variety of food-related concerns, but we can think of it as an act with three core priorities:

• To stop businesses from selling food products that are hazardous to our health.
• To ensure that the food products we buy are as we would expect them to be.
• To prevent false advertising and the incorrect labelling and presentation of food.

In theory, these measures seem relatively straightforward. However, in practice they may be challenging to implement. Let’s briefly consider how these legal priorities apply to CBD products in the UK.

Legal Challenges Within the UK CBD Market

According to Dr Aviva Regev, ‘the cannabis industry could give the UK economy the boost it needs after Brexit and COVID’. Analysts have even predicted that the UK CBD market may be worth upwards of £1 billion by 2025! The bright side of this situation is that more people than ever before can experiment with the wellbeing potential of CBD oil in their daily lives. The downside is that it is becoming challenging to determine which products are legitimate. As the CBD market size increases, so does the regulatory pressure required to maintain it. Here, some key legal challenges have emerged.

“Free CBD Oil” and Online Scams

The Metropolitan Police define scamming as a form of fraud. Perpetrators of fraud deliberately mislead other people for selfish gain in the hopes of making money or acquiring sensitive information. Unfortunately, there have been several instances of fraud within the UK’s CBD market. Recently, the UK’s most-trusted customer feedback directory issued public warnings about online scammers offering “free CBD oil” from fraudulent websites. Before purchasing from a new website, it’s best to research the company, read some customer CBD reviews, and avoid content that seems suspicious.

Inaccurate Product Labels

According to the Centre for Medical Cannabis (CMC), “the best [CBD] products are very high quality and are good options for today’s consumers”, but these may not be the majority. A recent CMC report suggests that almost 40% of so-called CBD products in British high-street stores may be inaccurately labelled – containing much less CBD than they should. On top of this, roughly 50% of the CBD products in a random sample contained illegal THC concentrations. Some CBD oils contained toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals, while others contained no CBD at all! These results appear to violate the values outlined in the Food Safety Act, don’t they?

Genuine Confusion About CBD Regulations

As we’ve learned, there are numerous legal inconsistencies regarding CBD oil and similar cannabidiol products. While there are laws relating to controlled substances, food safety, and consumer protection, it seems as if the general UK CBD market currently tolerates “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Some cheaply-made products in pharmacies have tested positive for unsafe ingredients, and others featured misleading labels. But what exactly are the consequences, and who is enforcing them? There is considerable confusion here, but the FSA will be making significant advancements in 2021.

At present, high-quality CBD companies are taking responsibility for maintaining best practices and setting a good example.

Premium CBD oil brands are paving the way forward by offering:

• A Certificate of Analysis (COA) from an accredited third-party laboratory
• In-house testing and research
• Compliance with controlled substance and food laws
• Legal disclaimers and positive customer reviews

CBD Law in Europe and North America

Where is CBD oil legal outside of the UK? Currently, it’s tolerated in many different countries. Let’s take a quick look at CBD in Europe and North America:

Categorising CBD in Europe

The European CBD market experienced a significant legal breakthrough on the 19th of November, 2020. In response to a French case, the European Union (EU) decided that it is unreasonable for national governments to prohibit CBD products without evidence of public health risks. As a result, it prevented the French authorities from banning CBD marketing campaigns – sending a major message to other countries in the process.

According to EU guidelines, CBD oil is legal, as long as it comes from hemp and contains no more than 0.2% THC. In essence, these are very similar to the parameters set in Britain. However, some EU countries (such as Slovakia and Lithuania) classify CBD as an illegal substance. As a result, it’s vital to do some country-specific research before you make any purchases.

CBD Law in North America

As far as the USA is concerned, CBD oil is generally recognised as a legal product as long as its THC content does not exceed 0.3% per product. Interestingly, this means that CBD products in the United States can legally contain up to 50% more THC than their British and European counterparts. Of course, regulations vary from state to state – since recreational marijuana itself is legal in some locations (i.e. California) while illegal in others (such as Oklahoma).

Canada is a trailblazer across the border regarding cannabis laws and market structure. In October of 2018, it became the second country to legalise “weed”. However, the Canadian government maintains strict national standards for CBD products, and may not accept some imported items. CBD retailers are placed on equal par with cannabis retailers. It’s a good idea to consult relevant national and province-specific laws before buying CBD oil from Europe or the UK.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it to the end of this article, well done! Legal topics can be quite intimidating to engage with, but we hope you’ve gained the necessary knowledge to make more confident decisions regarding CBD and the law.

As we’ve learned, CBD oil is legal in the UK, USA, and many other countries worldwide. The authorities who choose to tolerate CBD products have several strict conditions to distinguish CBD from cannabis and other controlled substances. In the UK, legal CBD must contain minute THC concentrations (up to 0.2% per product) and cooperate with various laws – ranging from food laws to national drug policies. These rules aim to protect consumers and promote public health and safety. However, they are somewhat challenging to enforce in reality, and some unsafe products can slip through the cracks.

Since CBD is a fairly new product, the legal landscape is ever-changing. As a consumer, it’s essential to take proactive measures for the best CBD experience by sourcing from premium brands, following government advice, and referring to the current laws where you live.

Verified by a Healthcare Professional

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

This dosage guide has been developed from our practical knowledge and experience in the industry but we are not doctors, medical practitioners or nutritionists. We have followed the guidance of my industry experts who have written books on CBD, such as Mary Biles and Dr Dani Gordon. Much of the dosage practice that we set out in this guide also follows the teaching from The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis module on dosage.

‘How much do I need to take?’ is probably the most prominent query from customers looking to get started with CBD. To get the maximum benefits out of CBD you need to pick the right product that suits you, then administer the product correctly, while also consuming the correct amount of CBD. But with the exhaustive list of different brands, CBD types and product types it can make it a daunting task for first-time customers and even experienced users.

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Within this comprehensive dosage guide, we will separate fact from fiction and give you clear guidelines for how to get started with CBD without the confusion and the hassle. This will include a breakdown of how to start dosing with oils, vapes, gummies, capsules, patches and topicals, while also providing you with a simplified breakdown of conversions for strength and finding milligrams (mg) per drop. If you follow these instructions, not only will you have a better understanding of how to set your dosage correctly, but you will also recognize what is the right strength and product for you.

Putting the record straight

There is a lot of misinformation out there suggesting that there are specific set doses for different types of consumers, but this is incorrect. The truth is there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to CBD dosage, as there are a variety of different factors that come into play, such as physiology, metabolic responses and lifestyle choices. With all these elements in play, it becomes extremely difficult – if not impossible – for a consumer to prescribe a specific dosage from the beginning.

In considering the challenges of finding the correct CBD dose, we must be cautious and flexible in our approach. We can do this by starting on a low dosage of 1-2 drops 2-3 times a day using a low to medium strength CBD oil, such as a 500mg (5%) product. From here, we can slowly increase the dose every five days until we find what is called the ‘sweet spot’, which is when you are feeling the maximum amount of benefit from the oil, without wasting any CBD. We recommend that you titrate up 1 drop of oil every 5 days until you find your sweet spot (1-2 drops first 5 days, 2-3 drops next 5 days and so on).

Note on ‘wasting’ CBD

Our endocannabinoid system has a ceiling where it will close off absorption once we have received an adequate dose. If we go past this ceiling, the remaining phytocannabinoids and phytonutrients in our system will be excreted from the body. This is another reason to be extremely careful with your dosage as if you start on a high dose which is too much for your body and endocannabinoid system, you are going to be wasting the CBD, and essentially, your hard-earned money.

Should you dose differently depending on your condition?

The short answer is no, but this could change in the future. At the moment there isn’t enough research on human subjects in a clinical setting to make conclusions about dosage for different conditions. As research develops and focuses specifically on a range of conditions with different CBD types and measurements of these products over varying time periods, we may find more conclusive data to give set doses for specific conditions.

But as many factors come into play which can alter dosage requirements (as explained previously), we think it is more likely that a flexible and cautious approach is likely to be the most accurate way of finding your optimal dose.

If you wish to see the most recent preliminary data on dosage, here are two of the most significant research studies:

A systematic review of cannabidiol dosing in clinical populations by the Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, UK.

Dosage, Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol Administration in Adults: A Systematic Review of Human Trials by the Nordic Cannabis Research Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.

CBD per drop

To measure your dosage as accurately as possible, you need to know the number of milligrams (mg) of CBD per drop. In the following table, we lay out how much mg there is per drop in a range of the most popular strengths whilst also factoring in bottle sizes. It is important to mention that this is a rough guide – CBD drops can vary in size depending on what pipette you are using, which means the amount of mg will vary slightly too. If you want to be as precise as possible, we recommend you buy a product which uses a graduated marked dropper or buy one separately from your local pharmacy. This will ensure you are administering the correct dose each time you take CBD.

Strength	1%	5%	10%	15%	20%	30%	40%
MG per drop	0.5mg	2.5mg	5mg	7.5mg	10mg	15mg	20mg

This table exhibits mg per drop for some of the preferred strengths on the market, but if you have a strength different to the one displayed, you can work out the mg per drop by multiplying by 0.5. For example, to work out the mg per drop for a strength of 6%, I multiply 6 by 0.5 to get 3mg (6 x 0.5 = 3).

To get the most accurate dose specifically tailored to you, we recommend that you record the amount of CBD you are consuming in mg daily. So, if you were starting CBD for the first time, taking 1 drop three times a day and were using a 5% product, from looking at the table you would be taking 7.5mg per day and 37.5mg per week. If you didn’t feel any effects from this dosage, you would continue to the next week slightly increasing the dosage and continue and record again. This may sound trivial, but it is really important not only to know how much you are consuming but also if you change the product to a different strength or variety you can adjust accordingly without any hitches.

How to workout strength from the amount of mg and visa versa

Dosage becomes a bit more tricky as different CBD brands decide to market their products in different ways. Some brands prefer to title its products in mg, some brands prefer to market its products in strength concentration percentage and others like to give mg per ml. You also have to take into account that products will come in different sizes (ml), which affects the strength concentration percentage – just to make things even more confusing.

As it happens, there are very easy solutions to make things much more simple.

Mg > total strength concentration % (10ml)

Converting the mg into strength for 10ml bottles is very simple (see table below); – all you have to do is take two zeros away from the total mg, and what you are left with is the total percentage concentration of the product (1000mg – two zeros = 10%).

This works if there is only one zero, but you need to add a decimal place two numbers along (2750mg – 1 zero = 275 *adds decimal place two numbers along* 27.5%).

Even if the total mg falls on a number without any zeros, as long as you place a decimal place 1 number along for numbers in the hundreds (278mg = 2.78%) or 2 numbers along for numbers in the thousands (2758mg = 27.58%).

The tricks given before are just a way of instantly knowing the percentage without having to do a sum, but if it was confusing and you would rather just do an equation each time you work it out, all you have to do is divide the total mg by 100, which also gives you the total percentage concentration of the product (2758mg divided by 100 = 27.58%).

Total strength concentration % > Mg

If the product displays the total strength concentration and you want to work out total mg, all you have to do is work backwards from the equation for mg > total strength concentration %.

If you were wishing to do the tricks I explained previously, instead of taking away 2 zeros, you would add 2 zeros (20% + 2 zeros = 2000mg), instead of taking away 1 zero you would add one and take away the decimal place (27.5% = 2750mg) and instead of adding a decimal place 1 or 2 numbers down you would remove the decimal place (2.75% = 275) (27.58% = 2758mg).

If you would rather not do this trick, all you have to do is multiply by 100 (27.58% x 100 = 2758mg).

10ml Bottle	100mg	500mg	1000mg	1500mg	2000mg	3000mg	4000mg
Concentration	1%	5%	10%	15%	20%	30%	40%

Total strength concentration % > Mg & Mg > total strength concentration % (20ml)

The quickest and most simple way to work out the total strength concentration for 20ml product sizes is to divide the total mg by 200 (1000mg divided by 200 = 5%). Reverse this sum to find the converted total strength concentration percentage to mg (5% x 200 = 1000mg).

20ml Bottle	200mg	1000mg	2000mg	3000mg	4000mg	6000mg	8000mg
Concentration	1%	5%	10%	15%	20%	30%	40%

Total strength concentration % > Mg & Mg > total strength concentration % (30ml)

The quickest and most simple way to work out the total strength concentration for 30ml product sizes is to divide the total mg by 300 (1500mg divided by 300 = 5%). Reverse this sum to find the converted total strength concentration percentage to mg (5% x 300 = 1500mg).

30ml Bottle	300mg	1500mg	3000mg	4500mg	6000mg	9000mg	12,000mg
Concentration	1%	5%	10%	15%	20%	30%	40%

Differences in dosing between full-spectrum, broad- spectrum and isolate

As a beginner, you might assume that you need to take the same dosage across all CBD types, but the amount you need to administer will vary significantly depending on the type of CBD you use. There are 3 main types of CBD formulations:

CBD Isolate

This contains CBD with a carrier oil and no other cannabinoids – hence the name ‘isolate’

CBD Broad-spectrum

This contains CBD and a range of other cannabinoids but no THC. Other cannabinoids have also been associated with a variety of health benefits, and research has suggested that this type of product could be more effective than an isolate due to the ‘entourage effect’. This is where all the cannabinoids work together synergistically to create a more long-lasting and potent effect.

CBD Full-spectrum

Full-spectrum is the same as broad-spectrum but contains THC. You might see some products advertised as full-spectrum on our website, but they only contain a minimal trace of THC (below 0.2%), as CBD brands have to abide by the UK’s and Food Standards Agency (FSA).

According to preliminary research conducted by the University of Jerusalem, full spectrum CBD extracts produced greater effects than isolate CBD. The research also suggests that the effectiveness of CBD isolate against pain and inflammation may only be shown at a specific dose, where full-spectrum CBD exhibited more effectiveness as the dose was increased.

Researchers believe that this is due to stripping away all the terpenes, flavonoids and other minor cannabinoids out of the formulation. All these other elements individually have there own associated benefits, and when working together in unison it produces a phenomenon called the entourage effect. This means that if you use an isolate product in the same way you use a broad-spectrum or full-spectrum product, it is likely that you will not receive the same benefits, which means we have to adjust accordingly.

We recommend that you double your dose to account for the differences, but it is important to remember that the FSA recommends you stay under 70mg per day.

Why use isolate?

You might be asking, why would you use isolate over broad-spectrum or full-spectrum products? We think you shouldn’t unless you fall into the following categories.

