CBD Questions

101 CBD Facts Everyone Should Know

101 Interesting Questions About Using CBD Oil Answered

CBD is everywhere nowadays. Business publications have been going on about “the green rush” for almost a year now and stores all over the place are stocking their shelves with this new product. From head shops to pharmacies, and from your Facebook feed to that one coworker, you’ve probably heard a lot about CBD. But, what is the stuff?

CBD is a cannabinoid, meaning that it is a chemical compound found in Cannabis and hemp plants. It is perfectly legal and very widely consumed for a whole range of reasons ranging from promoting wellness to managing chronic pain. It skyrocketed in popularity after the government passed something called the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, which legalized the use of products derived from hemp in the United States.

Products derived from hemp were made illegal (in an unofficial sense) in 1937 with the passing of the Marihuana Tax Act. Further legislation in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act, rendered them explicitly illegal. For a significant period of time, hemp was regarded in the same way as the actual Cannabis plant, even though they are starkly different.

When the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 (generally referred to as just “the farm bill”) passed, CBD products started hitting the market immediately. Its benefits had been a talking point for several years leading up to the Farm Bill, but as soon as its legality was no longer in question, people wanted to try it for themselves. With piqued curiosity, thousands of people started to research and try these products and what they found shaped the entire future of the industry: it was working!

Within six months, CBD had become an industry worth $1 billion with projections of quintupling in size quickly. There was a greater than 700% increase in CBD sales from 2018 to 2019 and, as of 2020, those sales are showing no signs of grinding to a halt any time soon.

Long time believers in the healing power of Cannabis flocked to CBD because it had a distinct advantage over just consuming the plant in the same way it always has been; it was legal. Those in natural health circles and people battling health problems that didn’t want to put their trust in traditional pharmaceuticals were soon to follow. CBD hit the ground running and has not looked back.

However, there’s a problem with its popularity. Anecdotal success stories and complicated research papers can provide the curious with a wealth of information, but those things aren’t always accessible or reliable. Research into CBD and its effects are ongoing but it remains in its early stages. Plenty of people are reaping great benefits from using the product, but in this day and age, you know it isn’t easy to separate productive information from plain propaganda.

For the CBD beginner, there is a lot of conflicting information out there. There are plenty of nay-sayers that take issue with the way that this chemical compound is sourced, there are unscrupulous businesses that saw the opportunity to turn a quick profit, there is lengthy and information-dense research published that can be hard to wade through, and so much more. If that’s how you feel, this is the last resource that you may ever need.

CBD oils

When it comes to something you’re putting in your body, there are no stupid questions. In this resource, we’ve gathered up over a hundred questions that CBD beginners may have. We cover everything from how the products are made, how they’re legal, what doctors are saying, and how CBD fits into the lifestyle of those with specific dietary needs. We talk about products, companies, popular terms, and even how you can save a bit of money when it comes time to make your purchase.

So, if you’re someone who is confused about what CBD is, who should use it, and how you can reap the broadly-claimed health benefits, enjoy! Here are 101 questions about CBD answered.

1. What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an organic chemical compound that is classified as a phytocannabinoid which was discovered in 1940. It, along with at least 120 other discovered phytocannabinoids, are the main organic chemical compounds that comprise the overall makeup of the Cannabis plant.

CBD has gained a lot of attention in the past few years due to the numerous beneficial properties that CBD use can provide. This specific organic chemical compound is found in naturally occurring levels in a few plants within the Cannabaceae family, namely in Cannabis ruderalis, Cannabis sativa, and Cannabis indica.

Some people confuse CBD and THC, but there are numerous key distinctions between these two phytocannabinoids, and each of them is present in varying concentrations depending on the specific strain of Cannabis in question.

2. Is CBD Dangerous?

There is currently no clinical findings that would indicate that CBD is dangerous for human use, or for animal use. Quite the contrary, actually, as CBD has given strong clinical indications that it can be extremely beneficial for a variety of different uses.

CBD research has been ongoing ever since it was first discovered and isolated in 1940 by scientists that were studying Minnesota wild hemp and Egyptian Cannabis indica resin at that time, and that research has really ramped up in the last couple of years after the benefits of CBD use have become more apparent doctors, pharmacologists, scientists, and the general population.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), there are more than 7,000 research findings relating to CBD and its effects on humans and animals to date.

Additionally, CBD is rarely reported to have any unwanted or negative side-effects in users, and the side-effects that users have reported as having been experienced due to CBD use are mild at best and are not life-threatening.

The World Health Organization (the WHO) recommended in 2017 that CBD not be internationally scheduled as a controlled substance based on CBD’s safety for human use, and because of the clinical findings that indicated at that time that CBD potentially had therapeutic uses, particularly for treating certain rare and severe forms of epilepsy.

3. Is CBD The Same as Hemp Oil?

Despite the fact that CBD and hemp oil are both derived from the same source, they are not the same substances. Hemp oil (which is also more commonly known as hemp seed oil) is the oil that is taken from the seeds of the hemp plant, whereas CBD oil is taken from the shoot system of the plant.

The shoot system of the hemp plant consists of the stem, leaves, and flowers. It is in these plant parts that the highest concentration of phytocannabinoids (including CBD) is found. Hemp seed oil is sometimes marketed as being Cannabis sativa seed oil and is very beneficial for a variety of uses on its own, but it should not be confused for CBD or CBD oil.

4. Is CBD The Same as Cannabis Oil?

It depends on what is being called Cannabis oil. If it is “Cannabis sativa seed oil,” then the answer to that question would be a flat “no.” However, if we are talking about something that is being marketed purely as “Cannabis oil,” then the answer is a little more complex but is still a “no” as the end result. Cannabis oil (which goes by the alternate names hash oil or honey oil) is an oleoresin that is obtained via the extraction of Cannabis or hashish.

found naturally in the Cannabis plant. It is found in varying concentrations throughout both the stem system (the stem, leaves, and the plant’s flowers) and within the root system (which is composed of the plant’s primary and secondary roots). CBD is found in much higher concentrations within the plant’s stem system, in particular, the leaves and in the plant’s flowers. CBD is extracted from the plant parts using a variety of methods in order to obtain the actual CBD oil that gets used in a variety of different products.

The CBD oil that is used as the main ingredient in CBD-based products which are being sold on the market today is commonly extracted from Cannabis ruderalis, which is a strain of Cannabis plant that has the lowest THC levels out of the three Cannabis genera, and which has the highest concentration of CBD out of the three as well.

6. What Are Industrial Hemp Plants?

Industrial hemp plants are hemp plants that are specifically cultivated and harvested for their CBD content. Most industrial hemp plants grown in the United States are of the Cannabis ruderalis strain due to its particularly low THC content and its high concentration of CBD by total plant volume.

It is because of this THC to CBD ratio that Cannabis ruderalis is rarely used recreationally, unlike the other two classified strains of Cannabis; Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. These hemp plants have been designated as being specifically cultivated for CBD use and are classified as being regular agricultural products, as explained by the Oregon State University.

Because they are regular agricultural products, they are required to meet specific State and Federal laws which apply to all agricultural products, and further laws and regulations that apply to agricultural products that are deemed to be for human use and / or consumption.

7. How is CBD Extracted?

CBD is commonly extracted by one of three different extraction processes. The three processes are: The Rick Simpson Method, the Carrier Oil Extraction method, the Alcohol Extraction method, and the CO2 Extraction method.

Each of these methods has its own pros and cons, both for the manufacturer and for the end-user. The extraction method that is the most highly recommended is the CO2 extraction method. This specific extraction method utilizes CO2 as a solvent in order to strip away any unwanted impurities, leaving behind clean CBD oil.

The CO2 extraction method can be performed in one of three different methods, supercritical, subcritical, and ‘mid-critical’. Regardless of which CO2 extraction method is chosen, it is the cleanest and safest extraction method that is currently available.

The Carrier Oil Extraction method utilizes a ‘carrier oil’ such as olive oil, coconut oil, or even hemp seed oil. The chosen oil is used to draw the CBD out of the plant parts using a particular chemical process that involves heating up the plant to a specific temperature range for a specific amount of time; this process is called decarboxylation.

The Alcohol Extraction method uses ethanol or ethyl alcohol in much the same way as the Carrier Oil Extraction method. The alcohol is used to draw the CBD from the plant parts after they have undergone decarboxylation.

Finally, The Rick Simpson Method is the extraction method that is rarely (if ever) used anymore by the bigger and more reputable CBD manufacturers because of how impure it leaves the CBD end-product. For this method, a hydrocarbon (such as butane, pentane, propane, hexane, or acetone, as examples) is used as a solvent to strip away the CBD from the plant parts.

The Rick Simpson Method of extraction is the cheapest, fastest, and least desirable extraction method available.

8. Is There CBD in Cannabis?

There are varying amounts of CBD present in Cannabis flowers, or ‘buds’. The amount of CBD that is present is dependent on the specific strain that the Cannabis flowers were cut from.

Cannabis ruderalis has the highest concentration of CBD, but because of its low THC content, it is rarely smoked. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica both have CBD that is present and are the two strains of Cannabis that are most often used for recreational purposes. Crossbreeds and sub-species within the Cannabaceae family all have differing amounts of CBD present. Cannabis indica strains generally have lower THC content and a higher CBD content when compared to Cannabis sativa strains, which result in the user having less of a “high” feeling, and more of a “stoned” feeling.

The short answer to this question is: regardless of what strain your Cannabis is from, CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid that is present. Second only to THC, which is the main cannabinoid that is desired for recreational Cannabis use.

9. Do CBD and THC Come From The Same Plant?

CBD and THC do come from the same plant, but the CBD that is generally used for a variety of CBD-based products comes from a different strain than what is usually used for THC. Both of these phytocannabinoids come from the Cannabis plants in the Cannabaceae family.

Because these two phytocannabinoids have very different effects when used, strains that have a higher concentration of one over the other are often chosen for specific desired results. Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa are the two strains that are most commonly used as recreational drugs due to their high THC content, which is what produces the feeling of being high. Cannabis ruderalis, on the other hand, is the strain that is commonly cultivated for CBD use because of its high CBD to THC ratio.

