There is a lot of talk going around lately about CBD aka “Cannabidiol”. Its popularity has risen significantly in recent years and has created a potential for a large market in the United States.
So, What is CBD?
CBD is one of the many natural cannabinoids that are found in cannabis or hemp plants. It’s very similar to THC except, CBD has no psychoactive properties (i.e. high), that usually come with THC, instead CBD has many therapeutic and medical benefits.
CBD exhibits anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties and it is commonly used to manage conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It also has the potential in treating seizures, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders.
According to studies, CBD has no toxic effects and it has no risk of abuse and dependency.
Is CBD Legal?
While cannabis is federally illegal in the United States. hemp is legal.
According to the 2018 farm bill, hemp and hemp-derived compounds have become federally legal in the US as long as they contain less than 0.3% of delta 9 THC.
While CBD can be synthesized from both marijuana and hemp plants, most CBD products available in the market are hemp-derived, so they are legal for sale and purchase in the US. You can even purchase CBD products online.
While CBD is made from a cannabis plant remains illegal.
The CBD synthesized from hemp and cannabis are basically the same, and most CBD companies understand this, hence, they are using hemp for the production of CBD.
In the majority of states, CBD is legal for sale, purchase, and consumption.
Is it safe to Purchase CBD Products Online?
While CBD is safe for use, and legal in the United States, it is still not governed by the FDA. Due to limited regulation, there is no guarantee that a CBD product that you purchase online or at your local store can be safe.
However, there are many genuine CBD companies online like CBDistillery and Green Roads that offer superior quality CBD products that are tested by a reputable third-party lab, which ensures the safety and authenticity of CBD.
It is better to purchase CBD products online from a reputable and authentic company, rather than purchasing from an unknown brand, at your local store.
How Does CBD Work?
If you are using or planning to use CBD, it is important to understand how CBD works in the body to give so many benefits.
Like any other cannabinoids (i.e. THC, CBG…), CBD interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) that are made up of receptors, which are responsible for managing many functions like mood, appetite, pain, inflammation, sleep, and more.
The endocannabinoid system is generally made up of two types of CB receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are majorly found in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are typically involved with the immune system.
Once these receptors become agitated, it leads to all kinds of issues like stress, bad mood, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, chronic pain, inflammation, insomnia, and more.
When you intake CBD, it interacts with these agitated receptors in your body and helps it become less agitated and more balanced, which results in all kinds of benefits like relief from stress and anxiety, sleep promotion, relief from pain and inflammation, and more.
While this does not mean that CBD will instantly benefit your body, rather it will enable the endocannabinoid system to reach a more balanced state which will eventually benefit your overall well-being.
What Is CBD Used For?
Nowadays, there are so many people using CBD, and everyone has different reasons for it. Truth be told, CBD has currently become the most popular wellness supplement in the world followed by Delta 8. Nobody has even heard of CBD for a decade, and Now it has become a billion-dollar industry and growing rapidly.
So what exactly is CBD used for?
CBD has many medical and recreational benefits. According to research, CBD can provide relief in many areas including but not limited to:
- CBD can provide relief from anxiety, stress, and depression.
- It can provide relief in various types of pain, i.e. joint pain, and chronic pain.
- It can reduce inflammation.
- It can help treat insomnia and help you sleep better.
- CBD can also help you maintain a balanced mood throughout the day.
- It can even slow the progression of many types of cancer to some extent.
- It can provide relief in seizures.
- CBD is found to provide relief in several neurological diseases, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Sclerosis, and more.
- CBD can also help decrease the addiction to tobacco and heroin to some extent.
- CBD can provide relief for certain skin issues and make your skin younger and more vibrant if used regularly.
- CBD can also make sex more satisfying and less painful.
- CBD can even be beneficial for Dogs and Cats.
Recreational users, who want the benefits of cannabis but do not want to feel the high can try CBD.
With all these benefits of CBD, certain discomforts can also come from the use of CBD but they are not serious at all. However, you may experience some mild side effects like:
- Nausea
- Cottonmouth
- Mild Fatigue or Dizziness
- Diarrhea
There is still a need for a lot of research to be done to say anything for certain but In most cases, the side effects of CBD are experienced by very few people and only when there is a bad quality product or other drugs involved.
