 Idaho is banning hemp and hemp-derived products, including CBD, intended for animal use starting Nov. 1.
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture said that it does not acknolwedge hemp and hemp-derived products, including CBD, that are intended for animal use, such as in feed, or remedy products, such as supplements used to aid animal health or function. They said, “Safe levels of hemp and hemp-derived products in animal feed have not yet been established under federal or state law. As such, these products are not approved feed ingredients and cannot lawfully be added to or incorporated into commercial feed. This includes feeds, treats and remedies intended for pets, livestock, or any other animal.” The upcoming November 1st ban has some pet owners and businesses very unhappy. Pet business Bark n’ Purr Boise said, “This decision will likely harm animals whose owners will no longer be able to access the products their pets rely on for a variety of health and wellness reasons.” For years now, people all across the country have been using cannabis extracts for their pets health and safety, with tremendous success. One of the many uses of CBD in pets is in treating arthritis, which effects up to 80% of dogs, and 20% of them experience symptoms at as young as one year old. Larger breeds in particular seem especially prone to it. And just like with humans, dogs also suffer extreme pain and discomfort from arthritis, and their mobility becomes severely limited. But CBD derrived from hemp has been shown to greatly help with this, in several studies. In one 2018 study at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, researchers analyzed dogs who were given CBD oil for pain management. They found that CBD oil given twice a day at a ratio of 2mg per pound of the dog’s weight effectively reduced visible symptoms of pain among the dogs. It also improved mobility and activity. In another study in 2020, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine worked with Medterra CBD to analyze CBD use for arthritis pain in dogs. They ran a double blind study using CBD versus placebo. They found that after four weeks of daily treatment, the CBD tinctures were effective in reducing production of immune cells and inflammatory molecules associated with arthritis. Dr. Matthew Halpert, the study’s corresponding author and a researcher at the Department of Pathology and Immunology of Baylor, said, “Nine of the 10 dogs on CBD showed benefits, which remained for two weeks after the treatment stopped. We did not detect alterations in the blood markers we measured, suggesting that, under the conditions of our study, the treatment seems to be safe.” So while the conservative government officials are working to suppress cannabis in all forms, even hemp derrived CBD for pets, the data done by scientists at these highly esteemed universities show that CBD is helpful and effective for pet pain management. It can greatly reduce the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis, and really help improve their quality of life. In addition to the scientific studies, there are countless personal testimonials to the benefits pet owners have seen by giving CBD to their pets. Most people I know of have stories like this in their own lives, or their friend’s and families lives. I have a cousin who does not personall partake in cannabis, and never has. However, she reached out to me in distress over her dog, and asked if CBD could help. Her dog had suffered severe abuse at the hands of a previous owner and had tremendous health and psychological problems. She suffered from seizures, as well as extreme fear and anxiety over just about everything. After giving her all the information I could, and encouraging her to speak with her vet, she eventually found a pet CBD oil that was dosed for her dog. She saw immediate improvement, to the extent that she told me it has been a “miracle” for her dog. And again, this is from a woman who does not use cannabis, and prior to this was fully against it’s legalization and use. While she still doesn’t use cannabis herself to get high, she does now completely advocate the use of CBD oil. If you live in a state where you are able to purchase and use CBD products for pets, keep in mind that there are still considerations to make before administering it to your pet. Be sure to buy high-quality CBD oils from well-known and respected brands. Going organic whenever possible reduces risk of contamination and disease that could be caused by pesticides, fungicides, and other unwanted ingredients. A well respected prodcut will also help you avoid accidentally getting your pet high with unwanted THC in the oil. Getting your pet high isn’t fun for them, as it can cause extreme distress and a trip to the emergency vet. You should also use products specifically formulated for dogs, as they will have appropriate dosing. Lastly, alwasy check with your vet on any potential problems with your dog’s own medical history or any other medications or supplements it may be taking. Dogs can suffer from drug interactions just like humans. As for Idaho… we can only hope that continued education on the subject will turn things around for the state. The business owners at Bark n’ Purr Boise have set up a petition on Change.org, urging Idaho’s Governor Brad Little to delay enforcement of this ban until the next legislative session in 2023, so that they can gather more data on the subject, and refute the ban. More Reading: Cannabis Oil's Efficacy in Treating Arthritis in Dogs Backed Up By a Slew of New Medical Studies Comments are closed.
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