CBD – short for Cannabidiol – is an increasingly popular ingredient in many health and wellbeing products. CBD does not get you high and can even help with some medical conditions.

Dr Watson CBD available in health food shops and online without prescription. It is classed as a ‘novel food’ and is subject to novel food regulations. This means that the product must have a low THC content and have been through a stringent premarket authorization process, similar to other food additives like vitamins. It also needs to comply with the General Product Safety Regulations. Trading Standards can investigate non-compliant labelling including health and medicinal claims, and have the power to seize non-compliant or unsafe product.

A Comprehensive Guide to CBD Supplements in the UK: Uses and Benefits

This includes CBD gummies, tinctures, capsules, creams and oils. CBD has been shown to have a range of health benefits and is believed to improve symptoms such as anxiety, stress, pain, sleeplessness and digestive problems.

NHS England is setting up a registry for people who have been prescribed cannabis-based products (CBPMs). Clinicians on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council can prescribe CBPMs, but this should only be done following an appropriate multidisciplinary team discussion and clinical risk assessment. NHS trusts should follow similar processes as for unlicensed special medicines when deciding to prescribe them.

If a product has not been through the novel food approval process it is considered illegal to sell in the UK. The FSA has published a list of products which may contain small amounts of THC and are allowed to be sold under the Novel Foods Regulations (Opens in a new window). This does not imply that we endorse these products.