• You have regular drug tests due to your occupation

While it is unlikely that you will test positive for THC as there is such a small amount allowed in products across Europe, there is no point in taking the risk. You can be sure that when taking an Isolate there is 0 THC. Even with broad-spectrum products, there are still risks as it is very difficult to remove all the THC from the formulation.

• You have anxiety taking broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products

With all these other ingredients included in the formulation, you may be worried about taking the product and you might find more comfort in knowing there are only CBD and the carrier oil included in the product.

If you are looking for the most effective formulation possible and you don’t have these worries, we do recommend that you take broad-spectrum or full-spectrum products. In our experience, customers have seen more improvements in their well-being from using products which contain all the goodness which hemp has to offer.

Capsules, soft gels and gummies dosage

Capsules and gummies are a great alternative for consumers who want to avoid the hassle of administering CBD oil. You shouldou should bare in mind that It is more difficult to be precise with your dosage for capsules and gummies as there is a fixed amount of mg per capsules (10mg, 20mg, 25mg per capsule) and they can be more expensive as the manufacturing process is more extensive than for a regular CBD oil.

If you do choose capsules or gummies as your prefered option, we recommend you start with a 5mg or 10mg product.

Take 1 capsule/gummy twice a day (one in the morning, one in the afternoon/evening) for 5 days and see how you feel.

If you didn’t see the results you were hoping for, take one capsule 3 times a day (one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening) for 5 days. If you still don’t feel the results you were hoping for, you can up the dose to 2 capsules/gummies 3 times a day. If you do see good effects after this, next time you purchase capsules you should buy a higher strength product (20mg or 25mg per capsule), as you won’t have to consume as many capsules/gummies per day and you will likely save a little bit of money as you are purchasing more at one time.

Vape dosage

Vaping can be a great option for former smokers who wish to use a less harmful alternative. It also has the highest bioavailability out of all the different product types, so if you are wishing to get the most out of your CBD this might be the choice for you. Vape products tend to be the cheapest product as they don’t usually come in the same high strengths due to the risk of crystallisation.

Dosing for vaping can be a bit more tricky as it is difficult to know how much mg you are consuming as there isn’t an accurate way of measuring a ‘puff’. What we recommend is that you have around 5-8 puffs three times a day for five days using a lower strength product (100mg, 200mg). Keep adding one puff to your dosage every 5 days until you find your ‘sweet spot’ – if you are having to have many puffs to get the results you were looking for, this would be when you increase the strength of the product when you go to buy your next batch.

It can be tempting to use a CBD vape throughout the day, especially if you are an ex-smoker. While it is unlikely there will be any risks to your health from the CBD (not in regards to damage caused by inhaling vapour), you will reach your ceiling and the CBD you consume after that will be wasted. It is up to the consumer’s discretion whether to continue to use CBD regardless of wasting the CBD or the recommended FSA limit of 70mg, but if you wish to save yourself some money and follow the guidelines, we recommend you use a normal vape oil that doesn’t contain CBD in between your doses of CBD.

Topicals are for people who may be looking for alternatives to pharmaceutical medication for their skin conditions, or for users who are looking for alternative products to keep skin healthy, you

Topicals are for people who may be looking for alternatives to pharmaceutical medication for their skin conditions, or for users who are looking for alternative products to keep skin healthy, young and moisturised and people who are looking to target an area of pain and inflammation with CBD. Topical dosage is much more simple as you shouldn’t have to increase the dosage over time. We recommend that you use a small amount and rub it gently in the affected area/face/body twice a day (in the morning and evening). If you keep using it consistently, you should hopefully see some good results.

CBD oil dosage (spray and pipette)

The most popular choice of CBD oil is an effective all-round product which offers good bioavailability and accurate dosage. CBD oil will usually come as a spray or with a pipette which are both designed to be used sublingually (under the tongue). You use the dropper or spray under the tongue and leave it in your mouth until you have absorbed the oil. We have gone over dosage for CBD oil previously in this guide, but we will just clarify the main sticking points to avoid confusion.

We recommend you start on a low strength product (200mg – 500mg) and take 1-2 drops/sprays three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) for 5 days.

After this you review – if you haven’t seen the results you are looking for, increase your dose by 1 drop. And as you have probably already guessed, you continue to do this until you find your optimal dose. If you are having to take a lot of drops/sprays to see effects, it is recommended that next time you go for a higher strength product.

CBD patches

Patches are designed for users who wish to consistently absorb CBD transdermally during an extended period to a place of inflammation and pain. Patches tend to be a bit more expensive than regular topicals such as balms and creams, but can be an effective option for users who experience pain throughout the day, or for active people who want to consistently absorb CBD throughout their workout in an attempt to prevent inflammation.

Fortunately, patches are relatively simple to use – you stick the patch on the area of the body that is experiencing pain/inflammation for the amount of time it says on the instructions. Some patches will be 10mg and you will apply them for 24 hours, others will be 20-25mg and you will apply them for 48 hours.

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

Anxiety is a common emotion experienced by many at some point in their lives. Although a small amount of anxiety could be considered a good thing to have (so that we stay vigilant and thus be more capable of protecting ourselves from potentially harmful threats), having too much anxiety is actually counterproductive and may have serious health implications. In particular,  anxiety-related medication conditions have been on the rise lately. Thus, many are beginning to turn to natural remedy options for anxiety. On that note, a particular type of cannabinoid known as CBD, or cannabidiol, has become a recent hype within the anti-anxiety treatment space.

Therefore, this article seeks to explore the potential medical applications of CBD for the treatment of anxiety.

With increasing numbers of people attempting to consume CBD products as potential ‘anti-anxiety’ supplements, the question still remains – does CBD help with anxiety attacks?

In this article, we’ll be exploring the potential answers to these questions and also will be presenting some of the impressive possible benefits of CBD oil for anxiety symptoms. Let’s take a deep breath and get started.

When was the last time you felt anxious? Was it while you were watching the news? Perhaps, it could have been during an exam or job interview or maybe while you were waiting for a friend or loved one who was running late. Few of us are immune to these feelings of anticipation and worry. Since simplifying things can be a useful stress-management strategy, let’s start by breaking CBD and anxiety down into some simple terms.

A Stress-Free Introduction to CBD and Anxiety

A breakout substance within the field of cannabis research, CBD (cannabidiol) has attracted a tremendous amount of attention in recent years. This interest is partly due to some significant changes in legislation, but on a broader basis, it may also reflect the scientific intrigue surrounding cannabis plants in general. New reports that explore the nature of CBD emerge regularly. Some current evidence suggests that CBD may potentially have a positive impact on symptoms of pain, insomnia, inflammation and anxiety – as we will go on to explore. Are you interested to learn more? Keep reading.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety is an emotion. Like any other emotion, we are likely to encounter it at some point or another. It might make our stomachs churn, our palms sweat and our minds race, but ideally anxiety should be a short-term experience rather than a long-term struggle. However, more and more people today are battling with chronic anxiety that has the potential to wreak havoc on their minds and bodies. In this case, fear may no longer be a mere emotion, and it may potentially become a severe problem that requires intervention to overcome.

Stress Versus Anxiety

Sometimes we use the words ‘stress’ and ‘anxiety’ interchangeably, but this is not technically correct. They may be universal and overlapping experiences, but they are different. While anxiety refers to an emotional state, stress is both a mental and a physical reaction to the situations we may face in life.

During emergencies, stress is a survival mechanism that can help to protect us from harm. It may manifest in physical symptoms such as muscle tension, appetite changes and hormone surges. However, if it persists in everyday life, stress can become an issue just like anxiety can. Stress is often associated with literal situations, while anxiety is about how we perceive ‘real’ or imagined circumstances.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

According to the National Health Service (NHS), chronic forms of anxiety can affect the mind and the body. As we know, the mind and body do not exist in isolation from each other. Instead, they are closely connected, and issues which originate in one area tend to affect our whole being.

Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of anxiety may include:

• Tiredness
• A sense of fear and impending doom
• Emotional restlessness
• Muscle tension
• Impaired concentration skills
• Insomnia

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

While all of us are liable to experience temporary feelings of anxiety, some may be more susceptible to developing a disorder. Typically, people diagnosed with anxiety disorders experience anxiety symptoms that feel excessive, uncontrollable and may interfere with their quality of life.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently estimated that over 3.6% of the world’s population suffers from an anxiety disorder, equivalent to over 250 million people. The fact that excessive anxiety is an increasingly prevalent issue in today’s world motivates many researchers to contemplate its origins. There is no way of knowing for sure, but let’s briefly consider some of the potential risk factors in light of some fundamental studies.

Trauma

Psychological trauma can arise due to a profoundly troubling or stressful life experience. Derived from the Greek word ‘traʊmə’ which means ‘wound’, trauma is often an overwhelming and painful experience. An observational study recently conducted in the Czech Republic suggests that individuals who experience trauma in childhood might potentially be at greater risk of developing an anxiety disorder as adults.

Genetics

Can we ‘inherit’ anxiety from our relatives? A study involving twins indicates that some people may be genetically predisposed to anxiety depending on their family background. While genetics is certainly not a guarantee of any particular mental health outcome, it may possibly be a contributing factor.

Underlying Health Issues

Underlying health issues ranging from chronic pain to substance abuse can cause our bodies to experience prolonged stress. This stress may have the potential to escalate into anxiety. Additionally, some research shows that people who suffer from depression might possibly be more likely to struggle with an anxiety disorder.

Personality Traits

Funnily enough, our personalities may have a part to play regarding our chances of developing anxiety. According to a study involving stroke patients, people with neurotic or pessimistic tendencies may potentially be more vulnerable to some forms of anxiety.

Anxiety disorders can come in various forms and, in some, cases occur alongside other mental health struggles. Let’s explore three of the most common variations. Please keep in mind that the summaries below are written for educational purposes and are by no means intended to assist with diagnosing anxiety disorders. If you have any personal mental health concerns, please seek assistance from a qualified professional.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Daily life can be particularly challenging for those struggling with GAD – an anxiety disorder that causes sufferers to feel extremely worried and anxious about ‘normal’ situations. Often, GAD involves the constant inflation of pessimistic thoughts and the fear of future events.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

You’ve probably heard of PTSD before concerning homecoming soldiers or refugees escaping war zones. As a psychological response to life-threatening events, PTSD can cause a person to continually battle with negative thoughts and troubling flashbacks associated with the past. Up to 3% of the English population may experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

In recent years, people have started to use the abbreviation OCD to casually describe their desire to organise objects or avoid messy rooms. But did you know that OCD is an anxiety disorder? People suffering from OCD may feel trapped in a ‘loop’ of repetitive behaviours and intrusive thought patterns that seem uncontainable.

How Can Anxiety Affect Your Body?

Have you ever heard of the ‘fight-or-flight’ theory? Here’s a summary to refresh your memory. First proposed in 1915 by Walter Bradford Cannon, the ‘fight-or-flight’ theory attempts to rationalise the changes in an animal’s behaviour and body language in response to environmental pressures. Other scholars later elaborated this theory and loosely applied it to humans. When we’re in the grips of chronic anxiety, we may perceive danger more urgently and intensely than necessary. As a result, several reactions can occur, impacting our physiology.

Anxiety and the Nervous System

When we’re experiencing anxiety, various stress responses may suddenly occur in coordination with different parts of our nervous system – including the sympathetic and parasympathetic sub-divisions. According to the APA, these responses may potentially involve:

• The rapid glandular release of adrenaline and cortisol (the “stress hormone”)
• An acceleration of the heartbeat and the dilation of blood vessels
• Raised blood sugar levels

Have you ever felt like your heart was beating faster in a moment of pressure or excitement? Chances are, you didn’t imagine it. According to Harvard Medical School, our long-term emotional state may have a powerful impact on our hearts. Some studies suggest that anxiety disorders may potentially interfere with optimal functioning by:

Anxiety and the Immune System

The immune system is an integrated complex of cells that defend your body’s integrity and protect it from invading microorganisms that could cause infection. A healthy immune system functions to preserve our physical well-being, while a weakened immune system could potentially leave us more vulnerable. Current data suggest that anxiety may potentially:

Other Physical Effects of Anxiety

As we’re beginning to establish, experts have linked anxiety with a worrying variety of potential health complaints. Beyond the challenges we have mentioned so far, it may also impact our integral functions such as breathing, sleeping, eating and digesting. These correlations may be one reason why psychotherapists often ask about their clients’ physical wellbeing.

Hopefully, by now, we can appreciate that anxiety is not only a matter of the mind. However, it is relevant to consider how chronic anxiety may affect one of our most vital and elaborate organs: the brain. As we know, our brains control all of our bodily processes. They are also responsible for interpreting our environments and (arguably) the deeper ‘essence’ of who we are. Chronic anxiety may have the potential to compromise some of these functions.

How Anxiety Affects the Brain

Have you ever experienced racing thoughts, unstable emotions and forgetfulness in periods of anxiety? There may be a scientific explanation. Some neurobiologists have used brain imaging technology to help identify some of the possible effects of chronic stress on the brain’s structure and chemistry. Research suggests that the “limbic system” is the primary part of the brain that processes emotions. This arrangement’s key components include the hippocampus (processing memories, learning and feelings) and the amygdala (handling emotional behaviours – especially fear).

Chronic anxiety may potentially affect our brains by:

Within the world of psychotherapy, panic attacks and depression are often part of broader conversations about anxiety. To help prevent confusion, let’s clarify what is meant by this. If you’re looking for a more personal and in-depth discussion about mental health, you must speak with a qualified doctor.

What are Panic Attacks?

A common complaint among those suffering from a type of chronic anxiety called ‘panic disorder’, panic attacks are sudden episodes of fear marked by intense worrying, thoughts of crisis and symptoms such as trembling and heart acceleration. Sometimes, these episodes may arise in response to an outside stressor, while other times they appear to happen entirely at random.

Anxiety Versus Depression

Sometimes, people struggle to determine where the symptoms of anxiety end and the symptoms of depression begin. While these are both different conditions that can occur in isolation, it is also reasonably common for a coupled effect to emerge.

Clinical depression is a mental illness characterised by persistent feelings of hopelessness, tiredness and emotional lows that may escalate into a life-or-death struggle. People battling clinical depression may, in some cases, experience anxiety. On the other hand, those already diagnosed with an anxiety disorder may develop symptoms of depression. However, the ‘good news’ (so to speak) is that similar strategies may help treat both problems.

