Cannabis has been used for thousands of years. The non-psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD from Hemp, is legal in most states and is being praised for its potential therapeutic benefits.  Since 2019, the Physicians Cannabinoid Council (PCC), a board of physicians and nurse practitioners, has educated the public about the research-based health benefits of cannabis. “We promote research into medical applications for multiple cannabinoids like THC,CBD, CBN etc.” says Helene Blanchette, President of the PCC. “Our mission is focused on consumer safety and to provide educational information to patients, seniors , and caregivers so they can make educated decisions about their health care needs.”

The Physicians Cannabinoid Council warns consumers about the lack of testing for CBD products 

Currently, little regulation governs the production of CBD products. While the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some drugs containing CBD for epilepsy and seizures in children, these medications were designed to treat specific conditions and are not available over the counter. To meet current standards for over-the-counter medication, new drugs must be proven safe and effective in clinical trials, though this has not happened with hemp or cannabis derived products. At least 18,000 studies have been done either anecdotal, private or university research driven in several countries, however as long as these studies are not endorsed by governing agencies, or done by the pharmaceutical industry, they are not done in a large context from multiple facets to be certain of the data, they are not well recognized. 

This lack of oversight makes it incredibly difficult for consumers to know exactly what they are buying as many companies fail to disclose the ingredients in their products or to provide accurate labels on their packaging. Additionally, some products may carry toxic chemicals and mold that can cause serious health problems if consumed by humans and animals. Indeed, as CBD products have grown in popularity, so too has the potential threat to consumer safety.

CBD products lack accurate labels

Consumers who do not do sufficient research are likely to encounter CBD products without the potency they expect. In fact, a study from the National Institute of Health revealed that 26% of tested products contained less CBD than labeled, and 43% contained more.  

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the active ingredient that seems to provide therapeutic effects, and it must be present for people to experience the related benefits. “With high-quality CBD oil, some people have succeeded in finding alternative management of their pain with stories on how they successfully reduced or stopped opioids altogether, ” says Blanchette. “If a product does not contain enough cannabidiol, it means that whatever you are absorbing is skewed and its effects will be minimal or nonexistent. Inaccurate labeling of CBD products often leads people down a path of unnecessary expenses, exposure to impure products and turmoil as they seek out other solutions for their ailments.”

Unfortunately, consumers are also likely to come across labels that do not accurately reflect a product’s content or potency. This is one reason why the Physicians CBD Council is committed to educating the public about the risks of improperly labeled CBD products. Labels on cannabis-derived products frequently lack important information, such as proper instructions or warnings about potential side effects. This is an issue because consumers rely on these labels when making purchasing decisions and deciding how much product they should take at any given time.

To make matters worse, some CBD products have been proven to include heavy metals and toxins such as lead and arsenic. Other products have been shown to contain molds, fungicides, and pesticides that cause serious health problems when consumed by humans and animals. Whether these toxic chemicals and ingredients are the result of packaging transfer or manufacturing processes, consumers need to know the truth. Most brands claim their purity through a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which are hard to read for the consumers and worse are found to be fake or tempered with. The Physicians CBD Council is educating the public about the products they buy and working to ensure they are safe for consumption.

The Physicians Cannabinoid Council offers a Physicians Quality-verified seal 

In response to the industry’s lack of oversight, the Physicians CBD Council has stepped forward to offer a physician’s quality verified seal that can build consumer trust. The seal enables clean, safe, and efficacious CBD products to stand out from the rest in today’s crowded market.

Consumers are overwhelmingly grateful for the Physicians CBD Council’s guidance. A 2022 survey reveals that 87% of those surveyed say they lack understanding of what CBD products contain, and 89.5% say they would trust a product bearing the Physicians CBD Council’s Quality Seal.

“Research promotes CBD as a promising compound with many therapeutic benefits, but it’s important that consumers know what they’re buying,” Blanchette asserts. “Our seal guarantees that a trusted, unbiased and incorruptible group of physicians have evaluated, tested, and verified a product’s quality. It also guarantees that your money is well spent on a product that is clean, effective, and safe for consumption  under the guidance of your doctors.”