Cannabidiol, one of the non-psychotropic molecules derived from hemp, is all the rage for its multiple well-being effects, ranging from relaxation torecovery for athletes and relief from chronic pain. An update on the star molecule of the moment.
It is now found everywhere. Not a neighborhood, not a city that does not have its own store or stores dedicated to CBD. Online sales sites are legion and brands flourish in all seasons. Even the wellness section of Monoprix has listed CBD-based oils and food supplements. Because this molecule is now available in all forms: cigarettes, liquids for electronic cigarettes, oils to ingest or for massage, food supplements, cosmetics, teas, infusions, canned drinks, cakes, honey and chocolate bars. CBD has also penetrated the world of catering: the famous pastry chef Philippe Conticini included it in one of his desserts, the baker Anthony Courteille made a chocolate bar out of it, Will's Deli included it in a Pastraweed sandwich, and baristas create cocktails with or without alcohol, with CBD. So, is CBD a craze among yoga- loving bobos or a real therapeutic molecule?
A Brief History of CBD

Originally, hemp
Hemp, or cannabis sativa in Latin (meaning cultivated hemp), is a herbaceous flowering plant, from the Cannabinaceae family. This plant originates from the equatorial regions and has been adapted to all regions of the world. Hemp, cultivated for its strong fibers and its nutritious seeds, has been used by humans since 8000 BC. The first documented use of cannabis-derived medicines dates back to 2737 BC, when the Chinese emperor Sheng Nung used cannabis-infused tea to relieve malaria, memory problems, rheumatism and gout. In the 19th century, Queen Victoria is said to have used Cannabis to relieve her menstrual cramps. However, at the time, the plant was used in totum, without distinguishing its different components.
The fundamental difference between CBD and THC
In 1839, Irish physician and researcher William B. O'Shaughnessy was the first to publish a study on the therapeutic effects of the plant, particularly as an anesthetic.
The first discovery of an isolated cannabinoid was made by British chemist Robert S. Cahn who reported the partial structure of Cannabinol in the early 1930s.
In 1940, American chemist Roger Adams was the first to extract cannabidiol (CBD). His research was also responsible for the discovery of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the famous psychotropic molecule in cannabis, responsible for its addictive effects.
But it was actually in the 1960s that another researcher, Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli biochemist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , determined the molecular structures of THC and CBD and understood that while the former is psychotropic, CBD is not a toxic psychoactive . After discovering CBD, Mechoulam and his colleagues carried out tests on different subjects, including primates, thus showing that CBD was not the molecule responsible for the sedative and intoxicating effects of cannabis. This research revealed that this molecule probably had therapeutic effects. From then on, interest in CBD and its potential use as a medicine exploded.
Recognized as an antiepileptic
In the 1970s, research multiplied. It was shown in particular that CBD would be an anxiolytic, also effective against nausea and sleep disorders . If this research did not really give rise to recognized scientific studies, a therapeutic application was proven. In 1973, a team of Brazilian researchers announced that CBD was effective in treating epilepsy. But it was not until 2013 and a documentary from the American channel CNN that CBD was put in the spotlight. It told the story of Charlotte Figi, a little girl from Colorado, suffering from Dravet syndrome (a very rare form of chronic epilepsy). In the absence of effective treatment and faced with the hundreds of seizures she suffered each week, her parents turned to an alternative solution: a cannabis oil particularly rich in CBD. Charlotte then only had 2 to 3 seizures per month. This treatment for pediatric epileptic seizures has since become the only pharmacological treatment to have received authorization from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
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Rise in power in the United States
California was the first state, in 1996, to adopt Proposition 215, legalizing medical cannabis, followed by 7 other states (Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Maine, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado). This legalization of medical cannabis allowed researchers to extend their studies to medical uses: CBD and its potential for treating diseases such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, epilepsy and many neurodegenerative diseases. In the years following this media coverage, the stigma of CBD and cannabis has changed radically in the United States. It is in particular the opioid crisis, in the United States and Europe, that has renewed interest in CBD. Faced with the magnitude of this problem, addictions and disorders caused by the taking of these substances, researchers have worked on alternative solutions to relieve patients with chronic pain.
