CBD is everywhere now. You’ll find it in oils, capsules, balms, skincare, drinks and on shelves across the high street, yet for something that has become so widely available, there is still an incredible amount of confusion surrounding what CBD actually is.
Is it cannabis? Does it get you high? What does it do inside the body? Is CBD safe? Is it legal in the UK? And perhaps most importantly, how do you know whether the CBD product you’re buying is actually any good?
These are questions I’ve been answering for years, and I think people deserve proper answers rather than exaggerated promises at one end of the spectrum and fearmongering at the other. So, let’s start at the beginning.
CBD stands for cannabidiol, a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa. It is one of many cannabinoids produced by the plant, alongside compounds including THC, CBG and CBC. CBD itself is non-intoxicating. In other words, CBD is not the compound responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis.
Most consumer CBD products are produced using hemp-derived extracts. In a CBD oil, that extract is combined with a carrier oil to make it easier to take and accurately measure. At My Way CBD, we use MCT oil as our carrier. But understanding CBD properly requires looking beyond the bottle, because the interesting part is what happens when cannabinoids interact with the human body.
No. CBD itself does not get you high. THC — specifically delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol — is primarily responsible for the intoxicating effects associated with cannabis. CBD behaves very differently and does not activate CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the same way THC does.
THC from hemp isn't a chemically different form of THC from THC found in other Cannabis sativa plants. Delta-9-THC is delta-9-THC. The important difference with compliant hemp-derived CBD products is the amount present, not that the molecule somehow becomes different because it came from hemp.
Full Spectrum CBD can contain very small amounts of naturally occurring THC alongside CBD and other plant compounds. At the trace levels found in compliant consumer CBD products, those amounts are not intended to produce intoxication. UK government scientific advice has similarly considered trace levels in consumer CBD products in relation to thresholds unlikely to produce psychoactive effects.
Broad Spectrum CBD, meanwhile, retains multiple cannabinoids and other plant compounds while THC is removed.
This is where CBD becomes much more interesting. Your body has its own cannabinoid signalling network called the endocannabinoid system, usually shortened to the ECS. The ECS wasn't discovered because somebody was looking for another wellness trend. Scientists investigating cannabinoids gradually uncovered cannabinoid receptors and naturally occurring cannabinoid-like compounds produced inside the human body.
Those compounds are called endocannabinoids.
The ECS includes cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-AG, and enzymes responsible for producing and breaking those compounds down. It forms part of the body's complex regulatory network and is involved in processes associated with homeostasis — the body's ability to continually adjust its internal environment.
Two of the best-known cannabinoid receptors are CB1 and CB2.
The ECS has been studied in relation to numerous physiological processes, including mood, sleep, appetite, memory, pain signalling, immune activity and energy regulation. And this is an important distinction: CBD doesn't simply switch CB1 or CB2 receptors on like THC does at CB1.
Its pharmacology is much broader. CBD interacts directly and indirectly with numerous molecular targets and signalling pathways, which is one reason researchers continue to investigate such a wide range of potential effects.
So when we talk about CBD supporting balance, we're talking about its interaction with an already existing biological regulatory network — not CBD somehow taking control of the body.
This is probably where CBD marketing has caused the most confusion. CBD isn't a cure-all, and responsible CBD companies shouldn't tell you that it is. But neither does that mean CBD is biologically insignificant.
Cannabidiol has become the subject of substantial scientific interest, with researchers investigating its effects across neurological, inflammatory, pain, anxiety and other physiological pathways. The strength of evidence varies considerably depending on the condition, formulation and dose being studied, so findings from medical research shouldn't automatically be turned into claims about an everyday CBD food supplement.
In everyday wellness, people commonly choose CBD as part of routines centred around:
In the UK, consumer CBD oils sold as food supplements are not medicines and cannot legally be marketed as treatments or cures for disease, that distinction is important.
You'll hear us talk about homeostasis quite a lot at My Way CBD because it's central to understanding why the ECS is so fascinating. Your body is constantly making adjustments.
Temperature changes, blood glucose changes, hormones fluctuate, you eat, sleep, exercise, experience stress, encounter pathogens and respond to your environment. Your internal systems continually communicate and adapt, homeostasis describes that ongoing regulation.
