CBD (Cannabidiol)
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. It is different from THC, the main source of cannabis's intoxicating effects.
Also listed as CBD
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the cannabinoids found in cannabis. It is different from THC, the main contributor to cannabis’s intoxicating effects. 1
Where does the clearest medical use lie?
In the EU, prescription CBD medicine Epidyolex is used alongside other treatment for seizures in certain rare conditions, including Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. This medical use does not establish that a retail CBD oil treats anxiety or insomnia. 2
How does it act?
The medicine’s product information describes effects on nerve-cell excitability and several signaling pathways. Its precise anticonvulsant mechanism in humans remains incompletely understood. 3
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Is CBD the same as THC?
No. They are different cannabinoids; THC is mainly responsible for cannabis’s intoxicating effects. 1
Does a negative insomnia trial rule out every sleep effect?
No, but its mostly null results and small size do not support a dependable insomnia benefit. 4
Is the EFSA value an anxiety-treatment dose?
No. It is a provisional food-safety level with strict formulation and population limits. 5
Can CBD make me drowsy without being THC?
Yes. Drowsiness and sedation are documented effects of prescription CBD. 3