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COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CBD

Here you can learn the answers to a few commonly asked questions about CBD. Simply select a question to reveal the answer. If you have any specific questions then please do email us at care@hempwell.co.uk or call us on +353 1 437 6922.

Q1. What is CBD?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of more than a hundred naturally occurring compounds (cannabinoids) found in the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. Unlike THC, the compound responsible for the “high” from cannabis, CBD is not intoxicating.

In Ireland it is sold as a food supplement in oils, capsules and gummies, and as an ingredient in skincare and muscle creams, balms and patches. HempWell CBD comes from EU-certified hemp grown on our own farm and is formulated in our laboratory at York Science Park. For the full beginner’s explanation, read our guide to what CBD is and how it is used.

Yes. CBD itself is not a controlled drug in Ireland, so buying and using it is legal. The rules apply to the product: it must contain no THC at all. Irish law has no trace allowance for THC in finished products, and the High Court (2024) and Court of Appeal (2025) confirmed that the 0.2% figure you often see is the limit for the hemp plant in the field, not for what ends up in the bottle.

HempWell CBD is made with 0% THC isolate or broad-spectrum extract with the THC removed, from EU-licensed hemp grown at under 0.2% THC, and the independent lab report for each product is published on our lab reports page. CBD foods are also regulated by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland as novel foods, and creams and balms as cosmetics. For the full picture, including the court rulings and how medical cannabis differs, read our guide Is CBD legal in Ireland?.

No. The “high” associated with cannabis comes from THC, and CBD does not have that effect. Our products are either made with pure CBD isolate (0% THC) or a broad-spectrum extract that has had the THC removed.

How CBD feels is subjective and much subtler than people expect. Customers most often describe it as feeling a little calmer or less tense, rather than any noticeable “hit”. Some people notice nothing on the first day and only recognise a difference after a week or two of regular use. If you are wondering whether it is safe for you, our guide Is CBD safe? goes through what the evidence says.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors and signalling molecules found throughout the body that helps regulate processes such as sleep, mood, appetite and the response to discomfort. Unlike THC, CBD does not bind strongly to the main cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2); research suggests it works more indirectly, influencing how the ECS and other receptor systems, including some serotonin receptors, behave.

Research into exactly how this translates into the effects people report is still developing, which is why we describe what studies do and don’t show rather than making promises. Our explainer on the endocannabinoid system is a good place to start.

There is no single right amount. It depends on the product, your body weight and what you are hoping to get from it. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland advises healthy adults not to exceed 70mg of CBD a day from food supplements, and every HempWell product carries that guidance on the label.

Most people start with a small amount once or twice a day and increase gradually over a week or two while they see how they feel. A graduated pipette makes this easy with our oils; capsules and gummies give a fixed amount per serving. Our CBD dosage guide works through the numbers, and our guide to choosing the right strength of CBD oil explains why a 1000mg and a 2000mg bottle can deliver the same daily amount. If you are looking at CBD with sleep, stress or aches and pains in mind, our guides on CBD and sleep, CBD and anxiety and CBD and pain set out what the research says.

Stick to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland guideline of no more than 70mg a day and do not exceed the amount on the product label. Clinical trials have used far higher amounts of prescription-grade CBD under medical supervision, but those are a different product and setting from a food supplement taken at home.

Taking more than you need is mostly a waste of money, but higher amounts are more likely to cause the mild side effects some people report: drowsiness, a dry mouth, changes in appetite or an upset stomach. If you notice any of these, reduce the amount. The FSA also advises that CBD is not recommended for children, people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, or anyone taking medication unless a doctor has advised otherwise.

Use the graduated pipette to measure your amount, drop the oil under your tongue, hold it there for around a minute, then swallow. The tissue under the tongue is rich in small blood vessels, so more of the CBD is absorbed than if you swallow it straight away. Try not to let the pipette touch your mouth, which keeps the bottle hygienic.

If you do not like the taste, you can add the oil to a cold or warm drink or to food, though it will take longer to work as it passes through the digestive system. Capsules and gummies are the simplest option if you want a fixed amount with no measuring, and creams and balms are for use on the skin. Our step-by-step guides cover how to take CBD oil, how to take CBD gummies and how to use CBD cream.

It depends on how you take it. Oil held under the tongue is usually absorbed within about 15 to 45 minutes. Capsules and gummies pass through the digestive system first, so allow 30 to 90 minutes. A cream or balm works where it is applied and most people notice the cooling sensation within a few minutes.

Those timings are for a single serving. Many customers tell us the benefits they value most build up with consistent daily use, so it is worth giving a new product two to three weeks at a steady amount before deciding whether it suits you. Our guide to how long CBD takes to work covers each format, and our explainer on CBD bioavailability explains why the method matters.

CBD isolate is pure CBD, with all other plant compounds removed. Our Pure CBD Oil range uses isolate in an organic MCT (coconut) oil carrier, which gives a clean, almost tasteless oil. Broad spectrum keeps the other naturally occurring cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp plant but has the THC removed; our Broad Spectrum range uses this extract in a hemp seed oil carrier and has a more earthy, hemp-like taste. Full spectrum retains everything, including THC, so we do not sell it.

The “entourage effect” is the theory, popularised by Dr Ethan Russo, that hemp compounds work better together than in isolation. The evidence is still mixed, and in practice both of our ranges have loyal customers. Our comparison of isolate and broad spectrum CBD oils will help you choose.

