CBD, marijuana’s little non-psychoactive cousin has become the latest panacea in health and wellness.
As surprising as it may sound, it was discovered way back, in the early 90s.
But it remained largely unheard of until a couple of years ago when it just exploded on to the scene. Just like Yoga did a few decades ago.
Suddenly you have A-list celebrities, sportsmen, entrepreneurs and even doctors raving about its miraculous health benefits.
Almost on-par with the buzz, manufacturers have sprung up from nowhere offering a bevy of CBD-infused goodies for both, mind and body.
You can walk into a high street store today and the brightly-colored vials of CBD edibles, salves and creams are unmissable.
You can walk into a coffee shop and get a CBD-infused dopamine kick to start your day with.
There are bath bombs. We even spotted a CBD-lined vaginal suppository.
Chances are that you can even find a dedicated CBD aisle in the ramshackle gas station around the corner.
For something that’s become so popular, the information about CBD on the internet is limited or just inconclusive. Despite 1 in 7 Americans supposedly using CBD already, there are a lot of people who just don’t know what they are dealing with.
Is it really the natural, miracle elixir that the 21st century needs?
Let’s decode CBD.
The Scientific Bit
CBD stands for ‘Cannabidiol’, a molecule that is produced naturally by the Cannabis Sativa L, or the Marijuana plant.
As a matter of fact, it is just one of the 108 cannabinoids that the plant produces.
The other (in)famous one that most people are aware of is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, that’s largely associated with the intoxicating effects of the plant.
CBD, on the other hand, does not cause the psychoactive effect.
Instead, it is touted to offer a slew of health benefits, right from pain relief, to the treatment of epilepsy, schizophrenia, insomnia, anxiety, depression, GI issues, urinary distress, and skin problems, to name a few.
Therein stems the burgeoning public attention that it has attracted in the recent past.
For the first time, there’s an all-natural, non-addictive remedy that can end your reliance on painkillers or antibiotics.
There’s a catch though.
CBD that is sold commercially has to be sourced from Industrial Hemp, a plant that is closely related to Cannabis. Not the actual Marijuana plant itself.
The most notable difference between the two is that Industrial Hemp does not produce THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) at all. Or produces it in minuscule quantities only that’s not sufficient to get you stoned.
But since they are linked so closely, the lines between the two often begin to blur, which increases the risk of you being fobbed off, as well as being caught with a product that’s federally illegal to buy.
What is Industrial Hemp?
Cannabis Sativa L. is a variant of the Cannabis plant that is characterized by a very low amount of THC (less than 0.3%) and a high percentage of CBD, among other commercially-viable things like seeds and stem.
For decades, it was grown and used as a commodity Fiber crop in the United States.
However, cultivation was banned in 1937 after the US Marijuana Act bought all Cannabis plants under the ambit of the law.
Following this, the plant was deemed illegal to grow and farmers who were looking to grow it had to seek approval from the DEA.
Cut to the present, Hemp has been recognized as a viable alternative to plastic, paper, and even fossil fuels, which has resulted in a resurgence of the plant.
The recent 2018 Farm Bill decriminalized the cultivation of Industrial Hemp and proposed that regulations be created for the production of industrial hemp, which is a $700 billion industry globally.
While most industrial hemp is sourced primarily from Europe and other parts of the world currently, the Farm bill, as well as legalization of medical marijuana by many states in the US, promises to open up a whole new world of opportunities for farmers, and customers eager to wet their toes in the CBD craze.
For the consumer looking to dabble in CBD though, the takeaway is this.
If you are buying CBD or CBD products, ensure that the percentage of THC in these products is less than 0.3%.
How does CBD work?
In the 1990s, scientists discovered that the human body has a dedicated Endocannabinoid system.
It produces molecules similar to the one produced by the Cannabis plant and shuttles it like neurotransmitters, relaying messages to endocannabinoid receptors that are present all over the body.
While the primary purpose of this system is to ensure that our body remains in homeostasis, which is a sense of balance in response to the changes that occur in the environment, it may also play an important role in a whole range of processes, including appetite regulation, stress management, immunity, mood, reproduction, and metabolism.
When we ingest Cannabis, the Cannabinoids produced by the plant mimic the endocannabinoids naturally produced our body by interacting with two receptors mainly, the CB1 and CB2.
Of these, CB1 receptors are present extensively in the brain and the peripheral nervous system and are associated with neurotransmitters that relay messages related to motor skills, pain, and cognition.
THC primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor delaying the release of certain neurotransmitters and enhancing the release of others, which causes the psychoactive effect.
For a while, it was believed that CBD works in a similar fashion by interacting with the CB2 receptor which is present in the brain, the peripheral nervous system, the gastrointestinal system, and the immune system.
But this theory has been refuted, which has only added to the mysterious aura that surrounds CBD.
What are the benefits of CBD?
Despite there being just one FDA-approved drug that is derived from CBD for the treatment of certain types of Epilepsy, CBD and its extracts have flooded the nutraceutical market.
Proponents rave about its effectiveness in pain management, insomnia, treating depression, anxiety, GI issues and schizophrenia among others.
While there’s a clear lack of conclusive evidence to back these claims, the initial research on CBD seems to be very promising.
