Kids face many of the same everyday stressors as their parents. Although playground dynamics, tests and homework may not carry the same long-term ramifications as work and relationship problems faced by adults, they can still weigh heavily on little hearts.
To fight such feelings and maintain a sense of balance, many adults incorporate natural solutions like cannabidiol (CBD) into their health and wellness self-care routine. Naturally, some parents who have experienced the many health benefits of CBD firsthand may wonder, is CBD safe for kids?
We lack the necessary research to fully understand CBD’s efficacy and long-term safety in kids.
Whether it’s the safety and efficacy of using a CBD product like a CBD oil, topical, CBD isolate or edible, this guide on CBD for kids has all the answers you need.
What Is CBD?
For starters, CBD is one of 100 phytocannabinoids found in the offspring of the cannabis plant — hemp and marijuana. Within the cannabis plant, CBD is typically the most prevalent and consequential cannabinoid, accounting for up to 40% of the plant’s extract.
This active ingredient positively interacts with innate cannabinoid receptors located throughout the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which assists with the regulation of the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous and reproductive systems. Specifically, the ECS impacts vital physiological functions, such as:
- Supporting sleep
- Controlling appetite (learn more about CBD for appetite stimulation)
- Regulating stress levels
- Moderating memory and learning
- Administering immune response
- Managing Motor control
Both external and internal factors can cause the ECS to oscillate wildly. Stress, exercise, sleep, diet and other factors all contribute or detract from its ability to function optimally.
But studies indicate that CBD can help prevent endocannabinoids from being broken down, which enables them to have a larger effect on the body. This makes it easier for the body to maintain a state of natural balance known as homeostasis.
Is CBD Safe For Kids?
Seeing as so many adults incorporate CBD use into their typical health, wellness and vitality routines, it’s little wonder why many parents innocently ask if they can give their children CBD.
Currently, that answer is no.
Although it’s understandable that parents may rightly feel compelled to help their children, we lack the necessary research to fully understand CBD’s efficacy and long-term safety in kids.
Washington University physician Jennifer Griffith, MD, PhD, a pediatric neurologist, frequently dissuades parents from considering that course by raising issues regarding the lack of long-term studies and the potential side effects to kids:
“Sharing my concerns about CBD allows parents to understand that I’m not trying to withhold something that could be helpful for their child. Rather, I’m looking out for their child’s best interest. Most parents understand and appreciate that my focus is the medical welfare of their child.”
Any child’s doctor will not likely recommend that parents self-medicate children with CBD. Furthermore, it’s illegal for minors to purchase or receive any type of inhalable or smokable CBD product.
Will CBD Make You Feel High?
Despite its widespread availability, many adults hold inaccurate views of CBD. A recent survey found that nearly a third of parents thought taking CBD was basically the same as using marijuana.
But that’s not the case.
Unlike marijuana, for hemp to be legally sold in the US, it must be non-psychoactive.
In 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act made hemp-based CBD legal for adult recreational use. As a part of the legalization process, the bill stipulated the following: to be classified as hemp, the plant couldn’t contain any more than 0.3% THC — the cannabinoid behind marijuana’s tell-tale high.
Although CBD and THC may share some properties, they’re not one and the same. According to researchers from UCLA’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids:
“The most well-known cannabinoid is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the “high” of cannabis and can affect perception, mood, emotion, cognition, and motor function. But there are also cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) which are non-psychoactive yet have been demonstrated to possess medically useful properties.”
That means, so long as the CBD you take is pure CBD from the hemp plant, you won’t get high.
The Best Ways For Adults To Take CBD
For adults, CBD can positively impact their health, wellness and vitality. And today, there are multiple delivery methods.
But what’s the best one for you?
That answer depends on several factors, including:
- Your health and wellness goals
- Your daily routine
- The underlying health concerns
- How quickly you’d like to experience relief
- Convenience
Having said that, the three most popular ways to take CBD include:
#1 Absorbing CBD Under the Tongue
Also known as sublingual ingestion, this is the most popular way for adults to take CBD. To administer the CBD, just place a CBD oil, tinctures or mints under the tongue.
The CBD dissolves into the mucus membrane, absorbing directly into the bloodstream. The sublingual method bypasses the digestive system and liver, which allows for a more immediate effect.
Depending on the type of sublingual CBD, you should feel effects within 15 to 60 minutes. And those effects can last up to six hours.
#2 Ingesting CBD Chewables and Gummies
One of the easiest ways busy adults can take CBD is by chewing up and swallowing CBD chewable tablets or gummies. Adults can even explore taking CBD gummies for energy. In either case, chewable types of CBD tend to take longer to make their effects felt because the CBD must filter through the digestive system.
They provide the convenience of being able to take CBD on the go. However, there is a tradeoff in that they take a little longer to act.
Typically, the timeframe to feel effects will take between 30 to 120 minutes. And the duration of effects should last six to eight hours.
#3 Applying CBD-Infused Topicals
The final way you can use CBD is subdermal — i.e. through your skin. Common CBD topicals include:
- Balms
- Rub and roll-ons
- Moisturizing cream
So, whether you’re taking CBD for sensitive skin or not, every one of these CBD topicals can be easily applied. Doing so empowers you to enjoy on-the-spot relief for muscle soreness and exercise-induced joint stiffness while also caring for your skin. Some of the best CBD to reduce inflammation includes topicals –– easy to buy and even easier to apply.
Additionally, most topicals also contain various natural ingredients and essential oils that enhance the positive effects of CBD.
What Are The Benefits of CBD for Adults?
Taking CBD as a daily part of your health routine can provide immediate relief for several health issues, including
#1 Exercise-Related Aches and Discomfort
Daily exercise is an essential way you can support your long-term health goals. But, as you get older, that long run or extra hard lift may leave you feeling lingering joint and muscle discomfort.
