CBD products are now available in many pharmacies and drugstores. They are said to have an anxiolytic and pain-relieving effect: Does that make them a good alternative for children?
Many people swear by the effects of CBD-containing products. These are supposed to help, for example, with migraines or menstrual pain, but also with anxiety or sleep disorders. Problems that can develop not only adults, but also children. But how does CBD actually work – and is it suitable for minors?
Is CBD intoxicating?
Logically, alcohol and other intoxicants are taboo for children. But is CBD even one of them? Basically, cannabidiol is a component of the hemp plant, from which THC is also extracted. Especially in the female hemp plants there is a lot of the ingredient. THC has an intoxicating effect and is subject to the Narcotics Act. This is not the case with CBD. However, the substance can affect certain bodily functions and would have to be prescribed as a medicine by a doctor.
CBD oils can now be found in many pharmacies, special stores and even in drugstores. © Imago
CBD products: the legal situation
CBD is not a drug – but does it make it legal? It depends: In principle, CBD products may be sold in Germany if their THC content does not exceed 0.2 percent. Strictly speaking, however, it can only be purchased as a cosmetic product. Before 1997, cannabidiol was only available in extremely small quantities as a food in Europe. This means that it falls under the so-called Novel Food Regulation – and manufacturers would theoretically need approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, many circumvent this by selling CBD products as aroma or simple hemp oils, for example. Various consumption centers explicitly advise against consuming CBD products. And the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety also classifies the products as unmarketable.
The legal situation for dietary supplements with CBD is difficult. What is clear, however, is that they are only freely available for sale from the age of 18. The situation is different with cosmetic products with the ingredient, which have no age restriction.
CBD products for children
CBD is said to help children with epilepsy, ensure good sleep or alleviate anxiety. In the case of ADHD, it should even be possible to avoid treatment with Ritalin. Proponents also refer to the WHO: This has classified CBD as harmless to health and has not been able to detect any negative effects.
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The consumer advice centre sees it differently. It explicitly advises against consumption and recommends protecting children and adolescents from the products. One of the reasons for this is that CBD also has undesirable effects. It makes about one in ten people sleepy, and it often leads to sleep disorders and inner restlessness. And: How effectively CBD works is unclear – after all, there are hardly any reliable findings about it, even in adults. In addition, CBD products often contain more THC than allowed. For example, the consumer advice center reports on Klartext-Nahrungsergänzungsmittel.de that increased THC levels were found in almost half of the tests of CBD products. If you want to use CBD oils on your children, you should always consult a doctor beforehand.
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This article contains only general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It is in no way a substitute for a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, individual questions about clinical pictures may not be answered by our editors.
