A Rewrite: The Truth About CBD
EVERYONE IS BUZZING ABOUT THIS NEW AND TOTALLY AWESOME CBD STUFF!
But some people just don't get it. There's a ton of wacky things being said about CBD that either totally dismiss it or claim it can do miracles. The lack of clear, factual information allows misconceptions to spread. To address this challenge, accurate data is needed. The goal is to share what is firmly known, and will continue updating this as the research develops further.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the primary cannabinoids found in hemp plants. Cannabidiol is commonly abbreviated as CBD. Hemp is a cultivar of Cannabis sativa that has been bred to contain minimal levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), typically less than 0.3%. Cannabinoids act a lot like neurotransmitters in living things. Both THC and CBD come from the same amazing plant, and they even start out the same - but they have totally different effects on our bodies. THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid known to produce the characteristic high, along with various medical and psychological effects. In contrast, CBD does not cause intoxication but may provide significant health benefits.
While both THC and CBD grow on the resin glands (called trichomes) of cannabis plants, they are present in very different amounts. Hemp is defined as having less than 0.3% THC. Medical and recreational cannabis plants have way more THC along with varying amounts of CBD, CBN, THCV, and other cannabinoids.
All vertebrates, and some invertebrates, internally produce cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids. Scientists call the ones we make "endocannabinoids" because they come from inside us. The cannabinoids found in plants are called "phytocannabinoids", which comes from the Greek word for plant. These plant cannabinoids have a structure that's almost identical to our endocannabinoids. This allows them to interact with our "endocannabinoid system", which is the network of pathways our natural cannabinoids use to send messages through our bodies. Similar to the nervous and endocrine systems, the endocannabinoid system functions as a network throughout the body to transmit important messages impacting various physiological processes. It helps coordinate important things for our well-being, especially things like appetite, pain sensing, moods, and memory storage.
HOW TO CHOOSE CBD
When determining the appropriate cannabidiol (CBD) product, it is important to evaluate several key characteristics. Products vary in terms of intended use, absorption speed, and duration of effects. Six primary categories should be assessed to identify the best option for an individual's needs:
Form - Do you want to ingest, inhale, apply topically, or maybe all of the above? There's tinctures for ingesting, vapes for inhaling, lotions for applying - you've got options!
Speed - How fast do you need it to work its magic? Tinctures and edibles take longer to kick in since they must pass through your digestive system. Inhaled options like vapes or dabs will hit you quicker.
Duration - How long do you want the effects to last? Topicals may only last a few hours but ingestables can provide all-day relief. Vapes offer control over duration by dosing as needed.
Careful consideration of these factors will facilitate selection of a CBD product tailored to one's preferences and circumstances.