So far, we’ve learned that anxiety can be tough to endure when it is a persistent issue. It may even contribute to a real or perceived decline in health in some cases. Uncontrollable anxiety can potentially affect our family dynamics, social lives and the opportunities we choose to pursue in life.

However, despite how intimidating things may seem, it is possible to recover from an anxiety disorder. Sometimes, forms of intervention, such as talking therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), may be required. Many people use anxiety management techniques such as mindfulness and self-care to more freely process day-to-day moments.

Can CBD Oil “Cure” Anxiety?

This is a widely-asked question, but unfortunately, it is a little misinformed. There are no quick ‘cures’ for anxiety – neither is it reasonable to claim that the act of consuming CBD oil (or any other substance) can make your stress disappear forever. Here are some more valid questions which we will explore in the rest of this article: How does CBD oil work? Can using CBD oil help us manage some of the symptoms of anxiety? We’re sure you’ll be surprised by the answers.

What is CBD (Cannabidiol)?

We briefly introduced CBD at the beginning of this article. However, there is plenty more to say about this fascinating substance. Extracted from a variety of cannabis known as industrial hemp (or technically, cannabis Sativa), CBD is an oily compound or ‘cannabinoid’. Over 100 different cannabinoids are present in the cannabis plant family, but emerging evidence suggests that CBD may offer some unique potential benefits. These may possibly apply to symptoms of inflammation and anxiety as well as self-perceived mood improvements.

CBD and the Law

Cannabis and the law have quite a complicated history. In the UK and many other countries, cannabis is classified as a restricted substance and is illegal to buy, sell, use or possess in most cases. As we know, cannabis can have a mood-altering and potentially addictive effect when consumed; this is mainly due to its THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content. While researchers are continually exploring the potential wellness benefits of THC, many authorities currently categorised as a dangerous substance subject to strict regulations. So, is CBD oil legal?

Thankfully, the World Health Organisation has deemed regulation-compliant CBD a safe and non-intoxicating substance. Developers source CBD from industrial hemp – a plant that is naturally low in THC and high in CBD. Furthermore, it is possible to extract CBD in a way that excludes all THC molecules. According to present British laws, CBD is legal substance as long as it contains minimal amounts of THC (0.2% or less) per product. Since the laws surrounding CBD vary from place to place, you should refer to the specific regulations upheld where you live before proceeding.

How Does CBD Work?

To get an accurate picture of how CBD may take action within your body, it helps to have a basic understanding of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). As its name suggests, the ECS relates to cannabinoids and, as we’ve learned, CBD is a cannabinoid. Many aspects of the ECS are currently a mystery, but researchers do have a general idea of how it functions.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The ECS is a crucial cell-signalling network that helps to maintain ‘homeostasis’ – the regulation of our core temperature, water balance, breathing, hormone levels, and many other processes. The ECS utilises the endocannabinoids, CB1/CB2 receptors, and enzymes naturally produced by your body to support its functioning. The emerging process may look something like this:

1. Endocannabinoids are released and begin to travel towards receptors in the targeted area (for example, an injured body part).
2. Endocannabinoids ‘bind’ with receptors to pass on a signal (such as a pain signal).
3. Once the signalling is complete, enzymes rapidly break down endocannabinoids.

CBD and the ECS

While our bodies can generate endocannabinoids independently, we may experience endocannabinoid shortages for various reasons. Research indicates that being deficient in endocannabinoids may potentially inhibit the optimal functioning of the ECS. Can CBD contribute to the ECS?

Current evidence suggests that CBD may possibly help by:

Potential Benefits of CBD

CBD is extremely popular among growing audiences – particularly those who suffer from chronic anxiety and related issues. An impressive range of anecdotal reports have emerged over the past few years, as people have shared their stories and associated their personal use of CBD with the perceived improvement of anxiety. But what do the facts say?

Many scholars have argued that we can’t maintain good health in the long term if we cannot sleep properly. Disrupted sleep patterns can contribute to conditions of stress within the body. As we’ve covered, stress may be a contributing factor to anxiety. Furthermore, insomnia can be an uncomfortable symptom of anxiety.

Current research suggests that CBD may potentially influence our sleep patterns by:

The adrenaline released during bouts of anxiety can cause our muscles to contract uncomfortably – making us feel physically tense and “on edge”. With chronic anxiety, muscle tension can be an ongoing issue that may potentially contribute to more comprehensive side-effects of fatigue and stress. Some research suggests it may be possible for CBD to impact symptoms of muscle tension by:

• Potentially addressing some muscle-specific symptoms of inflammation
• Affecting certain kinds of muscle-spasms
• Potentially influencing muscle mobility (according to a study involving mice)
• Triggering self-perceived improvements in body tension and tension headaches

Some researchers have speculated that CBD deserves further investigation for its potential therapeutic uses. At present, the evidence needed to support this is limited, but scientists remain devoted to the task of exposing CBD’s possible mental health benefits.

Regarding broader anxiety symptoms, some studies suggest that CBD may potentially cause:

CBD has a possible ‘advantage’ as a naturally-derived and low-risk substance in addition to these potential benefits. While it may cause some mild side-effects, it is for the most part considered safe for consumption. For those who are easily triggered by hypothetical ‘what-ifs’, CBD’s clean reputation may be something of a relief.

A Brief Guide to Popular CBD Products

A 2019 report issued by the Centre for Medical Cannabis (CMC) predicts that the UK CBD market will be worth £1 billion by 2025. Impressive, right? Unfortunately, there have been some fraud and online spamming incidents within the global marketplace. The pharmacy shelves are not necessarily reliable either – since the CMC also suggests that some so-called CBD products in high-street stores contain toxic ingredients and as little as 0% CBD! So, how do you avoid all this unnecessary stress? Below, we’ll offer you some helpful tips.

Choosing a Reputable CBD Brand

Here at Alphagreen, we know a thing or two about reputable CBD brands. We’ve devoted our entire platform to showcasing some of the best in the business and providing educational resources to help you make confident decisions.

The following factors are often associated with high-value CBD brands:

• A Certificate of Analysis (COA) from a third-party laboratory
• An official quality pledge
• Positive customer reviews
• Premium blends (e.g. free from gluten, heavy metals, toxins, etc.)
• Organic or vegan status
• An environmentally-friendly ethos

In the remainder of this article, we will be drawing particular attention to CBD oil. However, it is worth mentioning some of the other relatively direct methods. While CBD creams and other topicals are a delightful category, we’ve refrained from mentioning them in the context of anxiety because they require extra time to absorb. Depending on your needs, lifestyle and personal preferences, you may wish to experiment with different CBD products to determine which method suits you best.

Gummies and Other Edibles

CBD edibles are easy to ingest, reasonably gentle to absorb and can come in a wide variety of pleasant flavours. Since eating is an activity that we all do daily, consuming CBD via food and drink can be convenient and comforting. CBD gummies are botanical sweets that come in pre-measured doses. You can also consume CBD through infused chocolates, coffee blends and other drinks.

Vaping Products

CBD vape products may potentially help you to handle symptoms of situational anxiety in a timely fashion. By using a CBD-infused vape pen, you can absorb CBD via your airways within approximately 15 minutes. These products often come with various aromas and flavours – possibly incorporating some pleasant aromatherapy principles.

CBD Tablets and Capsules

Like edibles, CBD tablets and capsules are taken orally and absorbed via your digestive system. They come in set doses and may require up to an hour to take effect. As a result, they may be more suitable for daily supplements than in-the-moment ones. If anxiety gives you a dry mouth and the sensation of a lump in our throat, you may find capsules challenging to swallow.

What is CBD Oil?

Without further ado, let’s discuss CBD in its most crowd-pleasing form. CBD oil is a combination of CBD extract (which is naturally oily) and any plant-derived carrier oil (such as hemp seed oil, coconut or olive). Typically, developers package it in a tinted glass bottle to prevent any sunlight-related damage. Using either a dropper or a spray nozzle, users apply CBD oil under their tongues – where it is absorbed quite quickly.

Different Types of CBD Oil

You should find a detailed breakdown of your chosen CBD oil clearly stated on the product label. Excluding the different types of carrier oils available, the following factors can influence the properties of any given CBD oil:

• CBD extract composition or ‘spectrum’ (for example, it could be Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum or CBD Isolate)
• CBD oil concentration (the percentage of CBD extract present per product)

Possible Side-Effects of CBD Oil

In most cases, people can consume CBD oil safely without experiencing any adverse side-effects. However, it is essential to exercise caution if you are on medication, since CBD oil may potentially impact certain medicines. For peace of mind, speak with your doctor first.

Some mild side-effects which may possibly be triggered by CBD consumption may include:

• Stomach upsets and appetite changes
• Tiredness
• Dry mouth

You can find an in-depth guide to CBD dosage elsewhere on the Alphagreen Academy – it’s a must-read topic. When it comes to consuming CBD oil, it is vital to keep in mind that your body will most likely need to adjust. We recommend starting slowly by taking 5-10 drops of CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue) and observing the results over time. You may be willing to experiment to identify the CBD dosage that is best for you. However, it is also wise to speak with your doctor for more precise advice on incorporating CBD oil as part of your routine.

You may also wish to pay special attention to your CBD dosage in light of:

• Your age
• Your BMI (body mass index)
• Your general physical health
• Your desired effects
• The concentration of CBD you are using

CBD Dosing

For your convenience, please refer to the dosing information below. Do keep in mind that higher concentrations of CBD oil may be the most cost-effective option.

CBD Oil Concentration	Dosage of CBD per Drop
2.5% CBD Oil	1.25 mg of CBD
4% CBD Oil	2 mg of CBD
5% CBD Oil	2.5 mg of CBD
10% CBD Oil	5 mg of CBD
20% CBD Oil	10 mg of CBD

Can’t find the concentration of your CBD product? There’s no need to feel stressed out. For an approximation, you can calculate it below.

Step One: Amount of CBD (in mg)  ÷  Volume of CBD Oil (in ml) = Amount of CBD per ml

Step Two: Amount of CBD per ml  ÷ 20 = Approximate amount of CBD per drop

E.g: 1,000 mg of CBD in 30 ml of CBD oil contains 33.3 mg of CBD per ml (1.67 mg per drop)

In this article, we’ve learned that anxiety is at best an uncomfortable emotion, and at worst, a debilitating issue that may require special effort to overcome. CBD is a substance that has attracted significant attention due to its potential promise in clinical and therapeutic environments. As one of the most popular and stress-free ways to consume this cannabis compound, CBD oil may possibly offer us new self-care avenues. But, can CBD oil “treat” anxiety? Currently, we don’t have enough scientific evidence to confirm this. Can CBD oil potentially influence how we experience symptoms of anxiety? Anecdotal reports and CBD oil reviews posted by Alphagreen customers illustrate some incredible self-perceived success stories. So far, research implies that some side-effects of anxiety may possibly be alleviated by the use of cannabis-inspired wellness products.

With our official stress and anxiety CBD collection, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to judge these potential benefits for yourself!

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

CBD is a trendy compound in the health and wellness industry. Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. There are three types of CBD: full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, CBD Isolate. CBD has shown to have anticonvulsant, antiemetic, mood-balancing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Cannabis is illegal for recreational use in the Czech Republic. Personal possession was decriminalised on 1st January 2010. Medical cannabis has been legal since 1st April 2013 and pharmaceutical Cannabis, such as Sativex and Dronabinol are available by medical prescription. CBD products are legal but must be THC-free. There are many places in Prague where you can try CBD products, such as CBD Club Praha, Hempa CBD Hemp Store, Cannabis Point and others.

It is no surprise to us here at Alphagreen that Prague is among the top 5 most popular city break destinations in Europe. Prague, if you didn’t know already, is the capital of the Czech Republic and its largest city. It is also the 13th largest city in the European Union and the historical capital of Bohemia.

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Prague is situated on the Vltava river, and its population is around 1.3 million. Popular all year round, you can expect a relatively warm climate if you visit during the summer months, and a sharp bite in the air if you visit in the winter – so don’t forget your coats, hats and scarves!

Prague is a political, cultural and economic hub of central Europe complete with a rich history. Some of the popular landmarks that draw tourists to this wonderful city include Prague Castle, Charles Bridge (seen below), the Old Town Square which features the Prague astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, Petřín hill and Vyšehrad. Since 1992, the extensive historical centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Need we tell you any further reasons to visit?

Ok, one more thing. Prague is brimming with handy cannabis and CBD shops, the best of which we will be exploring in this read. So stay with us if you want to know more about the top spots for CBD in Prague.

CBD can be summarised in a series of bullet points:

• CBD is short for cannabidiol.

• Cannabidiol is a naturally-occurring compound found in cannabis, known as a cannabinoid.
• Cannabis Sativa is the cannabis strain that contains this cannabinoid. Hemp and Marijuana are the two varieties of the cannabis Sativa species.
• CBD products are hemp-derived, rather than marijuana-derived. Hemp contains more CBD than marijuana, while marijuana contains more of another cannabinoid: THC.
• THC is intoxicating and psychotropic, CBD is not. This means no matter how much CBD you take, you will not become “high”.
• Hemp-derived CBD is mostly legal, but laws fluctuate depending on where you are. The THC content per CBD product is usually restricted. In the UK and most EU countries, this THC limit is 0.2% per product. Again, this amount is not intoxicating.
• While marijuana is often used recreationally, hemp-derived CBD has historically been used as an agent of wellness, famed for its therapeutic potential, which we will be exploring shortly.

In our exploration of Prague’s finest CBD outfits, we may mention some cannabis-related terms that you might not have come across yet, so if you get stuck with the lingo, you can refer back to this glossary.

Full-spectrum CBD: This refinement contains all the original compounds from cannabis, including the THC. A full-spectrum refinement tends not to go through extra processing but is left in its original state. Typically, this kind of refinement will possess many different cannabinoids aside from CBD and THC. It will also usually include other active nutrients from cannabis, like vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, flavonoids and terpenes – all naturally-occurring, plant-derived compounds that are believed to boost our wellness in various ways.

Broad-spectrum CBD: The only difference between broad-spectrum CBD and full-spectrum CBD is the THC. The former does not contain any THC as it has gone through further filtering to break this cannabinoid down and abolish it from the refinement. Other than that, it usually contains all the same phytonutrients and other cannabinoids indigenous to cannabis Sativa that you would find in a full-spectrum CBD product.

