Dosing and administration of cannabidiol

Natural cannabidiol distillate is superior to synthetic CBD because of the benefits of the ‘entourage effect’, according to Moyra Cosgrove, Head of Nutrition for Naturecan, a company that produces and markets a Broad Spectrum CBD Distillate.

There are now at least two synthetic forms of CBD available. By definition, they have nothing to do with plants. There is evidence for the ‘entourage’ effect, a term that describes the additive or synergistic effects of different cannabinoids taken together, that can only be achieved from plant derived Broad Spectrum CBD Distillate products. Such mixtures include only legal cannabinoids and not tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive constituent in cannabis, emphasises Ms Cosgrove. “The level of THC must be non-detectable for a CBD product to be legally available on the market”, she explains.

The process of producing a standardised CBD product starts with growing the plants from seed on an organic farm and ends with extraction of the oil that contains CBD and other cannabinoids but it free of THC. Hi-tech mechanised processes are required to do this and there is rigorous testing of the product at all stages.

The Food Standards Agency in the UK recommends a maximum dose of 70mg (1mg/kg body weight) of CBD per day in total. People may be taking more than one form of CBD, for example, drops, capsules and CBD-containing food, and so it is important to be aware of the CBD content of each form and the total dose that is being taken.  “In fact, on some company websites, including [that of] Naturecan, they’re very careful to   inform you if you’re taking this product, this product and this product in these   amounts you’ll be within [the 70mg limit] – so that’s very good advice and should be followed”, says Ms Cosgrove. This is a cautious approach because CBD is known to be safe in larger doses, she acknowledges. Safety studies are currently in progress and it is likely that the dosage recommendation will increase in the future.  For now, people should heed the 70mg maximum dose recommendation and also understand that it doesn’t mean you should take as much as 70 milligrams. “Start lower and build up, and take it slowly until you find the right dose that’s working for you….. You may   want to start with about 20mg a day and see how you get on with that, then build up slowly to a maximum of 70”, suggests Ms Cosgrove.

Moyra Cosgrove is Head of Nutrition for Naturecan. Her main focus is consumer CBD and she is responsible for the Novel Food Application to the UK Food Standards Agency for Naturecan’s Broad Spectrum CBD Distillate. She also advises on the nutritional aspects of Naturecan’s product range and manages the research programme partnership with Liverpool John Mores University. 

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