What is CBD? Everything You Need to Know About CBD

Due to its countless benefits and often profound impact on consumers, CBD is one of the most sought after products available on the market today. This natural plant-based compound has even become a staple in the daily lives of its users (and their loved ones), because of the unique reaction CBD has on the body.

 

The CBD industry, along with the products it offers, is seeing massive growth and development with each passing day. If you'd like to know more about the CBD industry, CBD itself, and the potential benefits it can bring to your life, continue reading!

 

What is CBD?

 

While your initial thoughts of CBD may lead you to believe that this a drug with psychoactive properties, commercial CBD operates a bit differently. This cannabinoid is generally extracted from the hemp plant, a closely related plant to marijuana, which is free of intoxicative properties. Therefore, hemp-based CBD is known for different benefits than the traditional perception of marijuana would suggest.

 

What makes CBD most distinctive is how it interacts biologically. The endocannabinoid system in your body is made up of cannabinoid receptors. These receptors, which line the nervous system, brain and other sections of the body, bond with the cannabinoid known as CBD upon consumption, causing a unique reaction.

 

Though CBD is largely agreed upon as safe, non-toxic and non-addictive to consume, it has not yet been approved by the FDA. Still, it continues to be researched and further developed for its potential benefits.

 

 

How is CBD Made & Extracted?

 

Simply put, there are many different compounds in a matured hemp plant, of which CBD must be isolated and extracted from. The main objective for CBD extraction is to remove and coalesce the tiny oil globules from the Cannabis sativa plant, to later become a more substantial oil.

 

It is important to isolate the CBD compound, as gently as is possible, while preserving the cannabinoids pure properties. As such, there is a certain level of expertise (as well as heavy equipment and proper facilities) necessary to accomplish the desired results. Though there are many effective methods for CBD extraction, not all are created equally.

 

One of the more favorable and now, standard methods for extraction utilizes CO2 and low heat. CO2, while more expensive, produces a cleaner extraction and leaves the final product free of solvents and other dangerous chemicals. Other methods, however, may use inhumane solvents such as butane, acetone, and ethanol. Though these chemicals can be reliable and even cost-effective, they are more likely to pollute the final CBD product. This is why, when possible, it's always important to opt for brands with CO2 extraction. Not only may the CBD oil be safer, but you might even find that it provides more value.

 

Upon extraction, the oil is tested for quality before being combined with various ingredients to become the products consumers are familiar with.

 

*It is not recommended that you attempt to extract CBD on your own in your home. Not only is the process more complex than it may seem, but it may also present potential health hazards and dangers.*

 

 

What is CBD Used for?

 

Though CBD is not proven to treat any symptoms or conditions, it is widely believed to have countless health and lifestyle benefits. However, each CBD consumer is bound to have their own experiences with, and opinions on the specific benefits of CBD.

 

What Does CBD Feel Like?

 

Your individual body chemistry is a big factor in what CBD will feel like for you, as all chemicals affect every body they come into contact with, slightly differently. Generally speaking, however, cannabidiol is referred to as a non-intoxicating or even in some cases, non-psychoactive substance. While there is no definite answer to speak to the effect of CBD on the body or mind, it is widely understood as non-intoxicating and lacking in significant side effects.

 

It is not uncommon for CBD users to share their CBD experiences across social media or through reviews, including the various health and lifestyle benefits they have seen. This community-sourced information is one of the best ways to build a better understanding of what you may experience personally with CBD. Additionally, upon using CBD yourself, you can help to inform others by providing insight into your own experience, including any general advice you may have.

 

How Much CBD Should I Take?

 

The FDA is only in the beginning stages of approving CBD products, which is a required step in the process of specifying effective dosages. Before being classified as a supplement, OTC or prescription drug, there is no way to definitively say how little or how much of this cannabinoid is safe to consume. Even if there are FDA approved pharmaceutical drugs of a similar nature to CBD, the regulatory-status of the CBD industry itself is yet to be determined.

 

CBD regulation does seem to be of high priority to the FDA, and new developments are projected to gain momentum throughout the following years. Until more solidified answers are available, however, there are only base guidelines for a healthy CBD dosage.

 

It is recommended that you start with a low dosage of CBD to monitor how the substance interacts with your body. From here, you can make newly informed decisions about how you might adjust your future dosages. If you notice no effects, you may want to increase your dosage, whereas if you felt a noticeable effect, you may continue with the same dosage as before.

 

How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?

 

CBD can remain for differing lengths of time depending on how you choose to consume it.

 

The most enduring form of CBD is CBD intended for oral ingestion. This administration route will, of course, have the longest-lasting effects, and can even be stored for up to 30 days in the fatty tissues of your body. On the other hand, inhaled or topically applied CBD should exit the body with relative quickness.

 

With the upcoming possible federal legalization of cannabis, cannabis-focused drug tests may soon become obsolete altogether. However, even now, due to the semi-legal status of the substance, trace amounts of CBD in your system should present little to no concerns. It is even uncertain whether or not there are any labs currently testing for CBD in drug tests

 

Where is CBD Legal?

 

While it's impossible to succinctly explain the complexities of legalization, it is safe to acknowledge that at the federal level, CBD is currently categorized as a "new drug". As a "new drug", CBD is not considered an illegal substance, nor related to marijuana, the Schedule I drug. However, that's not all.

