U.K.'s leading health retailer has 750 stores. Holland & Barrett announced that the latest product caused a surge in sales since it started flying off the shelves back in January. Sales went up by 37 percent.

Cannabis oil, which comes from "a natural compound found in the cannabis plant," is sold for £19.99 (US$27.79). Among those eager for the retailer's newest offering are campaigners who believe that cannabis oil can benefit multiple sclerosis sufferers, ease pain, and help treat anxiety.

However, even though Holland & Barrett's product was launched as a food supplement, the firm can't claim any of these benefits. The retailer managed to circumvent the long process of acquiring a medicinal license to sell cannabis oil all over the U.K.

In 2016, government advisers legalized the purchase of cannabidiol (CBD oil) in England and Wales once its "restoring, correcting, or modifying effect on humans" were recognized. But thousands were bewildered when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency retracted its decision after only several weeks on the legal status of CBD oil. Now, suppliers must acquire a license before they can start selling CBD oil as medicine, and there are those who question their latest resolution.

Holland & Barrett started offering CBD oil at their stores in January, and the retailer has plans to introduce a new range with the cannabis derivative.

What is cannabidiol?

Cannabidiol is one of more than 80 cannabinoids or the natural compounds found in the marijuana plant. CBD is extracted from the plant as a mineral-rich oil and it is usually bottled with a dropper. But consumers can buy it in other forms like chewing gum, soap, or vape oil for e-cigarettes. It has no side effects and it is not addictive.

CBD can help patients with acne, depression, epilepsy, migraines, rheumatism, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. (Related: Cannabis as a preventative: Studies show it helps guard against cancer, neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis.)

Cannabidiol oil doesn't contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis. This means CBD won't get you high. According to the Cannabis Trades Association UK, at least 250,000 people use CBD oil across the U.K. The figure has increased from 125,000 in 2017.

The reviews from the retailer's website say that CBD oil is "excellent and has helped ease pain for a wide range of problems." Holland & Barrett also shares that most of the inquiries at their physical stores and their call centers are about the product and how it can help their health concerns.

A spokesperson from the retailer commented, "We have been surprised at the success and popularity of CBD oil since launch… We knew that there were numerous trends surfacing around this liquid but we didn’t expect to see sales increase this dramatically." The spokesperson concluded, "We are constantly looking to bring new and innovative products to market that help our customers. It is great to see in this instance that we can help with the demand."

The health benefits of CBD

Wondering about the health benefits of cannabis oil? Here are some reasons to try using CBD oil:

• Asthma – CBD oil can benefit asthmatic patients because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic effects. It can also help dilate the bronchial tubes, which can help circulate oxygen better and make it easier to breathe.
• Pain relief – Cannabis can help ease the severity of pain, as well as improve sleeping patterns.
• Skin treatment – CBD oil can be applied topically to improve your skin condition. CBD oil can address chronic skin conditions like acne and psoriasis. It can also reduce stress, which means cannabis oil can help prevent some types of skin diseases that are prone to breakouts when an individual is stressed, such as eczema or rosacea.
• Stress and anxiety – Treatment with cannabinoids following a traumatic or stressful experience can help manage a person's emotional responses.

You can read more articles about the benefits of cannabis and research about medical marijuana at MedicalMarijuanaUpdate.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

FoodMatters.com