CBD 101 or Everything you need to know before you try CBD
CBD 101
Everything you need to know before you try CBD.
Why use CBD?
CBD can have a lot of benefits for your body & health.
CBD has rocketed to the top of the cannabis conversation this decade, with more and more CBD-based and -dominant products popping up all over the place. But that’s not enough information for you to make up your mind on whether or not you should try it. To make that decision, it’s important to know what it could do for you.
Many scientists and researchers are now exploring what CBD can do, and just how helpful it can be. Because unlike other forms of cannabis, it has no psychoactive effects. So you don’t feel “high”. Some people use CBD as a natural alternative to anti-inflammatories, to combat things like pain & stiffness in your muscles and joints, or other ailments like gastrointestinal diseases, anxiety, depression and nervous system disorders.
How does CBD work?
CBD can help your body stay stable and balanced.
The body contains something called the Endocannabinoid System, a circuit board of receptors meant to keep the body healthy and balanced. In your body, CBD and other cannabinoids will lock into those receptors, helping the body maintain a stable condition within itself. That’s why some people use CBD as a natural anti-inflammatory, as it may ease the strain on many parts and functions of the body.
What exactly is CBD?
CBD is Cannabidiol.
Cannabidiol is a Cannabinoid.
Cannabinoids are found in Cannabis.
Let’s work from Cannabis down. Cannabis contains 113 distinct chemicals, called Cannabinoids. And CBD, which stands for Cannabidiol, is one of the two most notable chemicals found in cannabis plants. THC, which we get into next, is the other most notable. CBD can account for up to 40%[1] of the cannabis plant's whole extract.
CBD vs. THC
Key difference: CBD won’t make you “high.”
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD may look similar, chemically speaking, but they have very different properties. CBD is the anti-inflammatory part of cannabis, while THC is what will actually get you 'high'.
Both have psychoactivity, but the way it works in CBD is entirely different to THC. While CBD does affect the body and the brain in some ways, it is considered 'non intoxicating'. In fact, it can even prevent users from getting 'too high', and combats psychosis-like effects of THC. Which is one of the main reasons it’s currently being tested as a possible treatment for schizophrenia.
Your Endocannabinoid system has two types of receptors, CB1 and CB2. THC only binds to CB1 receptors, which are found in the brain and central nervous system. That’s what gives you the psychoactive highs from cannabis. CBD on the other hand, can bind to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. So taking CBDs can actually occupy those receptors, stopping you from absorbing more THC and getting “higher.”
Hemp vs. Marijuana
Both can be a source of CBD, but Hemp produces more.
Hemp and Marijuana both come from the same plant. They’re both cannabis, so what’s the difference?
For starters, Marijuana is the female version of the plant. It’s the part flowers, the most iconic part of the plant. The male plants, Hemp, die shortly after they have completed pollination. Both parts of the plant serve different purposes.
Marijuana, as it is widely known, is used for medicinal or recreational purposes while Hemp is used in a variety of applications including dietary supplements, skin products, clothing and accessories.
The two contain completely different levels of THC, which you’ll remember as the chemical responsible Marijuana’s psychological effects.
An average batch of Marijuana contains anywhere from 5-20% THC content [3]. Some premium Marijuana can have up to 25-30% THC [3].
Hemp, on the other hand, is regulated to only contain a max THC level of 0.3% [3]. Rather, Hemp contains high Cannabidiol (CBD) content, essentially making the minimal amount of THC useless.