At the Good Vibe studio in Denver, people ready themselves for a Buti yoga session.
But before these yogis begin their practice, they start with what they call a spiritual and nutritional ritual.
“I am filling up the water for the CBD tea that we serve before class,” says yoga instructor Ashton August. “This is jasmine green tea and it also contains 15 milligrams of CBD.”
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in cannabis and hemp plants.
Backers say CBD provides emotional and physical relief without getting high.
“We are big advocates for CBD as a natural way to find calm, balance,” August says. “It’s a great way to balance your energy with your calm before a yoga practice.”
With claims of helping all sorts of ailments, CBD has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Now, the government is taking notice.
The Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently sent out warning letters to several CBD companies, warning them not to market unconfirmed claims.
“There’s some reasonably good medical evidence that it’s useful for treating some specific types of seizures in children,” said Dr. Kennon Heard with UCHealth. "There's some emerging evidence for inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis."
Heard says there isn’t enough research yet to prove exactly what CBD does and doesn’t do. He, however, is absolutely certain that some CBD users can run into big problems if they’re misinformed about what they’re using.
“You can certainly end up with a surprisingly positive drug test for marijuana if your product contains more than a small amount of THC,” he said. “People who don’t recognize that can get into trouble.”
Consumer Reports also recently put out a warning about oils that contain less CBD than what’s advertised. It suggests looking for companies in states with both medical and recreational marijuana, since they tend to have stricter standards.
CBD company Rocky Mountain Pure is in one such state — Colorado. The company says its products are non-psychoactive and contain no more than .3 percent THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical in marijuana that gets people high.
“Our products are based on full spectrum hemp extract and not isolate,” says Rocky Mountain Pure co-owner Vance.
Vance added Rocky Mountain Pure follows strict guidelines and only makes claims that are scientifically backed.
"All of our plants are tested at the end of the season, bypassing the Department of Ag test, then you're certified with legal flower," Vance says.
Legal as the government pushes for stricter standards.
From the hemp farm to the yoga studio, Good Vibe CBD says all their options, from rollers to tinctures — and even pet products — are safe and helpful.
“I always love it,” August says, adding they can also better center their chi with a little help from CBD. “It’s such a great blend of that energy and that balance.”