CBD Isolate: Pure, unadulterated cannabidiol that has been through the heaviest extraction processes to break down all the other phytocompounds from the hemp plant, until CBD is all that remains.

Entourage Effect: This effect can only be produced by broad-spectrum and full-spectrum refinements. It refers to the way all the phytochemicals work synergistically when they are all present in a refinement. This effect was first described by Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat in 1998. Because CBD Isolate is cannabidiol on its own, there are no synergy partners to enable the entourage effect. For this reason, it is thought that CBD Isolate isn’t quite as beneficial as its full-spectrum or broad-spectrum counterparts.

CBD Oil: One of the many formats in which you will find CBD. CBD concentrate will usually be mixed with a carrier oil, be it olive oil, MCT (from coconuts), hemp seed oil, pomegranate seed oil, avocado oil or grapeseed oil. You may opt to take CBD oil infused into a beverage, food, or just as it is, by dropping some of the oil beneath your tongue for fast absorption into the bloodstream.

CBD Edibles: CBD that can be eaten. CBD edibles may manifest in the form of gummies, chocolate, baked goods – or anything that you make yourself which has CBD infused into it. Note that, unlike infamous weed brownies, CBD edibles will not make you high.

CBD Topicals: CBD in the form of a cream, balm, lotion, body oil, salve – essentially anything that can be applied to the skin. Topicals are a great choice for targeted relief to the skin, muscles and joints.

CBD Hashish: Also known as hash, CBD hashish is a concentrated form of CBD. You can smoke hash, vape it or cook with it. It’s typically made from cannabis plants that have high concentrations of CBD and low concentrations of THC. It can be made by rubbing the crystals off of the buds of the plant, then compressing them. However, manufacturing of hash is usually slightly more complicated than this. Indeed, it means taking those same CBD-rich components, like the buds and the pollen, and pressing them with large sieves or ice water. Preferably, hash is made without any additives, keeping it all-natural and unadulterated. Because CBD hash is a concentrate, it will be much more powerful than other forms of CBD, meaning less is needed to obtain the desired effects. Again, CBD hash will not intoxicate you as THC-rich hash would.

Non-GMO: GMO stands for “Genetically Modified Organisms”, which are living organisms whose genetic material have been artificially altered through genetic engineering. To make an organism GM, scientists change the genetic makeup of the organism. Plants and crops are largely treated with genetic modification, usually to withstand chemical herbicides and pesticides, which enables farmers to use these harsh chemicals on the plants. These chemicals might be used to make the plants easier to grow, even though the chemicals pose risks for humans in the long run. The safety and long-term implications of GMOs are presently unknown, but many fear that they may be harmful to human health, as well as to the environment.

So, a non-GMO hemp plant is one that has been grown minus the harmful risks, toxins, or chemicals, resulting in a non-GMO final CBD product. This means you won’t have to worry about what you might be consuming when you take your CBD.

CBD is thought to have a number of therapeutic credentials:

Anticonvulsant: Its potential to reduce the occurrence of seizures in epilepsy patients is one of CBD’s most notable qualities. So consistent were these findings that they led to the manufacturing and approval (by numerous health agencies) of the cannabidiol-based drug, Epidiolex. Epidiolex is now often used to treat various strains of epilepsy, namely Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet Syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, and to decrease the occurrence of seizures.

Antiemetic: Research indicates that CBD exerts anti-nausea effects. One study asserts “Preclinical research indicates that cannabinoids, including CBD, may be effective clinically for treating both nausea and vomiting produced by chemotherapy or other therapeutic treatments”. By having an indirect impact on some of the important receptors that modulate feelings of nausea, CBD is thought to suppress our urge to vomit, thus rendering it a useful alternative to conventional pharmaceutical agents that are used to treat the more difficult-to-control symptoms of nausea associated with chemotherapy.

Anti-inflammatory. CBD is thought to work with our (CB2) immunoregulatory receptors to help combat and regulate inflammation. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that this cannabis-derivative could help manage inflammatory symptoms pertaining to a number of inflammation-based ailments, like eczema, some types of arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease – even neuroinflammation.

Antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are necessary to help the body fight oxidative stress, that is, the excess of free radicals in the body which, if left to their own devices can cause various long term health conditions. We do not produce enough of our own antioxidants, so we need to take them in from external sources, like food or supplements. CBD is thought to harbour antioxidant properties, so regular intake of this cannabinoid could help us to combat oxidative damage. On account of its antioxidant status, it is also thought to be a neuroprotector, protecting our neurological health from succumbing to neurodegenerative illness.

Mood-balancing: CBD has been under clinical investigation time and again for its anti-anxiety, antidepressant and even antipsychotic qualities. The results are astounding and suggest that cannabidiol can tame various symptoms connected with these neuropsychiatric disorders. CBD seems to have a strong affinity to the serotonin receptor. It is also thought to work with our stress hormone, cortisol. Overall, cannabidiol is thought to communicate with essential, mood-regulating neurochemicals in the brain.

And those are just a few items on the long list of therapeutic successes that CBD claims. Let’s now circle back to the Czech Republic and its laws on cannabis!

Cannabis for recreational use is illegal in the Czech Republic, but personal possession has been decriminalised since 1st January 2010, and medical cannabis has been legal since 1st April 2013.

Possession of up to 10 grams of dry cannabis for personal use, or cultivation of up to five plants, constitutes a civil offence under laws enacted in 2010, which could result in a fine of up to 15,000CZK (roughly £510). Possession of larger amounts than this can lead to a jail sentence of up to one year.

Trafficking is a criminal offence, with a minimum penalty set at two years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 18 years imprisonment, though sentences of 10-18 years are only imposed in extreme cases.

In January 2013, the Czech Senate passed a bill allowing cannabis to be legally available on prescription in pharmacies as a medicine. This law came into effect on 1st April 2013, and since then, cannabis for medical usage has been legal and regulated in the Czech Republic.

This law allows for up to 180g of dry matter per month, as prescribed by specialised physicians.

In the Czech Republic, pure CBD is not a scheduled substance. CBD refinements must always be THC-free, but CBD products can be purchased openly.

Pharmaceutical Cannabis, namely Sativex (a combination of CBD & THC) and Dronabinol (THC-based), are available by medical prescription.

Now, without further ado, here are the most popular places in Prague for CBD.

Google rating: 4.9/5 based on 78 reviews

Where to find it: Na Bojišti 1471/22, 120 00

CBD Club is a shop serving high quality and reliable CBD and hemp products that are EU-certified and compliant with EU laws on THC content. This shop brings you soaps and many other cosmetic hemp products and natural food supplements. They even have cannabis treats for your furry friends! CBD Club is highly regarded by its 78 google reviewers, who have also remarked on the helpful and approachable employees, too! They also offer gift wrapping – perfect for bringing home gifts for loved ones (ensure that the THC quantity complies with UK laws before travelling with a cannabis-derived item). Get yourself down to this revered CBD store for some reasonably-priced CBD goodies while you’re visiting the city!

Google rating: 4.8/5

Where to find it: Vlkova 366/21, 130 00 Praha 3-Žižkov

Hempa is a unique treasure: it was the first Hemp Boutique in the whole of the Czech Republic, a modern concept brought by Francesco Oliveti from Milan, Italy. Across Italy, there are a number of these boutique hemp stores, so Francesco wanted to replicate this unique concept in the Czech cannabis market, giving hemp-lovers the opportunity to buy from a charming little specialist shop. And you need only glance at the store’s Google reviews to see that Francesco has pulled it off, gaining the fandom of local hemp fanatics who love his certified hemp products, the likes of which include edibles, vape oils, tinctures, topicals and dry buds without a trace of THC!

CANNABIS POINT PRAGUE

Google rating: 4.7/5

Where to find it: Nerudova 224/42, 118 00 Malá Strana; Vlašská 13, 118 00 Malá Strana

Cannabis Point is a chain of hemp stores that can be found across Prague. It is the largest company engaged in the production of CBD flowers, CBD Hash, CBD Moon Rocks, CBD oil, CBD E-liquids and cannabis edibles in the Czech Republic. They have been operating on the hemp market since 2017, garnering a legion of loyal customers in that time, and even surpassing some of their longer-standing competitors in the Czech cannabis market. The company is very vocal in their support for the legalisation of marijuana in the Czech Republic. Cannabis Point has four stores across Prague. These are WeedStore Prague (Míšeňská 67/10); Weed Shop (Nerudova 221/36, Praha 1); Cannabis Point (Valašská 591/13, Praha 1) and Weed & Tabacco (Radnické schody 9, Praha 1). Despite all those mentions of “weed”, everything is compliant with Czech laws on CBD and THC, so worry not! The company also guarantees quality and the lowest prices in the CBD market on their Swiss-derived CBD!

Google rating: 4.5/5, based on 82 reviews.

Where to find it: Malířská 227/14, 170 00 Praha 7-Bubeneč

A short walk from Letensky square and very close to The Academy of Fine Arts, Green House is extremely well-located, so you don’t have to stray too far from the beaten tourist track to find some premium quality CBD. Not only that, the store boasts a huge array of products, including CBD oils, hashish, cannabis flowers, Sativa seeds, indica seeds, and so much more! According to their rave reviews, their service is just as impressive as their products, with helpful and knowledgeable English-speaking employees to guide you through their range. One happy shopper even remarked that their products successfully banished her insomnia and chronic pain!

Google rating: 4.7

Where to find it: Žitná 608/27, 110 00 Nové Město or Sokolovská 28, 186 00 Karlín, Czechia

According to CBD Area, happiness can be bought. This happiness takes the form of their CBD products, which are lab-tested, organic, full-spectrum and non-GMO. That’s a pretty committed CBD company if you want our opinion! This little store is another of Prague’s CBD treasures, well-reviewed by its customers. Located in the centre of Prague near to the Florenc bus station, some of their esteemed products include their merch, vapes, CBD flowers, oils, e-liquids, capsules, cosmetics and edibles – what more could you possibly ask for in a CBD store?

Google rating: 4.3

Where to find it: Karlova 25, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia; Jilská 445/6, 110 00

Prague – Staré Město

“It’s always 4.20 somewhere” – that’s why Mr. 420 has two locations, its main one being between the Old Town Hall and the Clementinum (Karlova 25), so very well-placed, and a great spot for a quick pit stop as you make your way around the tourist spots! Mr. 420 boasts a wide range of entirely organic CBD products, including full-spectrum CBD oils, containing trace amounts of THC, for the best entourage effect. Their mission? To spread knowledge on this revolutionary cannabinoid and get people acquainted with CBD via their products. Their Hemp-Sapa CBD oil is their best-selling product, at 10% / 1000mg CBD. Also wildly popular, their CBD flower, which they claim can be used with tea, as a bath bomb, mixed in with honey or even in a lotion.

Google rating: 5.0

Where to find it: Bubenská 43, 170 00 Praha 7-Holešovice

ALLSTARCBD is an excellent place to conclude our list of top CBD spots in Prague. Since 2019, ALLSTARCBD has been top of their game in the Czech CBD market. Their CBD is sourced from proven premium suppliers that meet the EU’s stringent requirements. The hemp is brought over to the Czech Republic from parts of Spain, Austria and Switzerland. Their reviewers have vehemently praised ALLSTARCBD’s beautifully-presented packaging, with their goods arriving in a stylish box in which everything is packed neatly, accompanied by a message from the store for that extra personal touch. What’s more, their packages are vacuum-packed; they can be resealed without any problems thanks to the ZIP system. In terms of their products, they have a large selection of flavours available among both their teas and oils. To visit their stylish showroom, ring up to book your personal appointment!

As you have seen, Prague is a city jam-packed with culture, history, beauty and all the CBD you could hope for. So what are you waiting for? Make sure you choose the city of 100 spires for your next European city break, and while you’re enjoying all that Czechia’s vibrant capital has to offer, enjoy it with some of their world-class CBD!

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, represents one of the many components found within the cannabis plant.

CBD offers a range of potential benefits, though many of which have yet to be undiscovered as scientists are continuing to discover new things everyday. Some of the well-researched benefits of taking CBD include alleviation of anxiety and depression symptoms, pain relief and inflammation, reduction of cancer-associated symptoms, as well as protection against neurological diseases.

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As more people worldwide discover the benefits of CBD, questions start to pop up about whether we could take CBD alongside vitamins in our daily supplement routine.

What do vitamins stand for?

Vitamins represent a group of beneficial substances that our bodies need to ensure the proper functioning and development of cells. Each vitamin is responsible for a particular function in the bodies. For example, vitamin A improves our immune system and protects against different forms of cancers. Meanwhile, vitamin B12 minimises the risk of heart complications and protects our nerve cells.

As long as people follow a balanced diet, their bodies receive almost all the important vitamins. However, in a busy world, following a strict nutrition regime might be challenging. Therefore, your diet might lack several sufficient vitamins. So, in order to make up for the gaps in their diet, people consume vitamin supplements.

The types of vitamins available

As scientists learn more about the beneficial properties of CBD, some CBD companies begin to combine vitamins and CBD. Such combination facilitates the simultaneous adding of both the crucial substances to the daily routine. Here are the basic supplementary vitamins and their functions:

Vitamin A

Vitamin A improves heart function, kidney, lungs, and other internal organs. Due to their high solubility in fat, vitamin A remains essential for regulating reproductive processes, immune system, and genes. The lack of vitamin A leads to problems with eyesight. CBD oil also contains vitamin A and helps to avoid eyesight deterioration.

Hemp plants remain abundant sources of different types of vitamin B, essential for the immune system and food digestion. In particular, vitamin B1 protects the body from cell damage and decay as well as from early ageing signs. Vitamin B2 works to create red blood cells and prevent anaemia. Also, vitamin B2 impacts metabolism and the maintenance of tissues, including hair, nails, and skin.

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 facilitates the production of sex- and stress-related hormones. Besides, it addresses symptoms of high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 plays an important role in a range of enzyme reactions. Also, it helps to improve sleep and balance the nervous system.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 maintains the nerves as well as takes part in the activation of proteins.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C presents an interesting case since the human body cannot manufacture this vitamin on its own. The only way people are able to receive vitamin C is through food supplements. Vitamin C forms collagen and fights against bacteria. Smokers and people with high levels of physical stress particularly require vitamin C supplements.

