Former Premier League stars, boxers and models have been accused of ‘preying’ on vulnerable people who have ‘nowhere left to go’ by routinely flogging CBD Gummies on social media despite experts claiming they are as effective as a ‘sugar pill’.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier and glamour model Jodie Marsh are among a host of stars who have used their X accounts to endorse Supreme CBD, a company set up by former Olympic boxer Anthony Fowler.
In February, Le Tissier – who has repeatedly pedalled Covid vaccine conspiracies – and ex-Celtic striker John Hartson were reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) for suggesting CBD Gummies ‘could prevent, treat or cure human disease’.
They did so without informing their hundreds of thousands of followers on social media that they were making money off the promotions.
Scientists from Bath and Oxford last week found that the CBD pain relief products are no better than a placebo at relieving pain, and the unregulated products may contain other chemicals that may be harmful.
Reacting to the study, Ian Hamilton, an honorary fellow in addiction at the University of York, told MailOnline: ‘It confirms what I’ve always thought which is that they are marketed in a way that suggests they’re going to be effective but really they are no more effective than a sugar pill.’
Speaking about celebrities making unsubstantiated health claims, he added: ‘That’s really harmful and it’s just not acceptable, is it? Because it’s preying on people’s fears.
‘People that are drawn to taking these products who have chronic pain or even cancer, quite often they have nowhere left to go.
‘They’ve tried all the traditional treatments they’re not working, or they’re not as effective as they might be so they’re kind of playing on people’s fears and hopes, I think, which is really wrong.
‘And it’s not just that they’re playing on people’s hopes and fears, but they’re also gaining from it in terms of money and income which makes it kind of doubly bad really.’
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is one of many chemicals found naturally in the cannabis plant.
In the UK, CBD products sold on the retail market are not covered by trade standards, meaning there is no requirement for them to be consistent in content or quality.
Professor Chris Eccleston, from the University of Bath, said of new research: ‘CBD presents consumers with a big problem. It’s touted as a cure for all pain.
‘But there’s a complete lack of quality evidence that it has any positive effects.
‘It’s almost as if chronic pain patients don’t matter, and that we’re happy for people to trade on hope and despair.
‘Pain deserves investment in serious science to find serious solutions.’
Former athletes and models appear to be regularly advertising products on social media and offering promo codes to give new users discounts.
On March 24, ex-England footballer Paul Merson shared a video of him speaking to Le Tissier about the benefits of CBD Gummies.
The footballer-turned-pundit – who claims CBD has helped with his anxiety – said: ‘I’m very curious of putting stuff in me now and I don’t want to put stuff in me, then I start panicking even more.
‘For me it was getting that trust and then I talked to Tis [Le Tissier] who I’ve known since we were very very young. I talked to him and he reassured me in that way. He said ‘No it’ll be alright, I’m taking it’. I thought okay that will do me then.’
Le Tissier – who racked up 443 appearances for Southampton before joining Merson on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday show – added: ‘I saw what you were like on flights.
‘I’ve been on an aeroplane with you and I’ve seen you and I’ve known that you’ve gone to get on planes and didn’t even get on it because the anxiety was that bad.
‘So when I saw you posted it, you’ve been on a flight and you were just calm as anything that was just brilliant.’
Merson continued: ‘I couldn’t believe it. I was on my own. When I’vebeen to golf trips in Tenerife all that like Charlie [Nicholas] and Thomo [Phil Thompson] would have to come to London and travel with me on the plane so I get on the plane and stay on the plane.
‘I’ve even been on them little planes now.’
Merson captioned the video: ‘Everyone around me knows this has been life changing for me, thanks to @mattletiss7 for his advice tonight you get Free cbd gummies worth £80 and still save 40% if you youse code Merson40 at checkout here [website link] this helps so much with anxiety/depression any aches/pains and insomnia #cbd #ad.’
Le Tissier – who states that he is an ‘ambassador for Supreme CBD’ in his Twitter bio – also regularly promotes the products.
His pinned tweet from February 14 is: ‘I’ve been skeptical of a lot of things over the last few years including cbd. People take cbd for lots of reasons including anxiety, depression, arthritis, sleep. My followers can receive 40% off with the code Tiss40. Take a listen #cbd #ad.’
Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona has also promoted the CBD Gummies saying ‘it really helps calm my anxiety and nerves’. She added in an advertised post: ‘I now sleep amazing and recover faster from exercise, I tell everyone to try it… I won’t promote anything I don’t use and believe in.’
Former model Jodie Marsh has posted similar endorsements, writing: ‘Anyone struggling to sleep, has anxiety/depression any aches/pains needs to try Supreme CBD, even people with psoriasis saying it’s helped them so much, I discovered this AMAZING product after losing my mum and it honestly changed my life.’
Actor Noel Clarke and former footballer Chris Kirkland are also among those who have massively endorsed the product.
Mr Hamilton said he believes the celebrities may be promoting the product because they have ‘gained a benefit and believe in it’.
But he added: ‘Being more down to earth it’s clearly a commercial transaction. They’re not doing it out of being good-willed about it. They’ll be getting paid for it. So it’s just like advertising anything, isn’t it. It’s a commercial transaction.
