In drop, e-liquid, flowers, CBD (cannabidiol) can theoretically be smoked since it is sold legally in France. What does the law say exactly? What are the side effects ? The same as those of cannabis? Is it detectable by saliva test while driving? Is it risky for pregnant women? Reply.
Marketed asdrop oil, ofe-liquid, flowers or raw leavesCBD (CannaBiDiol) can theoretically be smoked. At least it is in this form that some buyers want to test it. The advantage? To be able to dispose of relaxing effects without becoming addictive since it is supposed to contain less than 0.3% THC. But what is it really? Can there be risks to smoke CBD? Which ? Can we be positive on a saliva test for cannabis testing after smoking CBD? Advice and recommendations with Dr Patrick Daimé, general practitioner and Vice-President of the association Addiction France.
Is it legal to smoke CBD in France?
“CBD not being not classified as narcoticit responds to the European principle of free movement of goods, French regulations cannot therefore be restrictive and prohibit it” recalls Dr Daime. It is found legally sold in the form ofe-liquid or oil that some buyers smoke. The sale of CBD flowers and leaves in raw form had been banned by thedecree of December 30, 2021 of the French government but the Council of State suspended this decree. The sale of CBD flowers and leaves is allowed again from this date. the government had taken the decision to prohibit the sale of flowers for “health reasons” and “through reasons of public orderinsofar as, for preserve the operational capacity of the internal security forces to fight against narcoticsthey must be able to simply discriminate between products, in order to determine whether or not they come under the criminal policy for the fight against narcotics”. Moreover, the french government acknowledged in December 2022 that “the consumption by the smoked way of flowers and raw leaves presents proven health risks. In particular, the combustion of organic substances generatess carcinogenic elements. This is why the decree of December 30, 2021 provided for a ban on the marketing of these products. For the Board of state “It does not appear that the flowers and leaves of Cannabis sativa L. whose tTHC content is less than 0.3% present a degree of harmfulness to health” and “it has not been demonstrated that it would be impossible to control this content for flowers and leaves”.
“Potentially one can smoke CBD in putting a few drops of CBD oil in his tobacco or by taking e-liquid that you put in your vape“ replies our interlocutor. We can also smoke the raw flowers and leaves of CBD by mixing them with tobacco.
Is it legal to vape CBD?
The vaping liquids containing CBD chemically produced or obtained by extraction from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant are authorized in France, provided that importers and sellers have ensured that their suppliers have complied with the reporting obligations under European regulations (REACH). The THC content of these products should not be more than 0.3%.
What are the effects of smoking CBD?
“CBD has a small anxiolytic effect” replies Dr Daime. Scientific studies have shown that it acted in the brain on dopamine and serotonin receptors, thus making it a psychoactive product in its own right. Its consumption can therefore have psychoactive effects, sedation and drowsiness. Free of THC or containing less than 0.3%, CBD has low toxicity and a “fairly low addictive risk” continues our interlocutor.
“Whatever we smoke, we inhale smoke, therefore combustion products at risk of cancer”
Is it dangerous to smoke CBD?
Smoking CBD is dangerous, not because of the CBD (if the THC level is much lower than the legal recommendations) as such but smoke. “Whatever we smoke, we inhale smoke and therefore combustion products associated with cardiovascular and cancer risks., warns our interlocutor from the outset. We can even have more dangerous to smoke CBD than tobacco because’this product is smoked seeking a psychotropic effect. Even if there is none or very few, we will have one longer and more intense inspiration so a combustion also more intense. The smoke is hotter as the combustion temperature increases which increases its toxicity to the lung. So let’s be careful when it comes to CBD consumption, please don’t smoke itand let us not be trapped by the frantic marketing currently practiced by shops selling this substance.” the french government has confirmed that “the combustion of organic substances (when smoking the flowers or the raw leaves of CBD) generates carcinogenic elements”.
Can you be positive for the saliva or urine test?
In France, the forces of order, police and gendarmerie, have saliva and urine tests to detect the use of narcotics belonging to the cannabinic family whose cannabis. As specified by thedecree of December 13, 2016them saliva tests are positive from 15ng of THC (9-tetrahydrocannabinol) per milliliter of saliva. Urine tests are from 50 ng of 9 THCCOOH (tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid) per milliliter of urine. The tTHC strains that may be present in CBD-containing products can pass into the blood or saliva of their consumers. Lthe offense of driving after having used narcotics can be observed. “As we do not always know where the product sold comes from, it may be less pure than we thought, reminds our interlocutor. If we are positive test, either we have consumed cannabis and we do not say so or we have taken CBD without knowing it, which had a THC content higher than the authorized rate”warns Dr Daimé. The risk of a suspension of the driving license is therefore possible.
Can smoking CBD help quit cannabis?
“It’s a key point, agrees our interlocutor. CBD has no or very little THC so it has no addictive psychotropic effect. In the first days of a cannabis withdrawal attempt, using CBD to help reduce cannabis consumption can help, especially since we know that CBD has an antagonistic effect on cannabis, i.e. that he decreases the psychotropic effect of cannabis and therefore has a protective role. In this situation CBD has an interest in risk reduction. But the person who was looking for the psychotropic effects by smoking cannabis will not be satisfied with CBD for long” he believes.
Is it dangerous to smoke CBD while pregnant?
The use of CBD is contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women (CBD passes into breast milk). “We have no specific studies to know the effects of CBD in these situations, so as a precautionary measure we contraindicate the use of these products” explains Dr Daime. A pregnant woman who smokes CBD runs the same risks as if she smokes tobacco since the danger lies in the combustion of the products.
Thanks to Dr Patrick Daimé, general practitioner and Vice-President of the association Addictions France.
Sources:
Decision of the Council of State of December 29, 2022. MILDECA.
CBD: the new decree has been published – Government-December 31, 2021
The Court of Cassation legalizes cannabidiol and hemp flowers. July 7, 2021. Dalloz.