Why We Don't Sell CBD

There has been an explosion in the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) oil in the UK market, with many companies looking to cash in on the opportunity.

However, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued precautionary advice in October 2023 on CBD, recommending healthy adults should limit their consumption of Cannabidiol CBD from food to 10mg per day, which is about 4-5 drops of 5% CBD oil.

The advice has been based on the average lifetime exposure to food products containing CBD, such as drinks, oils, sweets, bakery items or drops. Some products available on the market will have a higher dose of CBD per serving than 10mg a day, therefore consumers should check labels and consider their daily intake in light of this advice.

The FSA continues to advise that CBD is not taken by people in vulnerable groups, including children, people taking medication (who have not consulted a medical professional), and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those trying to conceive.

The novel food status of CBD extracts was confirmed in January 2019 and all CBD food products must apply for authorisation before they can be sold legally in Great Britain (GB). Novel Foods Legislation gives consumers additional protection by ensuring that novel foods coming into the market are safe and not misleading. The FSA has announced that it will seek to remove products that do not have the novel food authorisation.

What is CBD?

CBD is a chemical compound found in hemp and cannabis (marijuana). Hemp contains several cannabinoids (chemical compounds), but no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and very little CBD, whereas marijuana is higher in THC, the cannabinoid known for psychotropic properties. The UK Home Office states that individual products should not contain more than 1mg of THC within the final pack, which in many cases is around 30 tablets and an insignificant level.

What is Hemp Oil?

Hemp Oil is typically harvested from hemp seeds, which have little CBD present. CBD is a kind of cannabinoid present in all strains of the species Cannabis Sativa, not believed to have psychoactive compounds that would affect behaviour.

What are the Concerns around CBD?

The testing of CBD products in the USA, for example, has highlighted concerns that there is a wide variation in the amounts of CBD present in products, ranging from several milligrams up to several hundred milligrams of the type to be found in pharmacological products. What’s apparent is that some CBD products promise significantly more or less than their label claim.

CBD can cause side effects and interact with certain medications, especially with high doses in the region of hundreds of milligrams of CBD. Therefore, the CBD used to treat severe forms of epilepsy in children, for example, is only available in the USA as a pharmaceutical drug and still up for discussion in the UK. Consumers have also been cautioned to steer clear of synthetic forms of CBD as these may be dangerous and unregulated. Likewise, to date, no studies have been undertaken on the effects of applying CBD topically to the skin of people, rendering CBD balms and lotions untested.

What’s the Alternative?

We have been following the research on a fascinating nutrient called Palmitoylethanolamide, or PEA, for several years and rather than launch a CBD product, we waited for the development of a pure form of PEA and then formulated our PEA Complex 400mg and PEA Complex 800mg. These includes vitamin B12, B6 and B1 as they contribute to normal functioning of the nervous system and normal psychological function. PEA belongs to a group of natural compounds which are vital for chemical signalling in the body, and it can be found in almost every cell in the body. It is naturally produced when cells are damaged or threatened and research shows that supplements of PEA taken orally can help increase body levels of PEA, which can be useful for some people.

Is CBD legal in the UK?

We consider PEA to be a well-researched alternative to CBD, and there is some evidence that PEA binds to more receptors in the body than CBD, resulting in a wider effect. There is also a better understanding of the long-term suitability of PEA as a supplement since it is naturally produced in the body, and this may explain the very low number of reports of unwanted effects found in any of the studies. PEA can be found in small amounts in foods such as egg yolks, peanuts, soy, flaxseed, and milk, and our highly concentrated PEA is from a plant source.

In the UK, CBD (cannabidiol) is legal, provided it meets certain criteria. Specifically:

• Source: It must be derived from hemp strains that are EU-approved.
• THC Content: The product must contain no more than 0.2% THC.
• Health Claims: It cannot be marketed as a medicine unless it has been licensed for that purpose.

CBD products are widely available in various forms, but it's always wise to check the specific regulations and product quality when purchasing.