Are you new to CBD? In need of a CBD beginner's guide? Just a CBD 101 explanation. Everything will be explained to you here.
According to nuwireinvestor.com, the global market for CBD products is expected to grow to 20 billion dollars by 2024. Hundreds of companies have picked up on this rapid trend and brought forth a variety of CBD products, from oils and tinctures to gummy snacks and other edibles. If you don’t have any experience with CBD, here’s everything you need to know from a beginner’s point of view!
CBD or cannabidiol is a naturally occurring compound in cannabis plants. Cannabidiol is most commonly used to treat medical disorders and relieve different kinds of pain. It is also proven to be an effective anxiety reliever if dosed properly.
The CBD’s ties to the cannabis plant family raise many concerns when it comes to usage of these products. However, cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants, which means it doesn’t have any drug-like effects.
The origin of the Cannabis sativa plant dates over 10,000 years ago when agriculture was in its earlier stages. In fact, cannabis is considered one of the earliest crops planted by man. Naturally, its psychoactive effects weren’t very clear back in the day. Many cultures used cannabis in their daily life for their nutritious seeds and strong fabrics. Over the years, the drug effects of cannabis became more evident and thus came the first legal ban in Arabia that dates back to the 1300s. In the early 20th century, US states started to ban the use of cannabis because of its psychoactive effects. CBD was discovered to be a non-psychoactive component of cannabis in 1940. The man behind this discovery, Dr. Roger Adams, started one out of many CBD related research
projects. The profound scientific interest in CBD resulted in new findings, primarily related to the health benefits of this cannabis component.
Today, CBD has become more available due to rising interest and more favorable laws. Research has shown that CBD can help people quit smoking, as well as relieve pain thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Some have even suggested that CBD can help combat cancer in its early stages.
CBD derived from the hemp plant is federally legal because hemp doesn’t contain more than 0.3% of THC. THC is the component responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis, which is why any products that contain over 0.3% of this compound are considered illegal.
Some states, however, place additional restrictions on buyers. For example, if you live in Virginia, you will need doctor’s prescription to purchase CBD products. While hemp derived CBD is legal in all 50 states, CBD derived from marijuana is only legal in states that have legalized the use of marijuana in general.
The rapid growth of the CBD market has led to the development of different kinds of CBD products. You can take CBD several ways, depending on your preference or the type of treatment you’re under. These variations include:
Our body has receptors that interact directly with CBD and THC. It is known as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) that acts as a catalyst behind the many benefits of CBD.
| ROLE | BENEFIT |
| ANTICONVULSANT | Suppresses seizure activity and helps relieve the pain |
| ANTIEMETIC | Reduces nausea and vomiting |
| ANTIPSYCHOTIC | Combats psychosis disorders |
| ANTI-OXIDANT | Combats neurogenerative disorders |
| ANXIOLYTIC | Helps deal with anxiety and depressive episodes |
| ANTI-INFLAMMATORY | Helps relieve muscles and inflammatory disorders |
| PAIN RELIEF | Relaxes nerves and relieves different types of pains |
| ANTI-CANCER | Helps fight different types of tumors |
Thanks to the rapid growth of the CBD market, we can now find a variety of CBD products including oils, tinctures, and edibles. If you want to get the most out of your CBD intake, the best way to consume this substance is to through tinctures placed under the tongue (sublingual intake).
This method sends the CBD compound directly into the bloodstream, which makes it more effective. Gummies and edibles, on the other hand, might take longer to show effects because they have to be absorbed through the digestive tract.
CBD As you browse through CBD products, you will find that there are two main types of CBDs – full-spectrum and isolate CBD. Isolate CBD is the most basic form of this component as it contains nothing but purely extracted CBD. Full-spectrum CBD, on the other hand, contains the whole range of cannabinoids that you get when you extract CBD from hemp. Thus, full-spectrum CBDs are richer in THC (not more than 0.3%). Full-spectrum products also tend to be more effective due to the full range of components.
The right dosage of CBD depends on the product you’re using and the purpose behind it. The dosage can depend on several factors, including your body weight, the symptoms you’re treating, as well as the concentration of CBD in the product. If you’re using CBD
for the first time, you can consult a doctor to find out which dosage would be most efficient for your treatment.
However, if you’re planning to take CBD without consulting a doctor, you should ask for recommendations from other users or seek help from the company you decide to purchase from. In general, it is okay to start with a small dose of 20mg and increase the dosage for 5mg every week. You can repeat this process until you feel that the substance is affecting your symptoms properly. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor or
a medical worker before you take the first step. Here is a generalized chart of weight-based dosage of CBD:
There are hundreds of CBD brands and products available nowadays. As much as having many choices sounds like a good thing, it can also be confusing for first-time buyers. Once you start looking for the right CBD product, consider the following tips: Start by deciding what type of CBD you want to consume – whether you’re looking for oils, tinctures, or edibles.
Look for reputable companies that use natural extraction methods with CO2 or food-grade ethanol. These natural solvents will ensure that there are no other substances in the product. Make sure you check out the COA or the certificate of analysis on each product.
The product’s label should contain a QR code that leads to the COA. Once you scan the code and access the certificate of analysis, inspect it carefully and make sure the product doesn’t contain more than 0.3% of THC.
You should also check whether it contains the right amount of CBD as it is advertised and if all the cannabinoids are present. If you chose a full spectrum product, the COA should list all cannabinoids including CBDa, CBG, CBC, and CBN. Here is a more detailed guide on how to read the COAs of CBD products.
Labels on CBD products can seem complicated to a first-time buyer. The three most important terms you should be aware of when purchasing CBDs are full-spectrum, isolates, and broad-spectrum CBDs. We’ve already explained the difference between full-spectrum and isolate CBDs. Broad CBDs, on the other hand, feature the full range of components just like full-spectrum products.
The only difference is that broad CBDs feature all components except THC, whereas full-spectrum products include a small percentage of THC. Other information you should look for on the label is the full ingredients of the product. Make sure you’re not allergic to side substances, if there are any. Only purchase CBD products from trusted stores and sellers that provide plenty of information on their labels.
We’ve already briefly mentioned the difference between hemp-derived and marijuana-derived CBD. It is important to address that hemp-derived CBD is legal across all 50 states because it contains no THC or at least less than 3% of it. CBD derived from marijuana contains a higher percentage of THC, which is why it is illegal in states that haven’t legalized the use of marijuana in general.
In most cases, CBD can cause minor side effects such as low blood pressure and dry mouth. As your body gets accustomed to the substance, you will be experiencing less and less side effects. However, if the substance is not dosed properly, you can experience more severe side effects such as nausea and lightheaded dizziness.
CBD oil and other products can have a significant impact on the treatment of various medical disorders including epilepsy, anxiety, acne, Alzheimer’s disease, and type 1 diabetes among others. However, despite all the positive health benefits, one should be careful when using CBD products to prevent overdosing and unwanted side effects. With that in mind, make sure to consult a doctor or a medical worker before adding CBD to your treatment.
See our other very information about "What is CBD?"
