(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- No, CBD doesn’t get you high. But it’s made from the cannabis plant—the letters stand for “cannabidiol”—and, as such, is subject to the same laws as marijuana in the U.S. It got a major boost when the December 2018 farm bill legalized the production of marijuana’s nonpsychoactive sister—hemp—and interstate transfer of hemp-derived goods, opening the floodgates for a legal CBD market that could surpass $20 billion by 2022, according to researcher Brightfield Group LLC.
As legalization has spread, so has CBD’s fame. Depending on which marketing materials you read, it can provide relief for just about every malady known to modern humans: anxiety, chronic back pain, menstrual cramps, postworkout muscle soreness, dandruff, even chapped lips. Lack of regulation, however, gives some of these products the feeling of a late-night infomercial for oregano cleanses. “Seventy percent of products don’t have what’s written on the label,” says Davey Napoli, one of three co-founders of White Label, a site that sells CBD products after diligent research. Jon Brandon, co-founder of Foria Wellness, a brand that uses CBD for better intimacy, remains optimistic. “There is much to be excited about,” he says, “and much research to be done.”
We tested some of the most popular—and strangest—applications so far.
Hair
Prose shampooCo-founded by a former L’Oréal SA executive, Arnaud Plas, this hair-care brand uses CBD “for a healthy scalp.” But it’s probably licorice root and moisturizing B-5 that’s really livening up your locks. From $25; prose.com
Eyes
Kush high-volume mascara $24; milkmakeup.com
Mouth
Lord Jones gumdropsKnown for its beautiful packaging, the well-researched Lord Jones brand has been at the vanguard of what Chief Executive Officer Robert Rosenheck calls “a health and wellness revolution.” These delicious, all-natural gumdrops contain 20 milligrams of CBD per piece to act as a mood stabilizer. $45; lordjones.com ** TOP PICK **
Lips
Vertly lip butterWith only 25mg of CBD in the container, you’re not getting much of it. But it’s a nice lip balm anyway. $22; vertly.com
Tongue
Lily CBD Many experts agree that the most effective way to take CBD is to squirt the oil under your tongue with a dropper. Russell Markus’s company consulted with doctors to arrive at his 16mg dosage. $99 for 500mg bottle; lilycbd.com ** TOP PICK **
Face
Herb Essntls moisturizer $60 for 2 oz.; herbessntls.com
Underarm
Sacred Biology deodorant $20; bloomble.com
Stomach
Recess soda $30 for six-pack; takearecess.com
Intimate areas
Foria AwakenThis “therapeutic aphrodisiac” is meant for women. Apply to your fingers and gently massage. Full effects can take 15 minutes. $48; foriawellness.com ** TOP PICK **
Body
Wildflower soapThis all-natural cleanser with 20mg of CBD lathers into a rich and soothing foam. $30 for pack of three; buywildflower.com
Mirai bath bomb $9; miraiclinical.com
Plant People Plant Balm$49 for 400mg; plantpeople.co
Muscles
324 roll-onThe brand’s name comes from where each letter falls in the alphabet—3 for “C,” 2 for “B,” 4 for “D”—but the story is no gimmick: Founder Pascal Pakter is a former Brazilian jiujitsu fighter who, after injuring two vertebrae, became an evangelist for the pain-relieving powers of cannabis. This roll-on, which includes camphor and menthol, will take the place of your tube of Icy Hot. $35; 324brand.com ** TOP PICK **
Feet
Mary’s Nutritionals Elite transdermal patchOne of the most popular brands for CBD, Denver-based Mary’s Medicinals offers a 2-inch square patch that contains 10mg of hemp extract, which it gradually releases into the bloodstream. From $10; marysmedicinals.com ** TOP PICK **
Pets
Soft chews for cats$32; treatibles.com
To contact the author of this story: James Gaddy in New York at jgaddy@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Rovzar at crovzar@bloomberg.net, Justin Ocean
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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