SHOPPERS can now buy cannabis oil in two places in Stroud; Sunshine Health and Bodycare, and Holland & Barrett.

Cannabidiol oil is an active substance found in hemp oil, extracted from the leaves and flowers of industrial hemp variety.

Sunshine Health and Bodycare has been selling cannabidiol oil or CBD oil as it is more commonly known, for over 18 months, while the national chain only started doing so at the beginning of the year.

Stroud News and Journal:

Sunshine Natural Health & Body Care have been selling CBD oil in Stroud for over 18 months

Both shops have seen a huge increase in sales due to high demand.

CBD oil is said to be able to treat all manner of problems and end of last year, a World Health Organisation report revealed that it may help successfully treat symptoms relating to Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, MS, pain, anxiety, depression, cancer and diabetic complications.

Cannabis Trades Association UK claims that there are now 250,000 users of the oil across the UK, up from the 125,000 recorded this time last year.

A spokesperson for Sunshine said: "Our customers say that the oil can be really effective for many different conditions.

"It's been flying off the shelf for over a year now, and we're pleased that we've led the way in offering a superior stronger and more complex oil to others which you can find elsewhere," he explained.

Stroud News and Journal:

Holland and Barrett in the High Street in Stroud have just started stocking the popular oil Photo: Ash Loveridge

A spokesperson from Holland & Barrett said: ‘We have been surprised at the success and popularity of CBD Oil since launch.

"We knew that there were numerous trends surfacing around this liquid but we didn’t expect to see sales increase this dramatically," they explained.

More details hollandandbarrett.com

Or visit Sunshine Health & Bodycare Shop, 22 High Street, Stroud sunshinehealthshop.co.uk