What Is CBD Oil?

In short

"CBD oil" is a retail name, not a legal or scientific category. It usually means a cannabis-plant extract that contains cannabidiol (CBD), dissolved in an edible oil. The US National Cancer Institute describes hemp oil or CBD oil as products made from extracts of industrial hemp, meaning low-THC cannabis plants, and separates them from hemp seed oil, which is essentially free of cannabinoids. [1] It is not the same thing as marijuana, and it is not the same thing as the prescription medicine. This page is information only; it gives no amounts to use and no advice to treat any condition.

Evidence labels used here: approved medicine (a regulator has approved a specific product for a specific use), promising but limited, insufficient evidence, evidence of harm, preclinical (cells/animals only) and marketing claim.

What is in the bottle

• A cannabis extract. NCI describes the typical product as a solvent extract of cannabis flowers or leaves dissolved in an edible oil. [1]
• CBD, and sometimes more. Some products also contain other cannabinoids, including THC, depending on how they are made. See full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate products for the terms.
• Not the seed oil. Oil pressed from hemp seeds is a food oil; see hemp seed oil vs CBD oil.
• Not one standard recipe. I found no regulator definition of "CBD oil" in the sources read for this page, so two bottles with the same name can differ a lot.

The approved medicine is a different thing

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has approved only one CBD product, a prescription drug to treat seizures linked to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome or tuberous sclerosis complex in people one year of age and older. [2] That is the approved medicine label, and it applies to that product only. The FDA states that other CBD products have not been evaluated for whether they work for a disease or for any other effect that may be claimed. [2] Results from the medicine should not be transferred to over-the-counter oils. For the medicine itself, see approved cannabinoid medicines.

Rules in the United States (read 2026-10-22)

• Food and supplements. The FDA says it is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement. [2]
• Hemp. The FDA notes that the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp, defined as cannabis with no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis, from the definition of marijuana, but CBD products remain subject to the same laws as other FDA-regulated products. [2]
• Other countries and states. Not verified on this page. Laws change, and this is not legal advice. See safety and legal basics.

What research shows

For disease outcomes, the sound evidence is for the approved medicine in the epilepsy conditions above, and it is covered on the CBD guide. For ordinary CBD oils sold to consumers, the FDA says it has seen only limited data about CBD's safety. [2] Claims on bottles are marketing claims unless a specific, well-run study of that exact product supports them.

Risks and side effects

• Liver. In its review of the approved medicine, the FDA identified the potential for liver injury, and it is concerned that this could go undetected outside medical supervision. [2] NCCIH also lists liver injury, male reproductive harm and drug interactions as associated with CBD use. [3] See liver safety.
• Other medicines. Taking CBD with other medications may increase or decrease the effects of those medications. [2] Ask a pharmacist or prescriber; see how interactions work.
• Everyday side effects. The FDA lists changes in alertness, most commonly sleepiness, among effects people may notice. [2]
• Reproductive findings. In laboratory animals, CBD showed male reproductive toxicity; the FDA says it is not yet clear what this means for people. [2] This is preclinical evidence.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The FDA strongly advises against CBD, THC and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. [4]
• Children. Keep all cannabis-containing products out of reach of children. If a child may have swallowed one, the FDA says to take the child to a physician or emergency department. [5] In the US, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in an emergency; see Poison Help by country.

Quality and labeling

Over-the-counter CBD products may contain more or less CBD than the label says, and may contain contaminants such as THC. [3] The FDA has tested some products and found many did not contain the CBD they claimed. [2]

These are small samples from specific markets and dates; they show that variation exists, not how any one product will test. Read certificates of analysis and oil concentration and label interpretation for how to read the numbers.