Everything You Need To Know About CBD
CBD is the acronym of cannabidiol, one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. However, CBD or cannabidiol is not the same as cannabis or marijuana. CBD is legal in the United States per the federal law passed in 2018 known as the Farm Bill or Agriculture Improvement Act. However, cannabis or marijuana and THC are not legal at the federal level.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol or CBD is a chemical found in the cannabis sativa plant, one of the many species in the Cannabaceae family that are collectively referred to as marijuana strains. The CBD mostly available in the United States is extracted from a particular species known as cannabis sativa.
Cannabis sativa is also known as industrial hemp. Industrial hemp, often referred to as hemp, has been legal for various purposes except for recreational use. Medical use of cannabis, including hemp or cannabidiol, has also been legal for a while now. Since 2018, you can use CBD for medical, recreational, or other purposes, albeit without blending it with THC.
CBD Is Legal, THC Is Not
Cannabis sativa plants, usually referred to as industrial hemp, have hundreds of chemicals. One of these chemicals is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. This THC is a psychoactive chemical. CBD or cannabidiol is a natural chemical but it does not possess any psychoactive properties.
Thus, CBD will not make you feel high, euphoric, or intoxicated. However, THC will make you feel high and under an influence. This difference is the reason why CBD has been legalized, but THC is still a grey area. Of course, a few states have legalized marijuana, some with caveats.
CBD and THC are the two most abundant chemicals found naturally in cannabis sativa or industrial hemp, and other plants in the family. Any CBD product that contains less than 0.3% THC is legal throughout the country. More than 0.3% THC in any product makes it illegal.
CBD vs. THC | The Key Difference
CBD or cannabidiol is obtained from the leaves, stalks, and stems of the cannabis sativa plant. The natural extract is then processed to make crystals, waxes, isolates, oils, edibles, concentrates, and other products, including skin care creams and conditioners for hair.
THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is extracted mostly from the flowers of the cannabis sativa or other marijuana plants. The THC content is concentrated in the flowers or buds of these plants, including hemp. In contrast, CBD isn’t concentrated at one part but found throughout the plant.
This abundant presence of THC in the flowers and buds is the reason why cannabis smokers don’t prefer stalks, stems, and leaves in their marijuana. THC is a potent psychoactive chemical, which is primarily why the federal laws continue to include it on the list of controlled substances.
Traces of THC are found in CBD extracts, but the proportion is nominal because tetrahydrocannabinol is not abundantly available in the stalks, leaves, and stems of cannabis sativa. The little trace found is substantially less than the 0.3% legal limit for THC concentration.
Health Benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD)
CBD is not THC or marijuana, and you won’t get high or feel intoxicated. However, you will feel relieved. The chemical substance cannabidiol interacts with the endocannabinoid system of humans. The cannabidiol binds to endocannabinoid receptors and thus the body responds.
The response is usually that of calmness, relaxation, and a soothing sensation. Unlike THC that causes chemical reactions in the brain, CBD does not influence your cognition at all. The relaxing effect is the reason why many people associate CBD with pain alleviation. As the body’s receptors calm down, so does your sensitivity to pain or similar unpleasant feelings.
Furthermore, this relief induced by CBD may alleviate anxiety and depression to an extent. However, it would be wrong to claim that cannabidiol is a remedy for anxiety and depression that can work for anyone and everyone. That is not scientifically proven yet.
What has been scientifically established is the fact that CBD or cannabidiol poses no health risk to adults. The federal law removing CBD from the list of controlled substances was only a response to the scientific findings proving that CBD has no ill-effects if used recreationally. There are medical treatments using CBD in more than one form for pain relief & management.
You may hear about CBD being used for therapy and other remedial purposes. Whether or not cannabidiol will work for such outcomes is a subjective matter and it is difficult to generalize in an objective way. Thus, you should consider using CBD only for the calming, soothing, and relaxing sensation that it has been largely proven to deliver for all that have tried the compound.
CBD is available in various products. Topical creams for skin or products for hair should not be ingested or consumed in any way. Edible oils and oral concentrates are safe. You can also smoke CBD infused pre-rolls, vape flowers, dab concentrates, isolates, and waxes.
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