What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural phytocannabinoid derived from the hemp plant. The hemp plant is a member of the cannabis sativa genus family, and the term “cannabis” is often used to denote any derivative of this genus. That’s why you’ll see the word “cannabis” attributed to CBD.
But what does this phytocannabinoid actually do? CBD has been known to interact with receptors found all throughout our bodies. These receptors, known as endocannabinoid receptors, play an important role in our biological homeostasis — the balancing of hormones and other chemicals, mood, well-being, pain, and a variety of other functions.
CBD works within the human body through its interactions with the endocannabinoid system, known as the ECS. The ECS is found in all mammals’ nervous systems, and it contains a plethora of endocannabinoid receptors that are found all throughout the body. It is believed that the ECS is where the magic happens, controlling the homeostatic elements of our body.
So why have people taken to CBD in droves? Well, for starters, it’s a natural compound. It is present in the hemp plant, born from another phytocannabinoid, CBG. CBG, which stands for cannabigerol, is parent to both CBD and THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis that is most abundant in marijuana (but not hemp).
CBD is also non-psychoactive, unlike THC. This means that those who take CBD will not get “high” like they do from ingesting marijuana. Many users looking for natural therapeutic remedies for common bodily ailments do not wish to experience psychoactive effects through treatment, making CBD a great alternative to other drowsiness-inducing medicines.
CBD is also believed to offer a wide range of benefits to the body. The most common reason to use CBD, according to proponents, is to relieve and manage pain. CBD has also been observed to possess strong anti-inflammatory properties, and it has been noted — by even such institutions as the FDA and Harvard Medicine — as aiding in the treatment of a variety of ailments. In fact, the FDA has already approved one prescription medicine derived from CBD: Epidiolex, which is prescribed to fight two rare and severe forms of epilepsy.
There is still much to learn about CBD, as decades of cannabis prohibition have slowed the research process. However, the research we do have is promising. In time, we’ll know much more about this hemp-derived compound, its benefits, potential uses, and even what place CBD will hold in the medicinal future of our society.
CBD Fact vs. Fiction: What You Need to Know
Because CBD research is still in its infancy, and because its skyrocketing popularity has only been achieved within the last couple of years, there are many rumors and misconceptions about what CBD actually is and what it does for you. Here, we’ve laid out a list of the most common misconceptions so that you can gain a better understanding of this hemp-derived compound.
- CBD is NOT Recreational
Because CBD is derived from cannabis, it’s often viewed as an alternative to recreational marijuana use. It is not. CBD, unlike the dominant phytocannabinoid in marijuana (THC) does not get users high or cause any form of intoxication or mental impairment.
Yes, some Full Spectrum CBD concentrations do contain THC, but only in the smallest trace amounts (less than 0.3%, which is not nearly enough to induce psychoactive effects). It’s important to understand that both hemp and marijuana are varieties of cannabis, but they are entirely different plants in nature. Furthermore, industrial hemp and its derivatives are legal at the federal level, while marijuana is not.
- CBD is Safe
It’s normal to question the safety of a new product. We’d never want to take something that isn’t good for us, right? Fortunately, as long as you buy high-quality CBD from trusted retailers, you should encounter only the safest and most natural formulations of the compound.
Many manufacturers, including ALL brands carried at CBD Choice, put their products through rigorous third-party lab testing prior to packaging. These lab results, which are readily available to the public, prove the purity, potency, safety, and effectiveness of your CBD products, showing you exactly what’s in each.
Although the CBD industry is largely unregulated, CBD itself has shown (through years of trials) that it is safe and non-toxic to mammals, including humans and most mammalian pets. Of course, you should always speak with a licensed medical professional if you are taking any other medications or are worried about adding a new supplement to your life.
- CBD is Legal
In December of 2018, the U.S. federal government signed into law the 2018 Farm Bill. This effectively legalized all industrial hemp and hemp-derived products at the federal level. While the FDA still has yet to reach a concrete regulatory standing on the compound, it is legal and can be sold, purchased, possessed, and consumed within the United States.
- There Are Many, Many Ways to Take CBD
Nowadays, there are a variety of ways for you to ingest your daily dose of CBD. If you’re just now making the plunge into the wonderful world of cannabidiol, we always suggest starting with a low-dosage CBD oil. CBD oil tinctures tend to be the most common and most popular CBD products on the market.
However, many more vehicles for CBD ingestion have emerged: CBD edibles and beverages, CBD vape pens and e-liquids, and even CBD pet products! From the delicious and extraordinary to the sleek and convenient, you are sure to find a CBD product that fits easily into your lifestyle.
You can even hype up your skincare routine with CBD-infused topicals, or get the easiest daily dose with pre-measured CBD capsules. The choice is yours!
Shopping around CBD Choice, you may have noticed that there are many different strengths available. It’s important that you differentiate between the size of a product and the potency of a product.
For example, if you’re buying a 60ml CBD oil tincture that contains 5000mg of CBD, the strength per serving would be the same as buying a 30ml CBD oil tincture that contains 2500mg of CBD. Even though both products show different numbers, both products offer the same amount of CBD per serving (1ml), which is about 83.3mg of CBD.
However, if you were to look at two 30ml tinctures, one with 5000mg of CBD and the other with 2500mg of CBD, it’s easy to tell that the latter tincture is weaker, offering about half the amount of CBD per serving as the former.
- Not All CBD is Considered Equal
You may assume that the best approach for CBD shopping is to just find the cheapest product available, right? When it comes to CBD, that’s not always a good decision. Why? Because the CBD industry is still largely unregulated, and it’s an unfortunate truth that there are plenty of companies out there willing to sell you what amounts to little more than modern-day snake oil labeled “CBD.”
You can avoid subpar products by buying exclusively from trusted brands. Here at CBD Choice, we pride ourselves on our expansive collection of CBD products, each hand selected after a careful vetting process. We partner with only the finest CBD brands on the market, making it easy to find only the top quality products.
If you have any questions before purchasing anything from CBD Choice, we encourage you to reach out to our wonderful customer service team. They are able to answer any and all questions you may have about CBD.
Remember: a good company should be able to provide comprehensive, accurate information about their products, as well as certificates of analysis and third-party lab results, taken from an independent laboratory.
