The popularity of CBD has undeniably risen over the course of the last few years.
We’ve gone from a society where very few people knew that cannabis was made up of different compounds, to people who hail CBD as the best on the market.
To some people, this change in attitude has occurred far too quickly.
Alongside the growing numbers of CBD companies popping up throughout the United States, many are beginning to question whether this cannabinoid and the stories associated with it are simply too good to be true.
Though some question this, however, the increasing market value shows that there is a significant proportion of our society who does believe CBD is a miracle ingredient.
This is reflected by latest predictions that state the CBD market could reach $20 billion by 2024, outdoing prediction from the beginning that stated this number could stand somewhere closer to $15 billion.
This growing market value could be contributed to consumers, but recent behaviour suggests it has more to do with the various companies who are attempting to make their name in a relatively new industry.
Competitors include the likes of cosmetic brands like Sephora, who recently launched their own CBD skincare range, boasting their products had anti-ageing benefits, and were extremely hydrating.
The food and the market industry is also trying to make its stake in the industry, with everyone from breweries to coffee shops trying to create their own innovative products infused with CBD in one way or another.
While the former is flourishing, the latter is admittedly struggling against restrictions put in place by the FDA, who are still adamant that CBD is not legal to be sold as a consumable good.
This could soon change, however, with the government organization recently holding a public enquiry to investigate whether they should change their stance on the cannabinoid.
Those in support of CBD would argue that the passing of The Farm Bill, signed into law by Donald Trump at the end of 2018, made the government’s stance on the oil clear.
Under this legislation, CBD that is derived from hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC is considered to be legal and safe.
On the other hand, however, there are a number of people who say we cannot be sure that CBD is safe due to the lack of knowledge we still hold about the cannabinoid.
While it’s true that research into CBD was stunted for a number of years, however, there have been many research studies in recent years proving that CBD is considered safe.
Even if we put the medical evidence to one side for a moment, much of which is made up of small studies and anecdotal evidence, many key medical experts are speaking out in support of the cannabinoid.
This includes online outlet Healthcare Weekly, who report that CBD is 100% safe, largely due to the fact that several studies have shown a lack of overdose potential.
This is contrary to a lot of pharmaceutical drugs, which have the potential to be, and often are, abused.
Despite the FDA not yet approving CBD for human consumption, as mentioned earlier in this article, even they cannot deny that CBD is a promising treatment in cases where pharmaceutical drugs are no longer an effective option.
This was backed up by their approval of Epidolex in June 2018, which is a drug made up partly of CBD and is used to control seizures in childhood sufferers of two rare forms of epilepsy.
This was a historic event in the world of American medicine, and proves that government organizations are at least somewhat in agreement about the health benefits of CBD.
Another reason why some people think CBD sounds too good to be true is because people claim there are very few side effects associated with the cannabinoid.
This is because we’re used to hearing about the many side effects of pharmaceutical drugs, but when several studies back up the same findings, it’s difficult to deny the truth.
Most studies are in agreement that symptoms of CBD tend to be temporary, with some of the most common including fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea.
With so much evidence surrounding the benefits of CBD, it’s impossible to ignore that it is far more than a marketing scam.
In fact, when it’s changed many people’s lives by making it easier for them to live with chronic or terminal conditions, calling it a marketing scam diminishes its achievements.
With that being said, those hesitant about CBD do have one valid complaint, which lies in the way CBD is regulated.
Due to the speed at which this cannabinoid has been legalized, the regulation methods are hazy at best.
In fact, many states throughout the US still have no regulatory framework for CBD, meaning anyone can market the cannabinoid with nobody checking up on the quality.
Though this may be the case now, many states are beginning to pioneer a chance, putting in place regulations, budgets and other measures to monitor the CBD market as a whole.
This change has led many to believe it’s only a matter of time before CBD products are completely regulated by the FDA, a prediction made more likely by their recent public enquiry.
Going back to the question we asked at the start of this article, what is the answer to whether CBD is the real thing or a marketing scam?
In the vast majority of cases, CBD is definitely the real deal.
As we’ve mentioned in this article, CBD is gaining attention as being a major contender in the medical community.
Though completed research studies are currently limited, more and more are being released every year showing promising results.
With key medical influencers around the world putting increasing pressure on researchers to find out all the benefits of CBD, it’s not unreasonable to suggest that we’ll see a surge in these studies in coming years.
Though some companies are letting down the CBD industry by marketing products that fall below the expected standards, these are few and far between.
With so many benefits, CBD is the real deal, and something many will consider to invest in as these benefits continue to be reported by traditional media in the years to come.
