

Image courtesy of the Ministry of Hemp.Īfter harvest, CBD is extracted from the resinous hemp plants by one of a number of extraction methods. Industrial or traditional hemp on the left, modern hybrid hemp on the right. The result is a hybrid: shorter, bushier hemp plants with larger “buds” (flowers) that are rich in terpenes, flavonoids, CBD, and other cannabinoids – but low in THC. Modern hemp, such as that grown to produce medicinal CBD oil and other extracts, has been selectively bred with low-THC strains of marijuana. Those hemp plants are tall and lanky, looking far more like spindly weeds than the robust leafy cannabis plants most folks imagine. The stalks are of primary interest, processed for fibers. Historically, industrial hemp has been grown for manufacturing of textiles, biofuels, and building materials. Both hemp and marijuana contain CBD, with varying levels depending on the particular strain. Hemp and marijuana are both species of the cannabis plant family (cannabis sativa), but are fairly different! Most notably, hemp contains little-to-no THC (no more than 0.3% by legal standards) while marijuana rings in with an average concentration of 12 to 25% THC. Most CBD is derived from commercially-grown hemp plants. It is legal for us to grow our own organic cannabis here in California (and we do – learn how here), though we still enjoy using quality CBD oil during the daytime.

THC also boasts a number of wonderful beneficial uses some say even more powerful than CBD! Yet the psychoactive component makes it far more limiting for day-to-day use, less appealing to many folks, and still illegal in some states.

On the other hand, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is responsible for the mental and physical “high” that people usually associate with consuming cannabis. Combined with its ability to ease stress, anxiety, pain, inflammation, insomnia and more, this makes CBD very attractive and comfortable to use! For example, while at work, exercising, driving, or taking care of children. This means people can use CBD products with ease in everyday life and in a variety of situations. However, the vast majority of them do not get you “stoned”, CBD included.ĬBD has no intoxicating effects and is not psychoactive. Neat, huh? CBD and THC are two of the most well-known cannabinoids (a fancy name for cannabis plant compounds) but they aren’t alone! According to UCLA, there have been over 100 distinct cannabinoids as well as dozens of terpenes and flavonoids identified in cannabis – all of which can induce physiological changes in our bodies. Evidence shows that CBD has been utilized by humans in herbal medicine as far back as 500 BC. Because there is a lot of junk out there too. Ready to dive in?Ĭannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a powerful plant compound naturally found in cannabis. I’ll be upfront and say that I am a believer and proponent of CBD! That is, the use of high-quality, organically-grown, lab-tested CBD by an educated consumer. Then, you can decide if trying CBD is best for you! My goal is to provide an easy-to-understand but comprehensive summary of CBD. We’ll explore the mental and physical health issues CBD can help with, how it works in the body, various ways to use it, along with some notes of precaution about safety and side effects. What is CBD? Where does it come from? Is it legal? This article will cover all of these frequently asked questions and more.

Has information overload left your head spinning? Yet this burgeoning industry is moving faster than research, regulations, and consumers can keep up with – leading to a lot of confusion and misinformation. CBD products are popping up everywhere you turn, from convenience store countertops to websites galore, making it now readily available in most every state. Over the last few years, CBD has rapidly carved out its place in the mainstream.