The use of vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium from the digestive system, which is crucial for the development of bones and teeth. Also, vitamin D helps to reduce the inflammation resulting from an overactive immune response. Moreover, the body requires vitamin D to convert calcium into energy. The lack of vitamin D increases the risk of osteoporosis, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Sunlight remains the major source of vitamin D. However, dietary supplements can also help.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E can inhibit blood clots and stimulate the body’s immune response. Also, it possesses strong antioxidant properties.

The interaction between CBD and vitamins

Although further medical research is required, CBD has never proven to have any negative interactions with vitamins. However, it is advisable to speak to a health professional before introducing CBD to your daily dietary routine. Furthermore, make sure that you buy CBD oil and other CBD-infused products from reliable producers. As for the dosage, always start your CBD journey with a low dose, and increase it slowly, based on your feelings.

Alphagreen’s Curated List to the Best CBD and Natural Vitamin Supplements

Active Curcumin by Naturecan

Price: £14.99 for 90 capsules

CBD Content: 0

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Capsule shell (hypromellose), Curcuma longa extract, NovaSOL® curcumin blend, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)

Delivery: Worldwide

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Active Curcumin by Naturecan holds 90 capsules in a plastic medicine container. Each capsule contains 30 mg of active curcuminoids mixed with vitamin D3. Curcumin is a polyphenol obtained from turmeric, also known as Curcuma Longa, popular for its health-enhancing powers. Turmeric is also popular in ayurvedic medicine. However, it is important to distinguish between turmeric and curcumin. While turmeric is a therapeutic spice, curcumin is the potent compound of turmeric.

All the ingredients used in the preparation of the active curcumin supplement are suitable for vegans and people on plant-based diets. The supplement is designed to be taken orally with water every day. However, the capsules should not be taken with hot drinks.

The ingredients of Active Curcumin by Naturecan include active curcuminoids, powerful antioxidants with strong anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, curcuminoids neutralise free radicals and prevent them from causing harm. Besides, curcuminoids increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Several studies have also shown that curcumin reduces the risk of inflammatory diseases and helps the management of muscle soreness. Other research has shown that curcumin is good for heart health. Specifically, it reduces inflammation and oxidation that escalate heart diseases.

We love Active Curcumin by Naturecan for the use of the well-known NovaSOL® blend, the leading clinically tested and bioavailable curcumin. The NovaSOL® blend has been transformed into a pH-stable and water-soluble form to increase its bioavailability. We also highly advise Active Curcumin by Naturecan as a natural immune system booster. In particular, vitamin D included in the supplement helps to fight against foreign pathogens. Besides, Active Curcumin by Naturecan can support bone and teeth health. Vitamin D improves strength and maintains muscle function due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

We love the Naturecan brand for the promotion of a wellness lifestyle. The company offers versatile CBD and vitamin bundles that build up immunity, which is essential to resist COVID-19. Also, Naturecan actively researches the integration of CBD and natural vitamins.  In addition to CBD-infused products, Naturecan also sells minerals packed into capsules. When producing CBD items, the company carefully removes all sorts of unnatural substances and contaminates. Naturecan carefully follows GMP requirements and conducts third-party lab tests of all the released products.

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KannaSwiss C3 Daily Booster Shot

Price: £36.00 for one box with seven bottles, £121.00 for four boxes with 28 bottles

CBD Content: 20 mg per bottle

CBD Type: Isolate

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Acidifier (Citric Acid), Agave Syrup Organic, Calcium-D-Pantothenate, Cannabis Sativa L. Extract (0.5%), Choline Bitartrate, Cholecalciferol, Cyanocobalamin Magnesium, D-biotin, Hydrochloride, Flavor Enhancer (Erythritol), L-ascorbic Acid, Menaquinone, Natural Flavor, Nicotinamide, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate), Pteroylmonoglutamic acid (Folic Acid), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Rubus Suavissimus Extract, Saffron (Crocus) Extract, Salts of Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Thiamine Riboflavin, Thickener (Xanthan), Turmeric Extract (0.3%), Water, Zinc Citrate

Delivery: Worldwide. However, only to the countries where CBD is legally allowed. Customers have to pay extra shipping costs, as well as additional expenses related to different regulatory requirements.

Find KannaSwiss C3 Daily Booster Shot and other natural vitamins and supplements on Alphagreen

KannaSwiss C3 Daily Booster Shot has a pleasant taste and therefore can be easily incorporated into the daily routine. This potent drink contains vitamin B12 and magnesium, which reduce fatigue. The blend of CBD, zinc, and vitamin B6 improves mental performance. The bright design of the bottles cheers up as well.

The ingredients of KannaSwiss C3 Daily Booster Shot include saffron extract and zinc citrate. Saffron is a popular plant, commonly used against anxiety, menstrual cramps, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Zinc citrate is a nutritional supplement containing the zinc salt form of citric acid, important in many biological processes. Zinc supplements can be used to increase immunity against certain viruses.

We love KannaSwiss C3 Daily Booster Shot for the sensational mix of CBD, curcumin, vitamins, and minerals. When blended, CBD and turmeric show remarkable wellness properties, such as the alleviation of inflammation and pain. Also, KannaSwiss C3 Daily Booster Shot helps to enhance immune function, to eliminate nausea, and relieve pain.

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KannaSwiss Daily A-Zinc Vitamin SoftGums

Price: £41.00 for one jar with 60 soft gums, £139.00 for four jars with 240 soft gums

CBD Content: 10 mg per each soft gum

CBD Type: Isolate

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Acidifier (Citric Acid), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrate), Cannabis Sativa L. Extract, Cholecalciferol, Coating Material (Carnauba Wax), Colouring Foods (Concentrate of pumpkin, spirulina, apple), Cyanocobalamin, D-biotin, DL-α-Tocopheryl Acetate, Glucose syrup,  Modified Starch, Natural Lime Flavour, Phylloquinone, Sugar, Vitamin and Mineral Blend (L-ascorbic Acid, Nicotinamide, Zinc Gluconate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Retinyl Acetate, Pteroylmonoglutamic Acid (Folic Acid)

Delivery: Worldwide. However, only to the countries where CBD is legally allowed. Customers have to pay extra shipping costs, as well as additional expenses related to different regulatory requirements.

Find KannaSwiss Daily A-Zinc Vitamin SoftGums and other natural vitamins and supplements on Alphagreen

KannaSwiss Daily A-Zinc Vitamin SoftGums contain 60 soft gums in a 250 ml bottle with 10 mg of CBD in each soft gum. These are extraordinary natural multivitamins with zero preservatives.

The ingredients of KannaSwiss Daily A-Zinc Vitamin SoftGums include vitamin C, which our bodies cannot produce. Apart from supplements, vitamin C can be found in many vegetables and fruit, including broccoli, spinach, kale, kiwi fruit, and oranges.

We love KannaSwiss Daily A-Zinc Vitamin SoftGums for the excellent kick-start effect in the morning. The potent soft gums ensure an energetic daily intake necessary for healthy wellbeing in a stressful world.

We love the brand KannaSwiss for the use of the ecologically farmed and organic cannabis growing in the Swiss mountains. The company purifies and subsequently processes cannabis in its sophisticated facilities of the Swiss Kölliken. KannaSwiss utilises top pharmaceutical equipment and follows the strictest safety and quality standards. The company does its best to push the boundaries of hemp cultivation knowledge and apply the most advanced indoor grow science. At present, KannaSwiss has created a team of professional experts in the cannabis field.

KannaSwiss has an enthusiastic vision for the future. The company plans to provide a whole range of products in both food categories and healthcare. In particular, KannaSwiss specialises on sophisticated CBD products, including beverages to improve cognitive function and enhance mood. Besides, the company creates relevant CBD products for women undergoing various natural changes in the body,  such as painful periods and difficult menopause. KannaSwiss’s research team conducts regular clinical trials on the potential of CBD for women’s health.

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Elixinol Harmony CBD Capsules

Price: £29.95 for one jar with 30 capsules

CBD Content: 5 mg per each capsule

CBD Type: Full-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Anti-caking Agents (Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide), Baobab Powder, Bulking Agent (Microcrystalline Cellulose), Capsule Shell (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose), Chromium Chloride, Hemp Powder Extract (Cannabis Sativa L.) (Thickener: Maltodextrin, Medium Chaintriglycerides [Naturally extracted from Coconut Oil], Emulsifier: Polysorbate 80), Thiamine Hydrochloride

Delivery: Brazil, United Kingdom, United States

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Elixinol Harmony CBD Capsules feature an outstanding blend of CBD oil, chromium, and full-spectrum baobab. The capsules are made of organic hemp and free from colours, added flavours, and sugar. The product is vegetarian-friendly and vegan-friendly.  Elixinol Harmony CBD Capsules utilise full-spectrum CBD oil and therefore provide a wide range of benefits resulting from the interaction between cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

The additional ingredients of Elixinol Harmony CBD Capsules include baobab powder, rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. In particular, it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc. Also, baobab powder can facilitate weight loss by promoting a feeling of fullness. Moreover, it might facilitate the balance of blood sugar levels.

We love Elixinol Harmony CBD Capsules for excellent product testing based on pharmaceutical-grade standards. Elixinol has received proper GMP certification as well as relevant certification from the US Hemp Authority. Furthermore, a non-profit organisation Realm of Caring, established by the founders of Charlotte’s Web, has also approved all the company’s products.  Elixinol conducts both third-party lab tests as well as in-house lab tests for heavy metals, pesticides, microbiological contamination, and terpene profiles. The company always places the latest results of lab tests online.

We love the brand Elixinol for the breathtaking twenty-five years experience in the hemp industry. Since 1991, the company has created CBD products of premium quality. Paul Benhaim, the co-founder of Elixinol, has established excellent business ties with the leading world’s hemp producers, developers, and experts.

The Colorado-based company has efficiently combined product safety with innovation and has firmly established its position as an industry leader. To date, Elixinol has created broad CBD product ranges composed of CBD oils, CBD capsules, CBD creams, CBD liposomes, water-soluble CBD powders, and many more. While the company’s US products are produced from premium Colorado-grown hemp, its European products are made from the best hemp grown on Europe’s top farms.

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Her Kind Boosting Blend by Blooming Blends

Price: £30.00 per 120 g jar of powder

CBD Content: 0

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Baobab Ashwagandha, Chlorella, Hemp Seed, Flaxseed, Goji Berry, Moringa, Mucuna, Nettle Leaf, Reishi, Rosehip, Shatavari, Spearmint, Spirulina, Wheatgrass

Delivery: United Kingdom, the European Union

Find Her Kind Boosting Blend by Blooming Blends and other natural vitamins and supplements on Alphagreen

Her Kind Boosting Blend by Blooming Blends strengthens body and mind as well helps to maintain internal balance. This potent blend has been created to support women, especially during the difficult natural body changes, such as periods and menopause. Also, Her Kind Boosting Blend supports healthy hair and skin. Therefore, the rich hemp seed powder has been blended with ashwagandha, spirulina, primrose oil, flaxseed, and wheat. The product is free from pesticides and GMO.

The ingredients of Her Kind Boosting Blend by Blooming Blends include rosehip, ashwagandha, and flaxseed. Rosehip is abundant in vitamin C, helpful against flu and colds. Also, rosehip is frequently used as a supplementary treatment against stretch marks and osteoarthritis. The food industry applies it as an ingredient for teas, jams, and soups. Ashwagandha is a potent adaptogen, which facilitates the reduction of the hormone cortisol, responsible for optimisation of metabolic function and controlling stress. Products high in flaxseed give the body the necessary raw materials to ensure proper hormone production and hormone balance. Flaxseed is rich in both soluble and insoluble fibres. While soluble fibre is a good probiotic, insoluble fibre remains crucial for getting the bowels moving.

We love Her Kind Boosting Blend by Blooming Blends for an excellent rejuvenation effect. In many instances, the deficiency of energy and a general feeling of tiredness negatively affect the skin and an overall women’ health condition. Many women feel exhausted after their daily activities. Therefore, it is important to take some precautionary measures on a daily basis.

We love the Blooming Blends brand for the expertise in botanicals. The brand’s founder Fleur Sladen has maintained a strong interest in botanicals and their properties while working as a cook. Subsequently, she decided to launch her own company, focusing on creating efficient botanical boosters and herbal blends. At present, Blooming Blends offers botanical tinctures, boosters, and sensory mists. The company works only with natural plants, herbs, and flowers without artificial preservatives. By now, Blooming Blends has received plenty of positive reviews from numerous fans sharing Fleur’s passion for plants’ power.

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Kanaco CBD Gel Capsules 25mg with Curcumin

Price: £54.90 for 30 capsules in a jar, £94.90 for 30 capsules in a jar

CBD Content: 25 mg CBD per capsule

CBD Type: Broad-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: Beta-caryophyllene, Curcumin, Gelatin Shells, Glycerin, MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides), 40+ naturally occurring terpenes

Delivery: United Kingdom, the European Union

Find Kanaco CBD Gel Capsules 25 mg with Curcumin and other natural vitamins and supplements on Alphagreen

Kanaco CBD Gel Capsules 25 mg with Curcumin is made in softgel form. The additional dosage of curcumin provides a targeted aid for inflammation and pain. Each capsule contains 10 mg of curcumin combined with 25 mg of broad-spectrum CBD. The capsules are vegan-friendly and include all-natural components. The easily portable jar contains 30 capsules, sufficient for a month-long consumption.

The ingredients of Kanaco CBD Gel Capsules 25 mg with curcumin include both CBD and curcumin. When these potent components are paired together, they can enhance the beneficial properties of each other. The phenomenon of the “entourage effect”, or the beneficial interactive synergy of CBD with other cannabis compounds, applies to the combination of CBD and curcumin as well. Their powerful synergy gradually increases the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the respective CBD products. Besides, such synergy strengthens the immune system and even increases brain function. If more clinical research on the impact of curcumin on cancer cells appears, more curcumin-infused CBD products should appear on the market.

We love CBD Gel Capsules 25 mg with Curcumin for the combination of curcumin and broad-spectrum CBD oil. The composition of cannabinoids almost matches that of full-spectrum CBD oil, however, remains THC-free. Besides, broad-spectrum  CBD oil retains the “entourage effect”. Therefore, it continues to be one of the most popular CBD products in the world. Even professional athletes often use broad-spectrum CBD oil to manage pain and stress as it almost never shows up on doping tests.

