Cannabidiol (CBD) products are everywhere right now, and it’s only right that you have accurate information before deciding whether to use CBD, and which form to take it in. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can have a therapeutic effect on our physical and mental health, through interactions with the endocannabinoid system, and receptors in other networks.
As of 2019, people are using CBD to relieve chronic pain, fibromyalgia, inflammatory conditions, anxiety, depression and more. However, more studies and approvals are needed before definitive claims can be made about the compound’s medicinal qualities.
Let’s take a look at five common questions that people have been asking about CBD.
1) What is CBD?
CBD is a cannabinoid, and most of the CBD products that you see on the market are made using extracts of industrial hemp. Cannabinoids are still poorly understood in comparison to other chemicals, but endocannabinoid system research has already shown their broad therapeutic potential. A smoothly operating endocannabinoid system helps to maintain good cognition and memory, healthy bones, balanced mood and appetite and a strong immune system response.
More than 100 cannabinoids have been discovered, most of which come from cannabis sativa and cannabis indica, although these uncommon compounds have recently been identified in other plants as well.
2) Why won’t CBD products make me high?
Firstly, hemp-based CBD products do not trigger a psychoactive “high” because of the complete absence or very low percentage of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Chemically, it comes down to how CBD and THC react with receptors in the endocannabinoid system.
The CB1 receptor modulates mood, and it is by binding with this receptor that THC instigates a psychoactive effect. However, CBD produces the complete opposition reaction on CB1, affecting it as an antagonist. Interestingly, researchers are studying this mechanism to see if CBD could eventually be used as a safer anti-psychotic drug.
Some CBD manufacturers, including Hemplucid, sell full-spectrum products. These are different to products with just CBD, in that they are made with a whole-plant extract. This means there may be up to 0.3% THC in them (the U.S. government’s federal limit), but crucially they also consist of other health-promoting agents found in the hemp plant.
3) How am I supposed to use CBD?
The choice is yours, but you’ll likely find some products of more benefit to you than others! For example, if you want or require instant relief from your ailment, then a vape juice or tincture oil will help you the most. Vaping and sublingual absorption offer the fastest way to get cannabinoids from the bottle or vaporizer and into your endocannabinoid system, where it can start to have an effect. Say you’re in need of a quick pick-me-up: the CBD props up the amount of anandamide in the body, so that the antidepressant endocannabinoid can bind to the CB1 receptor. With the aforementioned methods, this process gets underway in just minutes, but with edibles, it could take an hour or more.
“Then why are edibles so popular?” you may be wondering. Think of CBD-infused treats as the slow and steady option – once the CBD starts to show benefits, you’ll experience those effects all day or all night. In contrast, with the faster-acting products, you’ll need to take another dose every two or three hours.
But there’s no right way or wrong way. Experimentation and being self-aware of how you respond to CBD products and various dosages is critical to getting the most out of the substance.
4) Will drug testers know if I have been taking CBD?
Drug tests that detect cannabis use are only searching for THC, because that is the psychoactive component of the plant. However, because THC can stay in the body for several weeks, and full-spectrum CBD products usually contain traces of the chemical, if you are very regular user who takes big doses, there is a very slim chance that you could be unlucky.
For that reason, many high-dose CBD users opt for CBD-isolate products – concentrates are often made with CBD-isolate. Green Roads CBD is one company that offers the best of both, using CBD-isolate and terpenes to enhance therapeutic value, without adding any THC.
5) Can anyone buy CBD?
Hemp-derived CBD products can be bought without a medical cannabis card, prescription or doctor’s recommendation. This is not always the case for cannabis-derived CBD products, however these are only available in states that have legalized cannabis, either medicinally, recreationally or both.
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