The Basics: What is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol (pronounced: can·ah·bid·dial), is a plant compound found in many nutritious plants including broccoli, black pepper, ginseng, carrots, and echinacea. It is also one of the most abundant compounds in the cannabis plant.
Its famous sister Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is also a natural compound of the cannabis flower. THC is responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis while CBD is not intoxicating (a.k.a. it doesn’t create a high at all). Specifically, when products have less than .03% THC, there are no intoxicating or psychoactive effects.
Did you know that CBD is a plant compound found in many nutritious plants including broccoli, black pepper, ginseng, carrots, and echinacea.
Why is CBD readily available, I thought cannabis was illegal?
The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was approved by the US Congress and became law on December 20, 2018. This law removed hemp (defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC) from the illegal controlled substances list (a.k.a. Schedule 1). This effectively made CBD an ordinary agricultural product. And this is why we've seen a massive increase in the companies and products that promote CBD. Wondering what the difference is between CBD, THC, hemp, and marijuana? We covered that in this article.
So, how can CBD help me?
People are using CBD like others are using yoga or meditation, to reduce stress, relieve pain and ease the pressures of everyday life. With more people accepting marijuana as a form of medicine, scientists and medical professionals are innovating a variety of products to help patients with their concerns. CBD products are now being used to treat an array of conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and depression, sleep, acne… even your sex drive.
Some of our favorite products help us fall asleep faster and reduce anxiety throughout a stressful day. You can check them out here. With so many products on the market right now, it's hard to know what will work best for you. We suggest only buying products that have their ingredients list posted and bonus points if they also provide detailed lab results for verification.
Omlie Tip: If the product washes off, don’t waste your money! CBD needs time to absorb into the skin and body, so CBD face wash and shampoo aren’t doing anything for you.
Is it dangerous?
A very valid question which is a topic of concern for many. Although CBD may seem like a new molecule due to the recent hype, scientists have been studying CBD (and its sister molecule THC) since the 1970’s and in that time, it’s fair to say cannabis had gained a pretty bad reputation. But all the while, research and evidence in the past few decades, including a critical review by the World Health Organization (WHO) stated, "In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD."
Is CBD right for me?
That’s personal and it depends on your journey - we suggest scheduling time with an Omlie cannabis coach to understand what might work best for you. There are loads of different CBD products for you to try, try a few and see which one works. For a short cut, check out our favorite products guide
How do I take CBD?
We understand that finding the right way to consume CBD can be intimidating and confusing. We’re here to help!
CBD is available in many different forms. CBD oil and pills are very popular and we love patches and lotions, especially for sensitive skin. There are also several CBD edibles on the market. Even Martha Stewart has her own CBD line for humans and one for pets!
Give CBD a try and let us know what you think! And if you would like us to review a specific product, drop us a line and we would be happy to try it out and provide our thoughts.