Guide on CBD
Published 26 Feb 2020

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid, one of many, produced by cannabis plants. Famous for its therapeutic properties, it is a popular extract in oils, edibles, topicals, and other lab-tested CBD oil products. As scientists discover more about it, folks are increasingly curious, with a growing list of questions requiring understandable and relatable answers. Here is complete guide on CBD and its products before you should use them.

Understanding CBD

An abundant cannabinoid in cannabis and hemp, CBD is non-psychoactive. You can buy hemp oil online and it will not intoxicate you. Instead, it can help you manage stress, anxiety, insomnia, pain, and other illnesses and their symptoms. Most recognize cannabis for its “high,” but companies extract CBD on its own for various products, leaving tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive compound, behind.

Today, lab-tested CBD oil products contain little to no THC, depending on which you want. You can feel the “high” or not, just as you desire. Other cannabinoids are present too, not just CBD and THC. In fact, the U.S. National Library of Medicine studies dozens, if not hundreds, of them. Researchers are finding new ones the more they study cannabis, and all seem incredibly beneficial to human health.

How CBD Works

Your body has a network of receptors, called the endocannabinoid system, which acts as a complex signaling pathway that maintains homeostasis. Cannabinoids are similar to the body’s endocannabinoids and interact with these receptors in much the same way. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the endocannabinoid system directs communication traffic throughout the body.

It is also, and in this way, responsible for much of the body’s functions, from sleep to appetite, pain perception, emotional response, and more. Cannabinoids mimic natural endocannabinoids to do the same jobs, binding to and interacting with endocannabinoid receptors to influence, balance, and improve functioning of the human body.

CBD works by influencing endocannabinoid receptor activity. It encourages the body to produce more of its own natural endocannabinoids. It also has therapeutic effects beyond the endocannabinoid system, able to interact with other receptors too, such as those for dopamine, opioid, and serotonin. The capability of CBD to interact with so many of the body’s systems makes it promising medicine indeed.

Psychoactivity of CBD

As mentioned above, CBD is non-psychoactive, so it cannot make you “high.” Unlike THC, CBD has no intoxicating effects. Although both are cannabinoids, they have different effects on the body. THC activates CB1 receptors, which makes you stoned, causing feelings of euphoria, or even paranoia and anxiety for some. CBD does not activate CB1 receptors, so you will not feel stoned at all.

Actually, CBD counteracts the effects of THC. As the U.S. National Library of Medicine explains, it blocks THC’s ability to stimulate CB1 receptors, effectively stopping some of its worse side effects. For anyone with forgetful or anxious tendencies when using cannabis, lab-tested CBD oil products are essential to have around, as CBD can make you feel better faster, making it ideal for treating a THC overdose too.

Health Benefits of CBD

Science proves, in now thousands of various studies, the diverse therapeutic potential of CBD. It is now the latest “cure-all” touted in the wellness industry. However, it is not a cure for disease. It merely relieves symptoms, improving homeostasis of the body and its various functions, providing a treatment option that works, especially where pharmaceutical and conventional medicine fails.

It famously relieves anxiety, from mild to severe. In fact, its ability to calm an anxious mind is among its most recognizable benefits. Many studies prove its stress-relieving effects, as well as its analgesic properties. CBD is highly effective at treating pain, whether acute, chronic, neuropathic or inflammatory. For many, it works better than prescription painkillers. It is safer too, and non-addictive.

Another reason many folks buy hemp oil online is to help them sleep. CBD regulates sleeping patterns and, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, helps with the underlying causes of sleeplessness too, such as pain and anxiety. It effectively treats insomnia, and ultimately fatigue too. It is also famous for reducing both severity and frequency of epileptic seizures, in both children and adults.

CBD and Drug Testing

Although drug tests do not screen for CBD, it is possible to fail them because of it. These tests check for THC, and many lab-tested CBD oil products do contain trace amounts of THC, even if it is not enough to make you “high.” Full-spectrum CBD, even if derived from hemp, which contains less than .3 percent THC, can still fail you. Of course, it is highly unlikely, and you would need a lot of it, but the risk is there.

Legality of CBD

Cannabis has been illegal federally since 1937. The same was true of hemp until President Donald Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which effectively removed hemp, as well as any of its derivatives, from the Controlled Substances Act. What this essentially did was to legalize hemp and CBD, but with a catch, of course. CBD is legal if derived from hemp. If derived from THC-producing cannabis, it remains illegal.

In legalese, hemp contains less than .3 percent THC. Cannabis upwards of 30 percent these days. This is a marked difference. However, despite federal law, there is also state law to consider. Each state makes its own decisions regarding hemp, cannabis, and CBD. Not all states allow CBD, even if derived from hemp, such as Iowa, Idaho, and South Dakota, where having some could still land you in jail.

In other states, such as Washington, California, and Alaska, it is legal, but only available in licensed cannabis stores. Still other states, such as Colorado and Nevada, permit its sale in pharmacies and major retail outlets, such as Walgreens. Most allow you to buy hemp oil online, but it is wise to check the laws of your state before inadvertently finding yourself in trouble with the law.

Hemp- vs. Cannabis-Derived CBD

CBD is an abundant cannabinoid in both hemp and cannabis plants. Although the molecule itself is the same regardless, products made from them might not be. Hemp is a low-resin industrial crop, useful for making food, textiles, clothes, and so much more. Cannabis, on the other hand, is high-resin, grown specifically for either medical or recreational use, and guaranteed to make users “high.”

Hemp is federally legal, as are products made from it. It is widely available both online and in drug and grocery stores. Cannabis, on the other hand, is not so easy to get. In states that permit its use, your only option is to buy it from licensed dispensaries. It also produces a wider spectrum of cannabinoids, and in higher quantities, than hemp does, which makes cannabis more valuable medicinally than hemp.

Further, because of their legal status and the fact that hemp only produces trace amounts of THC, it is largely unregulated. Potencies are unreliable, ingredients questionable, and claims dubious. Cannabis-derived CBD exists in a highly regulated market with only lab-tested CBD oil products available. In this regard, it is safely. Further, cannabis-derived CBD is unavailable if you live outside of legal states.

Dosing CBD

Experimentation is key when finding the ideal dose of CBD. There is no one-size-fits-all dose. Several factors influence the perfect dose of it, from personal biology, specific symptoms, and even the method you use to take it. High doses work well for treating serious issues, such as epilepsy, whereas low doses, even microdosing, works best for relieving anxiety and chronic pain. Try to different doses to find yours.

Consuming CBD

There are several ways to consume CBD. Lab-tested CBD oil products are many. You can smoke or vape it. Inhalation is the fastest method of delivery and ideal for quick relief of pain, epilepsy, nausea, or other issues that require fast action. CBD edibles are tastier, but they can take up to two hours to work, since they first pass the digestive system and lose much of their efficacy.

CBD oil is likely the most popular form of CBD. It works quickly, since it absorbs via the mucus membranes. A drop or two under the tongue is all you need, held there for a minute or so. You can also add CBD oil to food and beverages, but then it may take as long as edibles to be effective. CBD topicals are also bestsellers, such as creams and gels. They provide localized relief of pain and inflammation.

Conclusion

CBD is safe and effective. So much so that you can give it freely to your children, even your pets, without worrying about any harmful side effects. The only true way of knowing if CBD will work for you and your specific situation or lifestyle is to try it firsthand. As studies prove its many health benefits, there is no danger in seeing how it can improve the health and happiness of you and your family.

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