According to many studies, pure CBDs are extremely safe in every form.
What are the Types of CBD?
CBD can be classified into 3 categories:
Full Spectrum CBD
Full spectrum CBD contains all the natural cannabinoids like THC, CBG, and terpenes that are naturally found in plants. Although, the THC content in should be less than 0.3%.
Full-spectrum CBD offers the full benefit of the entourage effect in your body, which means that all the cannabinoids and terpenes that are extracted from hemp are combined in synergy to increase its effectiveness which further increases your wellness and overall health.
It is to be noted that, full-spectrum CBD does contain trace amounts of THC, so there is a good chance that it will test positive in a drug test.
Broad Spectrum CBD
Broad spectrum CBD is very similar to the full spectrum CBD, except it does not contain any amount of THC. Although, it does have the rest of the cannabinoids and terpenes.
A broad spectrum CBD is not likely to come up in a drug test.
CBD Isolate
CBD isolate products contain up to 99% of CBD only. It’s a completely isolated formula that does not have other terpenes or cannabinoids, hence they are the purest forms of CBD and they do not show up in a drug test.
Many people have a different opinion on which type of CBD is the best, for some full spectrum works best because of the entourage effects, while others prefer CBD isolate because its the pure form of CBD.
The best you can do is try them all and decide for yourself.
What are the Different Types of CBD Products Available?
The CBD industry is ever-growing and there are a lot of different CBD brands and products available in the market, but majorly all CBD products can be categorized into the following ways:
- CBD Oils: CBD oils are the most common method of CBD consumption. It comes in various sizes and tastes. You can consume it by placing a few drops of CBD oil in your mouth, or you can mix it in your food or drinks.
- CBD Tropicals: CBD tropicals are CBD-infused lotions, balms, roll-ons, and creams. You can use CBD in topical form to treat muscle pain and inflammation or to support healthy skin.
- CBD Capsules: Capsules are another method of CBD consumption that is pretty popular in medical communities since they can be dosed with a very precise amount. FDA even approved a CBD capsule called Epidiolex for treating seizures.
- CBD Edibles: CBD can be taken in form of Edibles, i.e. CBD gummies, and CBD Chocolates. This is the most popular method of CBD consumption because CBD edibles taste incredible and their dosing is pretty accurate.
- CBD Vaporizers: CBD also comes in the form of a vaporizer, It is a portable and discrete option for regular CBD users.
- CBD flowers: CBD flowers are one of the most popular methods of CBD consumption, as they can be consumed like any other cannabis flower.
Ultimately, how you consume CBD is based on your personal preferences but try to explore different types before deciding on your favorite.
If you are not sure what you should get, try the Beginners Bundle from Green Roads, it offers different kinds of CBD products like gummies, oils, capsules, cream in a bundle, this will give you a pretty good idea about CBD.
How Much CBD Should You Take?
There is no fixed dosage for any CBD product because CBD is not regulated by FDA. However, it is recommended you start with the minimum dosage (say, 10 mg), which in most cases can be clearly mentioned on the CBD product package, and observe how you feel after a week.
If you feel like CBD is not working after a week, increase the dosage by 5 to 10 mg. Do this process until you reach the desired effect.
Rest assured, it is near impossible to overdose on CBD but the heavy dosage may cause some mild discomfort, moreover, it will also be heavy on your pocket.
For more details, check out this CBD dosage guide.
Is CBD Addictive?
CBD by itself is not addictive and does not produce any dependency or psychoactive effects. In most cases, it is recommended that you take CBD daily for better results.
Final Thoughts
The CBD industry is still new and there is still a need for a lot of research, but what we know for now is that CBD is truly a miracle compound that is here to stay.
However, it is not regulated by the FDA yet, so advise caution while shopping and consuming any CBD products and remember that not all CBD are equal.
That being said, CBD is a non-addictive substance that does have a lot of benefits. If you are looking to incorporate CBD in your life, you can certainly give it a try but remember to go slow and gradually increase the dosage till you get the desired result.