The amount of CBD and THC that is present also differs based on what part of the Cannabis plant you’re extracting from. The airy plant parts that make up the stem system (the stem, leaves, and flowers) have much higher concentrations of both phytocannabinoid than the root system does. Regardless, each of these three strains all has CBD and THC present, and you can extract either phytocannabinoid from all three.

10. What Is The Difference Between Cannabis and Hemp?

The exact definitions of marijuana, hemp, and Cannabis aren’t exact in the scientific community or in the general population, but they are defined in a very clear way by the United States legal system. According to the United States law, “Cannabis” is the plant as a whole, and both “hemp” and “marijuana” are specific parts of that plant.

Hemp, according to the law, is the sterilized seeds, stems, stalks, and the root system of the Cannabis plant. Marijuana, on the other hand, refers to the viable seeds of the Cannabis plant, and its leaves and flowers.

When talking about Bees, as an example, have been found by researchers at Cornell University that tall hemp plants are much more preferred by bee flocks, and that they can greatly help with the common population problems that they have been facing in recent history. Bees are what are known as “pollinators” and they (along with other pollinating insects) are vitally critical for the ecosystem.

According to some findings, just two percent of wild bee species contribute to 80 percent of the crop pollination visits that are observed globally. Without that two percent of wild bee species, humans would lose 80% of their crops on a global scale.

By providing wild bees with an agricultural product that they prefer (and one that has been helping them to maintain their colonies), we are ensuring that there are more bees present in the wild to pollinate our other crops, up to and including our various food crops.

This is so important to the environment that it actually becomes difficult to explain. Out of the top 100 food crops that are grown for human consumption worldwide, 70 of them rely on pollinators at some point in their life cycle. This makes it very scary when you look at the figures and find out that it has been reported that 40% of the honey bee colonies died off just last winter, and we are seeing an overall decrease of 2.5% per year in insect populations worldwide.

12. What Is The Difference Between CBD and THC?

Despite the fact that CBD and THC are both phytocannabinoids that are found in Cannabis plants, they are trace amounts of THC that are present in Federally legal CBD products are found in such small amounts that they don’t have any noticeable clinical or health impact on the user.

14. How Can I Be Sure What’s in My CBD?

Because CBD products that contain ≥0.3% of THC by total volume are illegal, or because you want to know exactly what you’re putting into or onto your body, it is possible to obtain test results for a specific CBD product from the manufacturer.

Each manufacturer’s products undergo strict alters the function of the user’s brain in some way, and because it has mood-altering properties.

However, CBD isn’t a psychoactive chemical in the same way as THC, which is why some people mistakenly report that CBD isn’t psychoactive. A psychoactive is defined in the simplest of terms as being “a drug that affects the mind,” which CBD does. When talking about the psychoactive properties of Cannabis plants, people usually just think about THC because of how it causes users to feel “high” or “stoned”, which is a more classic hallmark symptom of psychoactives.

16. Can CBD Get You High?

CBD on its own can not give you a feeling of being “high” or “stoned.” The phytocannabinoid that is present in Cannabis plants that is responsible for causing these altered mental states is THC and its related compounds, such as Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

Using a CBD product that does not have a high THC content by total volume (such as CBD products that are Federally legal for sale and use and are required to contain ≤0.3% of THC in total) will never cause you to feel high. CBD can cause users to have more positive feelings, can cause you to feel more relaxed, and can affect the user’s overall mood (particularly after long-term use), but CBD itself will never get you high.

17. Is CBD Addictive?

CBD has no clinical indication that it has any addictive properties. Phytocannabinoids (such as CBD and THC) are used by the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) where they attach to specific receptors in both the body’s tissues and in the cells.

These receptors (or neurotransmitters, as they are also known) that are a part of the Endocannabinoid System are known as the CB1 receptors and the CB2 receptors. THC has what is considered as negative effects on the brain’s receptors (which are the CB1 neurotransmitters), and on the body’s immune system’s receptors (which are the CB2 neurotransmitters), which is what causes the user to feel “high” or to feel “stoned” due to it resulting in a higher psychoactive state.

It is this higher psychoactive state that THC causes, and how it is used by the Endocannabinoid System that is thought by some to cause what is clinically known as psychological dependence, though there isn’t any definitive proof of this, and many in the medical community dispute this.

Either way, CBD, on the other hand, does not have the same effects on the Endocannabinoid System. It’s because of how the Endocannabinoid System acts and reacts to CBD which results in researchers not thinking that it carries the same proposed risk of psychological dependence in any event.

18. Does CBD Have Side Effects?

There is currently research being done on potential side-effects of long-term CBD use, but none of them have produced any definitive answers as of yet. We do know of what the reported short-term side-effects are, and none of them can be considered as anything but “mild”.

Some users have reported experiencing the following side-effects that they attributed to CBD use:

  • Dry mouth;
  • Lower blood pressure (hypotension);
  • Light-headedness when going from a seated position to a standing one;
  • Drowsiness, or feeling sleepy;
  • Nausea, and;
  • Anxious feelings, or minor general feelings of malaise (which is just an indescribable feeling that something is “wrong” or “off”).

When deciding if the potential for one (or more) of these side-effects to affect you after using CBD, it’s worth weighing that potentiality against the numerous reported benefits that come from both short-term and long-term CBD use.

As a final note, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has reported in one study that doses up to 600 mg at a time can generally be taken without the user feeling any potentially unpleasant side-effects on average. Another study shows that chronic use of doses of up to 1,500 mg at a time is well tolerated in humans. So, if you limit your intake of CBD to less than 600 mg per dose, to begin with, then you would be less likely to experience any negative side-effects of CBD.

19. Will CBD Make Me Tired?

CBD can make you tired, depending on a variety of factors. One of the main factors in whether or not CBD will make you feel tired is what the specific CBD product’s goal was. CBD can be mixed with a variety of different ingredients, each of which can enhance certain properties of CBD in different ways.

If you were to (for example) make a cup of tea with CBD and something like chamomile (which is widely regarded as being a mild sleep inducer), you are likely to start feeling sleepy afterward, as CBD is known to help aid sleep and is known for being a great relaxant.

However, CBD will generally not make users “tired”, and most CBD users report that CBD often makes them feel more alert or more energized. A feeling of drowsiness is sometimes reported as being a side-effect of CBD use, but that is fairly uncommon when the goal of the specific CBD product in question isn’t to make the user sleepy.

20. Can I be Allergic to CBD?

There is currently no concrete evidence that CBD can be an allergen, however, it is important to understand some risk factors that could potentially be indicative of a CBD allergy, or that could contribute to causing an allergic reaction to CBD.

The use of marijuana has been shown to not cause higher sensitivity to certain allergens when compared to non-marijuana users.

The lack of a connection between marijuana use and an increase in sensitivity to specific allergens is a good first step towards showing that it is unlikely that any chemical compound present in marijuana (including CBD) can be an allergen itself, or that it can cause sensitivity to other allergens. Obviously, however, if you start to feel any allergic reactions in response to CBD use, you should immediately discontinue use and seek medical attention, as is the case with any product.

21. Can I Overdose on CBD?

In no uncertain terms: no. There is absolutely no clinical evidence that you can overdose on CBD. CBD has been being researched since it was first isolated and identified in 1940, and none of this research even slightly indicates that this could be a possibility.

Humans have been using marijuana both medically and recreationally since at least c. 440 BCE by the Greeks, as having been reported by the Greek historian Herodotus. There have also been archeological findings pointing towards Cannabis use by prehistoric societies in Eurasia and Africa. There has never been a report of anyone overdosing on marijuana in all of its recorded history, and considering CBD is up to 40% of the total phytocannabinoid content of Cannabis plants, it is highly unlikely that CBD itself would be capable of causing an overdose.

Additionally, CBD does not pose a risk for dependency, and CBD users rarely report building up a strong tolerance against CBD, which are both high-risk risk factors for drug overdoses in drugs that are the main culprits for overdoses.

Because the users do not become psychologically and physically reliant on the use of CBD, and because they are unlikely to keep increasing the dose that they are taking, the short-term use and the long-term use of CBD is incredibly safe.

In fact, CBD could be a great help in reducing the number of overdose deaths that we witness per year, as it can greatly help in the aid of drug addiction recovery, minimizing the risk of relapsing.

22. Does CBD Really Work?

CBD has strong clinical evidence for a variety of different medical uses. Some of the benefits that CBD is advertised as having does not currently have very strong clinical proof but does have a staggering amount of user-reported evidence.

The benefits that CBD has shown strong evidence to have on users include (but is not limited to) the following: reducing the body’s response to painful stimuli, reducing inflammation, assisting with insomnia, and effectively treating both Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), along with other forms of childhood epilepsy.

In fact, the first-ever Cannabis-derived medication that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contains CBD as an integral ingredient. This medication, Epidiolex, is a drug for treating Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, among other severe seizure-causing forms of epilepsy.

And as we previously stated, the user-reported evidence that CBD is effective is pretty overwhelming and is hard to ignore. In 2019, Consumer Reports conducted a survey of more than 4,0000 Americans which found nearly three-quarters of the participants reported that CBD was at least “moderately” effective in treating the issue for which they were taking the CBD for, and 48 percent of them reported that CBD use was “very” or “extremely” effective in providing them with their desired benefit.

Consumer Report goes on to state that there are an estimated 64 million Americans that have tried CBD at least once in the 24 months leading up to the survey that they put out. They also report that 40% of the participants surveyed that were in their 20’s responded that they have tried CBD, and 15% of those that were over the age of 60 did as well.

23. Does CBD Work For Everyone?

CBD will not have the same amount of efficacy for each and every single person that uses it, because everybody is different and the efficacy and potency of products depend a lot on a few key variables. CBD is likely to work at least to some degree for basically everybody, but there are a few things that could play a role in how much of a benefit from CBD use that someone can expect to see from a recommended dose of CBD, such as:

  • The individual’s body weight;
  • The individual’s natural tolerance for CBD;
  • The user’s chosen route for administration of the CBD;
  • Various metabolic and genetic factors, and;
  • The user’s desired outcome, among others.

As an example, taking a closer look at one of the variables, the user’s desired outcome from the use of CBD can play a role in the perception of whether or not the CBD worked.

