CBD hype: Is this hemp plant derivative snake oil or a legit remedy?
Source: Ken Alltucker and Jayne O’Donnell, USA TODAY
Published 2:30 p.m. ET April 8, 2019

CBD has exploded in popularity since Trump legalized the cultivation of hemp, but is it a medical miracle or just another fad? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
It’s hard to find something CBD can’t treat. 
That’s if you believe the hype. Problems with aches and pains, inflammation, stress, unsatisfying sex and PMS? Try CBD. 
It comes in many forms: skin creams, lotions, oils, tinctures, pills and even a powder or liquid food additive. You can get it nearly everywhere. Neighborhood coffee shops splash CBD in lattes. Amazon delivers it to your doorstep. Walgreens and CVS will stock it in stores nationwide.
Although marketers hype the hemp plant derivative cannabidiol as a natural remedy for just about anything they might imagine, their therapeutic claims are rarely supported by medical evidence that CBD is significantly better than a placebo. 

 (Photo: Getty Images)

When it comes to over-the-top claims, “there are probably some people taking advantage,” said Jay Hartenbach, CEO of Medterra, one of the largest marketers of CBD. It’s important to “come back to the science.”
Indeed, it’s an industry mostly built on testimonials. Kim Kardashian said she’s planning a CBD-themed baby shower. Former talk show host and cannabis activist Montel Williams has his own brand of CBD products and filed a federal lawsuit that says an unauthorized marketer co-opted his likeness and image to sell lower-quality versions.
Nearly 7% of Americans are using CBD, a figure projected to grow to 10% of Americans by 2025, according to investment research firm Cowen