We love the brand Kanaco for the promotion of the holistic development of agro-ecosystems and organic farming practices. The company consciously develops the “100% organic” label for eco-conscious customers. Recently, organic farming, together with organic labels, have become a popular trend in the health and wellness industries as well as in fashion and food. Organic farms guarantee the production of GMO-free and antibiotic-free crops, without pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers. Overall, organic farming reduces energy costs, improves biodiversity, decreases erosion, and protects the environment.

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CBD Gummies 14 x 10 mg – 68 g by Goodbody Botanicals

Price: £9.99

CBD Content: 10 mg CBD per each gummy

CBD Type: Broad-spectrum

Test Analysis: On the product page

Ingredients: CBD Distillate, Colours (Beetroot Red, Chlorophyllins, Lutein), Flavourings, Glucose Syrup, Lactic Acid, Pectin, Phytocannabinoids, Sugar, Water

Delivery: France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom

Find CBD Gummies 14 x 10 mg – 68 g by Goodbody Botanicals and other natural vitamins and supplements on Alphagreen

CBD Gummies 14 x 10 mg – 68 g by Goodbody Botanicals are entirely organic since the brand surveils plant cultivation from the start and ensures the complete elimination of chemicals and pesticides. Each gummy is fat-free and contains 10 mg CBD. Other components include flavourings and natural colours. The gummies come in a small portable jar with 14 of them inside, perfectly sealed for maximum freshness. The jar is recyclable and guarantees proper protection against air and moisture. Besides, it is waterproof and antioxidant, light and easy to carry. Finally, the packaging keeps the aroma and freshness of the CBD gummies for long.

The correct dosage depends on body metabolism. First-time users should start with a low dosage, one to two gummies per day. The CBD gummies are not produced for medicinal use, but only for complementary aid to relaxation and a healthy lifestyle. Also, the product is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The CBD gummies have a restriction age of 18 years old (as the minimum age).

The ingredients of CBD Gummies 14 x 10 mg – 68 g by Goodbody Botanicals include phytocannabinoids, which occur naturally in the cannabis plant. Research has shown that phytocannabinoids have a great application for pain.

We love CBD Gummies 14 x 10 mg – 68 g by Goodbody Botanicals for high bioavailability. The effects of CBD usually appear within 15 to 20 minutes. However, low CBD concentration generally never brings powerful anti-inflammatory and other CBD effects, as highly concentrated CBD oils. Relaxation remains the major purpose of CBD gummies.

We love the Goodbody Botanicals brand for the consistent delivery of high-quality CBD products. The company ensures rigorous testing, the quality of ingredients, as well as excellent customer services. Goodbody Wellness and Goodbody Botanicals are owned by Sativa Wellness Group Inc, the first listed Medicinal Cannabis Company in the United Kingdom. All the company’s products are also produced in the UK and subsequently approved by independently managed laboratory PhytoVista. At present, Goodbody Botanicals pioneers research into the benefits of CBD on respiratory diseases and inflammation.

As more people worldwide discover the benefits of CBD, questions start to pop up about adding CBD to the daily routine, alongside vitamins. Though more clinical research is needed, CBD has shown to be well compatible with different types of vitamins so far. However, we highly advise discussing adding CBD products to your daily vitamin supplements with a healthcare professional.

Once you decide to combine CBD with vitamins, make sure that you obtain CBD-infused product from a reliable producer that uses premium-quality organic hemp and conducts third-party lab-testing. By doing so, you will entirely minimise the risk of getting herbicides, harmful additives, or pesticides. Start with a low CBD dosage and observe how your body reacts to the combination of CBD with vitamin supplements. Once you feel great, do not hesitate to increase the daily CBD intake.

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about white label CBD- what it is, the benefits of sourcing your CBD products from a white label manufacturer, how to spot a good supplier, and a few ways to help your brand stand out while selling CBD from a white label supplier.

Introduction

While it can seem like anyone and everyone with knowledge of hemp and CBD is deciding to start a business in the cannabis sector lately, the difference between the failures and successes within the industry is primarily determined by the adaptability, previous experience, and research acumen of CBD business owners. This is especially true in the world of white label CBD.

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If you’re looking to make a quick profit with white label CBD, think again- it takes a lot of dedication and knowledge to compete in the ever-growing, ever-developing CBD industry, which is ever-growing.

In such a large (and in some ways oversaturated) industry, your CBD brand must be unique, trustworthy, and adhere to legal guidelines. With the right white label CBD supplier, your CBD brand can hit the ground running with a reliable supply chain, tried-and-tested products, and all the paperwork necessary to back you up.

With that being said, the main points we will talk you through today are:

• Discussing what white label CBD is, and what it’s benefits are for your business.
• How to find the right white-label CBD supplier for your brand, which suits the products you want to sell and provides you with all the support your business needs to succeed.
• How to ensure your products are up-to-standard and appeal to your audience.
• How to make sure your CBD brand stands out through creative marketing and careful target market research.

Provided you face challenges head-on, in a way that benefits your target market, your CBD brand is likely to succeed. 

The demand for CBD isn’t likely to die down anytime soon, with many consumers using it for symptoms of common ailments such as anxiety, pain, sleep issues, and inflammation. As such, the time to start a premium CBD brand has never been better- and white label CBD might just be the best option out there to help you source the best CBD products out there.

If you’re looking to start your own CBD brand, a white label CBD programme is a great place to start. Essentially, white label CBD means that a manufacturer will do all the hard work growing/sourcing and refinding the product for you, and provide you with the final product that you can label and sell under your brand name. While there are other ways brands can source CBD, such as via private labelling methods (more on this later), white label CBD is what we’re focusing on today.

An example of how the white label method of sourcing CBD works is:

1. A hemp farm (or manufacturer) grows their industrial hemp plant and refines it into a CBD product, such as an oil or topical.
2. This product is sold to a CBD brand, which officially brands the product with their logo, tagline, sells it via their website, etc.
3. The product is sold to customers through a retail store or online website. From the perspective of the consumer, the product and the brand have never been separate.

Simple, right?

When it comes to white label CBD, you outsource the cultivation and production of your products to outside forces- which leaves a lot of time for your internal team to come up with a well-researched, strong marketing strategy. As we will discuss later, a unique selling point for your products is vital in order to stand out within the ever-growing CBD industry- and a great marketing strategy is the key to getting this across to your target audience. Since most white label CBD products are sold by multiple brands (the only difference between products being their packaging), the main brunt of the work for you lies in creating the best possible marketing strategy that sets your business apart from the crowd.

To summarise- while other brands may be selling the same products as your business, the emphasis is on you to make your branding stronger than that of your competitors.

There are three parts of the CBD manufacturing process which most white label businesses will deal with on behalf of your brand:

• The creation of the CBD product itself
• The label design and branding (while this is largely up to you, many manufacturers will offer their support)
• They may also help you with product distribution

Most white label CBD manufacturers are happy to work with brands of any size, background, or target market. So, regardless of how fresh or established your CBD brand is, you can take advantage of white label CBD opportunities. The best white label programmes will include:

• Premium CBD products with seed-to-sale tracking (with all products derived from industrial hemp, of course)
• Customised labels (some partnerships even offer you help with marketing and design via their in-house teams)
• Assistance with legal understanding, contracts, and other business minutiae.
• A transparent budget breakdown, so you know what you’re paying for.

Private Label and White Label CBD: A Comparison

While white and private labelling CBD may sound similar on a surface level, their differences are still significant enough to be worth considering. We’ve discussed what white label CBD is above, but how do we define private label CBD?

Private label CBD occurs when the product in question is made exclusively for your business- no other CBD brand will be selling something similar from the same manufacturer. Custom-made blends can be more appealing from a marketing perspective, as your brand can be perceived as more overtly unique by the average consumer. Private label CBD also puts the ball in your court in terms of designing the label, flavour, strength, ingredients, and packaging of the product.

Both ways of sourcing your brand’s CBD products offer varying degrees of creative input and support for your team. Likewise, both should provide you with products that are third-party tested and up to industry standard- with the bespoke manner of the products themselves varying according to which method you pick. Most reliable manufacturers will provide products of such a high status that you’re likely to achieve repeat customers simply via implementing solid marketing practices.

Essentially, private labelling is a slightly more exclusive deal where no other CBD brands will sell the same product as you, whereas with white label CBD other brands may well be selling the exact same product, from the same supplier, under a different name and marketing strategy.

One primary benefit of white label CBD when comparing it to private labelling programmes is that, with white label, you are working with a product that typically has a proven track record of turning a profit for other brands.

With this being said, why else should you choose white label CBD?

What are the Benefits of White Label CBD?

Many benefits come alongside choosing to work with a white label CBD manufacturer, such as:

Many white label CBD manufacturers will manufacture a range of products- for instance, if you want to open a line of CBD oil at first and then decide down the line to expand into CBD topicals, this won’t be a problem with many manufacturers. All white label CBD products from reputable suppliers will come with third-party lab testing, comply with legal guidelines, and be free of any toxins or unwanted ingredients. This can save you a lot of trouble when it comes to having to source these tests yourself, as you would if you were manufacturing your own line of CBD.

Source CBD- your way

White label CBD can generally be sourced from wherever you like- countries such as Switzerland have excellent reputations when it comes to growing industrial hemp. At the same time, many consumers choose to value more locally-grown CBD products over imports. When selecting a white label CBD manufacturer, it’s worth factoring in how you may focus on where your CBD is coming from within your marketing strategy. There are white label CBD options from all over the world, so your options are quite generous- and it’s worth doing the research!

Please note: while CBD is legal in the UK (as well as much of the US and EU), it’s always worth double-checking that your CBD product is not only legal where your products are sold, but also where it’s sourced.

Guaranteed premium CBD products

While the CBD industry is fairly well-established at this point, it’s still true that many brands who manufacture their own products (even via private label methods) must undergo a certain level of trial-and-error before they land on a product that sells well and turns a consistent profit. With white label CBD, the product is almost guaranteed to sell well, since other brands are already profiting from it!

Even if your brand is more niche- for example, if you only want to sell CBD drinks or CBD for pets, there is likely a manufacturer out there ready to provide you with products with a proven track record for success in that field. As such, your brand simply has to worry about branding and marketing, as well as potentially designing the label to go on an already-premium product.

Saves time and allows you to focus on what’s really important- marketing!

In such a competitive industry, it’s vital to differentiate your brand from the others on the market- we have a whole section on this later, so won’t labour the point here. For now, what you need to keep in mind is that white label CBD manufacturers really do take on most of the heavy lifting for your brand- some even handle distribution to retail stores, or drop-ship directly to clients on your behalf! This opens you up to the possibility of quicker deliveries than brands manufacturing their own CBD or using a private label method.

With a white label CBD supplier, you don’t have to worry about:

• Formulating and manufacturing your products
• Measuring, accurately labelling, and packaging each product
• Sourcing a third party lab test for each product batch

This gives you and your team more time to focus on marketing, product expansion, branding, and how best to reach your target market- all of which are vital for the long-term success and survival of your business.

Wider range of business opportunities and product expansion possibilities

In addition to faster shipping times, being able to test your potential target markets with low-risk investments in your products, and low minimum requirements before you order your products, many white label CBD manufacturers also offer package deals that make it easy for you to expand from selling oils to topicals, or more niche products such as CBD for pets, etc.

The CBD industry is built with transparency on all levels- if you can’t trust where your CBD is being sourced from, then how can your customers trust your product? With a transparent white label CBD supplier who has a stellar industry reputation, your odds of success are far more significant. Such suppliers make a point of letting you know what the main ingredients of their CBD are, as well as where it’s cultivated, what legal guidelines it meets, and anything else that could affect your brand and marketing strategies.

Shared interest and CBD industry experience

It’s in the supplier’s best interest to see your CBD brand succeed. After all, if it does, then you’ll soon become a repeat customer of theirs in the long-term! As such, many white label CBD manufacturers may offer more than just CBD products- they’ll offer support services, certifications, and legal help when it comes to understanding the latest CBD guidelines.

You don’t have to be a CBD brand to partake in white label CBD opportunities

White label CBD manufacturers make it possible for small-time business owners without the time to focus on every detail of building a separate business from the ground up. Indeed, some types of businesses that can naturally find a niche in the CBD market are:

• Yoga studios
• Meditation studios
• Local pharmacies
• Local supermarkets and corner stores
• Small-time retailers
• Restaurants that specialise in vegan, vegetarian, or organic cuisine
• Pet stores
• Spas and other self-care establishments

Of course, such business owners will still have to research the legalities and regulations surrounding CBD (such as MHRA guidelines in the UK, for example, which detail how CBD can be advertised). However, white label CBD suppliers can even help with this via their pre-established support systems, meaning the primary duty of the small business owners in this case would be to brand the white label CBD they receive effectively, and ensure their business practices stay within the confines of the law. For example, depending on where their business is located, they may need to acquire a specific license.

With all of the above benefits of white label CBD in mind, let’s have a look at the four components which truly make or break your business:

• Choosing the right supplier
• Selling the right products for your brand
• Appealing correctly to your audience
• Making your brand unique (even if the products you’re selling are not)

The Best CBD Suppliers and Lab Testing Standards

By now, you’ve probably realised that white label CBD is the key to avoiding all the start-up costs associated with manufacturing (like paying for equipment, training your employees, testing every batch of product, not to mention owning a full-scale laboratory to host everything).

The best white label CBD suppliers are experts in manufacturing organic products free of toxins, GMOs, and other undesired ingredients that could ruin your brand’s reputation. They’re responsible for the products from seed to shelf, which means they also handle the often tricky growing process and harvesting all the industrial hemp from which CBD is derived.

After harvesting, their state-of-the-art facilities will turn the raw hemp into CBD extract and, eventually, a product of your choosing. Many of the best CBD manufacturers will ensure multiple types of products are available for you to choose from.

With the above basics all covered, what should you look for in a white label CBD supplier?

Years of experience and a solid reputation in the industry

While these often go hand in hand (for better or worse), the main thing to look for in any source of white label CBD is stability, as the product they provide you with will become the foundation of your brand’s success (after all, no CBD brand can make a name for themselves without selling any products!) As such, you should always ask:

• How long have you been working within the CBD industry?
• Can we talk to other brands you work with?

They should provide you with the right products to suit your brand (and show you why those products are better than other white label suppliers)

Always be sure to ascertain what CBD products this white label supplier is willing to manufacture for you, and be sure they fit in with your brand’s ultimate vision (more on this later).

