What is cannabidiol (CBD)?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of at least 113 naturally occurring compounds called cannabinoids. It comes naturally from the Cannabis sativa plant, which also known as the Hemp plant or Marijuana plant. CBD, and its cousin Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most widely known cannabinoids. While THC is known to get you "high", CBD does not have the same psychoactive effects but they both have many therapeutic properties - more on this below.
The simple answer is that CBD has shown to have therapeutic properties without the high of THC.
It is also 100% federally legal, making the benefits of CBD have become far more accessible for everyday use.
Benefits include help with: anxiety, pain, inflammation, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even some cancers [1].
Modern manufacturing techniques have also enabled the industry to come up with new consumer products that allow alternative ways to ingest CBD.
CBD doesn't get you high
First, it is important to explain the difference between Hemp and Marijuana in order to explain the origins of the CBD in our products. The infographic on the right should help explain.
While "marijuana" and "hemp" come from the same plant species, Cannabis sativa, they have some key differences. Hemp, also called industrial hemp, is one of the oldest plants known to man - dating back to 8000 BC. The plant itself is typically tall, thin, and cultivated to produce things like: food, oils, paper, other textiles, and high CBD extractions. Marijuana plants, on the other hand, are bred for the high THC content in their flowers. Levels of THC in cannabis is how the different strains are distinguished. Legally, hemp is defined as having 0.3% or less THC.
The popularity of using Cannabis isn't surprising once you understand how the body interacts with it. We now know that the bodies of all mammals have a complex system, called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), that has receptors in the body which bind to cannabinoids like CBD and can affect the immune system, nervous system, and the body’s organs in very positive ways. The ECS has been described by a leading scientist as: "one of the most important physiologic systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health [2]."
Cannabinoids are diverse chemical compounds that interact with the human body. When they come from nature, they are referred to as "Phytocannabinoids" and they occur in various plants, but most notably in the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD and THC are the most widely known cannabinoids and they act on our cell's cannabinoid receptors. This virtually affects all parts of the body, leading to profound impacts on our physical and mental well being.
Even though the ECS was scientifically discovered in the 1990s, the effects of cannabinoids have been experienced for millenia. Now, modern scientific research methods and technology are giving us more empirical evidence on the effects that this system and taking CBD has on the body and mind. In some sense, it is eerie, the relationship that exists between these natural compounds and our bodies.
Unfortunately, laws associated with the cannabis plant have left so much more to be desired in terms of the scientific things. The good news is that this is all changing very quickly and research has exploded. In the next few decades, we will learn more and more about how it all works and why it is that we get the benefits we get.
Some of the things we now know:
Choosing the right CBD product
01
Look for products derived from hemp that is grown only using the best farm practices.
02
Federal and State law require that products derived from the hemp plant contain no more than .3% THC
03
Companies should provide lab results for all products on their websites. Here you can verify the contents and legitimacy of the products.
04
Products should contain only the most desirable compounds from the hemp plant.
05
Not all CBD is created equal. Absorption rates vary depending on the manufacturing process. Look for water-soluble or nanometer droplets of 25 or less.
06
Companies that back their products with some sort of guarantee means that they stand behind their products quality.
The reason there are so many different CBD product types is mainly do to the personal preferences people have with respects to their intake regimens. Each method of ingestion affects the on-set and absorption in the body. Use the guide below to help you decide the best method for you.
Tinctures are a fun and effective way to take CBD. Placing drops under the tongue gets CBD into the bloodstream quickly and with one of the highest rates of absorption.
Gelcaps offer the most convenient way to take CBD. Although the initial absorption rate is slower, due to the body breaking down the capsule, our industry-leading absorption rate makes the CBD 3 to 5 times more effective.
Many people find that CBD is best when applied directly to skin. This is particularly true for relieving localized pain and soreness, soothing certain skin conditions, and reducing inflammation.
Who is using CBD and for what?
While the research boom into CBD is well on its way, there are many public personas using and recommending CBD today. Here you will find some of their stories.
Yes! The 2018 Farm Bill set a statute that legalized the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) as long as it contained no more than 0.3% of THC. Now, all parts of the hemp plant are federally legal to grow and utilize for commerce.
At the state level, federal law supersedes state law per the constitution. From a regulations perspective, these products are regulated as supplements.
Just prior the 2018 Farm Bill:
We had to spend quite some time trying to figure this out ourselves given the complexity of the question. First it is important to make the distinction between CBD derived from Hemp VS Marijuana. Under federal law, “hemp” is defined as Cannabis sativa plants with less than 0.3 percent THC. Anything with more is “marijuana.” The 2014 Farm Bill effectively made cultivation of hemp legal, but the DEA's scheduling of the plant created ambiguity. There have been further rulings, for example, a Ninth Circuit Court ruled that the DEA could not list hemp-based products under the Controlled Substances Act, thus upholding the 2014 Farm Bill legislation. The 2018 Farm Bill will officially remove Hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and eliminate any legal ambiguity.
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