1. What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a chemical compound known as a cannabinoid. There are over 100 known cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis sativa plant, but CBD is one of the most famous, behind THC. CBD is distinct from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in that it is not a psychoactive compound, meaning it won’t produce a “high” feeling when someone uses it.
CBD products such as CBD tinctures, CBD oil, and CBD capsules are available for personal use. These products have increased in popularity greatly in the last few years and gained attention for their potential benefits.
2. What are the benefits of CBD?
CBD offers many potential benefits to people who use CBD products. People tout CBD’s ability to help address a variety of health issues, ranging from depression and anxiety to chronic pain and inflammation.
Those who use CBD products also report that it can help with sleep problems like insomnia, addiction, appetite control, and even symptoms related to cancer like nausea and vomiting.
Perhaps the most compelling scientific evidence on the benefits of CBD is as a treatment for severe childhood epilepsy syndromes like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome, which are usually resistant to antiseizure medication. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one CBD product, Epidiolex, a prescription epilepsy treatment.
More research is needed to determine what, if any, other benefits there are to using CBD.
3. What are the side effects of CBD?
There are some potential side effects of using CBD, though most of them are fairly mild and not very common. A few of the possible side effects of using CBD include:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Low blood pressure
- Lightheadedness
- Constipation
Usually, these side effects will go away after some time if the user does experience them, but they may be made worse if taken with other medication. It’s important to consult with a medical professional before starting a CBD regimen.
4. How does CBD work?
As a cannabinoid, CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in the body. This system helps to regulate several essential bodily functions such as appetite, mood, and sleep cycles.
The endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors in the brain and nervous system that responds to cannabinoids like CBD. When CBD interacts with receptors, it can produce a variety of positive effects like reducing anxiety, chronic pain, and inflammation.
5. How is CBD extracted?
CBD is a naturally occurring compound in the cannabis plant, meaning it can be extracted. CBD extract often comes from hemp instead of marijuana since hemp naturally has a very high concentration of CBD.
When CBD is extracted from cannabis using a CO2 extraction (the most common method), the process goes like this: First, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas gets heated up and compressed into a liquid in a pressurized chamber. The CBD manufacturer then forces this CO2 liquid over the cannabis material until all the cannabinoids like CBD get stripped away. Once that happens, the manufacturer brings down the temperature and pressure so the CO2 liquid can become a gas again. It evaporates and what’s left behind is the CBD that was extracted out of the cannabis.
The upside of the CO2 extraction method is that it can efficiently extract not just the CBD, but other specific compounds like terpenes as well. Terpenes are other naturally-occurring compounds in the cannabis plant that give it distinct aromas and have their own therapeutic benefits. CBD products labeled “full-spectrum” typically include terpenes and other compounds alongside the CBD.
6. How is CBD used?
CBD is used for many different purposes by many different people. Some people use CBD products to help deal with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Others use CBD to alleviate chronic pains like joint or muscle pain. Several high-profile athletes have come out and said that they use CBD products to aid in their recovery and overall training.
Many people choose only to use CBD at night to help them sleep and deal with insomnia. Patients going through chemo have reported using CBD to help alleviate the side effects of the treatment like nausea, vomiting, and discomfort.
7. Is CBD legal?
CBD is generally legal in the US. Any CBD products made with hemp-derived CBD and less than 0.3 percent THC are legal at the federal level under the Farm Bill of 2018. The complication comes with CBD products derived from marijuana. These products are illegal federally and illegal in most states for recreational use.
The good news is that almost all CBD products are made with hemp-derived CBD, not marijuana-derived CBD. As long as you check the labels of any CBD products you plan on buying and take a look at the certificate of analysis (COA), you shouldn’t have to worry about any legal issues. Buying from a reputable seller will go a long way, too.
8. Where can I purchase CBD?
CBD is available for purchase from many different brick-and-mortar retailers and online stores across the country.
9. Will CBD show up on a drug test?
Generally, CBD will not show up on a drug test. Most standard drug tests are looking for other drugs like THC in your system, not CBD. However, using a CBD product can still lead to a failed drug test if you used a CBD product that contained higher than advertised levels of THC.
THC is one of the main compounds that drug tests look for. CBD products can contain a trace amount (or more) of THC, depending on the type of CBD and the source of the ingredients. Cross-contamination in a facility that also produces THC products is possible as well.
If you know you’re going to be drug tested soon, it may be a good idea to refrain from using CBD products temporarily. That’s just a precaution, though. You can also carefully vet any brands you buy CBD products from and read the certificates of analysis to be sure there isn’t excess THC in your CBD products.
