Is the CBD wave just a passing fad?

Since Switzerland announced the opening of its CBD market, legalised cannabis has been in the spotlight. With less than 0.2% THC, this light cannabis is now sold openly in some European countries. France, meanwhile, continues to watch developments across the Swiss border closely.

What is CBD?

It is one of the active ingredients in cannabis. Its proper name is cannabidiol. Unlike THC, it does not get anyone “high”. On the contrary, it counters the psychoactive and lethargic effects of THC, which are said to be lessened by CBD. But if people who smoke CBD cannabis do not get that “high”, what are they looking for?

In reality, many smokers are after something else, and the high is not necessarily the point. CBD is sought out by all sorts of people: veterans of 1968 trying to recover the sensations of the past, anxious people hoping to find a state of calm, those under stress looking to unwind, and so on.

Can CBD last?

The advantage of CBD cannabis is that it can be used in a variety of ways and forms. Many CBD e-liquids are now on sale, including in France. Beyond electronic cigarettes, it can be used in creams, herbal teas, oils, sweets and more. All of this is legal in France as long as the THC level stays below 0.2%.

Some credit CBD with miraculous virtues. For the time being, though, far too few studies exist to either confirm or rule out those claims. The illegality of cannabis in France makes the work of researchers on the so-called “miracle” molecule more complicated. Whatever the case, the CBD wave does not look like a mere passing fad. For some it is a way of finding a semblance of serenity, and even, among vegans, of replacing dairy products. In other words, CBD appears to have a long run ahead of it.