In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) is gaining growing consumer attention [1]. The substance belongs to one of at least 130 naturally occurring phytocannabinoids that have been identified inCannabis sativa L. [2]. In industrial hemp, CBD is the main cannabinoid [3]. In contrast to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not intoxicating [4] and – according to a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union – should therefore not be considered a narcotic [5]. Notwithstanding, CBD interacts with several molecular targets in the organism, potentially resulting in beneficial but also adverse health effects [6].
In consequence, products containing high CBD doses clearly exerting a pharmacological activity or being intended for the treatment of diseases are considered to be medicinal products in the European Union (EU). They require authorization according to EU regulations on pharmaceuticals [7]. The rationale behind this is to protect consumers from potential health risks that may arise from the products themselves or use of non-approved products with unproven effects instead of effective medicines.
Only low-dose CBD products without a pharmacological activity and without the intention to treat diseases may potentially considered to be foods. Such CBD-containing foods, however, are generally classified as novel in the EU [8]. They require a safety assessment carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), followed by authorization by the European Commission before they can be marketed in the EU [9]. Numerous novel food applications for CBD and CBD extracts have been submitted during the last years and are partly under risk assessment [10]. EFSA recently identified some potential hazards but was not able to fully assess the actual risks due to several data gaps. Consequently, it was concluded that “the safety of CBD as a novel food cannot currently be established”[11]. Therefore, no foods containing CBD have yet been authorized and the marketing of such products as foods, including supplements, is currently considered illegal. Despite these rules, consumers can buy an increasing number of illegally marketed CBD-containing products, also in the form of food supplements, that are available mostly online or in retail stores. In some cases, such products are mislabeled, for example as “aroma oils” or “cosmetics” to circumvent legal rules [12].
As described, the regulatory context for CBD is complex and it might be put into question whether consumers are aware of both the legal aspects as well as the potential health risks. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to gain insight into the user group of CBD in Germany, to investigate reasons for consumption, and to gain information about the risk perception of the population and its knowledge about CBD-containing products in order to target risk communication and increase awareness for the substance.
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-17142-0
Sean Hocking
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