Noticeable soreness can interfere with your daily tasks and fitness goals. It can also distract and disrupt your life, negatively impacting your health, moods and sleep.
But CBD may be able to help manage exercise-related soreness.
If you want to jumpstart your recovery, incorporating CBD into your care routine is the optimal way to soothe aching muscles and joints that might otherwise cause you to skip a workout or workday.
By ingesting and applying CBD topically to problematic areas, you can attack soreness at its source. CBD is able to mimic natural endocannabinoids, interacting with receptors to alleviate discomfort and block signals.
Put simply, making CBD a daily part of your exercise regimen empowers you to workout harder and recover faster.
#2 May Improve Moods
Do you experience sudden mood swings or ever feel down in the dumps?
Bad moods can negatively affect every aspect of your life, whether it’s work, interpersonal relationships, or personal goals. And, when your moods constantly fluctuate, it may be difficult to focus on the things that matter most.
Sometimes, you just need a little pick-me-up. The good news is you can take CBD for mood enhancement.
Although studies are ongoing, there appears to be a positive relationship between CBD and the serotonin receptors found in the brain and gastrointestinal tract. These receptors carry messages between your central nervous system and peripheral nervous system, providing commands to the body while also inducing a stabilizing effect on various physiological functions.
CBD oil can induce a calming effect that eases both the mind and body, relieving tension and promoting cognitive function — it can give you a pep in your step that makes it easier to maintain a positive outlook on life.
#3 May Ease Your Nerves
If you feel stressed, you’re not alone. According to the American Institute of Stress:
- 33% of adults report feeling extreme stress
- 77% of adults experience stress that affects their physical health
- 73% of adults have stress that impacts their mental health
- 48% of adults have trouble sleeping because of stress
Unfortunately, stress is part and parcel of modern living.
Every day, we must face down an endless stream of triggers coming from all directions. You may feel mounting pressure from work, your children, your relationships or health.
Left unaddressed, stress can have deleterious effects on both your physical and mental health. It can be debilitating, making even the most simple tasks — like showering or crawling out of bed — feel like Sisyphean feats.
But you can’t let stress control your day. Instead, you need to take control of your stress levels. So, does CBD calm the nervous system? CBD can put you in the driver's seat. It can support stress management, calming your nerves without clouding your mind.
It won’t solve the underlying issues that cause your stress; however, a daily dose of CBD could be just the thing to help you settle your nerves and promote mental well-being.
#4 May Provide Sleep Support
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of sleep.
The quality of your sleep can play a massive role in relation to your mental and physical health. It’s how your body heals, especially from strenuous activity.
When you don’t get enough sleep, it creates ripple effects that impact your moods, focus, energy levels, and physical performance. According to Michael Twery, a sleep expert at the National Institute of Health (NIH):
“Sleep affects almost every tissue in our bodies. It affects growth and stress hormones, our immune system, appetite, breathing, blood pressure and cardiovascular health.”
But to live a healthy, active lifestyle getting some shuteye isn’t good enough. You need to experience quality sleep — restful slumber that includes several REM cycles.
By making CBD oil an essential part of your nightly routine in the lead-up to bedtime, you can calm a racing mind and ease body tension — either of which may leave you tossing and turning. Furthermore, many sleep-centric CBD products also include sleep-inducing ingredients like melatonin, chamomile and valerian root.
You may also consider taking hemp gummies for sleep.
#5 May Support Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health
Your heart is the most vital organ in your body; when it’s functioning properly, every other body part benefits.
But, as you age, the aorta — the primary artery in the heart — grows thicker, stiffer and less flexible, which makes the heart work harder and causes blood pressure to rise.
Naturally, if you want a long and healthy life, you must focus on supporting your cardiovascular health. While diet, sleep, and exercise are fundamental in that regard, you can provide further heart health support with a daily dose of CBD.
CBD may be able to improve heart health by dilating blood vessels, increasing blood flow and supporting healthy blood pressure.
Zebra CBD — It’s For Adults
So, are CBD products like CBD oil safe for kids? Although the sentiment may change with further research, currently, we lack the scientific evidence to support the notion that CBD is safe for kids. As a result, a child’s pediatrician may recommend that parents seek out alternative solutions for treating their children’s unease, stress, soreness or sleep issues.
However, if you are looking for an effective way to support your physical and mental health, CBD could be the solution.
But you can’t trust any CBD maker, not when so many hawk CBD products, making claims that they can’t back up. Instead, you need to know your source.
At Zebra CBD, every one of our products is lab-tested by two certified third-party labs to ensure our products meet CBD and THC content claims. Our CBD label accuracy guarantee is what gives us our stripes.
Want to see for yourself? Try Zebra CBD today.
Sources:
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Hemp Manual.https://www.ncat.edu/caes/agricultural-research/industrial-hemp-program/files/hemp-manual-070720.pdf
Healthline. A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System.https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system
St Louis Children’s Hospital. CBD in Pediatric Care: “First Do No Harm” Is Primary Consideration.https://www.stlouischildrens.org/health-resources/pulse/cbd-pediatric-care-first-do-no-harm-primary-consideration
Mott Poll. Parent Perspectives on CBD Use in Children.https://mottpoll.org/reports/parent-perspectives-cbd-use-children
USDA. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill).https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/farm-bill
UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannbinoids. Cannabis and Its Compounds.https://cannabis.semel.ucla.edu/compunds/
American Institute of Stress. What is Stress?https://www.stress.org/daily-life
NIH. The Benefits of Slumber.https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2013/04/benefits-slumber
Medline Plus. Aging Changes in the Heart and Blood Vessels.https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004006.htm
Journal of American Medical Association. Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2661569?resultClick=1
