What are the benefits and risks of CBD?

I'm often asked what the benefits and risks of CBD are. That's a question I can't answer myself, because I am not a doctor and it would be illegal for me to give medical advice. Instead, I send the people who ask the following links:

• 7 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil (Plus Side Effects) on Healthline (1)
• Everything you need to know about CBD oil on MedicalNewsToday (2)
• What is CBD oil? The uses, benefits and risks on Netdoctor (3)

Summary of the Above Articles

You should read the full articles yourself, but here is a list of the benefits, risks and side effects of CBD that they list. The numbers next to the benefit/side effect/risk refers to the article, numbered above, that mentions it.

Benefits of CBD

• Pain relief (1,2,3)
• Anti-inflammatory (2,3)
• Ease Anxiety (1,2,3)
• Ease Depression (1,2,3)
• Alleviate Cancer related symptoms (1,2)
• Reduce acne (1,2,3)
• Neuroprotective properties (1,2)
• Benefits heart health (1,2)
• Helps quit smoking and drug withdrawal (2)
• Helps certain types of epilepsy (2, 3)

Side Effects of CBD

• Diarrhoea (1,2,3)
• Changes in appetite and weight (1,2,3)
• Fatigue (1,2,3)
• Dry mouth (3)
• Drowsiness (3)

Risks of CBD

• Interacts with several medications. (1,2,3)
• Both grapefruit and CBD interfere with cytochromes P450 (CYPs), a group of enzymes that are important to drug metabolism. If you take medications or supplements that come with a "grapefruit warning" you should avoid CBD. (1,2,3)
• Liver toxicity (1,2)

The above is a summary of the benefits/side effects/risks of CBD that the three articles I linked to mention. It is not my personal opinion or claim.

One of the reasons I have been asked about the risks of CBD more lately is because of an increase in negative reports in the UK. However, most of the negativity is around the fact that it is not regulated and there is a lot of fake and illegal CBD out there, not the CBD itself. If you choose to try CBD, check with your doctor first, check the lab reports, and follow these steps to avoid fake CBD.