After years of misinformation and propaganda, the stigma surrounding cannabis and CBD still lives on. Millennials and Gen Z have grown up seeing the government backtrack on these restrictions. Older generations experienced an onslaught of negative PR to paint marijuana and marijuana users in a negative light. Deep-rooted beliefs are hard to overcome. To make matters worse, there is still plenty of misinformation available online and through cable news outlets.
As more people turn to CBD for natural relief, confrontations with friends and family members still stigmatized by cannabis are possible. While they have the CBD user's best interest at heart, their fears are rooted in fear and propaganda, not lived experience and science.If you are planning to come out as a CBD user to your parents, you may want to prepare. Hearing lies about a product that is increasing your quality of life can be frustrating. We are going to walk you through how to kindly counter the common arguments against CBD, so you are prepared to have the CBD talk with your parents.
Where Does CBD Come From?
Legality and terminology are the biggest challenges the CBD industry has connecting to the masses. Most people are confused by the laws and classifications associated with cannabis because they are confusing. The best starting place in the CBD talk with your parents is sorting out the different terms.
The Difference Between Cannabis, Hemp, and Marijuana
Before the CBD industry took off, the difference between hemp and marijuana was pretty straightforward. Hemp was used for industrial purposes like textiles and rope and marijuana was grown for medical and recreational purposes. The demand for CBD complicates this distraction because both THC and CBD come from the plant’s flowers.
Industrial hemp producers use all parts of the plant to produce a wide variety of products. There wasn't a demand for cannabis flowers from industrial hemp plants because the THC levels weren’t high enough to get users high. Once the public learned that CBD has legitimate medical applications, the demand for hemp flower skyrocketed.
The 2018 ‘Farm Bill’ reclassified hemp as cannabis containing 0.3% THC or less. Marijuana is now cannabis with THC potency levels higher than plants defined as hemp.
Both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants. According to the FDA, hemp plants don’t have enough THC to deliver a high and are now 100% legal to consume, produce, and distribute.
There is another aspect of the CBD industry that has confused user’s unfamiliar with cannabis products. Synthetic cannabinoids are produced in a lab at a much cheaper rate to mimic the effects of those derived from cannabis plants. Before the CBD boom, synthetics like ‘K2’ and ‘Spice’ would be sprayed on an organic plant substance and sold to users looking for a similar high to THC. Synthetic manufacturers are now replicating CBD to cash in on the rise in demand for products derived from hemp.
The concern over synthetic cannabinoids is 100% valid. These types of compounds can be harmful if not produced correctly, the FDA has been clear that synthetics are illegal. If your parents are concerned about you consuming illegal synthetics created in a lab overseas without any oversight, explain to them your CBD hemp oil is coming from hemp grown in US soil with the approval of the FDA.
CBD Products without THC
Most people aren’t aware that CBD comes in three categories: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate. Full spectrum is the only type of hemp product that contains any trace of the notorious THC. If you are taking broad spectrum or CBD isolate, show them the THC-free label on the bottle of your CBD hemp oil for stress. Explain that your preferred method of taking CBD doesn’t contain any THC and that the products are vigorously tested for potency.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
Overcoming deep-rooted beliefs can take years to overcome. When someone has a strong opinion that is tied to their overall worldview, they will agree with the information that supports their bias without checking its validity. Unfortunately, the cannabis industry hasn’t avoided being politicized.
CBD Isn’t Psychoactive
CBD isn’t chemically structured to create a high. You could take 10,000mg of CBD and wouldn’t feel any psychoactive effects.
If you are faced with this argument, it is best to explain that THC delivers a high because it can bind with receptors in the brain. CBD doesn’t have the same ability and in fact, works in reverse. When THC and CBD are taken together, experts believe that CBD modifies the receptor to make it harder for THC to bind.
There is No Evidence to Suggest a Risk of Addiction
According to Medical News Today, ‘not only is CBD not addictive, but it may even help treat drug addiction.’
Health Benefits Backed by Science
Another challenge of the CBD industry is the misinformation promoting CBD. Unethical retailers have claimed CBD can cure everything from hair loss to COVID-19. These claims end up causing confusion and weakening the case for CBD. Distinguishing CBD's realistic potential from a sales pitch from a shady online retailer is imperative in convincing your parents that CBD is beneficial. While research is still limited, we have many studies that suggest CBD could be used to alleviate conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and mental health issues.
Despite the false medical claims, the FDA has approved a drug that contains CBD as the active ingredient. When giving your parents the CBD talk, make sure to mention that Epidiolex is being prescribed today by doctors to treat seizures. Getting FDA authorization isn’t easy, especially with an active ingredient derived from cannabis plants. The FDA’s approval should be a key component in getting your parents normalized with CBD products.
CBD is a Boomer’s Best Friend
At least it should be. The health benefits associated with CBD fall right into a boomer’s wheelhouse. The CDC reports that over half of Americans over the age of 65 have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. If your parents can get past the stigma around cannabis, CBD could be much more beneficial to them than you.
The key is to take baby steps. Once they understand that CBD isn’t psychoactive and you aren’t at risk of becoming addicted, spoon-feed them information about how CBD can increase the production of endocannabinoids, helping with a range of conditions they likely suffer from. Give them time to process the information. Remember, they most likely have your best interest at heart, the only way to change their opinion is to present the facts in a clear non-confrontational manner.
TL;DR: After years of misinformation and propaganda, the stigma surrounding CBD still lives on. From changed government restrictions to negative PR, CBD hemp oil and its users are often casted in a negative light. Telling your parents you’re a CBD hemp oil user can sometimes be difficult, which is why you should focus on teaching them how CBD differs from THC, the quality of CBD you are using, and CBD’s use in medical treatment.
Yesterday offers a full-line of hemp derived CBD oil, containing broad-spectrum hemp extract and zero THC. Check out our full selection of oils and softgels to help bring calm to your daily life. To learn more about the CBD basics, we recommend reading more from our CBD 101 articles, available here.