Cannabidiol (CBD) has become wildly popular in recent years as a self-prescribed health supplement, but it’s also formed the basis of FDA-approved drugs. While it has real benefits, there’s a great deal of confusing and inaccurate information floating around. If you have one of the many frequently asked questions about CBD, you’re in the right place.
Cannabidiol is a compound that exists in high concentrations in species of the cannabis plant, especially hemp. It’s one of more than one hundred such compounds, called cannabinoids. It is completely distinct from the others, such as THC.
CBD occurs naturally within cannabis plants. While artificial, laboratory-designed cannabinoids do exist, these are generally unsafe and you should always avoid them.
According to all current studies, CBD is safe within responsible use bounds. No one has ever died from CBD consumption. While it can produce some side effects, these are typically no more severe than dry mouth or a minor headache.
CBD exists in a complex legal space. In some places, it and cannabis as a whole are fully legal. In many places, it’s defacto legal because laws restrict THC but do not regulate CBD. In other locations, CBD is indeed illegal; it depends on where you live.
Buying CBD online can be as safe or unsafe as buying from a brick and mortar store. Unscrupulous businesses can take advantage of the lack of regulations to exploit consumers in both cases, so make sure to do your homework on the vendor and the original manufacturer. Make sure to find the certificate of analysis (COA) from a third-party lab to verify the quality and content of your CBD, whether you buy online or offline. Any brands and products that you see on our website have been validated and contain at least the advertised amount of CBD. However, please make certain that you check your batch number with the proper CoA to get the highest level of confidence in the product that you’re taking.
CBD itself does not show up on a drug test, but some full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products typically contain trace amounts of THC and other cannabinoids which can show up on drug tests. These levels should be too low to produce any sense of a high or trigger a drug test. However, always check the CoA to make certain that the brand’s claims of 0% THC are valid.
According to the World Health Organization, CBD has no potential for addiction or abuse. All existing studies indicate that it’s impossible to develop a chemical dependency on CBD.
CBD is not psychoactive. Studies show that high doses of CBD mitigates and modulates the effect of psychoactive cannabinoids[1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30661105/.
The effect of CBD varies depending on the method of consumption and your body composition. Generally speaking, you should start by consuming a small dose of CBD, typically 5-20 mg per day and gradually increase it to find what works for you. As with any supplement, please consult your physician before adding any new supplement to your daily regimen.
Most adults tolerate CBD well, but there are a handful of potential side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, and diarrhea. The primary serious risk involved with using CBD is that it may interact with other medications you’re taking, such as blood thinners. As such, be sure to consult your doctor before trying CBD.
There are many clinical studies on CBD that evaluate both its safety and its efficacy in various roles. The European Journal of Pain, Harvard, the World Health Organization, and many other organizations have performed such studies[2]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=cbd.
Some clinical studies have shown that CBD can offer health benefits for pets and is largely safe. However, you should talk to a veterinarian before moving forward with a CBD regimen for your pets.
All cannabis plants contain at least some level of CBD. However, this level can vary wildly when comparing low THC, high CBD hemp to strains of marijuana, which the growers optimized for high THC content.
Manufacturers isolate CBD by putting it through a variety of processes that extract all other cannabinoids and terpenes, leaving behind pure, crystalline cannabidiol. This is known as CBD isolate, and it typically exists as either a water-soluble powder or is pre-mixed within a product.
Cannabinoids are a family of compounds that interface with the CB1 and CB2 neuroreceptors in the brain. Besides cannabis, the human body and many vegetables also produce appreciable quantities of cannabinoids. CBD and THC are some of the most well-known cannabinoids. Other cannabinoids, such as CBG and CBN are gaining in popularity.
The endocannabinoid system consists of the CB1 and CB2 neuroreceptors, endocannabinoids from the brain, and plant-based phytocannabinoids. Research has drawn associations between the ECS and inflammation, pain, mood, and many other aspects of the body.
The chemical composition of cannabis consists primarily of cannabinoids and terpenes. Terpenes are all of the non-cannabinoid compounds within the cannabis plant. These are the least-researched compounds within cannabis, but industry aficionados consider them a key element of the entourage effect.
The entourage effect is a theorized concept that hasn’t gained much academic traction, but which growers and aficionados hold great faith in. Essentially, it states that all of the various compounds within cannabis work together to produce positive effects greater than the sum of the parts. Evidence for or against this effect is sparse, although there are promising studies on interactions between different cannabinoids.
Hemp Seed Oil, sometimes referred to as Hemp Oil, generally is derived from cannabis sativa plant seeds and contain no CBD. CBD Oil is a cannabinoid extracted from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the cannabis plant. Generally, most marketed CBD Oils are derived from industrial hemp plants.
THC is a psychoactive compound that binds heavily with the endocannabinoid system neuroreceptors to produce particularly potent, psychoactive effects. CBD binds more weakly with these neuroreceptors, produces different effects, and is non-psychoactive.
A certificate of analysis is a certificate that shows a CBD product has passed the testing from a third-party laboratory. Since there’s little regulation on CBD, refusing to buy products that do not have a reputable CoA is the most important way to protect yourself and hold manufacturers accountable.
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