Cannabidiol (CBD)

CBD is a compound found in cannabis that interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system – a network that helps regulate pain, mood, sleep, and other functions. CBD is not intoxicating in the way THC may be.

Medical CBD may be prescribed for the symptoms of certain conditions when other treatments haven’t worked. These include:

• Chronic pain, such as neuropathic pain and arthritis
• Anxiety disorders, including PTSD
• Treatment-resistant epilepsy
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

CBD is available in different forms, including over-the-counter wellness products and pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol prescribed by specialist doctors. Over-the-counter CBD products, such as oils, drinks, and topical creams, are classed as wellness supplements, not medicines, and don’t go through the same level of testing as prescribed CBD and often include a very low dose.

Pharmaceutical-grade CBD is prescribed by a specialist doctor and held to strict medical standards. Some CBD-based medicines, like Epidiolex, are approved as licensed medicine in the UK for specific conditions like epilepsy.

You don’t need a prescription for over-the-counter CBD, but medical-grade CBD must be prescribed by a specialist doctor.

Yes, CBD can be purchased in wellness products as long as they contain less than the legally permitted level of THC. Prescribed CBD is of a higher quality and potency to shop-bought wellness products and is also legal with or without THC.

No, CBD is not intoxicating in the same way THC can be.

No, CBD comes from the flowers, leaves, and stems of the cannabis plant and contains active cannabinoids. Hemp oil (hemp seed oil) is made from cannabis seeds and doesn’t contain significant levels of CBD or THC.