Myth-busting web site Snopes has weighed in on yet another celebrity CBD endorsement scam, this one involving Paul McCartney.
If you spend any time looking into the cannabinoid cannabidiol, you’ve no doubt seen ads proclaiming various celebrities are using it, and so you should too. From the somewhat obscure celebs to superstars, it would appear everyone who’s anyone has benefited from the stuff.
An example is Paul McCartney, who is known to be fond of cannabis in various forms. But as for Mr. McCartney actively spruiking CBD and specific cannabidiol products, Snopes has done the research and says it isn’t so.
“McCartney wasn’t the first celebrity whose image and likeness were used without permission to sell CBD gummies, and he likely won’t be the last,” states Snopes.
The service has tracked the history of this scam, which first lured people to a web site promoting CBD in a fake news article from ads proclaiming Mr. McCartney was no longer with us. It’s a rather strange way to go about things, but obviously it worked and continues to work as these sorts of pages can be found in connection to a bunch of other celebrities. At times they are also found on otherwise legitimate web sites that have been compromised by scammers.
Some celebrities haven’t let such situations slide by without taking further action, but it can be a time-consuming game of whack-a-mole. Last year, Clint Eastwood was awarded $6.1 million in a lawsuit against a company using Mr. Clintwood likeness in fake CBD endorsements. Whether he collected from the company involved isn’t clear; but at least it sent a signal that should discourage some.
While some stars use CBD and actively promote it, don’t let a celebrity endorsement (real or otherwise) convince you to try cannabidiol; particularly if it’s in relation to treating or managing a serious condition.
While CBD seems to have a pretty good safety profile, it’s not for everyone and product quality varies wildly. Do your research and check whatever you discover against legitimate sources, and in consultation with a qualified health care professional familiar with cannabinoid medicine.
After all, if your favourite celebrity also recommended jumping off a ledge; you wouldn’t do so without checking out the drop and what lay beneath.
