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Ask A Doctor: CBD, THC, Public Health, FDA, Getting High and Munchies

Ask a doctor
Written by Dr. Leah Zachar

CBD is pretty popular online and in the wellness world. But what about the FDA and public health concerns?

Question: Is either CBD or THC approved by the FDA to be used to conduct research?

Answer: CBD is approved by the FDA to be used to conduct research. Because THC causes public health problems, such as driving under the influence in drug cases, it is not approved, even for the purposes of research by the FDA.

Question: Are there any public health problems associated with THC? With CBD?

Answer: There are no public health problems associated with CBD. However, there are public health problems associated with THC. When a urine toxicology screen is performed, for legal, employment, or medical purposes, “cannabis” is checked. The type of cannabis that the lab looks for is THC – not CBD.If the “cannabis” detected is positive, it means that the person ingested THC. Thus, though “cannabis” is the plant and includes THC and CBD, for the purposes of toxicology screening, what is being looked for is THC.

Question: Many patients say that THC, also in low concentrations, improves the effectiveness of Cannabis products. Is it something scientific or it is related to the HIGH feeling?

Answer: It is both. THC in low concentrations combined with CBD is effective in some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, the “high” feeling may also have a “numbing” effect on symptoms such as anxiety and pain.

Question: THC gives you the “munchies”. Does CBD give you the “munchies”?

Answer: It is known that after THC use, one may get “the munchies”. That is because when the “high” subsides, the drop in the dopamine level causes the person to crave sweet – and high caloric – foods.

CBD does not give you “the munchies” because CBD does not get you “high”. The “munchies” occur when you come down from the “high”. It is the drop in the dopamine level that propels the body to crave sweets.

As per your request, we are moving the weekly In-house doctor session from Thursday at 1 pm EST, to Thursday at 3 pm EST (That’s UK’s 20:00, NYC’s 15:00 and LA’s 12:00)

If you want to read more from Dr Zachar, check out: ‘Ask A Doctor – THC VS. CBD – Addiction, Dependence and Abuse.

[Image credit: Pixabay]

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About the author

Dr. Leah Zachar

Dr. Leah Zachar, M.D. is a physician who worked for nearly thirty years in Internal Medicine.
She currently is a scientific adviser to CBD Testers. Dr. Zachar believes that there is much that medical cannabis, and cannabidiol in particular can offer to traditional medicine.