Note: This author does NOT represent any company, although she has in the past.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the fastest growing markets in the United States. First, let's discuss what CBD is. Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive ingredient or cannabinoid, that is contained within the plant oils (not the seed oils) of the Cannabis Sativa plant. It develops at different levels in both the medicinal marijuana form of the plant as well as in hemp strains. Each and every strain of Cannabis Sativa contains CBD at a level from 0.00 to as high as 14%. Even within the same strain, the levels of this cannabinoid can vary from plant to plant.

This single cannabinoid, Cannabidiol, has been said to have properties that help anxiety, pain, inflammation and even addictions, but yet the Federal Government states that cannabis has no medicinal value, classifying it as dangerous as heroin. Or does it?

On GW Pharmaceutical's website, visitors are met with a quote from the Chief Executive Officer

Justin Gover, "GW's vision is to be the global leader in prescription cannabinoid medicines, developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products which address clear unmet needs." They aren't hiding their ambition. GW Pharmaceutical is the only company who has been approved by the FDA to sell plant-based cannabidiol, in a form they have named "Epidiolex."

In a complete reversal of its previous standpoint, the FDA changed the classification of cannabidiolonly in the form of Epidolex last year.

In spite of the fact that the Federal Drug Administration has previously lied to the United States public about the safety and efficacy of plant-based cannabis-based medications, it is the only government agency assigned to protect the American public from "snake oil salesmen." The current situation of CBD oil being sold on every website under millions of names and strengths with quality that is beyond questionable is untenable.

How do we monitor the quality of a medication being extracted out of a weed? How do we protect our most vulnerable populations from exploitation? These are the things we need to concern ourselves with when we are looking at this explosion of CBD oil companies. The reports are clear: There are several companies that are outright frauds, distributing garbage.

In my own experience, the CEO of the company I had been duped into representing had so little knowledge of health care (her formal education was limited to what was required for her massage therapy license) that she literally made the written statement that more children had been killed by immunizations than by the diseases themselves (YES! I found out that the CEO was an anti-vaxxer!), immediately discrediting anything she may have stated about healthcare in any way.

Please understand, I'm not against the use of this cannabinoid. I AM of the opinion that cannabis therapy is best done as whole plant therapy under the supervision of a qualified health-care provider who is knowledgable about the interaction of cannabinoids and conventional medicines. There are many interactions that could be dangerous, and it is irresponsible to advise consumers to abandon their pharmaceutical medications in favor of replacing them with any supplement without the advice of a competent physician.

If you are going to get into the CBD MLM industry out there, KNOW your company. Know your CEO and pay the $40 to have the oil TESTED independently for levels of cannabinoids as well as fungus and pesticides. KNOW what you are selling. KNOW who you are representing. And PLEASE, if you are in the market for CBD oil, perhaps check into Consumer Report's article about choosing a CBD oil and get to KNOW what you are putting into your body!