 

There are many different naturally occurring chemical compounds produced from Cannabis sativa. CBD, of course, is one of these extracted compounds, while another example is THC. THC and CBD are very different substances. So much so, that the federal government even classifies THC and CBD with entirely different legal structures.

 

At the state level, more states are beginning to pass laws for regulating low-THC cannabis products. A few states have even already enforced some legal protections, such as Kansas, Texas, and Florida. Whereas THC itself, a much more intoxicating extract of Cannabis sativa, is federally classified as a Schedule I drug in the US.

 

At present, there is only one form of prescription CBD available, known as Epidiolex. This may be prescribed to children with intractable epilepsy. However, CBD itself is still awaiting full FDA approval, for relief of other symptoms, in other contexts.

 

While it seems that Cannabis law may begin to see some reform, the federal government has yet to state any concrete CBD laws or even significant forward movement for regulation. Therefore, no legal advice nor definitive statements can be given at this time.

 

For the sake of creating a profitable industry, however, it is likely (though not guaranteed) that the FDA may regulate CBD as an OTC drug.

 

What is a CBD Marketplace?

 

Just as the forms of CBD available for purchase are incredibly varied, so too are the ways in which you are able to purchase CBD products. Thus, a CBD marketplace is any place where merchants of CBD can sell their products to interested CBD customers. These marketplaces exist both online and offline.

 

Where Can I Buy CBD?

 

There are likely many places available within your state, where you can purchase CBD products. However, much of the CBD marketplace exists on the internet. There are several reasons for this.

 

Firstly, the online shopping experience is often more preferable than purchasing in person can be. It can be far simpler to browse any information about a product online, as well as view a larger selection of products. Some online CBD retailers even offer lower prices for the same products you may be able to find in person.

 

Secondly, because the CBD industry is largely unregulated at this point, it can be safer to purchase online from a company you trust. By doing your own research on a company, and its products, you may be able to more accurately assess the trustworthiness of the retailer.

 

What Are Some Examples of CBD Products I Can Buy?

 

As stated previously, there are many different forms of CBD available for purchase. Some of the confusion when buying CBD products comes from the many different product names. Below, is a run-down of some of the most common CBD products, as well as some general CBD-related terms.  -

 

  • CBD, of course, is a naturally occurring cannabidiol in the Cannabis sativa plant. This Cannabis plant can be altered to produce lower levels of THC, and higher levels of CBD.

 

  • While CBD oil is a cannabidiol-rich extract from the Cannabis sativa plant itself, hemp-seed oil is a Cannabis sativa seed extract. The concentration of all cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa seeds is very low. Rather, these seeds are filled with many nutrients such as omega acids. (While hemp-seed oil and CBD oil come from the same plant, that is their only major similarity. Much of the blurred lines between the two are due to CBD oil sometimes being labeled as hemp oil, in an attempt to soften the marketing of the product.)

 

  • CBD-rich hemp oil is a term that specifies the origin of the CBD oil.

 

  • Full-spectrum CBD oil, sometimes referred to a "raw" hemp / CBD oil, is an oil with all of its terpenes, cannabinoids and other natural compounds.

 

  • Broad-spectrum CBD oil, is the same as full-spectrum CBD oil, with the major exception of the THC, which has been almost entirely removed.

 

  • Isolate CBD powder or crystals is an easily crushable white powder formed from the extracted cannabidiol molecules of CBD-rich hemp oil.

 

 

How to Use CBD Oil?

 

CBD oil has many varied uses, depending on the administration method you choose and the CBD product you purchase. Generally speaking, CBD is ingested, topically applied, or inhaled, however other options do exist.

 

There is no usage of CBD which is inherently better than others, and there are no guarantees whether CBD will treat specific symptoms, or not. Rather, it is up to you to make informed decisions based on your specific circumstances and the information you have gathered.

 

 

How Many Drops of CBD Oil Should I Take?

 

Many manufacturers utilize milligram markers on the droppers in their bottles to indicate the ideal dosage of the specific product. It is generally a good idea to inspect the bottle of the product you've purchased, to determine whether or not this is an attribute of your CBD product. Your specific product may even simply state the ideal dosage on the outside of the bottle.

 

If not, you may want to review the total volume and milligrams within the CBD product, as a general idea of these metrics can provide an estimation for an ideal dosage.

 

How Much CBD Should I Vape?

 

Whereas it can be a bit more challenging to determine an ideal dosage with other CBD administration routes, the effects of vaping CBD are generally quite immediate and noticeable. Therefore, it should not be an issue to calibrate to your preferred amount of CBD upon simply testing out your vaporizer.

 

Additionally, it is not a bad idea to inspect the ingredients of the vaporizer you use, as not all vaporizers are created equally. Don't be afraid to try out several vape pens from several companies, to get a better idea of how each may benefit you.

 

How Long Does It Take For CBD Oil To Work?

 

Again, each method of CBD administration is likely to affect the body differently.

 

Inhaled CBD, just as is true with any other inhaled substance or substance placed under the tongue, is entered into the bloodstream nearly immediately. This rapid absorption deploys the substance throughout your body faster than any other administration methods.

 

Orally ingested CBD can take a bit longer to affect you, as it must be broken down by your stomach and filtered through the liver, along with a handful of other steps. While orally ingested CBD releases into your bloodstream slowly throughout the whole digestion process, the bioavailability of the CBD is significantly reduced by the time it is digested. Because of all of this, the effects of orally ingested CBD begin around 30-60 minutes after consumption and can remain for roughly 4-6 hours.