The year is 2018 and what a year it has been for technology and Cannabis. As of this writing 9 states have legalized Cannabis for recreational use and 30 have passed legislation for medical purposes. Yes, the monkeys of planet earth have come a long way since the reefer madness days. Even my sweet Christian mother is open to the idea of other people using Cannabis and understands the medicinal aspects of the plant.

What is CBD?

CBD aka Cannabidiol is a compound found in the cannabis plant. It is one of 113 identified Cannabinoids within Cannabis. When taken into the body, CBD interacts with the Endocannibinoid system and produces a number of interesting effects in humans. This system is a complex structure of neurotransmitters that when stimulated effect a variety of functions including mood, appetite, memory, and pain. Neurotransmitters are like keys – when you have the right key for the right slot, an effect takes place. What is most interesting about Cannabis is we have parts of the brain specifically designed to be triggered by Cannabinoids like CBD and THC.

Does CBD get you high?

CBD is non-psychoactive meaning it’s not going to get you high. When you ingest cannabis you’re consuming the entire spectrum of Cannibinoids found in the plant, not just CBD. This means you’re also taking in THC – the psychoactive counterpart to CBD. When you’re stoned to the bone you can thank THC. In fact, up until recently breeders of Cannabis have focused on producing strains with extremely high levels of THC and only minimal amounts of CBD. Too much THC with little CBD can cause panic, anxiety, and trigger a cascade of negative responses. CBD on the other hand is anti-anxiety and calms down the psychoactivity of THC allowing for a much smoother and relaxing experience. I will personally not smoke or ingest Cannabis products with high THC unless there is an equal ratio of CBD. I am extremely sensitive to THC and get way too stoned and anxious. One could easily become turned off by Cannabis if all they’ve ever experienced was high THC products and strains with little CBD. CBD is CRUCIAL to experiencing the best Cannabis has to offer.

What is CBD used for?

CBD is a powerful medicinal compound used for a host of ailments of mind and body. Ever since man smoked down his first bomber the medicinal benefits have been fully realized. CBD is well known to alleviate pain, tone down anxiety, and reduce inflammation. Charlottes Web for example is a high CBD Cannabis strain bred specifically for a young girl named Charlotte to treat her seizures. Charlotte was having up to 300 grand mal seizures a day before her parents discovered CBD. Since using CBD her seizures have been reduced from hundreds a day to only 2 or 3 a month! For some, CBD is an absolute God send.

Studies show CBD is an effective  anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-oxidant, anti-emetic, anxiolytic and antipsychotic agent.

Because the Endocannabinoid system effects so many areas of the human brain and body, CBD and other cannabinoids found in Cannabis have tremendous potential to trigger deep healing and relief on many levels. CBD is also extremely safe unlike many pharmaceutical drugs used to treat pain and anxiety.

CBD legality

States that have legalized the recreational use of Marijuana enjoy a wide spectrum of CBD products available through their local dispensaries. States where Cannabis is NOT legal aren’t completely out of luck though. Hemp derived CBD is still legal and available. Hemp is a specific variety of the Cannabis plant used for industrial purposes like making rope and textiles. Hemp contains negligible amounts of THC <0.3% so it is federally legal and acceptable in the eyes of the United States Government. A full spectrum CBD solution from hemp is a good option for individuals living in states where Cannabis is not recognized as medicine and remains illegal.

Hemp vs Cannabis CBD

You may wonder what the difference is between Hemp derived CBD and CBD extracted from Cannabis. To avoid confusion, It’s important to note a few fundamental concepts. First, understand that Hemp is Cannabis. What we refer to as hemp is actually Cannabis that’s been specifically bred for producing rope, textiles, and other commercial purposes. Cannabis is a versatile plant and not only used for humans as medicine and food, but for rope, clothing, and other textiles. Over time, cultivators of Cannabis found that certain breeds of the plant were more favorable for creating clothing and other commercial goods. This led to a plant which yielded very little THC and became known as hemp.

However, what most imagine when they think of Cannabis is marijuana. Marijuana is distinguishable from hemp in a number of ways. Similar to how cultivators selectively bred hemp for a certain purpose, growers of Marijuana selectively bred the plant for its psychoactive properties. In this breed of Cannabis, the female plants were favored for their flowers which were smoked for effect.

Both Hemp and Marijuana contain CBD. For medicinal purposes, CBD is CBD no matter if it comes from Hemp or Marijuana.

However…

All CBD is not created equal (Full spectrum vs Isolate)

When looking for CBD products online you’ll no doubt come across full spectrum and Isolate versions of the CBD. Full Spectrum solutions are created using the entire Cannabis plant and contain a complete profile of all the other Cannabinoids found in Cannabis. Remember, Cannabis boasts 113 Cannabinoids of which CBD is just 1.

CBD isolate is JUST CBD. It’s been isolated from the plant and seperated from the other Cannabinoids.

So what’s better?

Science has identified an entourage effect present in Cannabis where each individual Cannabinoid works better when they are together. For example, CBD can tone down the effects of too much THC. Conversely, CBD has been shown to be much more effective when THC is present. This is why it’s recommended to use a whole plant or full spectrum solution.

It should be noted that people have also had great success using CBD isolate, so it’s not a hard or fast rule. The best thing to do is experiment with different products to figure out what works best for you.

I break down the differences between full spectrum and isolate CBD in this post. 

How to use CBD + Where to buy

Thanks to state governments legalizing Cannabis the market has busted wide open with an impressive line of CBD products. CBD can be taken into the body through tinctures, oils, capsules, high CBD leaf strains, E-Juice (vaping), creams, foods and treats, and even drinks. A popular method is using a tincture and placing a droppers worth of liquid under the tongue. This is good news if you want to try CBD but you prefer not to smoke. There are a ton of ways to get the medicine into your system. If you are in a legal state locate a dispensary and pop in for a visit to check out their inventory.

If you are NOT in a legal state, or you want to order something online, there are a number of reputable vendors who offer full spectrum or isolate CBD solutions. CBD Distillery has a good selection of high quality product and enjoys a loyal customer base.

Conclusion

CBD is worth experimenting with if you’re looking for an all natural solution to a health problem, whether that is pain, anxiety, or anything else. Cannabis is a medicinal and safe plant that’s been historically used for centuries. Bring ancient healing and wisdom into the modern world with plant solutions like Cannabis and CBD!