The endocannabinoid system is one of the signalling systems involved in this much larger regulatory picture. That's why I prefer to explain CBD as something that works alongside the body's own biology, rather than something that forces the body into a particular state. Your body was making cannabinoids long before CBD appeared on a shop shelf.
For most people, CBD is generally well tolerated, but “natural” should never be treated as another word for “incapable of having an effect.” The World Health Organization's review of cannabidiol found that pure CBD does not appear to have abuse or dependence potential and reported a generally favourable safety profile.
CBD can nevertheless cause side effects in some people, and it can interact with medications. Possible (but rare) effects can include digestive upset, changes in appetite, tiredness or drowsiness. CBD can also affect enzymes involved in metabolising certain medicines, which is why medication interactions need to be taken seriously.
The FSA provides precautionary guidance around daily CBD consumption, particularly for people taking medication or those in potentially vulnerable groups. As with any supplement, CBD should be used responsibly and according to the product guidance.
CBD itself is not a controlled drug in the UK. However, saying simply “CBD is legal as long as it contains less than X% THC” isn't an accurate description of UK law. The legal position depends on the finished product and what it contains.
THC and several other cannabinoids are controlled substances under UK drugs legislation. Consumer CBD products containing controlled cannabinoids therefore need to meet the relevant requirements, including the exempt product criteria under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations where applicable. The Home Office specifically warns against the common misconception that the hemp cultivation threshold can simply be applied as a percentage THC limit to finished CBD products.
CBD foods are also subject to Novel Food regulations. The FSA currently maintains a public list of CBD food products associated with credible applications progressing through the Novel Foods process, while newly marketed CBD extracts and isolates require the appropriate authorisation before being placed on the market.
So if you're buying CBD in the UK, don't judge legality or quality by a THC percentage printed on a website. Buy from a company that understands the regulations and can show you what is actually inside its products.
Not all CBD extracts are the same, and this is one of the first things you should understand when choosing an oil.
Full Spectrum CBD retains CBD alongside a range of other naturally occurring compounds from hemp, which can include additional cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as permitted trace amounts of controlled cannabinoids in a compliant finished product.
The idea behind keeping these compounds together is often described as the entourage effect — the hypothesis that components of the plant may interact in ways that differ from using an isolated compound alone.
Broad Spectrum CBD also contains CBD alongside other cannabinoids and plant compounds, but THC is removed.
This makes it an option for people who want a multi-cannabinoid product while avoiding THC as far as the product specification allows. It's worth remembering that “THC-free” claims should always be supported by appropriate laboratory testing.
CBD isolate is cannabidiol separated from the other cannabinoids and plant compounds. You're essentially getting CBD on its own rather than the broader profile found in Full or Broad Spectrum extracts.
At My Way CBD, our focus is Full and Broad Spectrum oils because we believe the wider cannabinoid profile is an important part of what people are looking for when choosing plant-derived CBD.
CBD oil is commonly taken sublingually, which simply means under the tongue. Rather than swallowing it immediately, the oil is held beneath the tongue before being swallowed. CBD is also available in other forms including capsules, gummies and topical products, although different formats aren't interchangeable because they are absorbed and used differently.
At My Way CBD, our approach has always been about consistency and finding the appropriate concentration for the individual, rather than assuming everybody should use exactly the same strength.
We offer CBD oils from 500 mg through to 6000 mg, and the strength somebody chooses should be based on their individual health picture and what they are looking to support — not simply whether they are “new” or “experienced” with CBD. If unsure where to start, take our CBD Strength Test for recommendations on products and concentrations.
For exact instructions on using our oils, see our individualised CBD dosing guide.
This is where I wish more people would spend their time. Don't choose CBD because the bottle looks pretty. Don't assume the most expensive product is automatically the best, and don't assume a ridiculously cheap bottle containing an enormous number on the label is genuinely giving you what it claims.
Look behind the marketing.
A reputable CBD company should be able to tell you exactly what is in its oil and demonstrate that through appropriate independent testing. Look for third-party laboratory reports, clearly stated CBD concentration, cannabinoid profiles, transparent ingredients, batch information where available and a company willing to answer questions about its products.