Workplace and roadside drug tests look for THC, not CBD. A product made with 0% THC isolate, like our Pure CBD Oil, capsules and gummies, is very unlikely to cause a positive result. Broad-spectrum products have had the THC removed to non-detectable levels, and you can check the exact figures for any product on our lab reports page.

The risk comes from poorly made products elsewhere on the market that contain more THC than their label says. If you are tested for work or sport, choose a THC-free isolate product from a brand that publishes independent lab reports, and keep a copy of the report for your batch. Our guide Will CBD cause me to fail a drugs test? goes into more detail.

Yes. CBD is not a controlled substance in Ireland, so there is no law against driving after taking it. The driving law that matters is the Road Traffic Act limit on THC in the blood, which is one more reason to use a THC-free product.

The sensible caveat is the same as for any supplement: it is an offence to drive while impaired by anything, so if CBD makes you feel drowsy, particularly when you first start or if you take it with other things that cause drowsiness, do not drive until you know how it affects you. Read more in our guide to driving on CBD oil in Ireland.

CBD creams, balms and gels work locally, in the skin and the tissue directly beneath where you apply them. Very little CBD from a cream reaches the bloodstream, and that is exactly why people use topicals: they let you target a specific area, such as a stiff knee or a tight shoulder after exercise, without taking CBD internally.

Our Cooling Muscle & Joint Cream and Muscle Balm combine CBD with cooling peppermint and eucalyptus oils, so you feel them working straight away. Patches are the exception: they are designed to be transdermal, releasing CBD slowly through the skin over 24 hours. Our guide to topical versus transdermal CBD explains the difference, and you can browse our CBD creams and balms and CBD patches.

Check with your GP or pharmacist first. CBD can affect the liver enzymes (the cytochrome P450 family) that break down many common medicines, in a similar way to the grapefruit warning found on some prescriptions. That can change how much of a medicine stays in your system.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland advises people taking any medication not to take CBD unless a doctor has said it is fine. Particular care is needed with blood thinners, epilepsy medicines, some antidepressants and anything with a grapefruit warning on the leaflet. Our guide to CBD and medication interactions sets out what is known, and Is CBD safe? covers the wider safety picture.

CBD is not considered addictive. The World Health Organization’s 2017 review concluded that “evidence from well-controlled human experimental research indicates that CBD is not associated with abuse potential”, and it is sold in Ireland as a food supplement rather than a drug.

Side effects are generally mild and more likely at higher amounts: tiredness, a dry mouth, changes in appetite or digestive upset are the ones most often reported. Reducing the amount usually resolves them. If you have an existing health condition or take medication, speak to your GP before starting. Our guide Is CBD safe? looks at the research in more depth.

Not usually, at least not in the way a sleeping tablet does. At typical amounts CBD is not a sedative, and plenty of customers take it in the morning without feeling drowsy. Larger amounts are more likely to cause tiredness, which is one reason to start small.

Many people do use CBD as part of an evening wind-down routine, and our SleepWell oil pairs CBD with valerian, passionflower and lavender, botanicals traditionally used for relaxation, for exactly that purpose. Our guide to CBD and sleep explains what the research shows, and you can browse our CBD for sleep range.

CBD itself is a plant compound with no intoxicating effect, so it is the product’s other ingredients that decide the answer. Our CBD oils contain only CBD extract, a plant-based carrier oil and natural flavourings, with no alcohol or animal products, so they are suitable for vegans. Our gummies are made with pectin rather than gelatine and are vegan too.

Our capsules use bovine gelatine, so they are not suitable for vegetarians, vegans or anyone avoiding non-halal gelatine. Full ingredients are listed on every product page. For a fuller discussion, read Is CBD halal?

Within Ireland, yes. Abroad, the rules vary a lot: CBD is legal across most of Europe, though each country sets its own THC rules, and it remains banned or restricted in some countries, and airport officials do not always know the difference between CBD and cannabis. The only reliable answer is to check the rules of the country you are visiting, and any you transit through, with its embassy before you travel.

If you do take it, choose a THC-free product, keep it in its original packaging, and carry a copy of the batch lab report from our lab reports page showing the THC content. A 30ml bottle of oil fits within the 100ml hand-luggage liquid limit; capsules and gummies avoid the liquids question altogether.

CBD sold in shops and online is a food supplement, regulated by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, and by law it cannot be marketed as treating, curing or preventing any condition. That is why we describe what the research does and doesn’t show rather than making claims. Prescription cannabis-based medicines do exist in Ireland under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme, but they are different products prescribed by consultants for three specific conditions.

What we can do is point you to the evidence. Our education guides summarise the research on pain, sleep, stress and anxiety and skin, several of them reviewed by our Scientific Advisor, Professor Mike Barnes, one of the UK’s leading medical cannabis experts. Browse all of them in our education centre.

We grow our own hemp on our farm in Europe, from EU-certified seed, and formulate every product in our laboratory at York Science Park. Controlling the process from seed to shelf is what lets us stand behind the quality and traceability of what we sell.

Each product is independently lab tested for CBD content, THC and contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides, and the certificates are published on our lab reports page. Our guides on how our CBD is made and what CBD lab testing covers explain what to look for, and our Scientific Advisor Professor Mike Barnes guides our approach to evidence.

Online at hempwell.ie, with fast delivery across Ireland by DPD Ireland.

If you use CBD every day, a subscription saves 20% and delivers on a one-to-four-month cycle you can pause or change at any time. Retailers can find out about stocking HempWell on our wholesale page, and if you have a question that is not answered here, get in touch and a real person will reply.

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