Can you use CBD while pregnant? This is a question that is frequently raised among patients who are considering using cannabidiol (CBD) as part of their treatment regimen. As laws and statutes on CBD continue to change, it’s important to fully understand the risks associated with using this substance during pregnancy. To put it simply, it’s safe for some women to use CBD in small amounts corrected for the milligrams of active tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but not all. What does this mean?

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound from the cannabis plant, also known as marijuana. Over 80 chemicals, known as cannabinoids, have been identified in the Cannabis sativa plant. While delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the major active ingredient in marijuana, cannabidiol is also obtained from hemp, which contains only very small amounts of THC.
The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill made it legal to sell hemp and hemp products in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean that all hemp-derived cannabidiol products are legal. Since cannabidiol has been studied as a new drug, it can’t be legally included in foods or dietary supplements. Also, cannabidiol can’t be included in products marketed with therapeutic claims. Cannabidiol can only be included in “cosmetic” products and only if it contains less than 0.3% THC. But there are still products labeled as dietary supplements on the market that contain cannabidiol. The amount of cannabidiol contained in these products is not always reported accurately on the product label.

Who can use CBD?

CBD is one of the most popular products to have emerged from the cannabis revolution over the last few years.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of many compounds (or cannabinoids) found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD is non-intoxicating and won’t get you high. In fact, it’s often used for its therapeutic benefits.
Although CBD has become more widely accepted and legal in recent years, there are still some restrictions on who can use CBD and when they can use it.

When Can You Use CBD?

The first thing to understand here is that although CBD comes from cannabis plants and is often associated with marijuana, marijuana isn’t legal everywhere and it isn’t always legal to use.
CBD, on the other hand, has been made legal in many countries across the world including the US and Europe. However, there are still limitations you need to be aware of.
In the United States, hemp-derived CBD was legalized under Federal Law by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka The Farm Bill). This law made industrial hemp with less than 0.3% THC federally legal under certain conditions; however, marijuana remains illegal at a federal level.

What are the benefits of CBD?

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, which offers many of the same benefits as THC without the high.
CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in the body. This system produces naturally occurring cannabinoids that work to maintain homeostasis (balance) in the body.
Some of the benefits of CBD include:

Pain relief

CBD is an effective anti-inflammatory and can help alleviate pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions. It also has analgesic properties that relieve pain in general.

Anti-anxiety effects

CBD has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It may also be beneficial for those suffering from social anxiety or panic attacks.

Antipsychotic effects

The antipsychotic properties of CBD help to relieve psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions or paranoia in patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders. In addition, its calming effects can be helpful for controlling agitation or aggression among patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Neuroprotective effects

CBD can help protect nerve cells from damage due to free radicals, which causes oxidative stress that damages cells over time and leads to age-related diseases such as Parkinson.

Can you use CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Many women who are pregnant or breastfeeding wonder if they can use CBD to treat anxiety, insomnia or pain. Here’s what you need to know about CBD and pregnancy.
CBD is a molecule derived from cannabis or hemp plants that doesn’t get you high. It’s sold as an oil, in edibles, capsules, vape juice, and many other forms. People use it for a variety of reasons — to help with pain, anxiety, PTSD and other conditions.
While there is no conclusive evidence of harm from using CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding, little is known about the effects of CBD on developing fetuses or infants. Because of this, experts recommend extreme caution when using CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding.

What we do (and don’t) know about the effects of CBD on pregnancy

Experts have found that taking substances during pregnancy can affect fetal development by increasing the risk of certain birth defects. However, it can be difficult to identify the specific substance responsible for these defects because some mothers take multiple substances during pregnancy. It’s also difficult to study the effects of a particular substance taken during pregnancy because researchers are not allowed to deliberately expose pregnant women and their fetuses to anything that could potentially cause harm.
Studies in animals suggest that cannabinoids like THC may be toxic to developing.

What should I avoid when taking CBD?

Avoid taking CBD if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The FDA considers CBD a drug and therefore it is not advisable to take CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Avoid taking CBD with grapefruit. Grapefruit inhibits the liver enzymes that break down CBD, which can increase the amount of CBD that stays in your system at one time. This means that you may feel the effects of CBD for a longer duration after consuming it with grapefruit.
Avoid taking CBD with alcohol. Alcohol and other drugs can increase the side effects of CBD such as drowsiness and dizziness. The FDA does not recommend combining CBD with alcohol because it has not been studied enough to understand what impact this combination may have on your body.

How do I know if a CBD product is safe?

The FDA has found some CBD products that were sold online or in stores to have THC amounts that could be dangerous to children. Some of these products are also marketed to treat diseases and conditions despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting these claims.
The FDA has also warned some companies for making unproven health claims about their CBD products.
It’s important to note that the FDA has not approved any non-prescription products containing CBD for any use, including pain management. As more research is completed on CBD, the FDA will continue to monitor its safety and effectiveness as well as its potential uses.
If you’re interested in using CBD for pain, talk with your doctor about whether it’s right for you.