‘I guess some personalities and a lot of people will feel more comfortable promoting something like this as opposed to cigarettes, alcohol or gambling, believing that it’s got a genuine health benefit.
‘So you would imagine, whoever they’re dealing with will be quite persuasive in lobbying their view and their agents view that actually, this is something that’s beneficial. It’s not something that’s harmful.
‘Some personalities will only endorse things that kind of fit well with their image. They don’t want to be seen to be pushing things that are harmful.
‘And so it may well be done with the best of intentions but obviously money underpins a lot of it, I think.’
CBD expert Damien Bové, who is the founder of ADACT Medical, told MailOnline: ‘As CBD is a food supplement, overseen by the government’s Food Standard’s Agency (FSA), products are not allowed to detail therapeutic claims when selling products.
‘As a result, many are trying to capture the hearts and minds of the public in a variety of ways from research to celebrity endorsements.’
Chief regulator officer and scientific adviser Mr Bové added: ‘Celebrity endorsements are a good way to make a name ‘heard’ and seen.’
Mr Bové said CBD works as a ‘powerful cannabinoid and hence evidence points towards its calming effect in the central nervous system’. He cited emerging research that shows CBD can be beneficial to anxiety and sleep.
He added: ‘Gummies are a useful way of taking CBD as they mask the bitter flavour of the CBD, which is why they are a popular format for people looking to take CBD. Although there is still a lot of research work to be actioned, the future of CBD as part of our wellness cabinet is solid.’
Sleep expert Rosey Davidson told MailOnline: ‘CBD Gummies have gained recent popularity as a potential aid for sleep due to their purported calming effects. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound derived from the cannabis plant known for its relaxation properties.
‘CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body, which regulates various functions including sleep, mood, and stress.
‘The potential effects of CBD on sleep are primarily attributed to its ability to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. By interacting with receptors in the brain, CBD may help alleviate racing thoughts and induce a sense of calmness, which can facilitate falling asleep and improving sleep quality.
But the founder of Just Chill Baby Sleep added: ‘It’s essential to note that research on CBD’s effect on sleep is still in its early stages, and results can vary among individuals.
‘While CBD Gummies may offer temporary relief for some, other evidence-based sleep interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or mindfulness practices generally provide more consistent and long-lasting benefits for improving sleep patterns and addressing underlying sleep issues.’
The global CBD product market is booming – worth an estimated £2.4billion in 2021 and anticipated to reach £48billion by 2030.
Kerry Katona said: ‘I was on a high dose of tramadol and progabilin i’m now only on a much much smaller dose. I’ve swapped them for plant based CBD gummy’s and drops plus the creams for the muscles in my back.
‘This has worked for me. I would never promote something that doesn’t work or that I don’t believe in. I get offered to promote so many other products that I’ve never used.
‘I would never promote anything until I’ve at least tried it and know that it works. I know for a fact that CBD has worked for me and many others worldwide plus it is scientifically proven to work.’
Jodie Marsh said: ‘I don’t make commission on the products at all. I promote them because they have 100% helped me. I hadn’t slept in a year and a half when my mum got sick and I gave up everything to care for her. When I found Supreme CBD and tried the oil, I had the best nights sleep I’d ever had.
‘I genuinely believe in the products because they work for me and have also worked for all my friends with various issues from anxiety to insomnia to fibromyalgia and arthritis!! I believe pharmaceutical companies don’t want people using them because it takes money away from the drug companies. CBD is a natural product.
‘It literally comes from a plant. And I know which I’d rather put in my body if it’s a choice of a natural plant product or a man-made chemical drug. I’m proud to promote Supreme CBD because I know how many people they have helped. And the results speak for themselves.’
A spokesman for Supreme CBD said: ‘While we acknowledge the study you mentioned [Bath and Oxford], it’s essential to consider a broader spectrum of research on this topic. Contrary to the findings highlighted, a systematic review published in PubMed Central Cureus demonstrated promising results regarding the efficacy of CBD for chronic pain relief and improved sleep. This review, which examined 12 peer-reviewed studies, emphasized the potential benefits of CBD in managing chronic pain and enhancing quality of life.
‘Furthermore, observational studies by Capano et al. and Boehnke et al. also indicated positive outcomes associated with CBD use for chronic pain management, including reduced opioid intake and improved sleep quality.
‘At Supreme CBD, our priority is to provide consumers with the highest quality CBD products that undergo rigorous third-party testing to ensure accuracy and safety. Our commitment to quality is reflected in our registration with regulatory bodies such as the Food Standards Agency UK, EU, and the FDA in the USA. With over 6858 customer reviews on TrustPilot, we are proud of the excellent rating our products have received, which speaks to their quality and efficacy.
‘We believe that a comprehensive understanding of the existing research is crucial in evaluating the potential benefits of CBD products. As the landscape of CBD research continues to evolve, we remain dedicated to providing safe and effective solutions for our customers.’
MailOnline has contacted the celebrities mentioned for comment.