As a premium CBD brand, you want to be as certain as possible regarding where your CBD comes from. We’ve already mentioned seed-to-sale tracking, but it bears repeating: where is your chosen white label CBD supplier sourcing their hemp from? Do their growing practices align with your outlook as a brand? Some things to look out for regarding where your hemp is sourced from include:

• Is it sourced from the EU or the US? Many sources imply that hemp grown outside of these places may not be up to standard.
• Is it grown to the best organic standard?
• How are the hemp plants harvested, and how is the CBD manufactured?

Flexibility and support (when it comes to CBD products and services)

With over 700 CBD companies in the UK alone, it’s more vital than ever to stand out from the crowd. While one could quickly call the market over-saturated and decide to move their business ambitions elsewhere, a successful ‘cannapreneur’ will recognise that there are infinite ways to appeal to their target market. If a brand can suit the tastes of an individual better than any other, then it is simple enough for them to garner repeat customers.

The best white label CBD suppliers understand the intense competition that comes with this, and are eager to offer you a wide range of products.

As part of running a flexible, competitive business, many white label CBD suppliers will offer support through multiple aspects of the creative and marketing process, despite their primary duty being to keep your shelves stocked with physical products. Common services include:

• Label design
• Packaging and label printing (as a well as application)

While many CBD advertising laws and other production regulations throughout the UK, US, and EU are continuing to relax, there are still many legal guidelines to keep in mind on all levels of the industry. In the majority of places, you can only legally grow the cannabis Sativa (hemp) variety of the plant, and the final CBD product must contain less than 0.2% THC (the intoxicating compound found in cannabis).

The importance of trust and transparency on all levels of the CBD industry can’t be understated. What goes hand-in-hand with this? Lab-tested products, of course! Whether your chosen white-label CBD manufacturer has in-house testing facilities or not, it’s essential that your products are also tested by an independent, third-party laboratory, as this will ensure a degree of impartiality on your product labels. Such tests ensure that your products:

• Are free of GMOs
• Are free of any potential toxins, heavy metals, impurities, pesticides, and contaminants from the soil
• Contain the correct dosage of CBD
• Contain the legal amount of THC

It’s also often cheaper to test your products via a white-label CBD manufacturer than independently.

The ball is also in your court to research and ensure any white label supplier you work with is qualified and possesses all the necessary certifications to be selling products as they are- for instance, a Novel Food certification in the EU, or an organic certification where they grow their hemp crops. Proper paperwork and certificates are essential regardless of what your niche in the industry happens to be. However, customers tend to value it, particularly when they’re shopping for CBD edibles and skincare products.

Showcase the best CBD production facilities with top-notch equipment and stellar manufacturing processes

The manufacturing process for your CBD should be nothing less than cutting-edge. As such, you should be sure to look into (and question) the internal processes of how your chosen white label CBD supplier actually creates your product.

• How do they ensure their hemp is grown to the latest organic standards?
• Do they use supercritical CO2 extraction methods?
• Are their methods compliant with the latest standards where your CBD will be sold?
• What third party laboratories are responsible for testing their finished products?
• How do they store your products before, during, and potentially after shipping (as in the case of those suppliers who sell direct to retailers on your behalf)?

They should suit your budget

While you don’t want to compromise on the quality of your CBD oil and other products, you should still ensure the price you’re paying for your white label CBD is fair. While transparency is the number one rule of a successful CBD business, competitive pricing is a close second. The best white label CBD manufacturers will be upfront with you about what exactly they’re charging you for, such as shipping costs, testing, and growth costs.

Remember, if your customers can’t trust their products, no matter how affordable they are, it isn’t worth the investment from your brand.

Low minimum order quantities allow you to invest in a product, see if it works for you and your CBD brand, and scrap it from your business plan if it doesn’t. These allow for minimal risk investments and a healthy air of business experimentation.

Awareness of CBD Laws

As a CBD brand, it’s likely that one of your main priorities is keeping your finger on the pulse of the industry, listening to the latest trends, and (most importantly) supervising the latest CBD laws and regulations.

While part of how white label CBD experts may support you is by providing legal advice, they should also demonstrate an awareness beyond their work with you.

This should also include an acknowledgement of:

• The exact ingredients and concentrations of what’s inside your CBD products
• The potential effects, benefits, and side effects of your products
• Local, state, and country-specific CBD laws
• Laws that may affect the type of product you’re selling- for instance, the different legal issues which may affect the sale of anything from CBD dog treats to CBD skincare for humans.

An awareness of CBD advertising laws (see the MHRA regulations in the UK) can also help you decide what should be mentioned on your labels, as well as the specific wording of any marketing material you use to promote your products.

Additionally, it’s your duty to ensure who is liable for any faulty products, as well as examine any possible risks your business may be taking when working with the individual supplier, according to their recall policies and other internal guidelines. Your brand’s reputation will be in large part decided by the quality of the manufacturer’s CBD, so it may be worth having a lawyer go over any contracts before making things official.

What to Look for in White Label CBD Products

Now that you know what to look for in a supplier, it’s time to make a longlist of white label CBD suppliers who you think might be a good fit for your brand. Once you have a vague idea of the qualities you’re looking for in a manufacturer, you can then create a shortlist by looking at what really matters: the products.

It’s a simple principle: if you sell the best CBD products, you’ll have no issue finding repeat customers who are a veritable marketing team all on their own. Your brand can continue to grow, and the world will be rosy. It should also be noted that the opposite- selling unverified and low-quality products- isn’t likely to work in your favour.

There are a few basic things you should look for in any CBD product ( many are the same things a knowledgeable consumer would look for):

• Third-party testing and a certificate of analysis
• The legal concentrations of THC and other ingredients
• The right kinds of products
• What are your options when it comes to label and package design?
• Do the products have any unique selling points (USPs) that your internal marketing team can leverage to help your brand stand out?
• What kinds of CBD products are available? While your business may wish to focus on one sector in the beginning (CBD oils, for example), you may wish to expand into topicals or edibles in the future- it may be worth finding a CBD supplier who can meet your future needs as well as your current ones.

Once you find those suppliers offering products that suit your brand, you can create a shortlist and decide who you’d like to work with the most from there.

However, there are still two different things that often differentiate the best white label partnerships from those who are less successful. These are often far more entwined with your CBD brand on an internal level than with the white label suppliers themselves:

• Your audience and target market as a brand
• The factors that make your brand unique and appealing

Find Your Target Market

While some may think of CBD as a passing fancy for health-obsessed members of the public, brand loyalists, scientists, and business owners alike know the truth: CBD may work, and it’s here to stay. Many studies are increasingly supporting CBD’s potential to help with symptoms of:

However, while the potential applications of CBD are quite versatile, it’s essential to focus on one or two niches in particular when it comes to your products, and to decide early on the target market you want to reach.

As the CBD industry matures and the market ‘evens out’ in size, it will become easier to dominate a niche than to market your CBD as a ‘cure-all’ (as non-premium companies often use this tactic).

As the market becomes increasingly well-known and in many ways oversaturated, it is leading CBD brands to get creative when it comes to how they target their potential markets. As a brand, you should aim to:

• Be unique, and yet recognisable- don’t confuse your target market, make things easy for them!
• Aim for a specific target market, for instance, people who live with symptoms of anxiety or people who often experience issues in their sleep patterns. While you may eventually widen your niche, it’s best to start with a focused idea of who your ideal customer is, what issues they’re experiencing, and how you can help them.
• Find out some useful statistics and basic information about your target audience, for instance, their age, interests, gender, and where they hang out online. Gen Z may be more likely to use platforms like TikTok, while Millennials prefer Instagram and the older generations stick to FaceBook. Once you know where you can reach your target audience, you can devise marketing strategies that target them using Native advertisements.

Make Your CBD Brand Unique

Even if you select the best white label CBD supplier with the perfect products for you, and even if you target the most interested target audience for your business, if your brand isn’t memorable and differentiated from the thousands of other CBD companies out there, you’re going to run into a harder time finding repeat customers.

By now, we’ve mentioned the importance of standing out from the rest of the CBD market several times over- but how can you achieve this?

• Sell many different kinds of CBD products– there are statistics about what kinds of people enjoy which types of CBD, and once you know what kinds of products your target audience prefers, you can ensure your business can meet their desires- whether that’s for CBD oil, tinctures, edibles, or skincare.
• Ensure you have all the right paperwork and are operating well within the law– while this won’t necessarily help you stand out as a CBD brand, it’s still a must! After one damaging study into high street CBD found that many products are inaccurately labelled, many consumers and governing bodies alike voiced their concern for the efficacy of the CBD industry. As a result, there’s more pressure than ever for brands to prove themselves to the public and to officials as a trustworthy source of all things CBD.
• Go beyond CBD– offering premium CBD products is one thing; what about your customer service? Do you make each customer feel ‘heard’ and promote feedback on all levels of their journey? What do you do to honour their individual experiences? Sometimes, an excellent customer service strategy is just as important as the product.
• Make your marketing stand out– one of the many benefits of working with white label CBD is the bonus time you have to work on your marketing strategies, so make them count! Whether you’re focusing on email marketing, social media, influencers, or blogging with an eye for SEO, you should be aiming to educate customers not just about your CBD products and brand, but about CBD as a whole. Many potential consumers still ask questions like ‘is CBD legal?’ and ‘what are the benefits of CBD?’ part of your job as a reliable business to help educate them. Answer their most frequently asked questions, talk them through the latest CBD studies, and walk them through how your products can best be used.
• Keep your brand’s tone consistent– imagine your brand as a person (likely someone similar to your ideal customer, with a little more expertise). Ensure that all blog/marketing copy, labelling, imagery and other elements of your brand ‘match’- aesthetically and tonally. This will go a long way towards making your brand more memorable and cohesive. Just remember to do your own market research in order to ensure you don’t sound like other CBD brands.

Many white label CBD manufacturers will be able to help you differentiate your brand both aesthetically and via the ability to set your own prices for your products (with reason, of course).

There’s something of a cliche within the cannapreneur niche that the challenges of the CBD industry can be turned into a golden opportunity through sheer force of will. While this is partly true, the main difference between the successful and unsuccessful cannabis entrepreneur is a fair amount of research, business instinct, and- of course- external factors such as marketing, products, and those they partner with (such as choosing the right white label CBD suppliers to suit their needs).

By carefully examining what makes your brand unique, you can make good use of the USPs of your products and differentiate your marketing material from what’s already out there.

CBD Marketing and Business Tips

Now that you’re all set up with the white label CBD manufacturer of your dreams, as well as an awareness of how your brand and products combine to suit the needs of your target market, we’re going to leave you with a bonus: our favourite CBD marketing tips to really make your brand stand out, even if you are using white label CBD.

• Create a plan for your business that caters to your individual needs, and make sure the white label partnership you choose is suited to your brand.
• Keep adapting to the needs of the market– one advantage of white label CBD is that you can change relatively easily between selling different types of products. If your oil isn’t selling particularly well and the supplier you’re working with also manufactures edibles, why not try your hand at those, if they fit your brand better? Switching suppliers, removing, tweaking, and replacing product lines that work better for you are all part of the flexibility that can keep your brand competitive.
• Lean away from CBD being a mere cannabis constituent– the stigma that has surrounded recreational cannabis is still only just beginning to lift when it comes to CBD, and as such, brands should aim to come across as scientifically-backed professionals within the wellbeing sector. Integrate ethical operations into your business practices as a point of pride within your branding.
• Get creative– brands who may seem the most ‘unique’ on the market are often not that different from others in their niche- but they are more creative in how they present themselves. Whatever makes your brand unique- whether your logo has outlandish colours, your CBD is grown in the best Swiss soils, or something as simple as stellar customer service, make sure your USPs clearly come across throughout your marketing material.
• Think about the future– try your best to anticipate coming trends, or even aim to create them within your niche. Make sure your business stays in the best position to deal with future challenges as the industry continues to develop.
• Invest in a varied marketing strategy– including influencer marketing, SEO blogging via your brand’s website, social media marketing (though it is best to note that Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook each have different guidelines when it comes to CBD), email marketing, and PPC advertising. Part of these investments may include consultations with experts, like us at NuOptima.

Final Thoughts

White label CBD leaves you with the space to do the things that really help you get ahead in the competitive CBD industry- get creative with your marketing and appeal to your target market like no other brand they’ve ever seen before. The fact that white label CBD products from the best suppliers come with seed-to-sale tracking, product testing, and a proven track record of sales in the hands of other brands.

White label CBD is a great option for those who don’t have the time or funds to begin their new product lines from scratch, and most labels keep transactions as convenient as possible while you work with them. Smart CBD entrepreneurs will use this extra time and convenience to hone their industry knowledge and marketing strategy.

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.

We found the best CBD shops in Amsterdam, and their premium collection of CBD items will keep you coming back. From Canna Health to When Nature Calls, here’s a well-curated list of legitimate stores that offer a wide range of high-quality CBD products in town. Whether you’re a local, fresh off the boat, or first-time vacationer in the liberal city, and in search of Dutch-style CBD products, consider this article as a guide to your first CBD purchase in Amsterdam.

Introduction

Hallo- welcome to the city of freedom! Today, we’re travelling (virtually) to Amsterdam, the stunning capital of the Netherlands. It is a populous city full of locals with diverse nationalities. Although half of the city’s inhabitants are indigenous Dutch, some of them like to call themselves Amsterdammers or Mokumers in more colloquial terms. They are consistently reputed to have a friendly attitude towards foreigners. In fact, the vast majority are fluent in English, so there’s no need for overseas travellers to learn Dutch before circling the town.

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The exact quality that makes Amsterdammers so unique is their personality and style— they’re not afraid to go their own way. It comes from the culture of freedom and a relaxed atmosphere that is found in the city, supporting an environment of creativity and self-expression. If you want to experience everything that Amsterdam has in store, it is no brainer to take a tour of the whole city and find out for yourself the real deal about its liberal and bohemian culture.

But first, a short glance at its rich history. Amsterdam nestles in the western part of the Netherlands, and under the province of North Holland. It’s not to be confused between the Netherlands and Holland as people often use these terms interchangeably. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is the official name of the country. Holland only refers to the two provinces of the Netherlands, namely North Holland and South Holland. Given that Amsterdam is located in North Holland, it is colloquially described as the “Venice of the North”, attributed by its more than 160 canals.