If the user is simply looking for something to help them to relax and they have a nice cup of CBD tea, then they are much more likely to achieve their desired outcome (the CBD “worked”) than someone that has a desired outcome of the CBD completely taking away their severe and chronic pain. While CBD can possibly provide the latter, the former is much more likely to provide the same level of efficacy across many users.

24. How Does CBD Work?

Explaining exactly how CBD works is a little complicated, and it often involves a lot of technical and involved detailing. The basics of CBD is that it is an organic chemical compound that is classified as a phytocannabinoid. Phytocannabinoids, including CBD, interact with what is known as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).

The Endocannabinoid System is a biological system that is present in humans and most animals and is composed of Endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors (which are known as CBRs), and they bind to cannabinoid receptor proteins which are expressed throughout both the central nervous system in vertebrates (including in their brain) and in their peripheral nervous system.

The Endocannabinoid System is thought by researchers to be involved in some way or another in the regulation of a variety of the body’s and cognitive processes, including fertility, various activities of the immune system, appetite, pain-sensation, overall mood, and memory. The Endocannabinoid System is also responsible for mediating the pharmacological effects of cannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, and phytocannabinoids.

Two primary cannabinoid receptors in the Endocannabinoid System have been identified by researchers to date: CB1 (which was first cloned in 1990), and CB2 (which was first cloned in 1993).

CB1 receptors are mainly found in the brain and throughout the nervous system, as well as being notably present in peripheral organs and tissues. CB1 receptors are receptors that anandamide (a fatty acid neurotransmitter that is naturally produced in the body; also known as AEA) and THC both primarily target after being introduced into the system.

CBD acts as a rather weak antagonist at both of the CBRs, meaning it doesn’t affect CB1 or CB2 to the same level or in the same way as THC. The body produces its own cannabinoids to use, but just like with any other substance that your body needs, supplementing it with an external source of cannabinoids (CBD, for instance) will help to boost your ECS’ overall function.

This boost of cannabinoids could just be a supplement to an already well functioning Endocannabinoid System, or your body could even be deficient in cannabinoids for a variety of reasons. Either way, regular CBD use can be very beneficial.

25. Why is CBD so Versatile?

The versatility of CBD can really be attributed to one major factor: the various different physical and mental processes that the Endocannabinoid System is involved in. Because the Endocannabinoid System plays major and minor roles in a large host of biological processes, giving your ECS a boost when it needs it can really provide you with a lot of beneficial effects.

Because your ECS is involved in the process of pain-sensation, giving your ECS a helping hand will often lead to you feeling less acute and / or chronic pain because your Endocannabinoid System will be able to properly process that sensation in an overall better way.

Or, as another example, because your Endocannabinoid System is involved in regulating your mood, taking CBD can greatly increase your overall mental health by reducing feelings of anxiety and increasing positive emotions.

The body is a very interconnected biological machine, a thought process that is found in many different philosophies and religions around the world, dating back to ancient times, such as in the earliest traditions of Hinduism (with Chakras), to ancient Chinese medicine (Meridians).

Because of how connected the body’s numerous biological processes are, and how many of these processes are reliant on the function of the Endocannabinoid System, it’s really not too surprising that something like CBD can have such a profound positive effect in mitigating or healing any number of different ailments.

26. Why Do People Use CBD?

Because of the versatility of CBD, and its overall efficacy that many CBD users have witnessed and reported over the years, it makes CBD both a popular and an all-natural option over more “traditional” over-the-counter pharmacology, such as opioids and antidepressants.

As for specific reasons that people use CBD, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reports that 62% of CBD users stated that they use CBD as a treatment method for an ailment, and out of that 62% of CBD users, the top three reported medical conditions that CBD was being used to treat were: chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

Almost 36% of those respondents reported that CBD treats the medical condition(s) that they were using CBD for “very well” with no additional treatments, while only 4.3% of those reported that CBD treated their condition “not very well” on its own. The respectable percentage of CBD users that are able to treat their medical condition using only CBD is pretty indicative of why so many people choose to use CBD.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s published findings in 2016 of their National Health Interview Survey (which included the results from more than 17,000 adults in the United States) more than 1 in 5 Americans suffer from chronic pain.

That’s more than 50 million Americans that struggle with chronic pain, and which might benefit from regular CBD use. Additionally—of those 50 million Americans—it was reported that 8% (approximately 19.6 million in total) suffer from pain that interferes with their daily lives and with them being able to meet their responsibilities.

Looking at these numbers with the knowledge that the most common reason for CBD use is pain management, it’s not surprising that so many people choose to use CBD, even if it was just for pain management alone.

27. Is CBD Just a “Fad” Drug?

Some people might think that CBD is merely a fad drug or that it is just the current trendy thing and is likely to be forgotten in favor of the next thing that’s trendy with the younger people in the United States, and for some, it might be.

But brushing CBD off as just being another fad isn’t the most logical reaction CBD’s popularity, and those that understand the history of marijuana use, the history of CBD, and the current research on CBD are highly likely to tell you the same thing.

CBD has been being researched ever since it was first identified and isolated in 1940, and when you look at each of the nearly 3,000 results for Cannabidiol that the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has on their site, you can easily tell exactly how seriously the medical and scientific communities are taking CBD.

When you also look at why marijuana has been a popular for recreational use, medicinal use, and spiritual use since ancient times, it also helps to paint a picture of why CBD and other Cannabis-derived products aren’t just a fad.

CBD comprises up to 40% of the phytocannabinoid presence in Cannabis by total volume. The history of the benefits of marijuana use is much older than one might otherwise think; the oldest archeological evidence for the burning of Cannabis was found in Romanian-constructed kurgans (which were a type of a burial mound, or a tumulus) which were dated to 3,500 BC; more than 5,500 years ago.

Medical Cannabis, in modern history, also has a long history filled with numerous examples of its therapeutic uses being acknowledged, such as when numerous American-based medical organizations requested the removal of Cannabis from the list of Schedule I controlled substances because of how much evidence there is supporting the medical benefits of marijuana and Cannabis-derived medications.

28. Why is CBD so Popular?

The global CBD market was valued at $570 million USD in 2018, and the market is estimated to have a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 125.58% for the forecast period of 2018 to 2026.

This market growth is said to hit $20 billion USD in 2024, according to market analysts. The various professional expectations for this huge boom in growth is based almost wholly on CBD’s current popularity worldwide and its market history to date.

One of the most pivotal factors in CBD’s sudden boost in popularity can be attributed to H.R.5485 (which is commonly known as The Hemp Farming Act of 2018), which was signed into Federal law in December of 2018.

The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 legalized the cultivation of, and the manufacturing of derivative products from, industrial hemp that has a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than 0.3%. This legalization removed hemp from the Schedule I list of the Controlled Substances Act.

More than 40 states nationwide have since adopted a number of agricultural and medical programs in order to take advantage of CBD’s benefits and to further understand how CBD can be used in medicine.

After growing industrial hemp was made legal, which allowed for more than just research universities to cultivate crops of it, CBD saw a massive increase in the amount of research that was being done into the effects of both short-term and long-term use of it.

The legalization of growing industrial hemp and of manufacturing industrial hemp-derived CBD products, the increase into the research being done on CBD, and the average American’s desire to have access to an all-natural and safer alternative to over-the-counter medications all came together to boost the popularity of CBD to the levels that we see today.

29. What Are The Benefits of Using CBD?

There are numerous potentially positive effects that regular CBD use can provide based both on clinical evidence and on user-reported findings. Regular CBD use can possibly provide you with one (or more) of the following benefits to some degree:

  • Relief from acute and / or chronic pain;
  • Reduction in joint swelling;
  • Alleviating feelings of anxiety;
  • Helping to mitigate the effects of clinical depression;
  • Helping to reduce the risk of drug avoidance relapse (from drug addiction);
  • Acting as a beneficial supplement for diabetics;
  • Reducing nausea;
  • As a supplement for weight loss plans;
  • Helping to clear up acne and skin blemishes, and;
  • Aiding in getting a better night’s sleep, among others.

Even when you don’t have a specific ailment that you’re suffering from and you think that CBD use might help with, regularly using CBD can still be of benefit to you.

The Endocannabinoid System is a biological system that is involved in numerous different cognitive and physiological processes in your body (such as regulating your appetite, pain sensation, having involvement in your overall mood and memory, among others), and it relies on endocannabinoids (including phytocannabinoids such as CBD) for peak performance.

By regularly taking CBD, you’re ensuring that your Endocannabinoid System is never deficient in cannabinoids, which is a very important preventative measure for overall function.

30. How Does CBD Help With Pain?

There is a large amount of both clinical evidence and user-reported evidence that CBD use can help with alleviating the effects of acute pain and that it can help with chronic pain management.

The types of pain that CBD can help to mitigate, and how effective CBD use is at mitigating the pain, is dependant on a couple of different factors, such as the source of the pain, the user’s total body weight, the concentration of CBD used, the user’s natural tolerance to the effects of CBD, and a variety of others.

Regardless of potential deviations in the overall efficacy of the use of CBD for pain, CBD is still an often recommended supplement for pain reduction management because even when it doesn’t completely fix an ailment, it is excellent at working in tandem with other therapies.

CBD is also a risk-free option for pain management, which makes it an even more desirable option for many individuals worldwide that suffer from chronic pain, or for those that occasionally experience acute pain, such as what’s caused by trauma that is experienced as the result of an accident.

The way that CBD actually works to help alleviate pain is due to how it interacts with your Endocannabinoid System (ECS), and the degree of which your Endocannabinoid System is responsible for how strongly pain stimuli is perceived by your brain.

Because your ECS is partially responsible for pain-sensation, by nourishing this complex biological system, you are ensuring that it is operating at the absolute peak of its performance, which results in a variety of different benefits that help with relieving pain, such as reducing inflammation and boosting your overall mood to a more positive one, in addition to mitigating the painful sensation itself.

It has long been known in the medical community that negative feelings and an overall poor mood affect how your mind perceives pain, and how your body reacts to it. So, the end result of all of this is that CBD works in a myriad of ways to help alleviate pain.

31. Is Topical CBD Better for Pain Relief?

The answer to this specific question actually depends on the type of pain that is being felt. If the pain is due to inflammation of the joints or to trauma from an accident, then yes, a topical CBD product would probably be the better choice for fast-acting relief.