10. How long does CBD take to work?
The amount of time it takes for CBD to work greatly depends on the form of CBD you use. CBD products that you use sublingually or vape can start to take effect after as few as 15 minutes. Topical CBD products and CBD edibles, on the other hand, can take up to 1 or 2 hours to take effect.
11. How much CBD should I take?
The dose of CBD that’s right for you will depend on many different personal factors like tolerance, weight, health, and metabolism. In general, a maximum of 0.25 milligrams of CBD daily for every pound of body weight is a good baseline. For example, a 160-pound person could take 40 mg of CBD daily. You might prefer to take more or less, depending on your ideal outcome. Splitting this dose between morning and night is a good idea.
Remember to allow some time when you start using CBD to determine your ideal dose. It might not be clear immediately, so start small and work your way up to higher doses.
12. How often can I take CBD?
You can take CBD daily or even multiple times per day. It is possible to take too much CBD, but that generally requires an extraordinarily large quantity of CBD.
13. How long does CBD last?
How long the effects of CBD will stick around depends on the type of CBD you used, your metabolism, how often you use CBD, and how much CBD you took. In general, you can expect the effects of CBD to last between two and six hours.
14. Who discovered CBD?
Roger Adams, an American chemist, was the first person to extract CBD from cannabis in 1940.
15. Who are the main manufacturers of CBD?
Some of the main CBD manufacturers include Folium Biosciences, Aurora Cannabis, Inc., Eagle Moon Hemp and Charlotte’s Web.
16. Who are the main distributors of CBD?
Some of the main CBD manufacturers include CV Sciences Inc., CBD American Shaman, and Eagle Moon Hemp.
17. Who are the main retailers of CBD?
Some of the main retailers of CVD include CBD Genesis, Vapor.com, and Hemmfy.
18. What is the recommended dosage of CBD?
The recommended daily dosage of CBD is 0.25 mg of CBD per pound of body weight after an initial trial period of using 10 to 15 mg daily for the first week.
19. What are the different forms of CBD?
CBD comes in many different forms and each is ideal for different uses. You can find CBD in smokeable cannabis products, CBD oils, CBD tinctures, topical CBD products like gels, balms, and lotions, and CBD vape cartridges.
CBD oil is one of the most popular forms of CBD because of its versatility. You can add CBD oil to food or drinks or apply it directly under the tongue (sublingually). Keep in mind, though, that using a form of CBD that goes through the digestive tract like capsules and edibles will take longer to affect you. It can take as long as two hours to start feeling the effects of these forms of CBD, but the upside is that the effects tend to last longer.
20. What is the legal status of CBD?
Many people assume that CBD is perfectly legal because of how mainstream it is. In general, that assumption is accurate. The only grey area surrounding the legality of CBD products arises from the source of the CBD.
Most CBD products are made with hemp-derived CBD. The trouble is that only CBD that comes from hemp is legal federally and in all 50 states. If the CBD in a CBD product is derived from marijuana, it may be illegal in your state if marijuana is illegal there. Only 11 states (and Washington, DC) have legalized recreational marijuana for people over 21, so that could be an issue for many people. Plus, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level so transporting marijuana-derived CBD from one state to another is prohibited even if you’re going between two marijuana-friendly states.
The short answer is that most CBD products are completely legal both at the federal and state levels. To be sure that a CBD product you’re buying is legal, make sure that the product contains less than 0.3 percent THC. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis products derived from hemp that contain less than 0.3 percent THC are federally legal. You can find the THC percentage on the certificate of analysis. Pure CBD should contain 0 percent THC, but you should always check to be sure.
21. Where is CBD found?
CBD is found naturally in the cannabis sativa plant. CBD products can be found in many online and physical stores around the country. For anyone looking for CBD to use, it can be as simple as finding a local smokeshop or an online seller.
22. Where does CBD come from?
CBD comes from the cannabis plant. It’s a naturally occurring chemical compound in the cannabis plant called a cannabinoid. Other cannabinoids you might be familiar with include THC, delta 8, and delta 9.
23. Where can I buy CBD products?
You can buy CBD products both in person and online almost anywhere these days. To find high-quality CBD products, look in brick-and-mortar retailers with strong reputations in your area or find a highly rated online seller of CBD products to shop from.
24. Where can I find CBD oil for sale?
CBD oil is one of the most common CBD products on the market today. You can find CBD oil from many different online and physical retailers. Before you purchase a new CBD oil, though, make sure that it has high-quality ingredients, a reputable brand name, and a certificate of analysis (COA) from a third-party lab.
25. Where can I get CBD gummies?
CBD gummies are a great choice for anyone looking for a convenient, easy way to try CBD. You can find CBD gummies at almost any retailer selling CBD products since edibles like CBD gummies are so popular. Pay close attention to the amount of CBD in each gummy bear and any additional ingredients that may influence the safety or experience of the product.
