Is CBD Oil Halal or Haram?
It seems that CBD oil seems to be everywhere at the moment and everyone on social media is singing its praises claiming it to be the cure for just about everything going. Particularly, as it’s now so easy to get CBD online, people really do think it’s helping them. But let’s take a look at what it consists of and is CBD oil Halal or Haram?
CBD oil is typically extracted from the resin glands on cannabis (marijuana) buds and flowers. It can also be extracted from hemp, which is an industrial, fibrous form of cannabis that has small buds and a tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, concentration of 0.3% or less (THC is the chemical compound that’s responsible for making people high). It’s usually diluted with another type of oil, like Hemp seed oil or MCT oil.
So, there are two main types of CBD oil available. One which contains THC – a product that can get you high – and one without. Currently in the UK any CBD oil containing THC is banned thus, more and more people over here, including researchers and healthcare providers, are claiming that CBD is entirely safe to use, by both adults and children so we will focus on the non-THC, legal form of CBD oil.
Benefits of CBD
There are a lot of misconceptions among the general public when it comes to CBD Oil. First off, what CBD is NOT: It’s not marijuana. It’s not THC (the part of cannabis responsible for causing a “high.”), and it’s non-psychoactive.
CBD has been reported to have many positive results. Scientists are looking into how it helps with medical applications like epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, spasms, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, nausea, convulsions, inflammation, and many other conditions, including cancer.
However, the effectiveness of CBD and the above conditions has not yet been scientifically proven and many of these studies are still in a pre-clinical stage. What is known with high certainty is that CBD has been effective for decreasing anxiety and many inflammation-related problems, including arthritis as well as multiple sclerosis.
CBD has also been proven to inhibit the growth of MRSA bacterium (a strain of staphylococcus resistant to antibiotics), which causes several difficult-to-treat infections. As a chemical substance, CBD also has strong antioxidant properties.
Because the effects of CBD is still under study, it is suggested for you to do your own research before using CBD in your daily life. However, these are some of the more common claimed benefits of CBD oil:
Anti-Seizure: Studies have shown Cannabidiol to have anti-seizure qualities in animal models. Case studies and user testimonials also show CBD as a potential treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy in children.
Anti-Inflammatory: CBD is an anti-inflammatory and may help with pain associated with arthritis and scoliosis as well as general aches and soreness.
Neuroprotectant / Anti-oxidant: Research also shows Cannabidiol is an anti-oxident and has neuroprotective properties that may help prevent or treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Anti-Anxiety: CBD reduces both mental and physical measures of stress and anxiety in both animal models and humans. As well as treating anxiety, CBD also improves the ability to forget traumatic memories making it an enticing potential treatment of PTSD.
Substance Abuse: Early findings show the possibilities of Cannabidiol in the treatment for substance abuse. Research shows the reduction of opiate induced rewards and compulsions in animal models. More studies are needed regarding these effects in humans.
Anti-emetic: Cannabidiol has been shown to decrease nausea and vomiting in case studies.
How to take CBD oil?
Swallow and Ingest: Perhaps the most common way to take CBD is simply to swallow pure CBD oil. When you ingest CBD oil, it passes through the digestive system and is metabolized by the liver, eventually delivering its active compounds to your bloodstream. CBD oil can be purchased in capsule form for this.
Hold CBD under your tongue: Another popular method for taking CBD is to apply and hold it under the tongue so that the mucus membranes in the mouth can absorb CBD and the other active compounds found in CBD oil. This sublingual application offers faster delivery, because the CBD and hemp oil’s other natural constituents get to bypass the digestive system and metabolization by the liver.
Vape CBD: As vaping has grown in popularity among health-conscious consumers CBD can also be taken this way. Vaping offers a lung-friendly method for inhaling CBD oil, allowing CBD and other trace cannabinoids to be absorbed through the lung’s large absorptive surface area before they’re diffused into the bloodstream.
Chewing CBD gum: There’s likely not a more enjoyable way to get your daily CBD than by chewing a piece of CBD gum. Pop in a piece after your morning cup of coffee or once you’ve finished lunch to freshen your breath while getting CBD.