Until his arrival in France
CBD has crossed Europe and, following regulatory developments on the old continent, found a place in Switzerland where it could grow freely. The country authorizes 1% THC in hemp and is not restricted by the European catalog of hemp varieties. That was all it took for local farmers to start growing hemp with a high CBD dosage, with varieties from European and American crosses. The rise of CBD flowers in Switzerland then irrigated Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg, which adapted their regulations to authorize the trade of CBD flowers. But France has made little change to its legal framework.
What does French law say?
CBD recognized by WHO and EU
In an official report from 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) considered that CBD was not harmful to health and had no psychoactive effects or dependence. New research on the therapeutic opportunities of CBD was recommended by the WHO in order to better define its potential. And in the so-called "Kanavape" ruling of November 19, 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union also ruled that CBD does not constitute a narcotic and can circulate freely on European territory.
Very supervised in France
However, in France, Article 1 of the decree of August 22, 1990 on narcotics limits the cultivation, importation and industrial and commercial use of hemp to only the fibers and seeds of the plant, thereby prohibiting the importation and marketing of any product containing cannabidiol (CBD) oil obtained from whole hemp plants, and more particularly from the leaves and flowers of the plant, which naturally contain CBD.
In this judgment, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was asked for a preliminary ruling by the Court of Appeal of Aix en Provence concerning the conformity of this 1990 article with European Union law. The CJEU ruled that a national measure, which prohibits the marketing of CBD from the whole plant, constitutes an obstacle to free movement.
Furthermore, it is recalled that products containing CBD remain subject to compliance with French legislative provisions , and more particularly the following:
They cannot, under penalty of criminal sanctions, claim therapeutic claims, unless they have been authorized as a medicine by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products, or the European Commission on the basis of a file evaluated according to scientific criteria of quality, safety and efficacy.
While the French authorities have officially acknowledged this ruling, they have also reiterated "their warnings concerning the potentially harmful effects of the CBD molecule, which is still little known."
For now, in France, authorized CBD must come from a variety of cannabis sativa L. authorized by the regulations, and the products must come from a plant whose THC (tetrahydrocannabidiol, the psychotropic molecule of cannabis) content is less than 0.2%. To guarantee the THC level, they must be certified by an independent and specialized laboratory.
CBD, how it works and its benefits
The body produces its own cannabinoids, responsible for our immune balance
The human body produces its own cannabinoids with specific receptors, the endocannabinoid system, discovered in the early 1990s and responsible for homeostasis (the right overall balance). Endocannabinoids are essential for the proper functioning of our nervous system, influence many physiological processes (mood, memory, digestion, motor functions, immune response, appetite, pain, blood pressure and bone growth) and help coordinate messages between the body and the brain.
That’s because the two main receptors in the endocannabinoid system are CB1 (found in the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, and central nervous system) and CB2 (found in the immune system and peripheral organs). While THC directly affects these receptors, CBD takes a more subtle and indirect approach. Instead of attaching to these receptors, CBD affects how these receptors send their signals and chemicals to the body. CBD also increases the production of endocannabinoids, including anandamine, which affects mood and memory.
In addition to its indirect effects on endocannabinoid receptors, CBD also influences other receptors in the brain and body including opioid receptors (regulating pain sensation) and serotonin receptors (regulating mood).
Benefits of CBD

CBD combines "in and out" properties, that is to say both when it is ingested and applied to the skin, which vary and amplify depending on its concentration (5%, 10%, 20%). It optimizes the natural response of the nervous system, playing the role of analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It does not cure, because it does not eliminate the symptoms, but reduces their impacts by sending signals that, in essence, tell the body not to worry about it.
CBD is known for its relaxing effect: it reduces stress, anxiety and sleep disorders.
- It stimulates memory, concentration and mental acuity.
