What is CBD: a beginner's guide
New to CBD? Where it comes from, how to recognise it on the shelf and what it does not promise.
Written by The shop's editorial team · Texts checked against the cited sources
Published on 2 October 2026 · 4 min read
A compound from hemp
CBD is short for cannabidiol, one of the more than one hundred cannabinoids the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.) produces. It sits mostly in the flowers and leaves; the seeds hold almost none.
The CBD in products sold in the EU comes from industrial hemp: varieties listed in the EU common catalogue, grown for fibre and seed, with at most 0.3 % THC in the plant. Industrial hemp and cannabis are one species but different varieties — the difference lies in the amount of THC.
It is not THC
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound that causes the “high”. CBD does not, and that is the difference that matters: it is why CBD products can be sold while THC stays controlled. The full comparison is in CBD vs THC: what sets them apart.
In 2018 the World Health Organization's expert committee reviewed cannabidiol and concluded that, in its pure form, it shows no potential for abuse or dependence and should not be placed under international control. In 2020 the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that CBD is not a narcotic.
What CBD is not
CBD is not a medicine and does not cure anything. There is no authorised health claim for CBD in the EU (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006), and a cosmetic may not claim to treat anything. A serious seller describes the product's composition and form, not effects on health.
CBD products are for adults only. Assessing CBD as a novel food, EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, wrote in February 2026 that its safety cannot be established for people under 25, for pregnant or breastfeeding women and for people taking medicines. If any of this applies to you, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
If a shop promises that CBD treats a disease, it is breaking EU rules — a good reason to shop elsewhere.
The law in brief
In Romania CBD is sold legally, and what the law controls is THC (Law 143/2000 and Law 339/2005). CBD oils and creams are usually sold as cosmetics, under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
CBD added to food and supplements is novel food (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283) and, as of October 2026, has no EU authorisation yet. The details are in Is CBD legal in Romania?
What it looks like on the shelf
CBD is sold in a few forms, and each label states the regime: cosmetic, food or another. The regime, not the shape of the bottle, tells you how the product may be used.
| Form | What it is | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| CBD oil | Hemp extract dissolved in a vegetable oil, in a dropper bottle | The milligrams in the whole bottle and the regime on the label |
| Creams, balms, serums | CBD in a cosmetic base, for the skin | That it is labelled as a cosmetic, and the ingredient list |
| Capsules | Extract measured into identical capsules | The regime on the label: as a supplement, CBD needs an EU authorisation |
| Hemp seed oil | Food oil pressed from the seeds | Practically no CBD: it is not CBD oil |
What to read on the label
The percentage alone can mislead you: a 10 ml bottle at 10 % holds 1000 mg of CBD, while a 30 ml bottle at 5 % holds 1500 mg. Compare products by the milligrams in the whole pack and by what the lab report shows.
- The amount of CBD in milligrams for the whole pack, not just the percentage.
- The bottle volume or the number of capsules.
- The extract type: full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate.
- The batch number — the same as on the lab report.
- THC on the report: “not detected” or only traces.
- The product's regime and the directions written on the label.
Sources
- WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: fortieth report (2018)
- Court of Justice of the EU, case C-663/18 Kanavape, judgment of 19 November 2020
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods
- Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods
- EFSA: Provisional safe level for cannabidiol as a novel food (9 February 2026)