Mix CBD with food and/or drink: Looking for a seamless method for adding CBD into your daily life? Try blending CBD into your favorite foods or drinks. Adding CBD to your already-prepared healthy foods is not just easy, but it may also improve how well the CBD is absorbed. Fatty acids found in foods can serve as carriers for cannabinoids like CBD, allowing them to move through the body for faster processing.
Rub CBD on your skin: You can apply some CBD products directly onto the skin. The CBD and other active ingredients found in topical CBD products like lotions and salves are absorbed into the skin so that they can interact with cells near the surface without entering the bloodstream. Hemp CBD oil contains CBD and many fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients that play a vital role in the health of your skin.
Is CBD legal in the UK?
Sales of medicinal CBD oil have shot through the roof in the last year since it was legalised in the UK.
CBD oil has been hailed as a natural saviour for everything from epilepsy to Parkinson’s disease as well as migraines, stress and cancer symptoms.
The law was changed to recognise CBD, one of the components of cannabis, as a medicine.
All products which contain CBD extract are now legally considered to be medicine instead of nutritional supplements which they had previously been known.
Any CBD product purchased in the UK is 100% legal as long as it was derived from one of the 63 EU approved industrial hemp strains.
The legalised CBD oil does not contain THC or will contain only a trace amount..
The Confusion
The initial confusion tends to be about the actual Cannabis plant itself. People use the words ‘Cannabis‘, ‘Hemp’, ‘Marijuana’ and others interchangeably — even when they actually mean different things.
Is Hemp the same thing as Marijuana? Is Marijuana the same thing as Cannabis? Is Cannabis the same thing as Hemp? The answer is yes, kind of!
You see the actual plant that produces all of these is known as the Cannabis plant. Although the Cannabis plant has several species the two main ones are Hemp and Marijuana as the diagram below shows.
CBD oil Hemp oil Cannabis oil
So, you can now see that when people refer to Cannabis they are actually referring to the Marijuana species of the Cannabis plant and not the Hemp species. It has just become common language to label the Marijuana species of plant as Cannabis because to most people there is only one use of Cannabis – to get high.
In short:
- Cannabis is a plant family that includes many species, including both Hemp and Marijuana
- Hemp (also known as Sativa) is a variety of Cannabis plant grown for its tall, sturdy stalks, high CBD levels and low THC levels
- Marijuana (also known as Indica) is a variety of Cannabis plant grown for its high levels of THC
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp oil and CBD oil are usually the same thing unless it is Hemp Seed oil. Hemp Seed oil is produced from the Hemp species of Cannabis plant or, to be more precise, only from the seeds of the Hemp plant. While this type of oil can be extracted from all species of Cannabis plants, industrial Hemp is the only plant used for specifically producing Hemp Seed oil.
The Hemp plant seeds contain low levels of cannabinoids including the two most commonly known: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). The oil is extracted from the Hemp plants by pressing the seeds, a similar method of extraction to how olive and coconut oil is obtained.
Hemp Seed Oil Uses
There are multiple uses for Hemp Seed oil, which is part of its rise in popularity. It is great for cooking and full of nutrients. It can provide a crispy and nutty taste to foods and can be a wonderful replacement for olive oil in salads
Hemp Seed oil is often used in shampoos, lotions, soaps, and other beauty or cosmetic products around the world.
It can also be found as an ingredient in plastics, paint, dressings, lubrications as well as used in the production of eco-friendly paints.
CBD Oil (also known as Hemp oil)
Unlike Hemp Seed oil which utilises the seeds of the Hemp plant CBD oil is extracted from the stalks, leaves, buds and seeds of the Hemp plant and typically, strains are chosen that are known to have higher CBD levels in order to maximize the potency of the end product.
The stalks, leaves and buds also contain low levels of THC but a higher level of CBD. The best oil is produced using C02, the gentlest method of raw hemp extraction. This way the most important active molecules in the plant remain intact. By applying gentle heat under filtration, CBD is formed from its natural precursor CBDa, creating a wax-free liquid oil complete with all the main botanical constituents.
This process ensures the purity and natural genetics of the raw hemp is preserved and the most important active molecules in the plant remain intact ensuring there is minimal risk of contaminants in the finished product.
What About CBDa
CBDa is basically a raw form of CBD which is added to a CBD product giving it a purer and more effective characteristic. Any oil containing CBD and CBDa will ensure a better result for the user.
