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Everywhere you click these days, it seems like someone on the internet is talking about cannabidiol—also known as CBD, a chemical compound derived from the cannabis plant. Online retailers market the extract (also known as hemp oil) as a remedy for a variety of ailments, celebrities swear by its healing powers, and the ingredient is popping up in nutritional supplements and beauty products, as well. There’s even a new FDA-approved drug derived from CBD.
Although Marijuana leaves and flowers can be used to get high, CBD from hemp itself is non-psychoactive—meaning that it doesn’t get you high the way smoking or eating cannabis-related products containing THC (the plant’s psychoactive compound) can.
CBD may have real benefits for people living with chronic pain. There is a recent clinical trial from pharmaceutical company Zynerba that found that a CBD-derived topical drug provided pain relief to patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
We don’t have that many good drugs for pain, and we know that CBD has fewer side effects than opioids or even nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can cause bleeding and cardiovascular problems.
Anecdotally, my internist said ; “I cannot endorse the use of CBD since it is not currently FDA approved. But if a little bit of CBD can make your knees feel better, I’d prefer you take that rather than some other drugs.”
- CBD appears to have anti-inflammatory properties.
- CBD oil is a rich source of fatty acids and other skin-healthy nutrients, and that it may improve hydration and minimize moisture loss
- CBD oil may inhibit the growth of acne.
- CBD has been shown to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network in the brain that seems to play a role in social behavior, circadian rhythm,and reward processing—all of which can be atypical in people with autism.
- In terms of solid evidence, the one thing we really know about CBD is that it can be helpful for rare childhood seizure disorders.
- There have been animals studies that show CBD has scientifically proven properties to inhibit cancer cell growth. The mainstream medical community doesn’t recommend CBD products as a remedy for cancer, but when Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017, she was using CBD oil as a treatment.
- CBD oil has been used to help fight anxiety and panic attacks. It seems to have sort of a calming effect on the brain, although the precise mechanism by which it exerts these effects is not really well understood.
IS CBD LEGAL?
To answer this question, it’s not exactly straightforward.
While it’s true that CBD is legal in all 50 states, there are situations when it isn’t legal. The difference between legal and illegal typically depends on several important factors determined by the state in question. There is, however, one very important factor that is a crucial determinant across all states, and that is where the CBD is derived from–hemp or marijuana.
Now, marijuana and hemp are both members of the cannabis family, so they do share a lot of characteristics. There is, however, a crucial difference between the two–the amount of psychoactive Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) each plant produces. While marijuana can contain up to 30% THC, hemp contains no more than 0.3% THC. In other words, marijuana can get you really high, while hemp has such a low amount of THC, that it would be impossible to get high off it.
Because hemp has no psychoactive effects, the law has no problem with it. Hemp products are completely legal and available in all types of different industries and stores across America.
The best advice I can give is make certain that the CBD oil you get is obtained from a natural/organic source derived from hemp.
DISCLAIMER:
I am not a lawyer and the information above should in no way be interpreted as professional advice or legal counsel.
NOTE: CBD, like any other herbal remedy works differently on each person. For some, improvement will be shown quickly. For some there will be little or no improvement. Dosage should be conservative. Most start out with two drops sublingual application twice daily, (in my case at arising and before bed). Depending on body type and metabolism some literature states you can take up to 24 drops daily.
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