If the root cause of the pain is something like inflammation in an area of the digestive system—such as what’s caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as examples—then you’re likely to be better off using a CBD product that is taken orally, such as a sublingual, an edible, or a beverage.

For general aches and pains, many CBD users highly recommend using a topical CBD product. The reasons for choosing between a topical CBD product and a different route of administration is largely the same as when choosing between more traditional medications, such as choosing between a topical analgesic and an oral analgesic.

An oral product will treat the entire body for pain, whereas a topical product will treat a very specific area (the area-of-effect, or where you apply the product and its immediate surrounding areas) and is best used for quick pain relief from physical trauma to a specific area. It will usually be better to use a topical CBD product for more general aches and pains, or pain that is caused by an external source.

32. How Does CBD Help With Anxiety?

CBD is great for those of us that are unfortunate enough to regularly struggle with anxiety or stress. Because CBD works in a variety of different ways after the Endocannabinoid System starts breaking it down and utilizing it, CBD products can be used to mitigate the ill effects that are caused by a wide variety of different ailments. One of the ailments that CBD excels at helping to reduce the impact of is anxiety.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) published some of their research findings in 2018. This specific research found that out of the nearly 62% of CBD users that self-reported using CBD to treat a specific medical condition or medical conditions, the medical condition that was cited as being the second cause for CBD use was anxiety.

The study protocol for this specific research study was submitted electronically to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of San Diego State University and consisted of 2,409 respondents who took the survey and were eligible to be included in the study (out of 2,490 total respondents).

The use of CBD isn’t only beneficial for people that occasionally have anxious feelings, but it is also beneficial for individuals that are suffering from a variety of chronic anxiety disorders, or from illnesses that often present with anxiety as comorbidities, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and others.

The way that CBD helps to fight against anxiety isn’t 100% understood as of yet, but CBD is known to provide users with soothing, relaxing, and calming effects, which probably plays a role in its overall usefulness for helping against anxiety.

33. How Does CBD Help With Sleep?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2016, 1 in 3 adults in the United States weren’t getting enough recommended sleep on a regular basis. In 2018, it was reported that 1 in 4 adults develop chronic insomnia per year and only 75% of those recovers.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society both recommend that adults between the ages of 18 to 60 get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each and every night in order to promote optimal health and well-being.

According to research, sleeping for less than seven hours per day comes with a high association with an increase to the risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, stroke, and mental distress.

There’s a number of reasons why someone might struggle to go to sleep or to stay asleep after they finally do. Mood disorders or disturbances, such as anxiety and stress, is one major contributor to not getting enough nightly sleep. Chronic pain as a result of numerous different medical conditions is another large contributing factor for many of these tired adults.

By taking a recommended dose of CBD before bed each night, it is likely to greatly help you to achieve enough hours of sleep during the night, and that those hours will be more restful, leading you to wake up feeling ready to take on a new day. This is due to CBD’s mood-enhancing properties, its ability to relax you, and because of its pain reduction properties. CBD can help greatly to alleviate the negative effects that most commonly lead to the average adult to lose sleep.

34. How Does CBD Improve Mood?

CBD is able to improve a user’s overall mood due to a variety of factors. First, CBD is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties and for its pain-relieving properties. These are two factors that often cause people to develop a more negative outlook on things and to have a greater increase in the frequency of negative mood disturbances.

Researchers have demonstrated the links between pain and mood, and it makes total sense that dealing with chronic pain would cause you to have a more negative mood overall.

CBD is additionally believed to have neuroprotective properties, and to promote hippocampal neurogenesis; both of which are important for mood regulation. The neuroprotective properties help to protect the brain and to improve its function.

And because CBD promotes hippocampal neurogenesis (which is growth and development of nervous tissue), it can potentially help the brain to create “workarounds” to areas of the brain that have suffered small amounts of damage, such as the damage is

weight loss plans, workout regimens, and other medications where there’s overlap with where the desired outcomes lead. CBD can be used as a supplement for more nebulous concepts such as “having a relaxing night” or “being able to rest better.” By introducing CBD into your nightly routine (such as in a CBD tea before bed or as part of a relaxing, hot bath via the use of a CBD bath bomb). CBD can be used to supplement any number of other healthcare products and health-promoting routines.

CBD is even an excellent supplement for skincare and haircare routines because CBD works in tandem with your skincare and haircare products in order to better hydrate and nourish your body, which has the end result of providing you with clearer and healthier skin and hair overall.

36. Is CBD a Nootropic?

CBD acts as an excellent nootropic, actually. For those that are new to nootropics, a nootropic is defined as being a drug, supplement, or other substance that is “used to enhance” the user’s “memory and / or other cognitive functions.”

One benefit of CBD oil that is commonly being researched is its potential therapeutic uses and applications because of its neuroprotective properties, which help to protect and repair the user’s brain in various ways.

CBD may be able to positively affect the way that the Endocannabinoid System functions in regards to its role in various brain signaling systems. This influence that CBD has on the ECS and that the ECS has on a variety of different brain functions make it beneficial in treating certain neurological disorders (such as some severe and rare forms of epilepsy) and which might make it beneficial for treating other neurological disorders that are caused by damage or changes to the brain’s function, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

A clinical study that was conducted in 2014 provided evidence that long-term CBD use prevents the development of a decrease to the social recognition memory in transgenic laboratory mice that had Alzheimer’s disease introduced into them. CBD is additionally thought to be beneficial in treating dementia in addition to Alzheimer’s disease.

Because CBD is often reported as being a mood-enhancing product that has shown evidence that it can assist with memory retention and memory recall, mental alacrity, and with the overall function of the brain, it is often considered by many to be a nootropic.

37. Can CBD Help Me Focus?

Experts believe that regular CBD use can potentially help users to focus because of the effect that CBD use has on the flow of serotonin to the brain.

Serotonin is linked with decreasing the function of the receptors that are associated with anxiety, addiction, and sleep. By increasing the amount of serotonin that the brain has access to, you are decreasing the impact that anxiety and tiredness have on your overall ability to focus.

By making you less distracted and less mentally exhausted, CBD does exhibit the ability to increase a user’s focus, at least to a noticeable degree.

38. Can CBD Help Me Lose Weight?

The research, published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and detailed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), linked CBD use to three causes of what is known as fat browning.

Fat browning turns the dangerous white fat which is associated with obesity and the risks that come with being clinically obese (such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke) into what is known as beige fat. This beige fat then, in turn, becomes brown fat.

These newly created brown fat cells actively aid weight loss by doing what brown fat cells do: they burn off extra calories through a process called thermogenesis, which is simply your body’s heat-production process.

In addition to promoting the fat browning process, regular CBD use has also been linked with helping users to curb their appetites and to help decrease the urges to snack.

39. Is CBD Edible?

CBD is absolutely edible. Many people prefer to get their daily doses of CBD with the use of CBD edibles, such as CBD gummies or CBD beverages. Many CBD users also choose to make their own CBD edibles at home.

In addition to the premade CBD edibles that you can buy in stores or from an online site and to the CBD edibles that you can make in the comfort of your own home, some users even choose to chew on raw CBD flower instead, although there are probably very few CBD users that would recommend new CBD users to ingest CBD this way.

40. What Does CBD Taste Like?

The taste of CBD depends on a variety of factors, such as: if it’s in a carrier oil (like olive oil) if its been used in an edible, if it has been cooked or if it’s raw, even down to the person that is tasting it. Taste is wholly subjective, after all.

Even though the taste of the CBD can vary slightly depending on many different factors, most people will agree that CBD usually exhibits one hallmark flavor: it has a very “earthy” flavor to it. There are some that describe this earthy flavor as being accompanied by pine undertones, or as having a natural fiber taste, like a bit of rope would have.

Despite the distinct taste that CBD features, very few people would describe it as being wholly unpleasant to them. And for those that actively dislike the more natural taste of CBD, there are a wide variety of CBD-rich products that are available on the market that use CBD as an ingredient in addition to other strong flavors (like citrus or berry) that work together to mask the CBD’s more natural taste, such as many different brands of CBD gummies.

And for those that dislike the taste of CBD and prefer to use something like CBD oil drops instead of getting their CBD in an edible, there are some helpful tips around that can help you to tone the taste of CBD down some more.

41. Is CBD Organic?

Almost all CBD oil that is used on the market today is extracted from 100% organic industrial hemp. However, this does not mean that all CBD is automatically organic. Whether or not the CBD that is in your product is organic depends wholly on whether or not the farm that the industrial hemp was cultivated at was an organic farm, meaning they followed certain guidelines.

Organic agricultural products are products that were produced from start to finish without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or without the use of other artificial agents. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set forth specific guidelines for what constitutes organic agricultural products.

These guidelines are as follows:

  • The land must have had no prohibited substances present for at least 3 years before the harvest of an organic crop item;
  • The soil’s nutrients and fertility will be maintained only through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, crop covers, animal and crop waste, and supplemented with only approved synthetic materials;
  • Crop pests, the growth of weeds, and the spread of diseases will be controlled primarily through management practices and physical, mechanical, or biological means;
  • The cultivars must be from organic seeds only, and;
  • The use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge on the farm is strictly prohibited.

If the CBD was extracted from industrial hemp that was cultivated on farmland that meets the requirements needed to be considered a USDA-certified organic farm, then that CBD would also be organic in and of itself. If the CBD was later made into a product that included ingredients that were not also organic, then the product as a whole can not be considered to be organic. Any reputable CBD manufacturer will be completely transparent and upfront about whether or not their products are organic.

42. Is CBD Non-GMO?

GMO, which stands for Genetically Modified Organism, is defined as being any living organism whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in some way, such as through the process of genetic engineering. To date, there are only eight GMO crops that are legal to grow or to sell in the United States or in Canada. These eight crops are alfalfa, cotton, corn, sugar beets, soy, canola, papaya, and yellow summer squash and zucchini.

Industrial hemp isn’t one of the eight permissible GMO crops in the northern half of North America. Any CBD products that were extracted from industrial hemp from either the United States or Canada are going to be made with non-GMO CBD oil.

