To put it bluntly, people are just making things up about CBD, it’s health benefits, its risks, and the research backing it.
Hence, my first part in a three-part investigative series all about CBD. In part one, I hope I can help you to understand CBD, what makes it different from “marijuana”, dispel some myths surrounding one of the fastest growing industries in the United States right now, and how it may* help you. With those goals in mind, let’s start out by talking about what CBD is and what it isn’t.
What is Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol is a really hard word to say and is commonly known as CBD, it’s a cannabinoid compound found in the cannabis plant. Everyone has cannabinoid receptors found inside the cells in their brains and their central nervous system. There are a lot of cannabinoids found inside the cannabis plant, but the two you’re most likely to hear the most about are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the part of the cannabis plant that gives you that high feeling.
If THC Makes You Feel High, What Does CBD Make You Feel?
That’s a great and a loaded question, and I promise to dive more deeply into it in part two, where I try a bunch of different types of CBD products and review them for you all. Until then, you should know that there are so many CBD products on the market that are designed to encourage your body’s ECS (Endocannabinoid System) to work more effectively, some of which will help with chronic pain, some with anxiety, some with sleep. The most important thing to expect to feel from taking CBD is NOT HIGH. You won’t get that foggy/muddled/dissociative feeling from it.
Is This Really All A Weirdly Legal Way To Buy Weed?
Nope! CBD is not only a different cannabinoid as THC, but it also contains less than 0.03% of THC in it, making it legal to buy and sell pretty much anywhere in the US**. Also, you should know that if you do like to partake in the wacky tobacky, CBD will lower its ability to get you high. In fact, a lot of medical marijuana can be found to be higher in CBD than THC simply because you get all the benefits of the medical marijuana without feeling flatter than a pancake.
Will CBD cure my Grandmother’s Cancer?
Here’s the thing guys, there are a lot of wild claims about CBD right now and not nearly enough research to either confirm those claims or debunk them. The US is getting better about the research, but for far too long it was illegal to do most kinds of research on how marijuana and CBD effects people. I could go into a whole lot of theories and reasons why that was the case, but that’s just not a can of worms I want to open. I wish I could say a big fat “YES” to the cancer curing claims, but I’m not a doctor, I’m not a research scientist, and I’m also not going to make things up to make you feel better. Will CBD cure cancer? Probably not. Can it hurt to still take it? Talk with your doctor on that one, but also, probably not.
So What Kinds Of Things Will CBD Help With?
Once again, I am not a doctor, but the benefits that have been attributed to CBD include, but are not limited to, relief from anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, depression, epilepsy, and withdrawals from smoking and drug use.
If The Benefits Are Still Unproven, Is It Even Worth It To Use CBD?
I have been using CBD lotions, oils, and tinctures for years now. I started when I dislocated my knee trying to meet Sam Heughan at SDCC (because that’s totally normal, right?) and have continued using it since. I have several kinds of lotions that feel amazing and take away all my painful spots. I have a really nice tincture that I just started using. I even have a CBD lip balm that I swear by. So, do I think my relief is all placebo effect? No, I don’t. I’ll get into my reasons for taking CBD in my next post, but just know that I swear by it.
OK, Cool, But What About The Side Effects?
For the most part, side effects are very limited and not widely reported. Those who have experienced any sort of side effect usually report feeling: anxious, tired, nauseous, GI upset.
That wraps up part one of this three-part series. Let me know in the comments below if you have any specific questions about CBD. In part two, we’ll be trying out a bunch of different kinds and brands of CBD products and letting you know what my honest reviews of them are.
Have you ever tried a CBD product? What did you think of it?
*This writer is not a doctor, doesn’t claim to be one, nor does she want to be one. Please talk with your trusted health care physician about whether CBD is right for you.
**This writer is not a lawyer, doesn’t claim to be one, nor does she want to be one. Please just check with your state and local laws regarding the purchasing of and use of a CBD product.
