If you've been in Center City recently, you can't walk 10 feet without finding Cannabidiol or CBD advertised on merchandise ranging from lotions and potions to patches and pet supplies. 

It's all the rage, and advertised as a cure-all for anxiety and stress relief, a natural anti-inflammatory, a sleep aid, a way to lower cholesterol, can boost your immune system, or rid yourself of cellulite, neck, knee, and join pain

At Amazon alone, you can purchase about 130 different CBD products and shell out anywhere from $10 to close to $300. According to a recent article in Drug Topics, the CBD oil market will reach $22 billion by 2022.

But what is it CBD oil and is it the new panacea? 

CBD is extracted from hemp or marijuana plants. It is then formulated into an oil, powder, paste, creams, or capsules and taken orally or applied to skin. Though CBD oil is derived from the cannabis plant, it will not create a high.

According to an April 2019 article in University Health News' Environmental Nutrition newsletter, "CBD is just one of a family of chemicals known as the cannabinoids, shown to have anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, anti-anxiety, and anticonvulsant properties as well as homeostatic properties (meaning it maintains healthy balance in cells)."

But CBD oil is not yet regulated by The Food and Drug Administration, who has only approved one prescription drug product to treated one form of epilepsy. In fact, the agency has issued warning letters to firms touting miracle cures. "Selling unapproved products with unsubstantiated therapeutic claims is not only a violation of the law, but also can put patients at risk, as these products have not been proven to be safe or effective. This deceptive marketing of unproven treatments also raises significant public health concerns, because patients and other consumers may be influenced not to use approved therapies to treat serious and even fatal diseases," according it its website. 

If you are curious about CBD or want to learn more, Fumo Family Library is hosting an event called The ABCs of CBD, presented by Herbology, a marijuana dispensary.

At this event you will learn:

• What is CBD?
• The difference between CBD and THC
• How to know if you are buying high quality CBD
• Consumption methods of CBD
• Hemp-derived CBD versus Medical Marijuana-derived CBD
• What current research is finding out about CBD, its uses, and potential.

Additionally, participants will hear the personal experiences of a woman who has suffered with chronic pain for 20 years, and how CBD has alleviated her pain.

For more health and wellness information, please explore our Databases page where you can find more articles and studies regarding CBD through our Health and Wellness Resource Center and MedlinePlus electronic resources—which are always free to access with your library card!