- It relieves pain, particularly that caused by certain chronic illnesses (multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, etc.)
- It helps fight against inflammation and chronic inflammatory syndromes (arthritis, irritable bowel, Crohn's disease, endometriosis, etc.), but also painful periods when applied locally
- It has effects on certain neurological conditions, particularly epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
It is also used as a supplement during heavy treatments linked to certain cancers. - In cosmetic applications, it claims anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, regenerating and anti-microbial properties. It thus has anti-aging properties and also relieves skin prone to blemishes, acne or eczema.
- Its relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties also improve recovery after sport and prevent cramps, aches and muscle spasms after exercise.
- It would even reduce addictions to cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, by modulating the rewarding effects of addictive compounds.
Things to know before choosing
What is the entourage effect?
CBD oils often specify that they contain a broad spectrum or full spectrum CBD extract. Full spectrum CBD comes from the complete extraction of the plant where all parts of the hemp are used (flowers, leaves, seeds, stems). However, there are more than 140 active molecules present in hemp.
In addition to CBD, we therefore find other cannabinoids – cannabidiolic acid (CBDa), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) – but also esters, terpenes, fatty acids from hemp seed oil, vitamins E, A, B1, B2, B6. Together, these components have a synergistic action that gives them greater effectiveness than CBD alone, this is called the entourage effect. But full-spectrum extracts contain a small amount of THC (<0.2%). Be careful when buying products from abroad: in Switzerland, for example – where the extraction is often carried out – the authorized THC level is up to 1%.
Broad-spectrum extracts are made in the same way, but with an additional step, chromatography, used to remove THC from the mixture.
The extraction mode
CBD is extracted from hemp using several methods: manual extraction, water extraction, solvent-free or solvent-based, supercritical CO2, ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, but CO2 extraction guarantees a product with a high level of purity, without chemical agent residue.
The dosage
A product concentrated at 5% CBD thus includes 95% hemp oil and 5% CBD. There are dosages at 5%, 10%, 15% and even beyond 20%. There is no precise dosage but recommendations according to the symptoms to be relieved. It is advisable to adapt your
CBD intake according to your weight, starting at 5% and gradually increasing until you reach the dosage suited to your needs.
If CBD is often found in an oil, it is because cannabinoids are fat-soluble. CBD oil can also be “reconstituted”, i.e. take any food oil (coconut, grape seed, plum) and add CBD isolate. In some brands, CBD is combined with adaptogenic, toning or relaxing plants depending on the desired effect.
The use
CBD oil is mainly used sublingually (a few drops under the tongue) to easily pass into the blood vessels of the mouth and under the tongue. You must then wait at least a minute before swallowing. The effects begin after 15 to 30 minutes and peak about an hour and a half after administration.
When CBD is ingested as a dietary supplement, it passes through the intestines—making it the most active form on intestinal inflammation—and is then sent to the liver. It takes about 1 hour on an empty stomach to feel the effects, or up to 3 hours with food. Topicals can be used for skin, muscle, or joint issues, and will not be absorbed into the bloodstream. The presence of terpenes appears to increase the passage through the skin.
Potential drug interactions
While studies are still ongoing to determine potential interactions between CBD and specific medications, there is a rule of thumb that can help consumers: avoid CBD if current treatments advise against grapefruit consumption. In fact, about half of the drugs that are metabolized are metabolized through an enzyme, CYP3A4, with which CBD and grapefruit also interfere. According to the FDA, the American Food and Drug Administration, consuming grapefruit with certain medications can lead to a higher concentration of the drug in the bloodstream and unwanted side effects or even an overdose. When in doubt, ask your doctor or stick to topical application.
So, is the use of CBD just a passing fad? Probably not. Because while its use may seem anecdotal or even playful, looking at some of the proposals, it offers real benefits reported by its regular users. And scientific studies are only in their early stages. Indeed, countries using it for therapeutic purposes, such as Canada or Israel, are increasing research, including that of a supplement to treat Covid-19.
Source on origins and therapeutics