Cannabidiol, or CBD, is just one of over 100 cannabinoids found exclusively in Cannabis sativa plants, including hemp. Like tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, it contains an abundance of medicinal properties, but unlike THC, it is not psychoactive and cannot make you “high.”
CBD enhances blood circulation and regenerates the body at the cellular level. It interacts with receptors in the endocannabinoid system, especially in the brain and the immune system, to boost overall function. Endocannabinoids balance the body and regulate mood, pain perception, memory, and more.
CBD can treat a wide array of medical conditions, including joint pain, epilepsy, muscle pain, muscle spasms, nerve pain, skin problems, wounds, anxiety, depression, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stress and more. Scientists are daily discovering new therapeutic uses for CBD.
Under federal law, all cannabinoids are Schedule I controlled substances, including CBD. For this reason, it remains illegal. Although the Drug Enforcement Agency is willing to schedule pure CBD products under a new drug code, it has not done so yet. CBD is only available in states with legalized cannabis laws.
A pure CBD product will not test positive for marijuana. However, since most CBD products contain miniscule traces of THC to complete the “entourage effect”, the synergy between cannabinoids to enhance healing, it is possible that THC will show up on drug tests. Although unlikely, it can happen.
Most people use CBD oil, as it has a tendency to be potent. However, you can also buy CBD in tincture, topical cream, isolate, transdermal patch, capsule, cartridge, or even water form. A wide selection of CBD products are available on the market already, with new ones emerging on a very regular basis.
CBD is available as a pure extract, although trace amounts of THC are still possible, or you can find products rich in both CBD and THC. The choice is yours. Products containing both are most beneficial for health, but if you want to avoid it, CBD-only products are widely available. Verify with the retailer.
Since CBD is illegal nationally, at the federal level, you can only buy it online within states that allow sales of it. You cannot take it with you across state lines or out of the United States, and companies cannot ship it to you outside of those states that have legalized cannabis for medical use.
You can apply CBD topically or you can ingest it safely. Most add it to their food or drinks, or they take it sublingually, which means swooshing it around inside the mouth before swallowing. You can also vape it or smoke CBD-rich buds. Smoking is the fastest method of consumption, but all are effective.
Unfortunately, CBD is only available to legitimate medical patients. Although you do not need a Medical Marijuana Card, per se, you do need a letter of recommendation from your doctor in states that allow its sale for medical use. Having a Medical Marijuana Card is convenient and actually advisable.
Most CBD products derive from hemp plants. Retailers extract the cannabidiol through a process called CO2 extraction. This technique makes it possible to extract the full spectrum of cannabinoids in the plant, including vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, terpenes, and more. Other methods are controversial.
Dosing is a personal preference. How much to take depends on the product you are using, how you use it, and how your body reacts to it. Finding the right dosage requires some experimentation. Experts recommend starting with one drop of CBD oil once or twice a day, and increasing dosage as desired.
Since it is illegal to grow hemp in the United States, trusted CBD manufacturers source their hemp from other countries, such as Europe and China. Europe-grown hemp is of the highest quality, as the European Union bans genetically modified organisms and most harmful pesticides.