Additionally, most of the reputable CBD manufacturers on the market today will, thankfully, label their products as being “non-GMO” or “GMO-free” as a form of manufacturer to customer transparency.

43. Is CBD Vegan?

CBD on its own is absolutely vegan-friendly. CBD comes from the Cannabis plant and industrial hemp. They are completely natural and free of any animal-derived or insect-derived products. The issue when it comes to using CBD in a vegan-friendly manner, however, is whether or not any other ingredients in a specific product are also vegan-friendly.

Many CBD products that are available on the market today will tell you flat out if the product is or is not vegan-friendly on the label. For those few manufacturers that might not tell you on the front of the packaging or on the product’s item page on their website, you will have to read the ingredients on the label.

If you stick to making your own CBD edibles or CBD oral drops at home with pure CBD flower or similar, you can ensure that the end product is completely vegan-friendly.

44. Is CBD Keto-Friendly?

CBD on its own is most assuredly keto-friendly because it is low in carbohydrates. Using CBD as a supplement to either your keto diet or your paleo diet is actually really smart, as there is evidence that the Endocannabinoid System benefits from a diet that is high in both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and that introducing CBD into your diet plan, you can promote your body to better utilize the fats and proteins that you are eating as a part of your diet.

If you’re buying a product that contains CBD as an ingredient, you will, of course, have to check to see if the product as a whole is keto-friendly, the same as with any other product that you would eat or drink.

45. Is CBD Gluten-Free?

People that are on a gluten-free diet, either by choice or due to health-related dietary restrictions, can incorporate CBD into their diets without much trouble. CBD and its source (industrial hemp) are both completely gluten-free.

If you’re planning on purchasing or trying a CBD product, you will have to check the ingredients list on the label or on the product’s item page on the manufacturer’s website to ensure that there are not any gluten ingredients that have been added to the CBD, such as what is often the case with some of the CBD gummies that are currently on the market, for example.

46. What CBD Products Are Available?

CBD is a very versatile ingredient, and as such, it can be incorporated into a very wide variety of different product types and methods of administration. Some of the more popular CBD products that you can find being offered by many different manufacturers include sublingual drops, CBD vape juices, chewing gum, gummies, chocolates, CBD-infused water, CBD-infused coffee, suppositories, tinctures, topicals, transdermal CBD patches, CBD honey, water-soluble CBD, soaps, bath bombs, CBD flower, and even a variety of CBD pet healthcare products, such as pet treats and pet sprays.

For those that are newer to CBD products, trying to find a CBD product that best suits their wants and needs can be difficult, due in large part to the sheer variety of CBD products that are currently available. There are many that understand how overwhelming all of this might be, which is why it’s so great that there are many different product guides that are available on the internet that are helpful for deciding what type of CBD product might be the best.

47. What Are CBD Oils?

CBD oils are products that are mainly composed of CBD and a carrier oil, such as grapeseed oil, MCT (coconut) oil, olive oil, or cold-pressed hemp seed oil, as examples. These oils may or may not include other ingredients as flavorings, dependent on the manufacturer.

CBD oils are meant to be taken orally, and it is recommended that you put your product’s recommended dose under your tongue and hold it there for a minimum of 60 seconds before you swallow it. CBD oils can also be mixed into other products, if preferred, such as being mixed into fruit juice or with a meal. Be mindful that CBD oils are all hydrophobic, meaning they will not mix with water.

48. What Are CBD Tinctures?

CBD tinctures are small doses of liquid that is made by mixing the CBD with a solvent (historically alcohol, but more commonly glycerin, vinegar, or certain oils) and are meant to be taken orally.

The recommended directions for taking CBD tinctures is to take the tincture after a meal and with a high-fat snack, such as some almonds or other similar nuts. Before you eat your snack, you are advised to place the CBD tincture under your tongue, where you should hold it for one to two full minutes.

Afterward holding it under your tongue for an appropriate amount of time, you should swallow the CBD tincture and then enjoy your high-fat snack. Taking the tincture along with a high-fat snack can increase the absorption of the CBD into your body.

49. What Are CBD Gummies?

CBD gummies are any number of different shaped and flavored gummy candies that include CBD as the main ingredient, but are traditionally sold as CBD gummy bears.

It is recommended that you put your product’s recommended dosage amount into your mouth and to very thoroughly chew the gummies before swallowing them. By ensuring to chew them very thoroughly, you have already started the digestion and the absorption of the CBD before it ever even reaches your stomach.

50. What Are CBD Capsules?

CBD capsules can refer to either soft gel capsules or to hard-shell capsules. Either type of capsule that is being referred to works based on the same design philosophy. The key difference between the two is that soft gel capsules (also known as soft-shell capsules) contain liquid ingredients (in this case, the CBD), and hard-shell capsules contain dry ingredients.

After the capsule has been swallowed, it will enter the stomach where the capsule will (in a short amount of time) dissolve, releasing its contents (the CBD) into the digestive system where it can be quickly absorbed by the body.

It is recommended to take your CBD capsules with a drink of water, or other liquid if you find that you have trouble swallowing the capsule. Swallowing the capsule in a timely manner is important for avoiding the capsule to dissolve and release the CBD oil or dry ingredients into your mouth, which—while not a danger or a waste of CBD—is unlikely to be the most pleasant experience.

51. What is CBD Cream?

CBD cream is a label that is given to one, or more, of a couple of different products, including CBD lotions, CBD salves, CBD balms, and other related CBD topicals. There are a lot of people out there that prefer this delivery method for CBD because they can get their daily doses of CBD without needing to ingest it and because CBD creams are often a potent and fast-acting delivery method for treating things like general body aches and pains.

The directions for using a CBD cream can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from product to product, but the general gist behind applying CBD cream is usually: apply a small amount of the cream (approximately a dime-sized drop) to the desired area, after which you should work the cream into your skin until it is fully absorbed.

After handling the cream, avoid getting your hands near your eyes until after you’ve cleaned them of any trace amounts of the CBD cream. Many manufacturers recommend that you wait for around 3 to 4 hours before reapplying the cream if reapplication is desired.

52. What Are CBD Crystals?

CBD buds, are the flowers which are produced by the females of the Cannabis sativa plant when they reach full sexual maturation. These CBD flowers are terpenes-rich and phytocannabinoid-dense, and they both look and smell just like Cannabis flowers.

These flowers have grown immensely in popularity recently because they also strongly emulate the taste and the overall effects that the Cannabis flowers provide, without causing the user to feel “high” or “stoned” because they are still lacking the THC content that Cannabis flowers would otherwise have.

People commonly use their CBD flowers in a couple of different ways. One of the most common ways is also the method that most closely emulates how many people use their Cannabis flowers; they smoke it.

You can smoke CBD flower by rolling it in leaf tobacco or in a rolling paper, the same as you would a cigar or a cigarette, respectively. You can also choose to smoke it in a hookah, pipe, or a water bong. Others that don’t want to smoke their CBD flowers often choose to make a tea with their flower, or to use their flower as an ingredient when cooking.

Finally, some people choose to chew on the CBD flower raw. This is the least common method for using CBD flower, however, as most people prefer to use one (or both) of the two previously listed methods instead.

54. What is the Best Way to Use CBD?

The best way to use CBD is wholly dependent on you, the CBD user in question. Based on your lifestyle, your needs, and your desired effects from CBD use, the best way to use CBD can be wildly different than anyone else that you know that uses CBD.

Thinking about how you might prefer to use CBD and weighing those routes of administration against the others should be anyone’s first step when deciding how they should best use CBD. After deciding on a CBD product type or delivery method, researching the most reputable CBD manufacturers that make a CBD product that aligns with your chosen delivery method should be your second step.

Trying out your chosen CBD product and seeing how it affects you and how you ultimately feel about it overall is the next main step. You should be able to judge whether or not that specific CBD product had any shortfallings in your opinion, and if it did, this will allow you to reassess and to choose a different CBD product with your newfound knowledge.

Aside from using a CBD product that best suits you, you should also ensure that if you’re wanting to take CBD for a specific reason (such as using it for stress relief), that you pick a CBD product that has been specifically formulated for that specific reason, in order to achieve the best possible results for your money.

Finally, whenever you’re using a new CBD product for the first couple of times, it is recommended that you do not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended dosing guidelines until you are completely confident that you know exactly how your body is responding to that specific dosage.

55. How Do You Use CBD?

How you use CBD depends on the specific product in question and what its intended route of administration is. Every CBD product that you buy from a reputable CBD manufacturer will come with dosage information and directions for their recommended manner of use.

Ensure that you follow these guidelines and directions very closely whenever you are using an unfamiliar CBD product if crucial for the best possible results. Different CBD products can have different effects on your body, and by using the CBD product in a safe and responsible manner, you can mitigate the risk of any unintended or unwanted side-effects from your CBD use.

You can use the following information as a very quick and general guideline for how to specifically use some of the more popular CBD product types based on their intended route of administration:

  • Oils, tinctures, sublinguals, oral sprays: taken orally, and should be held under the tongue for one to two minutes before swallowing.
  • Edibles: should be thoroughly chewed before swallowing.
  • Soft gel capsules and hard-shell capsules: should be swallowed and accompanied by a drink of water, if needed.
  • Creams, topicals, balms, and salves: should be applied to the desired area, worked thoroughly into the skin, and you should wait for three to four hours before reapplying.
  • Soaps, bath bombs, shampoos: should be used as you would normal products that are similar unless otherwise directed by the product’s instructions.

56. How Much CBD Should I Take?

Whenever you try out a new CBD product for the first time, you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage size. After you get a strong feel for how that product’s specific dosage effects you, you can experiment with your dosage size by either increasing it or decreasing it based on your specific needs.

The dosage that you need can change based on a variety of factors, such as your innate tolerance to CBD, your overall body weight, your diet, and a huge number of other things. By getting a baseline for how much a certain amount of a specific CBD product affects you, you will be in the best possible position to fine-tune your daily CBD intake amount.

As a very general rule of thumb, if you start out by taking only 25 mg of CBD either two to three times per day (as needed), you can get an idea of whether or not you need to increase your dosage amount, and this will allow you, in turn, to easily increase or decrease your CBD intake by 10 mg at a time.

