Since time, faith and religion have dictated which foods and beverages are okay to consume and even guidelines on which practices and restrictions apply to different groups and sects. For instance, alcohol is ultimately out of bounds in Islam but freely consumed by people of other faiths.
What is Halal?
Under Islam doctrines, halal is Arabic for permissible, and it generally indicates if something is acceptable under the Islam religious guidelines. If something is forbidden, it is said to be haram to indulge or associate with it. The Qur'an has various passages about various foods that Allah has made agreeable to consume, beverages and even how animals should be slaughtered to make them halal. Most Islam adherents use these guidelines to categorize everything in life along a broad spectrum. CBD has exploded into the markets recently, given the positive sentiments they have elicited among its users. However, the intersection of cannabidiol with religious dietary laws has prompted some concerns among some Muslims that CBD may not be halal to consume, sighting that intoxicating substances are haram.What is CBD?
The debate on whether CBD is halal or not is still very grey. However, understanding this compound is paramount in shedding some light on the discussion. CBD comes from the hemp or cannabis plants which contain varying levels of the psychoactive compound- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC-infused products' intake is outright haram; this association brings CBD compounds under the light. Therefore, the argument is if CBD products contain zero or negligible levels of THC, as is the case with CBD isolates, is it halal?Does CBD make you high?
The assumption that CBD could make you high as it comes from the cannabis plant is not valid. The cannabis plant has several cannabinoid compounds, but THC and CBD are the ones understood well thus far. CBD isn't psychoactive and does not influence brain chemistry. Instead, it has receptors that work with the endocannabinoid system. This system contains lipids created by our body and helps regulate sleep, mood, memory and appetite. Therefore, pure CBD products cannot make you high and thus cannot elicit euphoria or intoxication. Why not also read: CBD Oil Laws in the UKIs CBD halal?
As earlier mentioned, this is a grey area. For CBD to be halal, it needs to be free of the psychoactive compound THC and not contain any haram ingredients. When the CBD product meets these conditions, it is then considered halal by most Muslim scholars as hemp is an organically produced plant. However, the debate rages on as other Muslims believe that CBD is haram, given the plant it originates from and the way it is extracted. Ingredients used in CBD processing that might render the compound haram include:- Alcohol – Alcohol is strictly forbidden in Islam, and therefore its part in most medicine production is an issue. Many CBD products are made by dissolving the hemp plant in alcohol to extract the compound. The alcohol content in such products is negligible, but with significant advancements in technology, methods like supercritical CO2 extractions are also efficient. Avoiding CBD tincture is the best way of eluding alcohol-processed CBD.
- Flavouring – CBD products come in various flavours, with manufacturers coming up with ways of making a stand-out product, mainly for vaping or sublingual use. Flavours derived from alcohol by-products or haram animal products would make the CBD product haram.
- Gelatine CBD products – Gelatine is a translucent ingredient derived from collagen from animal body parts. It is predominantly used in making capsules to store CBD oil. These gelatine capsules would be haram and only permissible if the animal was slaughtered to halal standards. Gelatine acquired from pork by-products is strictly haram.
- Vaping CBD – Vaping is highly controversial, and the debate on either haram or halal is fierce. The act itself of smoking e-liquids is perceived as haram because it mimics smoking cigarettes and other intoxicating substances, which are haram. However, if it could be scientifically proven that vaping causes no harm and the e-liquids contain natural ingredients, it could be permissible.
- CBD Candy – Candied CBD is not recommended for Muslims. This is because they are mostly made from gelatine which contains animal fats, often pork which is absolutely haram.
How to find halal CBD products
Finding CBD products that are halal and in line with the halal diet can be tricky, and you should be cautious while buying them. The tips below will help you find halal CBD products.- Buy the Broad-Spectrum CBD – Broad-Spectrum contain most of the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes found in the hemp plant. Extra refinement does away with traces of THC and other cannabinoid compounds like CBN and Delta -8/9 THC, which are known to be psychoactive, making it halal.
- Buy the CBD isolate - CBD isolate is considered the purest form of CBD as it is free of THC, terpenes or other cannabinoid compounds. CBD isolate is often the base for various CBD products like topical skincare creams and CBD capsules; therefore, liaising with a third-party lab is crucial to determine the purity.
- Find a retailer you can trust – The CBD markets remain highly unregulated. Therefore it is easy to come across fraudulent retailers who may even pose to sell and advertise their products as halal.
- Look for certified vegan CBD products – Certified vegan products prevent you from consuming animal by-products that were not slaughtered to halal standards. Vegan products are also safe to consume as they avoid chemicals found in animal-derived products like parabens, artificial dye and alcohol.
- Check the ingredients – Look up the specific ingredients and follow up on the whole manufacturing process.
