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Unless a person has been stuck on a couch someplace for the past few years wallowing in the sorrows of their own pathetic life, CBD (cannabidiol) is probably something they are familiar with. Or at least they’ve heard of it. This non-intoxicating cannabis derivative, which can be produced using both hemp and marijuana, has become a rockstar miracle treatment of the modern age, purportedly capable of snuffing out all sorts of maladies ranging from anxiety to chronic pain. The benefits of CBD are seemingly endless.
Hell, it has even shown promise in taking out those vicious hangovers that some of us cannot seem to escape no matter how hard we try. Yo! Couch man, we’re talking to you. But the thing about CBD is it is one of those products that the federal government can’t seem to decide whether it is legal or not. It also cannot figure out how to regulate it. But rather than dig in and actually find out more about this substance, it continues to fill the heads of a pop culture sucking population with outlandish claims that all sorts of health problems are possible for those who dare use it.
The latest assertion, however, is a real kick in the Jimmy. In a recent FDA update, which was published last week, the agency said that CBD might shrink the family jewels, cause men to shoot toxic sperm and even lower testosterone. Dr. Amy Abernethy, a physician and the FDA’s principal deputy commissioner, said the substance carries “real risks” up to an including impaired male reproductive organs. It might even lead to new parents giving birth to sterile kids.
“Studies in laboratory animals showed male reproductive toxicity, including in the male offspring of CBD-treated pregnant females. The changes seen include decrease in testicular size, inhibition of sperm growth and development, and decreased circulating testosterone, among others,” the update reads.
We’re not going to lie, at first glimpse, the report suggested there were bad, bad things to come for the many men – from athletes to average joes – who have been leaning on CBD as a healthier alternative to over the counter and prescription medications. Because in addition to shrunken junk, the FDA also said that CBD could cause liver damage, drowsiness, diarrhea and mood swings. And we don’t need any help in those departments. Our booze habits and aging bodies are giving us all we need.
But the FDA’s latest statement, every single last bit of it, is misleading. We imagine those men who read the damn thing and took it for gospel quickly ran to the bathroom to examine their peckers for any shortcomings. But don’t let Uncle Sam trick you into thinking your CBD-infused package is getting smaller. There aren’t any peer reviewed papers out there to support this claim. There’s only a small animal study showing that male reproductive health might be inhibited by CBD. And the FDA admits that it has no fucking clue what that means for the bags of real boys.
“It is not yet clear what these findings mean for human patients and the impact it could have on men (or the male children of pregnant women) who take CBD,” the FDA said.
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The FDA argues that there is not enough research on CBD products to prove their efficacy. That’s true. So, if you’ve been using these products to help with inflammation, control aches and pains or whatever, and it seems to be working, just know there isn’t much science to suggest that you should be feeling better. But on the flipside, there isn’t any evidence out there showing that someone who uses CBD is going to end up with a mean case of baby dick or contribute to the birth of barren, blank-shooting kids.
Still, buyer beware.
We’re not going to get on our knees and blow just any old CBD slinger. We’d prefer not to do that for anyone if we’re honest. But some are better than others. The fact of the matter is there are a lot of cannabis companies out there right now marketing CBD products that are not sold as advertised.
Studies have shown there are savage inconsistencies in the CBD being sold online and in retail outlets all across America. Some are testing for more CBD than what is printed on the label, while others are testing for less. This means it can be challenging to know precisely what you are getting when making a purchase. So, if the FDA is correct about one thing, it’s that there is a desperate need for more research and strict testing protocols, which is its job to oversee. Only instead of doing that, it continues to make relatively baseless claims to strike fear in the population.
Oh, and by the way, the World Health Organization (WHO) said a couple of years ago that CBD seems to be safe and should be eliminated from the Controlled Substances Act. So, there’s that. Never once did the UN’s health agency find anything suggesting that men who use CBD products could end up looking like Ken dolls before it was all said and done. Even the FDA admits that “Further testing and evaluation are needed to better understand this potential risk.”
Well, FDA, the balls are in your court.
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Mike Adams is a freelance writer for High Times, Cannabis Now, and Forbes. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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