CBD FAQs

Is CBD legal in the UK?

Yes, CBD is legal in the UK as long as it is sold following guidelines and regulation designed to keep consumers safe. CBD is classed as a novel food product and can be sold legally in the UK. This includes both online and in stores.

Though the current regulation around CBD is improving, the legality around CBD oils can be vague. For this reason, you’ll see a lot of retailers saying that a CBD product is legal as long as it contains less that 0.2% THC. This isn't technically accurate; that figure is based on a Home Office regulation stating that cultivation of hemp plants used in CBD oils/products cannot exceed 0.2% in THC content.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently begun to better define the requirements of CBD products, with a view to improving overall consumer confidence in the CBD they buy. This requires CBD brands to submit a novel food dossier before March 2021 for eventual approval by the FSA.

Will CBD get me high?

CBD will not get you high in any quantity or dose because it is not psychotropic. Psychotropic simply means a psychoactive effect that has intoxicating qualities. THC, which is another compound found in cannabis, is the compound responsible for the psychotropic effects associated with hemp and cannabis, and you won’t find it above 0.0% in Vitality CBD products.

Is CBD safe?

According to all current studies, yes; CBD has a good safety profile. Since 2016, MHRA regulation has stated CBD brands cannot make any medical claims relating to CBD. Because of this, you should never buy CBD from a retailer that makes any medical claims about their CBD.

Are CBD products vegan friendly?

All of our CBD oils are suitable for vegans and vegetarians and contain no animal products. Our CBD oils are made from only responsibly sourced Colorado hemp, a plant-based carrier oil (hemp seed oil or MCT oil), natural flavourings and sometimes added vitamins and plant-based supplements. In fact, all Vitality CBD products are perfect for vegans except for our CBD Gummy Bears, which do contain gelatine.

Are CBD products tested on animals?

We’re proud to say that none of our CBD products are tested on animals and are completely cruelty free. This includes all of our CBD oils and even our premium CBD creams in the Infused range. Our Infused CBD range and other topicals are still completely safe and suitable for use on even the most sensitive skin and without any animal testing

I have been using CBD for a week now, why is it not working?

Based on our own research and listening to customers, the most satisfied users took a 70mg dose for 21 days straight. Consistency is key to CBD, so give it a go for 21 days; if you are still unsure then contact our CBD mentors who will be happy to advise you further.

What strength CBD would you recommend?

Daily dose is the most important factor when considering satisfaction with CBD, rather than the strength of the CBD oil. Our most satisfied customers take 70mg daily consistently over the course of 21 days or more. For this reason, we recommend using a 2400mg or 4800mg CBD oil as this gives you 34 or 64 daily doses, respectively. These stronger oils also represent improved value:

CBD Strength

Bottle duration

Cost per daily dose

1200mg

17 days

£1.13 (68mg dose)

2400mg

34 days

80p (64mg dose)

4800mg

68 days

67p (64mg dose)

Should I take Pure CBD or Broad‑Spectrum CBD?

The choice between pure CBD and broad-spectrum CBD just depends on your requirements. What each of these pieces of terminology means will help you get the CBD product that suits your needs.

Pure CBD

As the name suggests, Pure CBD is 99.9% pure CBD with 0.0% THC. During the extraction process, everything else in the plant matter is removed, including additional cannabinoids, terpenes, waxes and oils found in hemp. 

Broad‑Spectrum CBD

Products that are broad spectrum retain the additional cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids in full spectrum, whilst removing all traces of THC. This type of CBD is preferred for more organic products that want to make use of the natural features of the hemp plant.

So, which is best? As is often the case, each type of CBD has its own merits. Many people prefer to take pure CBD, however if you’d rather retain natural plant matter and use a more natural form of CBD, your best option will be broad-spectrum CBD. Checking all of your options and the differing amounts of CBD is the safest course of action.

Can I use CBD with medication?

Always speak to your doctor before taking CBD alongside any medication. Even though CBD can’t be discussed in relation to medicinal properties due to its current legal status, it still interacts with the human body in ways which need to be considered.

The most significant manner in which CBD needs to be considered in relation to medication is its inhibition of the enzyme P450. Essentially, this means that certain medications aren't able to be metabolised as fast as before, so you’ll need to be a little more careful with your dosages.

If that sounds concerning, bear in mind that it’s the exact same effect that grapefruit has on your enzymes. That’s why certain medication will advise you to not eat grapefruit whilst taking it. In fact, you can use that as a good baseline to know whether it’s advisable to take CBD with it. By inhibiting the production of P450, the most widespread effect is that certain drugs and medication will linger in the bloodstream longer. Since this is difficult to predict with any precision, it’s best to check with your doctor about any potential interactions.

Why has my CBD Oil Changed Colour?

Sometimes CBD oil may change colour or turn a little hazy. In most cases, this is nothing to worry about. It is not uncommon for CBD oils to change colour to shades of pink or brown; if your CBD oil has shifted to these colours, it is still safe to consume.

CBD changing colour is usually caused by a simple reaction to heat and light. For example: high-quality CBD is rich in a nutrient called polyphenol oxidase; when exposed to sunlight, the polyphenol oxidase may turn a shade of rosy pin.

Slightly hazy CBD is usually caused by CBD being stored in the refrigerator. When left to warm back up to room temperature it should return to its clear state.

Can I take CBD abroad?

Our key piece of advice would be to check what customs have to say about your travel destination, since the law surrounding CBD differs so much between countries.

On the Visa HQ website you can find a comprehensive breakdown of custom laws by region. Keep in mind that if you have any stopovers, you’ll need to check the laws in that country as well. 

Liquid laws 

The easiest legal consideration to draw attention to with CBD is the limits surrounding liquids on flights. Most versions of commercially available CBD (whether they’re e-liquids, oils or creams) would be subject to the 100ml liquid rule for hand-luggage.

What this means is that any liquid container in your carry-on must be under 100ml in size. There is some confusion around this since medicines aren’t usually limited by this when accompanied by a prescription, but if you’re buying your CBD online or over-the-counter, then you will still have to abide by the 100ml rule.

The legality of THC

The main issue you’ll face when flying is the presence of THC. This leads to a scenario where CBD oil can be legal in two countries but with different limitations.

Our main advice would be to buy Pure CBD products, which guarantees a lack of THC. Since THC is the primary psychotropic ingredient found in cannabis, that’s what most countries will be looking to outlaw.

One solution is to always carry clear documentation outlining what’s in your CBD oil. That’s why we go the extra mile and provide CBD lab results specific to the product you’re holding in your hand. Just head to our CBD lab test page, input the code on your box, and print off the test result for peace of mind. 

Flying internationally covers so many potential laws that it’s difficult to make a definitive statement. Even if the country you’re flying to has legalised CBD oil, customs officers might not be informed about the distinction between legal and illegal CBD oils. As ever, documentation is important. 

Domestic flights in the UK

Whilst CBD oil should be legal on internal UK flights, some employees won’t be aware of this. As mentioned above, you can use our lab test page to get the information you need to prove that the oil you’re carrying is 100% legal in this country. It comes down to a matter of communication and misinformation. Your best tactic? Being informed.

Learning more together

If there’s one thing these three questions have revealed, it’s that the world of CBD is always expanding. Laws across the globe are changing all the time as our understanding grows, which is why it’s key we strive to learn more together.