A Canadian health committee called on the government to support studies that look more broadly at CBD’s potential as a wellness aid while ensuring consumer safety.
Stressing that the lack of consistent data makes it difficult to draw concrete conclusions and recommendations for CBD, the Canadian Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee urged support for “high-quality clinical research into the safety and efficacy of cannabis , CBD and other phytocannabinoids.”
The analysis is presented in a recently released report on CBD sought by the country’s top health authority, Health Canada, and is intended to guide rulemaking.
The Committee began considering the appropriateness of allowing the purchase of over-the-counter CBD products in 2019.
Reducing health claims
The advisory group unanimously agreed that CBD can be effective for the short-term treatment of common conditions, is non-habit forming, and is therefore safe and tolerable for short-term use up to a maximum of 30 days without the supervision of a doctor or nurse. .
But the report said CBD should not be promoted as a therapy to reduce opioid or alcohol use, as there are no definitive studies indicating its effectiveness in addressing these conditions. In addition, there is no clinical evidence to support many producers’ claims that CBD-based products promote sleep or relieve pain, the committee found.
Government policy prohibits product packaging and retailers from making specific health claims about CBD. But a 2021 study of more than 2,000 CBD products sold through 70 websites found that sellers often promote CBD as a natural wellness solution for many health problems. The study also found that 53% of products made health claims for a total of 171 medical conditions on their packaging.
Potential market
CBD remains a controlled substance in Canada, regulated in a similar way to high-THC marijuana, but combined licensed and unlicensed sales indicate the market could reach C$2 billion (C$1.5 billion US dollars) and grow at a rate of 7% annually if the This compound were regulated as an over-the-counter health product, the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) estimated earlier this year.
Canada’s federal regulations now limit CBD sales to provincially licensed dispensaries that specialize in marijuana products. But illicit sales outside this channel are common and have led to little reaction from health and legal authorities.
“While our goal is to support consumer access to safe products, we must also consider knowledge gaps and public health risks,” the report advises.
The Scientific Advisory Committee also recommended:
The daily intake of CBD by mouth is set at a dose ranging from 20 to 200 milligrams per day for healthy adults, who should discuss the potential effects of combining CBD, medications, and other substances with their pharmacist CBD should not be used by women who are pregnant or who are thinking about pregnancy, by nursing mothers, or by those who have allergies or hypersensitivity to cannabis, cannabinoids or any substance that may be present in the products as result of the manufacturing process. CBD products should have clear dosage instructions and warnings of potential side effects, should contain statements about potential interactions between cannabidiol and other drugs or alcohol, and should be packaged in boxes that contain informative inserts on each sales unit Several user-friendly channels should be established so that consumers can easily report adverse reactions resulting from the use of a CBD product. CBD can be given to dogs orally twice a day, but only at very low doses between 0.2 and 2 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. No recommendation was made regarding the use of CBD in cats, due to a lack of available research, the committee said. Owners should consult a veterinarian before administering CBD to their pets. Pet products must also be packaged and include informational inserts. Labels must state that the product should only be used if a veterinarian has diagnosed the animal’s condition and discussed the risks and benefits with the owner. > Public education efforts about CBD should be undertaken.
Achieving a balance
“We recognize that while these recommendations may not meet the perceived needs of all stakeholders, we believe our recommendations strike a balance between safety and accessibility,” the Committee said.
Health Canada should review the Committee’s CBD recommendations on a regular basis as research expands in Canada and internationally, the report concludes.