If you're buying Full Spectrum CBD, the laboratory report becomes particularly important because you want confirmation not only of the CBD concentration but also of the wider cannabinoid profile and controlled-cannabinoid content.
Education protects you far better than a flashy label ever will.
My relationship with cannabis didn't begin because CBD became fashionable. In 2017, I was diagnosed with Grade 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I chose a natural route following surgery, and cannabis oil formed part of that approach alongside major changes to the way I was living.
And I need to make an important distinction here because this part of my story has been misrepresented before:
The cannabis oil I used during my cancer journey was not retail CBD oil.
When my story reached the media, some of the headlines blurred that distinction. CBD businesses benefited from people reading those stories and believing I'd cured my cancer using a bottle of CBD oil. I hadn't.
CBD did not cure my cancer, and I have never claimed that it did.
But what happened afterwards opened my eyes to just how confused people were about cannabis, cannabinoids and CBD. Before creating My Way CBD, I found myself recommending other brands and trying to help people understand what they were buying. Eventually, I realised that if I wanted the transparency, quality and education I expected, I needed to create it myself.
That's why I founded My Way CBD in 2020.
The brand came from my own journey, but it was built around something much bigger: helping people understand the products they're putting into their bodies instead of asking them to believe another marketing promise. If you'd like to read the full story behind my cancer journey, I tell it in my book, My Way.
CBD is cannabidiol: a naturally occurring, non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa. But once you understand the endocannabinoid system, CBD becomes far more interesting than simply “something extracted from hemp.”
It interacts with biological signalling pathways involved in the body's complex regulatory processes. That's why CBD continues to attract scientific interest and why so many people have incorporated it into their everyday wellness routines.
It isn't magic, it isn't a cure for everything, and it certainly shouldn't be sold using promises that cannot be substantiated. But it is a fascinating plant compound, and understanding what CBD is, how it works, what you're buying and how to use it properly puts you in a far better position to decide whether it belongs in your own wellness routine.
If you want to go deeper, download our Complete Guide to CBD eBook, where we take you through CBD, the endocannabinoid system and how to choose and use CBD with confidence.
Education first, always.
Written by Dee Mani
A: CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant. It interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a regulatory network that helps maintain internal balance, or homeostasis. Rather than forcing change, CBD supports the body’s own systems that regulate mood, sleep, immune response and inflammatory signalling.
A: No. CBD does not get you high.
Unlike cannabis derived THC, CBD is non-intoxicating and does not produce psychoactive effects. Legal UK CBD products contain only trace amounts of THC within permitted limits and will not cause euphoria or impairment.
A: Yes, CBD is legal in the UK when it is derived from approved hemp strains and contains THC within legal limits.
A: Cannabis is the plant species. CBD is one of many compounds found within that plant.
Some cannabis varieties are high in THC (which causes intoxication). Hemp-derived CBD products contain very low levels of THC and do not produce a high. It’s important not to confuse retail CBD supplements with medicinal or high-THC cannabis products.
A: No.
There is no credible clinical evidence that over-the-counter CBD cures cancer. CBD is a food supplement in the UK and is not a cancer treatment. Any claims suggesting CBD cures cancer are misleading and irresponsible.
A: Full spectrum CBD contains cannabidiol alongside other naturally occurring cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp plant, including trace legal THC. These compounds may work together in what is often referred to as the “entourage effect,” potentially supporting a broader spectrum of activity compared to isolated CBD.
A: CBD supports the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate balance across mood, sleep, pain, and immune function. Many people use CBD to feel calmer, sleep better, and support recovery from inflammation or physical discomfort. It’s not about forcing change—it’s about helping the body restore balance naturally.
A: CBD works by supporting the endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate key functions like inflammation, immune response, and nervous system balance. By promoting a more stable internal environment, CBD may help the body recover more efficiently and return to a state of balance after illness.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. CBD products are sold as food supplements in the UK and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Blessing, E. M., et al. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics.
Ibeas Bih, C., et al. (2015). Molecular Targets of Cannabidiol in Neurological Disorders. Neurotherapeutics.
Pertwee, R. G. (2008). The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of cannabinoids. British Journal of Pharmacology.
Russo, E. B. (2011). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology.
World Health Organization (2018). Critical Review Report: Cannabidiol (CBD).
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