CBD Oil Uses
CBD works with the body through the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for keeping the body in a state of balance. It impacts the functions of sleep, mood, pain, appetite, hormone, and immune response. ECS also aids your body in creating natural cannabinoids.
But CBD does more than just affect cannabinoid receptors. It impacts many other receptors too such as Opioid, Dopamine and Serotonin receptors. All of which help regulate sleep, mood, anxiety, pain and pretty much everything else that goes on in our bodies long with benefits we have yet to discover!
Cannabis Oil
Cannabis oil is extracted from the Cannabis plant and is a thick, sticky, resinous substance made up of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. The level of THC is much higher than the CBD which is why it has been classed as illegal in many countries.
Cannabis oil is obtained by separating the resins from Cannabis flowers using a solvent extraction process. Cannabis oil can also be known as Marijuana oil, Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), Full Extract Cannabis oil (FECO), Hash oil, Dabs, Shatter, Wax plus other slang and street names.
Cannabis oil is the most potent of three main intoxicating products, which are the actual Cannabis flower (Marijuana), resin (hashish), and oil (Cannabis oil).
Cannabis oil is the most concentrated form of the three main Cannabis oil products. That is what makes Cannabis oil more potent than CBD oil and Hemp oil.
Cannabis Oil Uses
For years Cannabis oil has been used to treat a variety of conditions from stress and anxiety to chronic pain and depression. However much of its use has been deemed illegal in many parts of the world due to its high THC content.
The THC content is what gives the user a ‘high’ and therefore increases the perception of the benefit i.e. it numbs the pain, lifts your mood etc. That said there is huge medical discussion now for legitimising its use in extreme cases.
CBD Buying Tips
If you are considering purchasing some CBD oil to try then make sure you get one that is of genuine quality. Here are a few little pointers:
• If you are using a Hemp oil product make sure you check which type of Hemp oil it has in it. Is it CBD oil (with Hemp Seed oil) or just Hemp Seed oil. This will be of importance depending on your reason for using it.
• Make sure it’s CBD gold – gold means it’s been through extensive filtration which makes it yellow/gold in colour, anything that’s green or brownish means it still has plant extract and other bits left over – not great quality!!
• Always ask for certificate of analysis, this way you can see the lab results when tested!
• CO2 extracted CBD is best as this is the gentlest way of extracting the compound, ensuring best quality ALSO SEE IMPORTANT NOTE BELOW
• Organic Hemp – we all know organic is best; pesticides and preservatives can interfere with quality
• Don’t just go for cheap and cheerful – when it comes to your health, don’t compromise, yes it’s a bit more pricey but it’s only because of the work that has been put into creating the purest product. That said also watch out for overpriced oils that use extravagant advertising to boost their asking prices.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you see CBD being sold a a ‘Tincture’ be very careful. Although these days the terms oil and tincture do get used interchangeably you need to be aware that some tinctures are produced differently to oils.
As we mentioned above CO2 extraction tends to produce the highest quality CBD oil a tincture is made by using a mixture of alcohol and water to extract compounds from a plant – therefore it either contains or has been in contact with alcohol.
So in short
Hemp Seed oil is a great food supplement and cheaper than CBD but limited in immediate benefits.
CBD oil seems perfect for treating chronic pain, sleep disorders, skin conditions, anxiety, depression etc., with no known side-effects and now legal in the UK!
Cannabis oil does have benefits but will also get you high and more importantly it’s ILLEGAL in the UK
So, is CBD oil Halal or Haram?
In our opinion (excluding any alcohol tainted tinctures), yes it is Halal, as you are merely using a plant extract which is no different to using spices in our food such as ginger, turmeric and so on.
Had we been talking about the THC element of CBD oil we would naturally advise against its use as the ‘getting high’ risk is a definite no. However, the legal form of CBD contains no traces of THC and therefore none of the addictiveness of a health affecting drug.
We do advise though, as always, to carry out your own research and due diligence. If using CBD oil doesn’t sit right with you then it isn’t for you. If you are happy in yourself to use it then by all means give it a try and see if it works for you.
To shop for halal CBD oil you can take a look at our recommended outlet here: Halal CBD Shop