The last few years have seen the popularity of CBD skyrocket.
The market is currently flooded with CBD products. People buy CBD oil online and in specialty stores, as well as other cannabidiol products such as balms, creams, lotions, tinctures, and edibles like chocolate, lollipops, and jellybeans.
What is CBD, and why are people snapping up products that have those three magic letters printed on the label? Here are some of the things that you need to know about CBD.
CBD Is Short For Cannabidiol
CBD stands for cannabidiol, a cannabinoid that occurs naturally in cannabis plants like marijuana and hemp, although the latter typically has higher concentrations of the compound.
CBD Is Nonpsychoactive
One of the initial assumptions people make upon learning that CBD comes from cannabis plants is that it will get them high.
On the contrary, CBD does not have psychoactive effects, unlike its better-known cousin, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.
CBD May Offer Several Therapeutic Benefits
One thing that CBD has in common with THC is that it may provide a wide range of health benefits, which is the primary reason for its recent popularity.
It is believed that its interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates mood, sleep, pain, and a range of other functions and processes, enables CBD to provide relief for:
Anxiety—Several studies support the claim that CBD helps with anxiety. One such study found that cannabidiol helps reduce overall anxiety levels among social anxiety disorder sufferers. Another research also reveals that CBD use offers short-term benefits for those with PTSD, OCD, and other anxiety disorders.
Pain—One study says a group of cancer patients experienced reduced pain after being treated with an extract that contained CBD and THC.
CBD oil is also used by many to relieve arthritic pain.
Acne—CBD oil is said have anti-inflammatory properties and is capable of reducing sebum production, according to one study.
Two Rare Forms of Epilepsy—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for prescription use a highly-purified form of CBD called Epidiolex. It treats seizures caused by two rare forms of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Epidiolex remains the only FDA-approved drug that contains cannabidiol.
The Legality of CBD
One of the questions many people have about CBD is whether it’s legal in the United States or not.
U.S. federal laws still classify cannabis as a “controlled substance.” While medical or recreational marijuana is already legal in a number of states, marijuana is still illegal on the federal level. That means marijuana-derived CBD is federally illegal as well.
CBD extracted from hemp, however, is technically legal in all states, courtesy of the 2018 Farm Bill, which has removed the cannabis plant from the schedule of controlled substances. Unless specifically outlawed by states, hemp-derived CBD is legal as long it only has 0.3% THC content.
If you’re interested in giving CBD products a try, it’s always best to talk to your medical professional about it to ensure your safety.
About the Author
Lauren Klesser is the Content Marketing Strategist for Half Day CBD, a thoughtfully-curated brand of organic hemp-derived products like CBD oils, CBD vape and CBD gummies, which are designed to help manage pain, anxiety, stress and sleep issues. In her spare time, she plays axe throwing and escape games with her family and friends.
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