By increasing or decreasing your dosage by a smaller amount, like 10 mg, you can be mindful that you are only taking as much CBD per dose as what your body specifically needs. This is an amount that is generally agreed upon to be a good starting point for new CBD users and CBD users that are trying a new CBD product.

57. What Happens if I Take Too Much CBD?

There is no clinical evidence that it is possible to overdose on CBD, however, it is possible to take too much CBD at a time. It is understood that humans can handle up to 1500 mg of CBD in their system for an extended period of time without feeling any ill effects in general.

By exceeding 1500 mg of CBD at a time, or by exceeding your body’s specific tolerance levels for CBD, you run the risk of starting to feel one or more of the commonly reported side-effects, which are:

  • Dry mouth;
  • Experiencing a drop in blood pressure (hypotension);
  • Light-headedness when changing from a seated position to a sitting up / standing one;
  • Drowsiness, or feeling sleepy;
  • Feelings of nausea, and;
  • Feeling anxious, or like something is “off” or having general unease.

If you feel that you have taken too much CBD, you should absolutely not hesitate to call the Poison Control Center for residents of the United States before doing anything including inducing vomiting. The number for the Poison Control Center is: (800) 222-1222. You should provide the Poison Control Center’s representative with all of the available information on what you took, how much you took, and when you took it.

It is also highly advisable that you seek immediate medical attention if you are feeling any side-effects that could indicate a more serious medical situation, such as fainting or chest pain.

58. When Is the Best Time to Take CBD?

The best time to take CBD depends on how you want to use CBD and for what end result. If you want to feel more energized during your day, it is advised that you take your dose of CBD in the morning after you wake up. On the other hand, if your desired effect is that CBD will help you to fall asleep and to rest better, you probably should take your CBD dose a little while before your normal bedtime.

CBD can also be taken throughout the day to provide you with a boost of energy, or to provide you with a relaxing and calming feeling when you’re dealing with stressors and are under a lot of pressure.

Essentially, the best time to take CBD depends on what works the best for you and for your needs and wants. CBD is a very versatile supplement that can be tailored to your exact needs and lifestyle.

59. How Long Does it Take CBD to Work?

The amount of time that it takes for CBD to start working depends on a number of factors, such as how fast the CBD is absorbed into your system because of the route of administration and because of your overall body weight and tolerance for CBD, as just a few examples.

Generally, however, you should start to feel the effects of CBD approximately 25 to 30 minutes after you first take it. There are certain delivery methods that are faster than others if you’re looking for a CBD product that might be faster acting than one that you are previously familiar with.

The fastest delivery method of CBD that is commonly used is my vaping or smoking CBD. By introducing CBD into your system this way, your body is absorbing it through the skin of your lips, and through the mucosal membranes that are located in your mouth, throat, and lungs. From these entry points, the CBD is rapidly spread throughout the rest of your system.

The second fastest common method for CBD delivery is to use a sublingual CBD product. The CBD is absorbed into the mucous membrane that is located under your tongue, which allows it to bypass the digestive process and the time it takes for the liver to process it. This means that CBD taken sublingually is much faster than taking CBD by ingestion, such as a CBD soft gel capsule or CBD edibles.

Taking CBD by ingestion, as we mentioned, means the CBD has to be broken down in the stomach and get processed by the liver, where it experiences what’s known as the “first pass” effect, meaning the enzymes in the liver diminish the amount of CBD that gets released into your bloodstream at one time, with the end result of the total CBD dose being released into your bloodstream more slowly and not fully being introduced into your bloodstream until much later.

The final most common delivery method for CBD is applying it topically. With this method, the CBD is absorbed into your system through your skin. This is the slowest of the common delivery methods, and the peak of the CBD’s effects generally won’t be felt until roughly 90 minutes after first being introduced.

60. How Long Do the Effects of CBD Last?

How long you feel the effects of CBD depend on a few different factors. Everyone is different, so everyone responds slightly differently to the same substances. Additionally, the delivery method of the CBD and the concentration of the CBD play huge roles in determining how long you will be able to feel the effects of the CBD.

For example, the effects of CBD that was taken as an edible can usually be felt for approximately 4 to 6 hours, with the effects generally reaching a peak at about 3 to 4 hours in. As a counter-example, the effects of CBD that was taken by vaping CBD vape oil will often stop being felt about an hour after the final inhalation occurred, with a much more intense (and short-lived) peak occurring for many users around 15 to 20 minutes after being introduced into the system.

Some factors that can affect how long or short the effects of CBD can be felt include your overall body weight, your lifestyle, your frequency of CBD use/tolerance, and the dosage of CBD that you took.

61. Do I Need to Take CBD Every Day?

You do not need to take CBD every day if you do not want to. The frequency that you should take CBD is the frequency that you decide is the best for you, for your lifestyle, and for your goals for taking CBD, to begin with.

Many people that use CBD prefer to maintain a certain level of CBD in their system at all times, which leads them to become regular, long-term CBD users. Some other CBD users, on the other hand, prefer to only use CBD as needed for a specific reason, such as having a joint become sore after work.

The Endocannabinoid System is thought to be more receptive and efficient at utilizing CBD when it is exposed to it for longer periods of time, which is one of the many reasons that many CBD users might choose to use CBD frequently.

It is important, however, to keep in mind that how often you “should” take CBD to maintain the desired level of CBD in your system is not only dependent on how you ultimately decide to take CBD, but it is also dependent on variables such as your overall body weight, your diet, and your lifestyle. These different variables can increase or decrease the amount of time that separates doses of CBD when attempting to maintain a certain amount of CBD in your system.

62. How Long Can I Take CBD?

There is currently no clinical research that would indicate that long-term use of CBD has any negative risks involved. There is nothing that indicates that your body will definitely build up a tolerance for CBD due to prolonged use. Finally, there is some evidence that long-term use of CBD can even be more beneficial for you because frequent exposure to CBD can potentially cause your Endocannabinoid System to react to and process CBD in a more efficient manner.

Basically, you can take CBD for as long as CBD is providing you with what you want/need from its use. There is no risk of addiction from the use of CBD, there is no risk of overdosing on CBD, there is very minimal risk of experiencing any negative side-effects from the use of CBD. The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially stated that they have found CBD to be generally well-tolerated in people, and that it has a good safety profile. We currently do not have any indication or cause to believe that long-term use of CBD has any risks associated with it.

63. Can You Vape CBD Oil?

You absolutely can vape CBD oil. Some people prefer to make their own CBD vape juice, but there are many CBD companies out there that offer things like pre-filled CBD vape cartridges and disposable CBD vape pens, which can often be purchased in a variety of different flavors and CBD concentrations.

64. Is Vaping CBD Dangerous?

There is currently no known risks that are associated with vaping CBD oil, assuming you bought the CBD vape oil from a reputable retailer or you made your own CBD vape oil and made it properly. Vaping CBD oil, as far as is known by the medical community, is no more dangerous to one’s health than vaping regular vape liquid is.

The only other potential risks that are associated with vaping CBD oil is when shady CBD companies are in question. There’s always the possibility that these cheaply made CBD vape oils or CBD vape products could be contaminated with allergens or other foreign substances due to subpar production quality and quality control standards, but there haven’t been any substantiated reports of this actually happening to anyone.

65. Do CBD Vape Products Contain Nicotine?

There really aren’t any CBD vape products that you can buy from a manufacturer that already contains nicotine. You can, however, mix your CBD vape juice into a vape juice that already contains nicotine on its own, if that’s something that you want to do.

Most regular CBD vape users and nicotine vape users will likely tell you that you shouldn’t mix the two together, however, as there is no added benefit to doing so, and it can potentially cause damage to your coil or that it will cause your vape juice to have an unpleasant flavor because of the mixture.

So, while it’s possible to make a CBD vape juice that contains nicotine, it is probably for the best that you either keep your CBD vape juice and your vape juice that contains nicotine in separate tanks or that you get either you CBD doses or your nicotine fix in a different way.

66. Is CBD Good for Your Skin?

CBD is actually very good for the health of your skin. CBD is known to be a very strong antioxidant, which is helpful for skincare because it stops DNA damage, it protects collagen, and it helps to shield the skin from the harmful damage that the sun can cause it. CBD is a much stronger antioxidant than both vitamin C and vitamin E, in fact.

In addition to naturally acting as a strong antioxidant, CBD is also very rich in vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin C, as we lightly touched on, is an antioxidant, and (as such) it helps to protect the skin’s overall health. Vitamin C also helps to stimulate the body’s production of collagen. Vitamin A works to stimulate the cells that are responsible for producing the tissue that keeps skin firm and healthy-looking.

Finally, vitamin E blocks what are known as free radicals (which are unstable atoms that occur in the body and that can damage cells) from affecting the body as much as they normally would otherwise, which results in promoting the skin to stay long and healthy-looking.

67. Can CBD Help With Acne?

CBD can actually help to reduce the appearance of acne in a variety of different ways. One of the key ways that regular CBD use can help with reducing acne is the anti-inflammatory properties that CBD is known to possess. These anti-inflammatory properties can help to reduce the inflammation that occurs around clogged and irritated hair follicles and pores.

CBD can also help to reduce the appearance of acne by boosting the Endocannabinoid System’s overall productivity, which can, in turn, help it to regulate cell growth. As an added final bonus, CBD is thought to possibly have an effect that inhibits a body’s overproduction of oil, which can help to reduce one of the main culprits of acne.

When using CBD as a part of your skincare routine instead of more traditional acne medications, you will not only be getting the benefits that CBD can provide, but you will also be replacing medications that often dry out and irritate the skin. Dried out and irritated skin does not look healthy, and can exacerbate the blemished appearances that acne causes.

68. What CBD Beauty Products Can I Buy?

A wide variety of different CBD manufacturers make many different CBD-based beauty and healthcare products that are specifically formulated for different uses and needs.

Some common CBD beauty products that you can find include bath bombs, lotions, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, skin serums, moisturizers, and even microdose CBD lip glosses.

CBD beauty products have become incredibly popular in the past few years, even big names in the beauty product business have started to offer CBD-based beauty products, such as CBD Isolate is a type of CBD that was specifically extracted in such a way that it resulted in the CBD being isolated from the rest of the phytocannabinoids that naturally occur in Cannabis plants.

