At the end of September, US president Donald Trump posted a video on his platform Truth Social. The message: CBD could play a role in the health of older people and should therefore be reimbursed through Medicare, the American healthcare system for seniors.
It is not official policy, but it is a notable signal. CBD is thereby getting attention at the highest political level in the United States, and this time not as a recreational substance but in the context of healthcare for older people.
Why this is interesting for the Netherlands too
What does American policy have to do with us? The United States is often ahead in the area of health and nutrition. If CBD becomes part of the conversation about preventive care there, that is worth following here as well.
In the Netherlands CBD has been legally available as a food supplement for years. Even so, awareness is limited: many people have never heard of it. The American discussion is mainly about a broader idea: can you maintain health rather than only intervening once there are complaints?
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The video Trump shared is partly about the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system of the body’s own, only discovered in the nineties, is involved in regulating a wide range of processes, from digestion to the nervous system.
CBD interacts with this system. What that interaction means for people exactly, and what role CBD could play in it, is still very much the subject of research.
What is known, and what is not?
Around the American developments there is talk of larger-scale research and supervision by healthcare professionals. That is exactly what is needed, because there are no hard conclusions yet. There are currently no EU-approved health claims for CBD.
Important to emphasise: CBD is a food supplement, not a medicine and not a replacement for medical care. News and policy from the United States change nothing about that. Do you have complaints? Discuss them with your GP.
The Netherlands is still at the beginning
While careful steps are being taken in America, the conversation here is still at the beginning. GPs are often not yet familiar with the endocannabinoid system, which is understandable: it was only discovered three decades ago and is not yet standard in their training.
CBD is simply available in the Netherlands as a food supplement. So you can make the choice yourself to try it and gain your own experience.
Responsible use
If you are going to use CBD, do it sensibly. Start with a low dose, a CBD oil of 2.5% or 5% for instance, and build up calmly. Are you taking other medicines? Then read this article first and consult your doctor.
At Dutch Balance we work exclusively with tested products. All test results are available on request, so you know what you are taking in.
Finally
Whether the Netherlands will follow the American example remains to be seen. What is clear is that the conversation about preventive healthcare is slowly getting more attention. Interesting to follow, also if you have been familiar with CBD for a while.