There are tons and tons of anecdotal reviews, testimonials and animal model studies to extrapolate these claims from.
Even if you take some of that with a pinch of salt, there has been enough initial research to suggest that CBD may one day replace a lot of conventional forms of treatment that we use.
Read more at: What are the benefits of CBD?
Is it legal?
Despite cannabis laws having loosened up in recent times, CBD continues to be a gray area with a lack of clarity on what’s legal and what’s not.
Technically, hemp-derived CBD is legal 47 of the 50 U.S States, provided that it does not contain more than 0.3% of THC.
Else, it can be categorized as Marijuana, which is a Schedule I substance, owning, using or distribution of which is punishable under the Controlled Substances Act.
Europe has always been the pioneer when it comes to recreational marijuana usage.
However, when it comes to CBD, there’s no single European law that deems it legal or illegal.
As of now, it is considered to be legal in most countries barring Slovakia and Italy, where the laws continue to be grey.
What are the challenges that customers face while buying CBD products?
Due to the industry being at a very nascent stage and a largely unregulated one, you have very little surety of the contents of that fancy, colored vial on the supermarket aisle.
There are chances that it may contain more than the stipulated amount of THC.
There are even chances that it may not contain CBD at all or maybe table dressed.
Moreover, there are no set standards or best practices for the production and labeling of these products.
There is zero quality control unless the products are tested by a third-party accrediting agency, which are few and far between.
As a consumer, you’ve got to be doubly sure about the contents of the products that you buy.
Buy only from reputed manufactures, seek third party certification whenever possible, reach out and ask questions if unsure.
Are there any risks to using CBD?
A recent report by the World Health Organization suggests that in its pure form, CBD is well-tolerated and relatively safe for human consumption.
It is non-addictive and there’s very little possibility of abuse.
There’s another report by the NIH that states that up to 1500mg/day of CBD is well-tolerated for a 4-week period, which suggests that short term use may be risk-free.
As of now, based on anecdotal reviews, CBD seems to produce the following undesirable side effects.
- Dry Mouth and Skin (Topical application)
- Drowsiness (Maybe due to an impure or contaminated batch)
- Drop in blood pressure
Different types of CBD products available for purchase
It is believed that it all started with CBD oil, although there’s no concrete proof of that.
But as the CBD craze went mainstream, consumers started to seek newer, more convenient ways to get their daily fix of CBD.
Today, there is a deluge of products that promise different, easier delivery methods. The following are some of the most popular ones.
- Oil: CBD oils and tinctures are the oldest, most tried and tested method of using CBD. Typically, CBD oil is a concentrated form of the cannabinoid, extracted and mixed with a carrier oil like hemp seed oil or coconut oil. It is best consumed sublingually as oral consumption is reported to have just a 20% absorption rate. This may depend on the concentration of CBD in the oil. Sublingual absorption rates can be as high as 35%. CBD oils are available in a variety of concentrations, flavored and unflavored versions as well as full-spectrum and Isolated forms.
- Edibles: Edibles are just what the name suggests. A variety of everyday use products that contain CBD. These can be gummies, cookies, chocolates, brownies or fruit juices. Just about anything can be blended with CBD. Edibles allow you to use CBD discreetly without drawing stares from pesky bystanders. Also, it is said to have a different rate of absorption as compared to oil or vape.
- Pills: Pills are the easiest way to get your daily dose of CBD. These are ingested orally and look pretty much like the Vitamin pills commonly used.
- Vape: Vaping is the newest and most popular way to ingest CBD. CBD distillate extracted using CO2 extraction is mixed with a solvent to make E-juice which can be vaped using a vaping device. Apart from CBD-infused Vape Juice which may be compatible with your existing vaping device, pens and cartridges are also available for purchase.
- Topical products: CBD-infused lotions and ointments have been used for localized pain relief and if anecdotal reviews are to go by, they are very effective. More recently, they are also making an appearance in skincare products and cosmetics.
What is the optimum dosage of CBD for various conditions?
Despite all the promise that CBD has shown in the limited time since its inception, there’s a huge learning curve that comes with it.
One needs to figure out the optimum dosage through some good old, trial and error. There are no ‘one-size fits all’ over here.
What may have worked for your friend or for someone that you spoke to on the internet may not work for you.
Everybody has a unique endocannabinoid system with different tolerance levels for CBD. Your current health condition, your body fat percentage, everything could make a difference.
We just don’t know what all factors affect it.
Hence, most people who use CBD recommend that you start with a very small dose and then increase it gradually depending on how your body reacts to it.
If you are using CBD oil for pain relief, for example, you can start with 20-30mg/day and then increase it by 5-10mg every week, until you start experiencing the positive effects.
It is also recommended that you maintain a log to keep track of your dosages and your experience with that dose.
Since there are two studies that have confirmed that humans can use up to 1500mg/day without noticeable side effects, you don’t have to worry about overdosing on CBD.
However, if you are currently on any medication, you may want to discuss the possibility of an interaction with your doctor before using CBD.
Closing thoughts
One can continue to dis CBD as a voguish trend or hype created by an overzealous, unscrupulous industry.
Or one can sit up and take notice of this extremely promising natural remedy that can change the way we treat some of the most debilitating conditions known to mankind.
If anything, there’s enough initial research to warrant more controlled trials with larger groups.