After the CBD concentrate is extracted from the industrial hemp plant and it has been separated from the rest of the compounds that occur in industrial hemp plants, it goes through an additional process which is known as “winterization”. Winterization is an oil refinement technique that is most commonly used in biotechnology processes and is used to separate triglycerides by utilizing the differences in their melting points, their solubility, and their volatility. This final process removes any of the waxes, terpenes, or cannabinoids that were remaining in the CBD concentrate after it was extracted. This creates a CBD product that tests as high as 99% pure CBD.

70. What Is Full-Spectrum CBD?

Broad-Spectrum CBD is a compromise between CBD Isolate and Full-Spectrum CBD extractions. Broad-Spectrum CBD begins as a Full-Spectrum CBD oil, which includes the full range of beneficial phytocannabinoids and terpenes that occur naturally in Cannabis plants, but it then goes through a final refinement process which removes all detectable traces of THC compounds but does not strip the oil of all of its other phytocannabinoid content.

Both Full-Spectrum CBD and Broad-Spectrum CBD products are the most commonly bought and sold products on the market today. CBD Isolate is by no means rare, but it is less commonly purchased than the other two are.

72. Where Can I Find CBD?

You can find CBD products being sold at a variety of specialty shops (such as vape shops, tobacco stores, and “head” shops) all across the United States. You can also purchase CBD products from many of the top CBD manufacturing companies online from their individual company websites.

With the popularity of CBD exploding in the past couple of years, it is really not difficult at all to find somewhere that is selling CBD products. There are even online CBD store locators that are available for free use to help you find the CBD retailer that is the nearest to you.

73. Do I Need a Prescription for CBD?

You do not need a doctor’s prescription to buy normal CBD products. The only medication that includes CBD as the main ingredient that requires a doctor’s prescription is a drug called Epidiolex which is a marijuana-derived medication that is used to treat two rare and severe epileptic disorders, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

For purchasing or possessing any other CBD product from any retailer of legal CBD products in the United States, a prescription is not required.

74. Do I Need a Medical Marijuana Card for CBD?

You do not need a Medical Marijuana Card to purchase CBD products unless you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and you are purchasing a marijuana-derived product that happens to also contain a notable amount of CBD. For regular CBD products, there is ≤0.3% of THC present by total product volume (in order to be in line with the requirements of the Federal law as set by The Hemp Farming Act of 2018), so a medical marijuana card would be wholly unnecessary, as CBD products legally are not the same as marijuana products.

75. Can I Buy CBD Online?

Not only can you buy CBD online, average cost of CBD products can also fluctuate with the passing of time.

As of the writing of this FAQ, however, the average cost of CBD is around $0.09 to $0.13 per mg of CBD for CBD capsules. The costs per mg of CBD capsules are commonly seen as low as $0.04 per mg and as high as $0.20 per mg. So, on average, a 30-count bottle of 15 mg CBD capsules will probably cost you somewhere between $45 to $60, while a 30-count bottle of 25 mg CBD capsules will likely see you spending somewhere between $65 to $90 for the bottle.

77. Why Does CBD Cost So Much?

Looking at what a typical CBD product costs, you might think that the price tag is a little high, but the costs associated with purchasing CBD are fairly relative, all things considered.

One of the costs that get passed onto the consumer is the costs associated with farming the industrial hemp, to begin with. It is difficult to incentivize farmers to switch over their farms to an entirely new crop, and one that they can’t be sure will turn them a profit to boot. And for the farmers that have changed over to cultivating industrial hemp, after the hemp is fully grown, it costs them anywhere between $300 to $600 per acre to harvest.

Another of the reasons that CBD prices can be as high as they are is due to the fact that it is increasingly expensive to try and filter out other ingredients from the CBD extract. Some CBD manufacturers want to ensure that their products contain no detectable traces of THC whatsoever, and others just want to make sure that their customers are getting the purest CBD possible. Regardless of their reasonings, they have to utilize a process known as winterization in order to process their Broad-Spectrum CBD and their CBD Isolates.

Even extraction processes that don’t utilize winterization are still very pricy. The gold standard extraction process for the industry is the CO2 extraction method, which requires costly and specialized equipment and expensive resources.

Finally, CBD products must undergo strict third-party laboratory testing to ensure the product’s quality and purity, and these tests do not come cheap for the CBD manufacturer. All of these costs, plus others, that are associated with manufacturing CBD products have to be recouped somewhere, which is why CBD products usually have such high price tags.

78. Can I Get Discounts on CBD Products?

Depending on the CBD manufacturer in question, you absolutely can get discounts when making a CBD purchase. Many CBD brands run various discount and rewards programs, which they advertise through a variety of different ways.

Many CBD brands will give their customers discounts or other rewards for doing things such as signing up for their email newsletters, or as incentives for following them on various social media platforms.

Additionally, there are many CBD brands out there that provide some of their customers with further special discounts if those customers are current or past members of one of the branches of the Armed Forces in the United States, or if they are senior citizens, or if they are employed as a first responder worker, such as being an EMT or a firefighter.

Most CBD brands understand exactly how beneficial regular CBD use can be to the average person, and so they actively try and make sure that the cost of their CBD products is as affordable as possible, comparatively.

79. Are More Expensive CBD Products Better?

This is a common misconception that many people have, but the short answer is no. More expensive CBD does not automatically mean it is a better CBD product. This misconception is due to the fact that many goods and services are usually only more expensive when they are objectively better than their peers. This is usually true for CBD as well, but it is by no means an absolute guarantee.

When buying a new CBD product, regardless of whether it is more expensive or less expensive when compared to similar CBD products from other brands, it is always important to do your due diligence and do research on the CBD brand and on the product in question. See what other customers have to say about them, by reading customer reviews. Read CBD bloggers and CBD information sites to see what they thought about a specific CBD product.

Also, you should always keep in mind that if you find a CBD product that is being sold at a price that is simply too good to be true: it probably is. Always be suspicious of CBD products that are noticeably cheaper than other similar CBD products. Again, it all comes down to performing your due diligence before making a CBD purchase.

80. Is It Safe to Buy CBD From Other Countries?

When buying CBD products from other countries around the world, you should be even more vigilant as a consumer than you might otherwise need to be when buying a product domestically. Research the product and the manufacturer as much as you possibly can. Only buy CBD products from brands that are reputable in their home countries.

Foreign CBD manufacturers do not have to follow the guidelines and the regulations that domestic CBD manufacturers have to follow in the United States, because the government agencies that make and enforce these guidelines in order to protect American citizens do not have any authority in countries outside of the United States.

Before buying CBD from a foreign CBD company, make sure that that company has followed the rules and regulations set forth by the agency in their country that is in charge of ensuring consumer safety. Also, to be clear, if you’re buying a CBD product that was manufactured in the United States using CBD extracted from industrial hemp that was sourced from outside of the country, then you will probably not have any issues with the quality of your purchase.

You should also always avoid any CBD retailer that seems sketchy or ones that you can’t find much (if any) information on, as these are the companies that are the most likely to sell you a subpar CBD product, or do some other harm to you as a consumer. If you are ever in doubt, or you are hesitant to buy a CBD product from another country, you should reconsider your situation and see if you can find a comparable CBD product that was manufactured domestically, as there is way less of a chance that you might end up regretting your purchase for one reason or another.

81. How Do I Choose a CBD Product?

There are a few key things that you should look for when buying a CBD product. Having a clear idea of what you would like to achieve by using CBD is a very good first place to start.

After you know what you would like to gain from CBD use, you can start to narrow down CBD products that will best suit your needs and your lifestyle. After you have completed that, it is recommended that you start to research CBD brands that carry a CBD product that you feel would best suit your needs. Purchasing a CBD product from a brand that is trusted and reputable is extremely important to ensure that you are getting a CBD product that is among those of the highest quality on the market today.

There are a few key variables that you should decide on to help you narrow down CBD products, such as the product’s CBD potency, the product’s method of administration, and the CBD product’s additional ingredients (if any).

These very important variables when it comes to making a CBD purchase. For example, if you want to use CBD for chronic pain management, you are going to want a CBD product that is both long-lasting and potent. For this example, a CBD sublingual or a CBD edible product would better serve your needs than a CBD topical would.

By choosing a CBD product that you feel would best suit your specific needs, and by purchasing a CBD product that is likely to meet those needs from a reputable CBD retailer, you will likely have better results in the end. A little time and research can really make a huge difference when it comes to your overall CBD experience.

82. Are CBD Companies Reputable?

As with any company regardless of what market they are in, there are both reputable CBD companies and CBD companies that are less than reputable. By learning some easy ways to help you determine if a CBD company is reputable or not, you will be able to save a lot of time and money that might otherwise be wasted on CBD companies that aren’t reputable, and their subpar CBD products.

When researching a CBD company, one of the first things that you should look for in a CBD company that uses third-party laboratory testing on all of their CBD products, and is completely transparent with what the test results are.

You should also look at customer reviews for a CBD company, and for their specific CBD products. Keep an eye out for fake reviews or bot reviews. If several of the customer reviews are the same review over and over again or are basically the same review with just a few subtle changes to the phrasing or the sentence order, then they are probably faked reviews and shouldn’t be trusted.

It is also a good idea to check the numerous CBD bloggers and CBD-related websites around the internet to see what they have to say about specific CBD manufacturers and their various CBD products. Chances are, if you are looking to buy a CBD product from an established and reputable CBD brand, one of the many CBD sites has already reviewed it.

83. Do CBD Lab Tests Matter?

CBD third-party laboratory tests definitely matter. A whole lot, actually. The way third-party laboratory testing usually happens is a CBD manufacturer will send the laboratory a randomly selected product from within what’s known as a “batch” of products. A product batch is just a specified group of products. So, for example, the first 500 units of a specific CBD product make up a batch, and the CBD manufacturer sends to the third-party lab the 372nd manufactured unit.

If this unit passes the third-party lab’s testing, then it’s likely that all 500 units within that batch are also up to the specification. If the 372nd unit does not pass the lab’s testing criteria, then they will alert the CBD manufacturer, who will then pull all 500 of those units out of the manufacturing process, and will then do further testing on the batches that precede and follow the batch that failed.

