What Is CBD & Why Does It Matter?
CBD, also known by its formal name as Cannabidiol, is a chemical compound that’s naturally found in cannabis plants. Lately, you might feel like CBD is popping up all over the place, and for good reason. The health and wellness industry is learning more and more lately about the positive impacts this hemp plant derivative can have on mood and stress, pain management, and overall health.
Since CBD is extracted from cannabis, many people new to CBD have questions about its impact, its legality, or if its use will affect their ability to pass a drug test. We’re here to clear the air, share some basic facts, as well as what we know about CBD so far and its benefits.
Wait, What’s The Difference Between Cannabis, Hemp, and Marijuana?
The cannabis plant consists of two major species: hemp and marijuana. Marijuana has a much higher concentration of THC (5-20+%), whereas hemp has almost no THC in it (0.3% or less), but a whole lot more CBD, making the hemp variety of cannabis the ideal contender for CBD extraction.
Hemp is widely regarded as a diverse plant with plenty of applicable usage, as it’s used to make eco-friendly and sustainable forms of flooring and carpet, building materials, fabrics and clothing, paper and cardboard, and even food and fuel! CBD hemp extract is just another new, awesome way to use this beneficial plant.
Will I Get High If I Use CBD?
For starters, CBD use doesn’t get you “high”. The chemical compound responsible for the psychoactive impacts of marijuana is called THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. Depending on what kind of CBD product you choose to use, the THC is either completely removed or only exists in trace amounts. (0.3% or less.)
If you suffer from anxiety, have a hard time falling asleep, or need help managing pain or arthritis, just to name a few examples, CBD might have a very positive impact on your day-to-day and overall quality of life.
(Some products actually combine CBD and THC for a greater effect, so make sure to read labels and know what you’re purchasing.)
How Do I Use CBD?
The most popular form of CBD consumption is using tinctures to place droplets under the tongue. These tinctures vary in their potency, flavor, and additives. Some CBD tinctures are minimalists and tend to have an earthy flavor and aroma associated with them, while other types can be infused with flavors like mint, fruits, berries, and can even be enhanced with green tea extract, herbs, and essential oils.
CBD comes in a slew of other forms including pills, chewable gummies, topical creams, and disposable vape pens, to name a few. Tinctures seem to be the most popular form of CBD because they can be ingested quickly, easily, conveniently, and can even be added to meals or beverages.
Regardless of which form of CBD you decide to use, most CBD users agree that its benefits are most noticeable when it’s taken on a regular basis. The exact dosage you should take can vary depending on factors like height, weight, sensitivity, diet, and the severity of the ailment you’re attempting to combat in the first place.
What’s The Difference Between Full-Spectrum CBD, Broad-Spectrum CBD, and CBD Isolate?
This one’s pretty easy. Full-spectrum means that an oil or product contains all the cannabinoids that are naturally present in the hemp plant (a lot of chemistry and acronyms here like CBN (Cannabinol), CBG (Cannabigerol), etc., rather than just CBD (Cannabidiol).
One thing to note here is that people that are concerned about employment-related drug-testing will opt for the isolated form of CBD or broad-spectrum CBD so that even the trace amounts of THC that can be found in full-spectrum CBD won’t be of concern. Full-spectrum CBD has a very small amount of THC in it (0.3% or less) which usually isn’t enough to register on a drug test, but it’s not guaranteed.
Broad-spectrum CBD contains a broader spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes than CBD Isolate does, which gives more of the entourage effect similar to full-spectrum CBD minus the THC. Our first CBD products [coming soon!] will be tinctures available in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum formats, and our broad-spectrum CBD will be THC-free.
I Heard CBD Is Good For Dogs?
Many of the reported benefits of regular CBD use are also applicable to man’s best friend. If you have a canine that suffers from anxiety, separation anxiety, or pain due to an injury or age, consider giving your little buddy CBD as well.
Pro-Tip: Wanna up your Pet CBD game? Consider giving them a tincture that’s specially formulated for pets. Not only do they come in awesome flavors like chicken that your dog will love, but they’re also free of those special additives or essential oils that might not be as good for little buddy as they are for us.
How Do I Know the CBD I’m Buying Is Real?
As with anything else, some research on the CBD product you’re considering purchasing will go a long way. Most reputable CBD manufacturers will provide information on their web sites or labels that can attest to their product’s quality.
Information about the farm where the source hemp is derived from, the processes the manufacturer uses to extract the CBD, and even third-party testing reports from laboratories can help consumers approach their CBD purchase with confidence.
Is CBD Legal?
The short answer is yes. Cannabis in general has a rich history. (Some former U.S. Presidents even grew their own hemp!) But more specifically, a farming bill passed in 2014 and a more recent one signed by President Trump have made it federally legal to grow hemp. And in turn, CBD is completely legal as long as it contains 0.3% THC or less, federally speaking.
It’s important to bear in mind though that each state has their own unique set of laws that are to be followed. (We think it’s important to know how these laws work in the state in which you reside.) But as long as your state doesn’t have any specific statutes against it, you should be able to acquire CBD with no problems.
Where’s The Proof CBD Works?
There isn’t a whole lot of formal evidence available right now about CBD usage and its effects. Part of the reason why is because CBD use to treat the aforementioned ailments is a relatively new concept that lacks long-term study. Another part of the reason why could be because of the role big pharma plays in economics and their pharmaceutical preferences; we’ll call it.
Either way, millions of CBD users swear by its positive impact on their health and wellbeing. We hope that with time, more money and energy will be invested in long-term studies monitoring the strengths and benefits of regular CBD use.
In the meanwhile, please feel free to bookmark our new blog and web site, asepurenaturals.com, and stay tuned for additional blog posts and updates about our upcoming premium, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD tinctures.
We hope this blog post has answered some of your questions about CBD. Cheers, and we hope our upcoming line of CBD products will give you the power to make things happen.
-APN
