Cannabidiol (CBD) has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years as a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals, steroid creams, and OTC medications. If you are new to the CBD, then you’ve are about to read everything that you need to know about CBD. Here, we will answer some of the most pressing questions related to CBD.
1) WHAT IS CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is one of over 60 active phytochemical compounds (or ‘cannabinoids’) in the marijuana plant. It’s usually the second-most abundant cannabinoid, after THC.
2) DOES CBD COME FROM MARIJUANA OR HEMP? AND WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?
Marijuana and hemp are two different varieties of cannabis that come from the same species of plant. In general, CBD is found abundantly in both hemp and marijuana.
However it’s what is noteworthy is that CBD is typically found in the seeds and stem of marijuana – not in the flowering buds (which is the part that is used to smoke). The hemp plant is an entirely different strain of cannabis that contains high quantities of CBD throughout the plant (leaves, stem etc), and practically zero traces of THC. If a hemp plant contains more than 0.3% THC, it is then technically a “marijuana” plant. Hempshish CBD-based products comes purely from the industrial hemp plant.
3) WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CBD AND THC?
THC is the psychoactive compound since it affects the brain by binding to naturally-occurring CB-1 receptors in the central nervous system. CBD is a differently-shaped molecule that binds to CB-2 receptors that are present on the tissues outside the central nervous system - usually the immune system.
4) WILL CBD GET ME HIGH?
Absolutely not, CBD will not get you high. As mentioned above THC is the molecule that binds to receptors in our brain and is the one responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana. The receptors for CBD (CB2 receptors) are not present in the brain and hence does not affect the brain in any way.
In fact, CBD acts as an antagonist to the marijuana high; it actually prevents THC molecules from binding to the brain’s receptors (hence the reason why it’s often used to subdue the ‘paranoia’ effects of super-potent THC marijuana strains).
5) HOW DO I TAKE CBD?
Most CBD medications are taken orally via oil drops that are placed under the tongue and held for 60 - 90 seconds before swallowing. Topical creams and ointments are also effective, as is smoking or vaporizing CBD-rich marijuana strains.
6) WHAT ARE SOME OTHER CBD-DOMINANT STRAINS OF MARIJUANA?
Other than Charlotte’s Web and ACDC, Harlequin is probably the most popular CBD-dominant cannabis Others include MediHaze, CBD Mango Haze, Blueberry Essence, Hawaiian Dream, Sour Tsunami, and Darkstar, just to name a few.
7) WHAT IS CBD OIL?
CBD oil is a liquid cannabis extract that contains virtually pure CBD. It’s commonly made from seeds of the hemp plant (CBD hemp oil) and the stem of industrial hemp.
8) HOW DOES CBD WORK?
CBD functions by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. These receptors have been found in virtually every cell type in the human body (hence the seemingly endless array of CBD uses).
9) IS CBD LEGAL?
Absolutely yes. With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp derived CBD has been legalized in all 50 states.
According to the 2018 Farm Bill, “hemp” is now defined as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” This means CBD and hemp extracts may be included in federally legal products for sale, provided the concentration of THC does not exceed the limit defined in the Farm Bill.
10) IS CBD NATURAL?
Yes, CBD is a 100% naturally-occurring phytochemical compound that comes directly from the cannabis plant. It is not synthetically made.
11) DO ALL MARIJUANA STRAINS HAVE CBD?
Not all marijuana strains have CBD in their flower buds. But yes, every cannabis plant (whether it’s marijuana or hemp) will have CBD in the stem and seeds.
12) HOW IS CBD ISOLATED FROM THE CANNABIS PLANT?
CO2 EXTACTION is the best method to extract pure CBD isolate, in which state it exists as a clear/white crystal. This method is preferred over other methods because it leaves practically zero traces of chemical contaminants in the end product.
ALCOHOL EXTRACTION is another method, wherein a liquid such as ethanol, butane, or hexane is run through raw plant material to extract the CBD and then evaporated to leave only the active cannabinoid. This can be a dangerous method because it’s prone to leaving excess traces of the butane or hexane chemicals in the extract.
Also, infusing vegetable oil (i.e. olive oil) is another effective way of extracting CBD. All you do is grind up the raw plant material, decarboxylate (heat) it, and let it sit in boiling (100-deg Celsius) oil for about 2 hours.
13) ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS OF USING CBD? IS IT SAFE?
Assuming the starting material was a quality product, CBD is completely safe and is considered to be non-toxic. Studies also concluded that daily doses of CBD (700mg) for 6 weeks did not induce any toxicity in patients. Meaning long-term daily consumption of CBD is also safe.
14) CAN I COOK WITH CBD?
Absolutely yes. CBD infused oils are a fantastic ingredient to cook with.
15) ARE THERE MEDICAL STUDIES ON CBD?
Thousands of scientific/medical peer-reviewed studies have been carried out specifically on CBD. You can type "cannabidiol' in the search tab on www.pubmed.com and browse over thousands of previous and current CBD studies being conducted in the USA and worldwide.
16) WHAT ABOUT CBD TOPICALS? DO THEY WORK?
CBD topicals have proven effective for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, as well as for localized muscle soreness and joint pain resulting from arthritis-induced inflammation.
17) WILL CBD SHOW UP ON A DRUG TEST?
A high-quality CBD product with minimal THC is incredibly unlikely to show up on a drug test. However, low quality CBD products may contain more traces of THC than they claim, in which case it is possible for a screening to pick up on the drug. (Research has shown that people who consume 6 mg of THC per day have a 25% chance of failing a drug test. This translates to about 2,000 mg per day of CBD oil with a THC content of 0.3% or less).
18) HOW DO I KNOW WHAT DOSE OF CBD TO TAKE?
Every human body is slightly different and it depends on what you’re using the medication for, and also on how the product is being manufactured. For effective treatment of the majority of conditions, most people use between 10-50 mg of CBD per day total. (For reference, 1 mL of a potent oil might contain 50 mg of CBD). Make sure you read the label on your product to ensure proper dosing.
19) HOW DO I KNOW IT’S SAFE TO PURCHASE CBD ONLINE?
To ensure the legality of buying CBD products online, you need to make sure the company you’re buying from is reputable and that the product was made from industrial hemp with less than 0.3% THC content. Company's that do not have lab results published onsite or refuse to produce one should be completely avoided. Remember, millions of people all over the US (and the globe) are using CBD products every day to effectively treat their medical conditions.
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