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CBD Product Side Effects: How Much is THC Contamination to Blame?

While CBD generally has a good safety profile, it isn’t completely devoid of side effects. Even if you purchase the best CBD capsules for sale online, you could still experience unexpected results. In general, however, adverse effects associated with CBD are minor.

Yet, some users claim that the CBD pills or other cannabidiol products they purchased caused severe issues. Supporters of CBD suggest that this is down to THC contamination.

How is this possible? Unfortunately, it is feasible and happens more often than you think. The issue is the lack of regulation in the market. Without oversight, low-quality products have a greater reach than we would like to acknowledge. Brands that don’t offer third-party lab reports should be avoided for this reason. Let’s look into the issue of CBD side effects and THC contamination.

What Are CBD’s Side Effects?

The main adverse effects associated with cannabidiol include:

  • Anxiety

  • Nausea

  • Dizziness

  • Appetite changes

  • Diarrhea

However, most effects are extremely mild. They certainly don’t put off those who want to find out more about CBD for pain treatment as a substitute for opioids. Such individuals are happy to trade severe effects for a mild case of dizziness. In high-quality CBD products with a maximum of 0.3% THC, the above are rare effects. Alas, not every cannabidiol brand is dedicated to improving the industry.

What Are THC’s Side Effects?

Unlike CBD pills, a product containing THC can cause an intoxicating high. The amount required to induce a side effect will vary according to a person’s tolerance. However, here is a general overview of what X amount of THC can do to the average person. 

  • Up to 2.5mg: Can help boost focus and reduce pain. The overall effects of this much THC are generally mild.

  • 2.6 – 15mg: You could experience impaired coordination and mild euphoria, especially at the higher end of the scale.

  • 16 – 29mg: You will likely feel a strong sense of euphoria and could have issues with coordination. Inexperienced users may feel nauseous and dizzy.

  • 31 – 50mg: This is a large dose and is only advisable for individuals with a high tolerance. You could experience significant impairments in perception and coordination.

  • 51+mg: This is an extremely high THC level and not recommended for anyone who doesn’t have exceptional tolerance. Such a dose could cause pain, nausea, hallucinations, and rapid heart rate.

How Likely Is It That I Will Buy CBD Capsules with High THC Levels?

If you get your CBD pills from a reputable brand, it is doubtful. Such companies ensure that their products contain a maximum of 0.3% THC. At this level, consuming an entire 1,000mg bottle of CBD oil would only yield 3mg of THC. That is highly unlikely to cause significant impairment or side effects. Moreover, few people use more than 100mg of CBD a day.

Those who try to save money by risking an unknown company with no lab reports are possibly walking into a trap. With no data to hand, you have no way of knowing whether those CBD capsules you bought contain a large or small amount of THC.

A study published in 2019 looked at whether CBD side effects were caused by THC contamination. The researchers looked at 67 CBD food products from the German market. Staggeringly, one-quarter of products contained more THC than the lowest observed adverse effects. In other words, consuming them would mean ingesting over 2.5mg of THC a day. It seems as if European CBD regulation is no better than it is in America!

Overall, the study concluded that THC could contaminate CBD pills and other products. The risk is significantly higher if you focus on cheap, low-quality brands. Bear in mind that in the United States, industrial hemp is only supposed to contain a maximum of 0.3% THC. This means high-THC CBD products either come from cannabis or low-grade hemp that hasn’t been adequately checked.  

Final Thoughts on THC Contamination in CBD Products

When buying CBD capsules or any other cannabidiol product online, research is essential. As long as the FDA doesn’t approve the cannabinoid, the industry will remain a ‘Wild West’ of sorts. It doesn’t appear as if people in European countries are benefitting from a better scenario.

If you experience THC contamination in a CBD product, you could experience side effects not associated with cannabidiol. These include euphoria, extreme dizziness and nausea, disorientation, and potentially even hallucinations. There is also a strong chance that you will fail a drug screening at work.

 Therefore, you need to perform research before buying any CBD product. Check out the brand to ensure it is well-known in the industry. It will preferably use CO2 extraction to take the CBD from low-THC hemp plants. Finally, it will have full third-party lab reports for you to analyze. This documentation proves that the product contains minimal THC. 

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