EXCLUSIVE Single mother who took legal CBD gummies endorsed by Claudia Winkleman to help her sleep better now risks losing her job after FAILING a routine drugs test
Caroline Noble, 39, said her 'whole world has been turned upside down' because she trusted the label on the gummies from the brand Cannaray, which said they were free from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is derived from the marijuana plant, but does not contain THC, the psychoactive chemical that causes a high. The legal substance comes in gummies, tablets, and oils and is generally used to treat aches and pains and anxiety, though its efficacy is still in question.
The product description for Cannaray CBD gummies states they are ' vegan and vegetarian-friendly, as well as free from THC, sulphates and GMO'.
However, Caroline, from Standish Lower Ground, Wigan, said that a random routine drug test that she and several other colleagues had to take on July 2 showed she had high levels of THC, despite her insistence she has never taken illegal drugs in her life.
The regulatory affairs manager, who works for the legal department of a global food manufacturer, had been taking Cannaray CBD gummies before bed each night for the past month after struggling to sleep at night due to anxiety.
She said she checked the product label thoroughly before purchasing the gummies to ensure they were THC-free.
But Caroline has now been suspended pending an investigation after her drug test results emerged, and she feels 'resentful' of the brand.
The mother-of-one said she invested in a £24.12 tub of 30 Cannaray gummies while 'going through a health kick' and wanted to 'invest in supplements to help me sleep at night'.
'I see CBD everywhere and everyone seemed to be having it - and I saw Cannary was endorsed by Claudia and had been in all the magazines,' she continued.
'I thought it looked legit and her endorsement gave it credibility. It isn't like I got it from my local corner shop or garage, so I trusted that their assurances around their testing were reliable.'
The Strictly Come Dancing host has been the brand ambassador for Cannaray CBD products since 2021 and she says she takes them herself for health and wellbeing.
Caroline said she did notice the gummies seemed to be helping improve her sleep once she started taking them.
But she was 'shocked' when she did the random drugs test and the tester asked her if she smoked cannabis.
'I said no, of course - I said the only thing it could be was these gummies, but they're supposed to be THC-free.
'They are doing more tests now and I'm suspended pending those results - I really could lose my job.
'I feel so resentful - my whole world has been turned upside down.'
Caroline admitted she was having trouble sleeping due to the financial pressures of being a single mother.
After seeing CBD products advertised online, she decided to go with Cannaray gummies because they were 'loved by Claudia Winkleman'.
The brand's products are stocked on Amazon, Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, and Tesco. Claudia even has her own range of products, including a lip balm, hand cream, bath melt, and candles.
While she did notice her sleep was getting better after taking them daily, Caroline has been left devastated after the random drugs test result revealed she had high levels of THC.
'I work in quite a senior position in the legal department so they do random drug testing,' she explained.
'I had the test in the afternoon and then I had to go into a meeting with HR.
'I was sent home and not allowed to talk to anyone from work.
'I had to put an out of office message on that I was off due to 'personal reasons'.'
She said she has explained the situation to her workplace and while they have been understanding, they have to do their due diligence.
With the investigation still underway, Caroline said she is unsure of what to do. She has filed complaints with Cannaray, as well as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and accused the brand of false advertising and mislabelling.
In response to her complaint, Cannaray said they reviewed the batch she ordered and their report confirmed the product's levels of THC were non-detectable.
The company recommended that Caroline discuss her results with a healthcare professional in case any other medications she takes may have produced a false positive on the drugs test. But Caroline isn't convinced.
'Coming from a background in food manufacturing, I have challenged the robustness of their tests and I've pushed back,' she said.
'The company's claims that it doesn't contain THC are more credible because Claudia endorses it.
'I'm not a huge fan, but I thought it must be ok because such a high-profile person was influencing it.'
She added: 'I feel resentful - it's not like I went off and made a silly decision on a night out.
'I'm a hermit - when I'm not working, all I ever do is stay home and watch movies with my little girl.
'I have one single glass of prosecco a week, I couldn't be more 'clean living'.
'I have my dream job - I've been there a long time and there's no other role I'd rather be doing.
'And now I could be looking at dismissal - over some ridiculous gummies that are 'loved by Claudia Winkleman'.'
Cannaray has been contacted for comment.
When she was first announced as the brand ambassador, Claudia said she first discovered CBD during the Covid lockdown, when she 'felt slightly off' and not like her usual self.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CBD AND THC?
CBD oil is a legal cannabinoid that can be sold in the UK.
THC is the psychoactive chemical in cannabis that causes users to feel 'high'.
It is an illegal Class B substance that can cause anxiety and psychosis, and cannot be sold in CBD products.
Although CBD has been thought to have some medicinal properties, including relieving inflammation, pain and anxiety, there is no conclusive science.
Suppliers in England and Wales have to obtain a licence to sell CBD as a medicine.
Manufacturers are able to avoid the strict regulation by selling it as a food supplement — ignoring the lengthy process of gaining a medicinal licence.
CBD — short for cannabidiol — is derived from the cannabis sativa plant and has become a booming £690million-a-year industry, outselling all other vitamin supplements combined.
It is sold in virtually every high street pharmacy and health shop and comes in the form of capsules, tablets, creams, sprays and even chewing gum and sweets.
She said she was sent Cannaray CBD capsules from her cousin to try. Speaking to The Mirror, The Traitors host said it helped her 'sleep brilliantly' and that CBD 'has become part of my regime'.
But in 2023, the FSA issued a warning against regular long-term consumption of CBD as it could be 'potentially harmful' to the liver and thyroid.
The government food watchdog drastically lowered the recommended daily intake of CBD from 70mg to just 10mg.
Professor Robin May at the FSA, said: 'The more CBD you consume over your lifetime, the more likely you are to develop long-term adverse effects, like liver damage or thyroid issues.
'The level of risk is related to how much you take, in the same way it is with some other potentially harmful products such as alcoholic drinks.'
Last year, scientists from Bath and Oxford also cast doubt on the products and found that 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.
And in 2022, a study found that nearly three-quarters of CBD products sold in Britain contain illegal psychoactive substances, a study has found.
Kent Scientific Services (KSS), a laboratory run by Kent County Council, found 44 out of 61 cannabis extract items it tested came back positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — a Class B banned compound.
Researchers warned that consumers have no idea what they are taking and risk failing drug tests as a result of the tainted products.
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