Don’t Count on CBD Beverages to Alleviate Anxiety The stark disparity between commercial CBD drinks, oils, treats, and scientifically-backed medical products is worth noting.

CBD—cannabidiol—has soared in popularity as a wellness trend, drawing the interest of an estimated six million Brits. Forecasts suggest that by 2025, the UK market for CBD could hit the £1 billion mark. The market is flush with CBD goods—ranging from tinctures, patches, e-liquids, to consumable drinks and edibles, as well as topicals like creams, shampoos, and gels—purportedly addressing issues from anxiety and sleep disturbances to muscle aches. Even mainstream supermarkets like Sainsbury’s are now stocking CBD beverages from brands like Trip, self-proclaimed as “the UK’s #1 CBD brand.”

Trip’s marketing suggests that “many people use CBD to help manage stress and anxiety”—portraying their product as a fizzy stress-reliever for the mind, body, and spirit. However, there’s a substantial gap between the non-medical CBD found in products like those from Trip and the type of CBD that’s actually being rigorously studied for potential health benefits. Trip themselves admit on their site that their drinks are “not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.”

Dr. Simon Erridge, a cannabis-based medicine researcher from Imperial College London, argues that over-the-counter companies should not equate their offerings with particular health benefits. “In the UK, pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis must be prescribed by a consultant, with stringent quality controls,” he explains. These products have undergone intensive testing to ensure they adhere to specific pre-defined pharmaceutical standards, particularly in terms of CBD accuracy.

In essence, the gap between pharmaceutical-grade CBD, which boasts promising research-backed benefits, and the variety found in everyday health stores or groceries, is vast. “Studies have primarily focused on pharmaceutical products, not wellness ones—especially those infused in food or beverages—so claiming they could treat anxiety, for example, seems quite a leap,” Erridge clarifies.

Furthermore, even assuming non-pharmaceutical CBD had proven efficacy for anxiety, the dosages in consumer products pale in comparison to those under scientific investigation. For instance, a single Trip drink from Sainsbury’s, retailing at £2, contains just 15mg of CBD. In contrast, research indicates that daily doses of 300-600mg of CBD might be beneficial for anxiety, albeit further study is needed.

If Trip’s cans contained pharmaceutical-grade CBD, which they don’t, one would need to consume an unrealistic 20 to 40 cans a day to match the therapeutic doses researched, which would incur a staggering weekly cost of £280 to £560. The ethics behind Trip’s marketing approach, which teases the potential anti-anxiety effects of CBD yet delivers non-pharmaceutical grade dosages, come into question.

Trip did not comment on these points when approached. Their website, however, references a study by Dr. Julie Moltke, a clinical researcher and industry consultant in the UK’s medicinal cannabis sector, citing that “75 percent of CBD users for stress relief experienced benefits.” Moltke emphasizes that her observational study was not a randomised controlled trial and calls for more research before drawing robust conclusions.

Trip is not the sole brand linked to the therapeutic merits of pharmaceutical CBD. Reports—such as one by the World Health Organization on CBD’s potential benefits for various diseases—have been used to market commercial CBD products despite their non-pharmaceutical grade and small doses. Even VICE reviews admitting relief from products like Kloris’ CBD patches, which contain a mere 16mg of non-pharmaceutical CBD, are compelled to remind consumers that these items “are not medicines.”

In the US, the FDA has made it illegal to pair medical claims with non-pharmaceutical CBD supplements, highlighting the risk that such unsubstantiated claims pose. Not only might this be illegal, but it may also compromise public health, given that these products have not been proven to be effective or safe.

The hidden hazards of CBD surpass merely monetary losses by those seeking authentic health solutions. According to medical researcher Safeena Minhas from The University of Manchester, the side effects of CBD—such as drowsiness, diarrhea, appetite suppression, and at high doses, liver damage—are understated, with many wellness sites failing to mention potential adverse impacts.

Currently, evidence strongly supports CBD treatment for only one condition: treatment-resistant epilepsy in children, for which pharmaceutical-grade CBD is prescribable by the NHS. Minhas advises consumers to be discerning about CBD sources and contents, as misleading advertising abounds, and a recent study revealed that most UK non-pharmaceutical CBD products fell short on their advertised potencies.

To acquire “the good stuff”—pharmaceutical-grade CBD—patients typically must turn to one of the UK’s 40 private clinics authorized to prescribe it, ensuring a doctor’s oversight and compatibility with other medications.

Dr. Erridge concludes, emphasizing the importance of consulting a trained professional or clinic rather than relying on over-the-counter CBD oils that lack evidence of efficacy and quality. Therefore, it seems unlikely that a Sainsbury’s-sourced can of CBD is going to serve as a panacea for your anxiety.

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