THE CBD OIL CRASH COURSE: Everything You Need to Know
What started out as a controversial topic is quickly becoming a household conversation here of late. What am I referring to? CBD – cannabidiol. As more and more research is being done on CBD oil, the more interesting the topic becomes. Could this be a “wonder supplement” that can help people manage various issues such as pain, stress, and anxiety while helping improve muscle soreness, inflammation, sleep, focus, cognition, among other things?
CBD is under the microscope but those who use it seem to swear by it. It is showing up in various nutritional and even skincare products and sales are well in the hundreds of millions annually already. More and more research is being conducted to see the true benefits that can be yielded. Is CBD for you? Maybe? But you need to get a better understanding of what it is FIRST in order to make that type of decision. Or, as always, you should consult with your doctor prior to trying CBD.
While it cannot be used to “treat” conditions legally, the benefits are extremely positive which is why we are even having this conversation. With that being said, there are MANY common questions that people have. To help you better understand CBD, I have some answers to questions commonly asked below.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, changing your daily nutrition, or adding any supplements to your regimen.
Table of contents
What is CBD Oil?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is naturally occurring and extracted from cannabis sativa plants typically used in CBD oil. The cannabis sativa plant has two forms that commonly get mixed up or used in the same sentence, yet both contain CBD. The two species of the plant are marijuana and hemp.
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CBD, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid as opposed to THC which is psychoactive. Much of the confusion comes when comparing marijuana and hemp or seeing them used out of context. The marijuana plant contains high levels of THC whereas THC concentration in hemp is extremely low. But on the flip side, marijuana produces about half of the CBD that hemp does.
CBD oil is legal at the federal level if it is derived from hemp and not from marijuana and contains less than 0.3% THC. However, you need to check with your individual state you live in as some states put restrictions on what/how you can purchase. Also, be aware of state laws that you may be traveling through on business or pleasure as the legality can change from state to state.
Does CBD Oil Get You High?
No. When CBD is extracted from hemp plants and does not contain enough THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) to cause any effect. In fact, CBD from hemp only contains around 0.3% THC – the active component that creates what is commonly referred to as a “high” or “euphoric feeling.”
Marijuana, on the other hand, does contain a high amount of THC which can cause psychoactive effects.
Is CBD Oil Legal?
CBD is legal to purchase federally so long as it is from hemp and not from marijuana. However, you need to check with your individual state you live in as some states put restrictions on what/how you can purchase. Also, be aware of state laws that you may be traveling through on business or pleasure as the legality can change from state to state.
Does CBD Oil Show Up on a Drug Test?
Worried about a drug test coming back positive? You’re probably not the only one. But don’t worry. Assuming you are purchasing your CBD oil from a legitimate source/brand, you should have no issues with CBD oil use showing up on a drug test.
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However, if you’re an athlete, the small 0.3% THC could show up as trace amounts, so be advised if you were thinking about using CBD to help with your athletic performance or training it may create an issue. You may want to speak with the school, organization, or governing body regarding CBD use.
Is CBD Addictive?
No. Despite CBD coming from the cannabis plant, it does not have any compounds that make it addictive.
There are different receptors in your body that are affected by THC and CBD. Two of these receptors are the CB1 and CB2. THC affects the CB1 and CB2 receptors which are what creates the “high” or euphoric feeling and because it affects those specific receptors it can cause dependence or addiction. CBD does not affect CB1 and CB2 receptors due to the extremely low or nonexistent THC levels and therefore no tolerance or dependency is formed.
Hemp vs Cannabis
There are various cannabidiols, one of which comes from a hemp plant and one that comes from a marijuana plant (cannabis). A cannabinoid found in both is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Their concentrations, however, are different in each type. For instance, THC coming from a marijuana plant can have as much as 30% THC in it which can give you a psychoactive effect. Hemp, on the other hand, only has upwards of 0.3% THC which is not enough to provide any type of psychoactive effect like marijuana can.
Commonly used hemp oil comes from the seeds of the cannabis plant while actual CBD oil comes from various parts such as the stalks, flowers, and leaves.
Circling back to a topic we covered above, when looking at things from a federal level on what you CAN and CAN’T purchase, CBD coming from marijuana is considered illegal (unless you have a prescription). You would need to be looking for a CBD product that is derived from hemp but would need to check with your state laws before purchasing or possessing it as each state is different.
Isolate vs Full Spectrum Products
There are several types of CBD products on the market today, two of which are an isolate version as well as a full spectrum. The difference lies in what the actual product contains.
A CBD isolate contains only cannabidiol – no other compounds are present in that product. CBD isolates are considered to be one of the purest and most concentrated forms of CBD. The process of extracting CBD and forming an isolate involves refining the product to remove all other parts and compounds to create a pure CBD extract. The refining process can also remove all THC from the product as well.
Full-spectrum (also commonly referred to as whole plant) on the other hand isn’t as specific when compared to an isolate. The full-spectrum version of CBD will contain not only CBD but also other cannabinoids and various parts of the plant. Unlike the isolate version, full-spectrum can still contain some THC. So, if that’s a concern you have, you may want to skip full-spectrum and purchase an isolate.
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