Almost two years ago, Switzerland legalizeded the marketing and consumption of "legal" cannabis, commonly known as CBD. Mandated by the federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), addiction Suisse, a national competence centre in the field of addictions, today publishes a report on the place of cannabis CBD in Switzerland.
A summary assessment of current knowledge suggests that CBD can contribute to the reduction of pain and anxiety. The decrease in multiple sclerosis-related spasms and seizures associated with different forms of epilepsy are the fields in which medical research advances most through clinical trials and the marketing of drugs. For the other effects attributed to the CBD, research is often only beginning and it is not yet possible to confirm their existence and usefulness for the clinic. There are currently no significant dangers associated with the use of CBD, with the exception of those related to combustion, but there may be interactions with drugs.
The CBD offer: many products but the most important remains Marijuana (flowers)
Supermarkets and kiosks sell cannabis CBD in the form of flowers (Marijuana) that are generally smoked, but specialty stores also offer other products. The analysis of 90 internet sites selling cannabis CBD in Switzerland shows, however, that even for specialized shops, flowers generally remain the flagship product. Some sites also offer other fumables products (resin, pre-rolled joints, CBD cigarettes, Shisha tobacco) and liquids for e-cigarettes. The most commonly proposed oils-products after the flowers-and the dyes containing CBD also occupy an important place in the assortment. There are also food products and cosmetics.
Users: Various motivations and many illegal cannabis users
Recruitments with Facebook ® and through IG HANF ® (Association of Cannabis Producers CBD) have allowed to interrogate more than 1 ' 500 people living in Switzerland and having already consumed cannabis CBD. About two-thirds are current consumers (last 30 days) and almost a third of them consume CBD every day. A majority of current users also consumes tobacco/e-cigarettes and/or illegal cannabis, which they have almost always consumed before taking an interest in CBD. About one-third of respondents reported suffering from a doctor-diagnosed illness. The most common are those associated with physical pain (fibromyalgia, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle/joint problems) as well as depression.
Users have a positive assessment of the effects of CBD, especially for sleep, stress and well-being. The opinions are more mixed on the levels of concentration and energy. With regard to the effects on diseases, favorable opinions are given for pain and inflammation, as well as for symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. These judgements are a part of an American investigation.
The effect of CBD consumption on the use of illegal cannabis and tobacco/e-cigarettes is also judged positively as a majority of respondents report a significant or moderate reduction in the use of these products.
Five types of CBD users could be identified: the first-rather feminine and older-consumes CBD in the form of oil for medical and/or welfare reasons; The second group includes sick people, who consume both CBD and illegal cannabis in the form of flowers, and who have the highest frequency of consumption and expenditure; The third includes young people consuming CBD in addition to illegal cannabis for reasons related to well-being (stress, sleep); The fourth, by far the most frequent among interviewees, includes illegal rather young cannabis users who moderate/plume this consumption with CBD; The fifth includes curious people who consume illegal cannabis and are interested in the effects of CBD.
A declining market but probably going to stay
At a time when different information suggests that the CBD market is shrinking in Switzerland, the Swiss addiction study shows that there is still an interest in this molecule both in medical research and in users. The market should therefore not disappear even if it becomes smaller and changes shape.
The study also shows that while expectations for the effects of CBD are sometimes high, the level of evidence is often still low. It also shows that smoking cannabis, in combination with tobacco, remains the usual practice of the use of CBD, which is damaging to health. It further indicates that CBD users include profiles ranging from people in Search of herbal medicine (care with plants) and never having used illegal cannabis, to people who are regular consumers of the latter and who Used for the CBD. In the sample surveyed, three other elements still deserve attention: the presence of a high proportion of sick people, the large share of tobacco (or vapoteurs) and illegal cannabis smokers, and positive judgments on the effects of CBD , especially on sleep/stress and pain.
More information about addiction Switzerland: www.addictionsuisse.ch
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