When people talk about giving marijuana to pets, they are really talking about the use of CBD products derived from hemp. The California Veterinary Medical Board explains that CBD is the “abbreviation for cannabidiol, which is one out of 60 naturally occurring compounds present in cannabis. It is the second-most prevalent cannabinoid in both hemp and marijuana and is nonpsychoactive.” [1] CBD extracted from hemp contains less than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the compound in marijuana that causes the high. [1] Pet owners spend an estimated $70 billion annually on their furry friends. [2] The market for CBD products aimed at companion animals jumped from $32 million in 2018 to $400 million in 2019, and market estimates for 2022 range from $125 million to $1.6 billion. [2][3] A survey found that 11% of dog owners and 8% of cat owners gave CBD to their pets last year, often in the form of pet treats, tinctures administered under the tongue, and salves or creams applied topically. [7][8] Reasons cited for giving CBD to companion animals included caring for aging pets and treating conditions such as anxiety, pain, and seizures. [9][10]

Is CBD a safe and effective treatment for animals, or should pet owners be wary of using an unregulated product lacking scientific testing?

Pro 1

A majority of veterinarians agree that CBD helps animals.

A Veterinary Information Network survey found that 79% of vets with clinical experience using cannabis products said CBD was somewhat or very helpful for chronic pain in animals; over 62% said it was helpful for managing anxiety. [11] Over 80% of those vets said there were no reports of adverse effects aside from sedation. [11] A study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that 82.2% of veterinarians agreed or strongly agreed that there are medicinal uses of CBD products for dogs from a medical standpoint. [10]

Jeffrey Judkins, DVM, holistic veterinarian at Animalkind Veterinarian Clinic, said that CBD is “100% non-toxic. You can’t overdose on CBD. It might make pets sleepy, but there’s no toxicity.” [12] Judkins reported success in using CBD to alleviate pain and anxiety in animals, stating, “Recently I was able to significantly reduce the amount of a narcotic pain drug a dog was being given (with adverse side effects) by substituting a cannabis product.” [13]

Con 2

There isn't enough scientific evidence to support giving CBD to pets.

Research in this area is so new that no one knows the long-term impacts of CBD use in companion animals, or what an effective and safe dose would be. [23] Sue Lowum, DVM, a veterinarian and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, said she wouldn’t recommend CBD for pets because “We just don’t have enough information at this point to draw any legitimate conclusions… there is no assurance the CBD oil they purchase is safe or effective.” [16]

Veterinarians’ knowledge about CBD use in pets is purely anecdotal at the moment because of the limited scientific evidence available. [24] Researchers found that some seller’s websites contain “blatant lies” about CBD. [16] The American Veterinary Medical Association stated, “While both marijuana and industrial hemp products are available, no studies, doses, or uses in veterinary medicine have been determined… AVMA cautions pet owners against the use of such products.”