Originally a fishing village that did very well in trading, Amsterdam got its name from ‘Amstel’, a river in North Holland that was used as a dam to control flooding. Soon the city’s name was modified from Amstel Dam into Amsterdam. Following a quick montage to the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world and the leading centre for finance and trade in the Netherlands. The beginning of the 19th century has arranged a remarkable period of development, where many new neighbourhoods and suburbs were built together in one harmonious, modern city. Until the present era, Amsterdam’s economy has observed rapid progress in ICT (Information and Communication Technology), stock exchange, tourism, and pharmaceuticals.

Modern Amsterdam is characterised by its panoramic canals, stunning museums, a hippie community for foreign travellers, and green transportation systems that feature its very own cycling culture. Beyond being one of the most liberal and sociable towns with an impressive economic climate, Amsterdam is also home to unique Dutch cuisines and massive shopping points.

As travellers, we all like to make the most of our shopping experience- especially if we’re visiting the centre for finance and trade itself. Shoppers will definitely find several flagship stores for big brands in every city corner. But suppose you’re looking at a different consumer’s perspective. In that case, the smaller streets are the best places to score precious thrift store finds, including community restaurants and independent shops- from clothes and localised souvenirs to beauty and wellness products. Just a few years back, CBD as a hemp derivative was legalised in the city- allowing consumers to enjoy CBD in the form of medicines, edibles, vapes, and cosmetics. So, if you are planning for a quick Amsterdam getaway, visiting some of its local CBD stores is one of the many things you cannot miss while you’re in it.

Even if you are a well-versed CBD user, a little effort of knowing its intriguing background and therapeutic claims can go a long way. So, let’s delve into this multipurpose molecule and let new insights steer us to an easier CBD experience.

Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is a naturally occurring compound in cannabis. Cannabis is a plant with an illustrious history of being a potential cure for various diseases many centuries ago. The plant has two strains, namely hemp and marijuana; both have significant therapeutic attributes and contain essential cannabinoids like CBD. The only difference between these strains is that hemp does not produce any euphorically ‘high’ results, which marijuana is famous for.

Breaking myths and misconceptions, another active cannabinoid named tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is actually more responsible for marijuana’s stoned effects. In case you haven’t heard yet, THC is the famous cannabinoid cousin of CBD and the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis. While this component is highly present in the marijuana strain, hemp may only have little to no level of THC. Most states allow a maximum rate of less than 0.3% THC in some legitimate CBD products. Even so, extremely low quantities of THC are not enough to cause adverse reactions, such as a high. CBD as a safe, non-intoxicating substance is unique to cannabis- bestowing it with a possible therapeutic profile.

Multiple research into some of these growing bodies of evidence is in progress. For now, what we know about CBD’s potential benefits is the anti-epileptic properties that it might contain. Studies showed that CBD for epilepsy was effective in reducing the frequency of seizures in patients who suffered from two different types of epilepsy among children, including Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Hence in 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has carefully considered the endorsement for Epidiolex, the first FDA-approved drug that contains CBD.

Other studies suggest that CBD may also help with treating other maladies, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s, anxiety, and depression. It may also relieve pain and inflammation with its possible antioxidant properties.

Many locals and foreign visitors see Amsterdam as a charming haven for CBD use. However, there is a little confusing position when it comes to its legality. In 1999, the Netherlands was the first country to legalise cannabis in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. It was followed by the official establishment of the country’s Bureau for Medicinal Cannabis (BMC) in 2001. Despite all these starting points, several tourists were left wondering whether or not it’s safe to smoke CBD on the streets of Amsterdam.

During the reform of the Netherlands CBD law in 2018, smoking soft drugs in public premises of Amsterdam was prohibited. CBD was subject to restriction under the Opium Act of the Netherlands for being a derivative of hemp. As strange as it may sound, the cultivation and production of CBD are prohibited but not completely banned. The Dutch government gave the green light to several municipalities to grow legal hemp for industrial production in 2019, in accordance with the CBD law reform. They even appointed farmers to ensure the abundance of cannabis reserve and manufacture in the country. As laws and limitations are gradually amended, the recreational, medical, and scientific cannabis industry has seen rapid growth and is said to continue operation in all its municipalities and metropolitans, including Amsterdam.

Normalising the cultivation and trade of legal cannabis is regulated by a series of ‘tolerance criteria’ for shop-owners to strictly follow. For instance, the Dutch law mandates that CBD products shall be tolerated with a maximum THC level of 0.05% only. Otherwise, these products shall never be sold nor used anywhere in the country. While rules and regulations have made a conservative turn, the CBD market continuously flourishes in the Netherlands and Amsterdam. As a primary point of sale, the city is reputed to provide a wide variety of CBD products to tailor to every consumer’s needs and interests.

The legislative reform on CBD cultivation and production has opened a door of opportunity for consumers to purchase various CBD products legally. However, one must be very careful when it comes to buying CBD in Amsterdam. The laws and limitations regarding the use of CBD can be a double-edged sword. While you’re in luck to be able to choose from a wide selection of CBD products, you will also find it a bit tricky to come across products with questionable quality. Thus, it is essential to follow a few tips on how to shop CBD products like a local pro.

Request a Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Legal CBD products often come with a COA, basically a certificate of analysis or quality control that verifies whether the product contains the appropriate CBD quantities. Manufacturers are not permitted to directly provide their own analysis. The COA should be derived from a third-party testing source to ensure accurate and impartial results. Always ask the retailer to provide you with a COA, especially if the item does not come with one.

Check the label

When it comes to product content, it is imperative to double-check labelling accuracy. Ensure that the CBD and THC concentrations stated on the product label match what’s indicated on the COA. The standard product labels, such as CBD isolate, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum, will help you determine which natural compounds of the cannabis plant are available in the product. Refer to the table below to quickly identify your preferred label.

Label	CBD	THC	Other Cannabinoids
CBD Isolate	✔	✘	✘
Full Spectrum	✔	✔	✔
Broad-Spectrum	✔	✘	✔

Ask for recommendations

The Dutch market provides hundreds of local shops that specialise in CBD products. With a sea of options, selecting the best product can be overwhelming. Good thing, you can always ask for recommendations if you cannot decide on your purchase. The staff members at CBD stores are usually expert in their field of work. With an abundance of product knowledge, they can assist you with your needs.

Opt for reputable brands

It is hard to trust a CBD brand you’ve never heard of before. While most manufacturers wouldn’t risk selling low-quality products, it will be more secure to go for reliable brands that offer top-notch commodities. Otherwise, if you want to try a new CBD brand, make sure to read product reviews before buying from any unfamiliar brands.

Avoid products that violate local regulations

As mentioned earlier, any CBD product that contains THC level higher than 0.05% is considered illegal in Amsterdam. That’s why it makes plenty of sense to always ask for a COA. This way allows you to determine whether the products adhere to the rules mandated by the Dutch government- this is especially true if you are a newbie in the city.

The Best CBD Shops to Try in Amsterdam

Now that you have been acquainted with different shopping tips and several standards that define CBD quality, it’s time to visit Amsterdam and the CBD shops it boasts for. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most trusted and accessible stores, where you can find a full array of legal CBD products to try.

Canna Health Amsterdam

Location: Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 26, 1012 NH Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Daily 10:30–18:30

Google Review: 5.0 (41 Reviews)

Canna Health Amsterdam is a herbal medicine shop that offers a wide variety of high-quality CBD products for wellness and lifestyle at a very competent price. Their products are mainly CBD isolate, which means they contain 99.7 pure CBD crystalline without THC or any harsh ingredients. The shop ensures that all their products are derived from legitimate industrial hemp, and not marijuana. Aside from its safe and high-quality products, what customers also enjoy about the shop is its excellent service. One of the reviewers commended the staff for taking the time to explain everything about their products in greater detail. Right now they offer various CBD edibles and CBD oils, and soon they’ll have more options readily available in the shop. The store opens from Monday to Sunday at 10:30 in the morning and closes at 18:30.

When Nature Calls

Location: Keizersgracht 508, 1017 EJ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Daily 9:00–22:00

Google Review: 4.7 (155 Reviews)

We like the wit expressed in the name of this store. It’s like when nature calls for CBD, we know exactly where to go. But on a serious note, When Nature Calls is one of the pioneer establishments for an array of CBD-based products in the city. The shop was launched in the late 1990s that it surely has witnessed a lot of remarkable developments in the cannabis industry from being strictly prohibited to readily available on the market shelves. Many of the products that the store provides are usable for any purpose whether it’s for CBD skin care, medication, or leisure. They have the best CBD oil collection and other CBD-filled edibles, including protein powder and booster shots. Besides a great selection of CBD products and pioneering reputation, the elegance and neatness of the shop are other qualities that will make you want to pay a visit more often.

Tatanka

Location: Halvemaansteeg 12, 1017 CR Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Daily 10:00–22:00

Google Review: 4.4 (74 Reviews)

If you are looking for an authentic ‘Amsterdam experience’, you need to explore a rare shop along 12th street of Halvemaansteeg- just a few blocks away from the Pathé De Munt Cinema. The store is called Tatanka, a Native American Indian term for buffalo. They like to believe that the goal of the store is very synonymous to a buffalo’s, which is to drive people towards a strong and independent spirit. To make it happen, they offer different types of products that can intensify your quality of life and sex drive. You can choose from a variety of CBD products, including energy supplements, crystalline powder, capsule, and pure and raw CBD oil. They also have different CBD vaping accessories and T-shirts made of sustainable hemp.

Amsterdam Genetics

Location: Humberweg 6, 1043 AC Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00–18:00

Google Review: 4.8 (306 Reviews)

Amsterdam Genetics is a multi-shop that offers an extensive variety of CBD products from all kinds of cannabis seeds to supplements, skincare essentials, clothing, vaping tools, and other related merchandise. They also have a dedicated cafe if you like to drop by for a morning cuppa, infused by a special ingredient: CBD. The company has been operating since 1985, which is why you can count on them when it comes to serving first-rate cannabis products. For anyone who has a long shopping list in their bags, we’d say this shop is a jack-of-all-trades that is able to deliver anything and everything!

High Culture CBD Oil Shop

Location: Bellamystraat 6, 1053 BL Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00–18:00

Google Review: 4.9 (23 Reviews)

Looking for a one-stop-shop that offers the best CBD oil in the metro? Look no further once you’ve crossed the Bellamystraat street! At the heart of the district nestles a humble CBD oil shop called High Culture. Their products are directly distributed from CBD farmers that are close to the neighbourhood. Since the shop specialises in CBD oil, they provide a wide assortment of oils in the most useful doses to help obtain the balance and wellness that your body desperately needs. Whether it’s CBD oil for pain or anxiety, you can find everything you need at High Culture.

Jacob Hooy & Co.

Location: Kloveniersburgwal 12, 1012 CT Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00–18:00 | Sat 10:00–17:00

Google Review: 4.3 (42 Reviews)

Customers love the ancient atmosphere inside the Jacob Hooy & Co, an antiquated store for herbal remedies and more. The scent of herbs and spices brings back memories of an old spice stand that opened in 1743. Quite a long time ago, but the clock doesn’t stand still. The shop has kept up-to-date with a modern selection of herbal remedies, including CBD teas, cosmetics, fragrance items, and delectable jars of candy! As you walk through the doors of Jacob Hooy & Co, it kind of feels like the time splits between the past and the future with its medieval theme and modernish sets of various products.

Supmedi CBD

Location: Prins Hendrikkade 10, 1012 TK Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Daily 11:00–19:00

Google Review: 4.9 (28 Reviews)

From the old-fashioned vibe, we take you forward to a state-of-the-art interior of Supmedi CBD. This shop is a go-to place for those who are in dire need of body balance, fitness, and strength. So if you are an athlete or someone who’s into serious sports like boxing or skateboarding, you need to try the purported beneficial impact of CBD for extreme sport. Supmedi CBD specialises in vitamins and natural supplements made of fine hemp extracts, including CBD as a star ingredient. The store manufactures its own products, supplying other retail shops such as the ones we featured above, including When Nature Calls, Amsterdam Genetics, and High Culture. Aside from supplements, they also have CBD skincare and gluten-free edibles.

Amsterdam CBD Center

Location: Gravenstraat 12, 1012 NM Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Daily 10:00–18:00

Google Review: 5.0

Amsterdam CBD Center is a newly-opened store that aims to become the best CBD provider in the city. The shop owners are well-experienced in cultivating cannabis seeds, so they’ve decided to launch the Amsterdam CBD Center and hopefully provide an extensive collection of CBD capsules, oils and other essential products. They also offer free consultations to address every customer’s needs and queries.

One2Vape

Location: Spuistraat 98, 1012 TZ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Tues-Sun 12:00–20:00

Google Review: 4.8 (904 Reviews)

When it comes to Amsterdam nightlife, there are lots of choices for vape shops to suit every taste. One2Vape is one of the premier shops specialising in CBD vape juice, oil and other vaping accessories. You can visit One2Vape in the famous Red-light District, just a three-minute walk from the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Regular vapers enjoy a great selection of liquid flavours at reasonable prices- not to mention the fun company of their super friendly staff.

When it comes to Amsterdam nightlife, there are lots of choices for vape shops to suit every taste. One2Vape is one of the premier shops specialising in CBD vape juice, oil and other vaping accessories. You can visit One2Vape in the famous Red-light District, just a three-minute walk from the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Regular vapers enjoy a great selection of liquid flavours at reasonable prices- not to mention the fun company of their super friendly staff.

E-Blow Vape Shop

Location: Muiderstraat 6H, 1011 RA Amsterdam, Netherlands

Store Hours: Tues-Fri 11:00–19:00 | Sat 12:00–18:00

Google Review: 4.5 (174 Reviews)

E-Blow is another reputable vape shop you’ll find in the city. The shop owner has been specialising in e-cigarettes since the early 2000s, and the friendly staff are also well-experienced to guide you with your needs, especially if you are new to vaping. They offer a flavourful collection of CBD vape oil and other e-liquids from fruit tastes to sweets and menthol. If you’re looking for something else to love about E-blow, this shop features a fun, relaxing lounge, where you can chill out and spend a great time vaping with your mates.

We hope to give you a fantastic virtual tour that brings you closer to the most-visited CBD shops in Amsterdam. If you happen to cross the city, be sure to drop by every CBD store downtown, so you can explore a manifold of local CBD products, compare prices like a true Amsterdammer, and see what each boutique has in store for you. Amsterdam is small enough to travel on foot or through a pedal if you like, but it’s also large enough to accommodate a number of CBD spots and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will keep you coming back. So, Goede reis— have a good journey!

Anastasiia Myronenko

Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.