By doing product testing like this, it helps to ensure that the testing will catch any products that are below expectations before they reach the customer, and it will help to ensure that the manufacturers can’t “game” the system by sending specific CBD products to the third-party laboratory testing facility that they know will pass the tests, because of the amount of randomization there is in this quality control method and because of how this method ensures that regular testing happens before too many subpar or flawed products can be produced, which helps to mitigate the chances that they will make it to the customer.

These third-party laboratory tests usually check for things such as the CBD product’s purity, potency, quality, the product’s total phytocannabinoid and terpenes makeup, and to check the CBD product to make sure that there are no unwanted chemicals or foreign materials that are present.

Most of the trusted CBD manufacturers on the market today will provide their customers with the third-party laboratory test results somewhere on their website for each of their CBD products, and some will additionally send a print-out of the lab test results with the CBD product when they ship it to the customer. This transparency with their customers is really important, and all companies should strive to provide their customers with as much transparency concerning the products that they are selling as possible.

84. Can Children Take CBD?

There is currently no clinical indication that CBD products might not be safe for children to use. In fact, the only FDA-approved medication that is derived from Cannabis (and which includes CBD as an integral active ingredient in the medicine) is called Epidiolex.

This medication’s on-label use is to treat the rare and severe epileptic forms known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

This medication is made for children two years of age and older that suffer from one of these two forms of epilepsy and are in need of a medication to help mitigate the amount of and the severity of the seizures that they experience.

You should, however, check with your child’s Primary Care Physician or their Pediatrician before giving your child any CBD. This is the standard guideline that should be followed before giving your child anything, including giving them a new multivitamin or before putting them on a new dietary plan, such as introducing something like Ensure, or similar.

Your child’s doctor will be able to help you to determine if CBD is appropriate for your child, and what a good starting dosage of CBD would be for them, based on a variety of variables that are unique to your child and their specific situation and needs, such as their medical history, the medical history of their immediate family (their parents and siblings, if any), their overall body weight, and even their age, among others.

Further, depending on your child’s age, some CBD products might not be appropriate for them based on reasons other than the inclusion of CBD. For example, chewy candy (such as with CBD gummies) can pose a choking hazard to small children. Same with small, hard candies, like CBD mints or lozenges.

As long as you take the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of your child, and you follow any advice or guidelines provided to you by their doctor, then children can benefit from the effects that CBD use can provide, such as helping them to deal with anxiety or other mood disturbances.

85. Is CBD Safe for Pets?

There is currently no clinical indication that CBD use might be dangerous for your pets. Actually, a lot of CBD research has been done on laboratory animals at the medical levels by researchers worldwide with no negative reactions to the CBD being reported.

And, additionally, the Colorado State University conducted research to test the safety profile for dogs and to see if CBD could be a treatment option for dogs that suffer epileptic seizures.

Their findings were that CBD was safe for use in dogs and that CBD oil reduced the frequency of seizures in 89% of the epileptic dogs that received it in comparison to the epileptic dogs that received placebos (the control group).

You can choose to give your furry friend CBD oil as a part of their regular diet, by introducing a small amount into a treat for them, or by introducing it into their regular-use wet or dry food. It’s also good to know that many different CBD brands on the market today offer their own CBD product lines that are specifically formulated for both cats and dogs.

Introducing CBD into your pet’s diet can provide them with the same kind of benefits that people get from regular CBD use, and that’s because both cats and dogs have an Endocannabinoid System (ECS), just like humans do. However, because pets weigh a lot less than people do, and because they can not adequately convey to you how something is affecting them, it is important to follow some basic safety guidelines at first.

Before giving your pet any CBD, it is advisable that you consult with their regular veterinarian. However, as a good rule of thumb, you should always base the dose of CBD that you give them on their actual weight, as opposed to giving them the same amount of CBD that you would take.

86. What Do Veterinarians Say About CBD?

Because THC is harmful for pets, and CBD is a newly popular substance, some veterinarians may be hesitant to recommend (or to even discuss) CBD use for your pet, as it could potentially open them up to legal ramifications.

However, despite this, there have still been veterinarians that have discussed their views on CBD use in pets. This is a great thing because getting a trained medical professional that understands the physiological needs of your pet is very important in assessing whether CBD use might be a good option for you and your pet.

According to most of the veterinarians that have openly spoken on this topic, giving your pets CBD should be fine, as long as you are responsible in regards to how you give it to them and follow some basic guidelines.

By making sure you keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t exhibit any abnormal or unusual behavior that is outside of their normal behavior, and as long as you give them doses that are appropriate for their weight, then there shouldn’t be any issues with giving your pet some CBD to help them with any ailments or issues that they may be suffering from, regardless of whether its physically, mentally, and / or emotionally.

As with humans, there is the possibility that your pet could experience some of the more common side-effects of CBD use. You should keep a closer than usual eye on your pet for a few hours after giving them the CBD, and check to see if they are experiencing any side-effects from the CBD. Some of the common side-effects to look out for are:

  • Dehydration (signs that could indicate dehydration include drinking an unusual amount of water or having a dry nose);
  • Drops in blood pressure; hypotension (signs that your pet could be having a hypotension episode includes them acting disoriented or having difficulty navigating around the home or yard), and;
  • Drowsiness (signs that could indicate that your pet could be experiencing drowsiness can be seen in pets that are sleeping at odd times or for odd amounts of time when compared to their normal sleep routines), among others.

87. Is CBD Legal in the United States?

CBD products are completely legal to manufacture, sell, distribute, purchase, and possess in the United States because of something that is known as The Hemp Farming Act of 2018, as long as they contain ≤0.3% of THC. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 is officially known as H.R.5485.

In late March of 2018, the acting Senate Majority Leader of the time (Republican Mitch McConnell) announced that he would introduce legislation that legalized hemp production in his state of Kentucky, and nationally.

Just one month after announcing his intentions, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced the bill (which was known as S.2667 at the time) on the Senate floor on April 12, 2018, and the bill was co-sponsored by Oregon senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

It was announced that Representative James Comer (R-KY) would introduce a companion bill in the House of Representatives. The companion bill (H.R. 5485) was introduced on April 12, with Colorado Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) co-sponsoring it. It is because of all of this that we have the bipartisan Hemp Farming Act of 2018 as a part of Federal law today.

This act removed Cannabis that contained low levels of THC from regulation under the Controlled Substances Act, and provided hemp farmers with water rights and allowed them access to Federal agricultural grants. The act additionally made the national banking system (which was up until that time operating in a legal gray area in regards to the Cannabis industry) accessible to farmers and others involved in this market.

One of the core things that this act achieved is allowing industrial hemp to be treated as a Federally recognized industrial crop, allowing it to take advantage of things such as marketing, agronomy research (which is research that uses the science and technology from various fields including in order to improve the management of major food crops), and crop insurance.

The lack of available crop insurance for industrial hemp was a huge deterrent to farmers to switch their crops over to industrial hemp.

88. Are CBD Products Containing THC Legal in the United States?

In accordance to the section of the Federal law known as The Hemp Farming Act of 2018, for CBD products to be considered legal in the eyes of the United States’ Federal law, they must contain ≤0.3% of THC (which is the phytocannabinoid that is found in the Cannabis plant, and which has psychoactive properties that cause the user to feel “high” or “stoned”) by total product volume.

As long as the CBD product meets this requirement, then there are no legal issues regarding the manufacturing of, distribution of, or possession of these types of products.

Many CBD products, depending on the extraction method that was used to get the CBD oil from the industrial hemp plant, contain trace amounts of THC, but as long as the total amount of THC is ≤0.3%, the user will not feel any of the effects that THC is known for causing.

Because the THC can not affect users at such small levels, CBD and CBD-derived products that contain no more than 0.3% of THC are considered by the Federal law in the United States to not be marijuana or to be a marijuana-based product, and so it does not restrict them, unlike how marijuana is restricted due to its classification as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

There are exceptions to this, however, at the State level. Depending on what state is in question, as some states have their own State laws regulating THC and products containing THC. If you live in a state that has legalized the recreational use of THC, then it will be fine for you to use a CBD product with a higher concentration of THC within that state based on State laws.

Additionally, if your state has only legalized THC for medical uses, then you’re able to use a CBD product with a ≥0.3% THC content per volume as long as it has been prescribed to you by a licensed medical practitioner that is certified to do so, and the medication has been obtained legally.

89. Is CBD Regulated in the United States?

CBD currently is regulated in regulated further in the future.

CBD and CBD-derived products are all regulated because they are required to contain ≤0.3% of THC by total product volume. Additionally, some CBD products are regulated in a few different ways on a state-by-state basis.

90. How Long Has CBD Been Used?

The history of CBD is a surprisingly storied one. CBD, specifically, was discovered in 1940 when it was successfully identified and isolated while Minnesota-grown wild hemp and Egyptian Cannabis indica resin were being researched. This was after efforts to isolate CBD were first started earlier in the 19th century.

CBD’s chemical structure and stereochemistry (which is the study of the spatial arrangement of atoms that form the basis of the structure of molecules in addition to being the study of manipulating those atoms) were completely determined in 1963.

The use of Cannabis for various reasons (such as being used for medical and therapeutic reasons, being used recreationally, and being used as a part of sacred spiritual and religious customs) goes back even further. It is important to keep in mind that CBD comprises up to 40% of the phytocannabinoid makeup of Cannabis plants and that hemp is a CBD-dense and low THC yield part of the Cannabis plant, so any of the uses for Cannabis and hemp should be viewed—at least to a degree—as uses for CBD.

The use of Cannabis as a mind-altering drug has been documented by archaeological finds in prehistoric societies that were located in both Eurasia and Africa, and the oldest written record of Cannabis usage is the Greek historian Herodotus’s reference (made in c. 440 BCE) to the central Eurasian Scythians taking Cannabis steam baths.

Cannabis was being used by both the Classical Greeks and Romans, in the Middle East, and it eventually spread throughout the Islamic Empire to North Africa. Cannabis spread to the western hemisphere in 1545 due to Spaniards importing it.

The highly respected academic, and researcher Hui-lin Li (1911-2002; employed by the University of Pennsylvania, the National Taiwan University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences) wrote that in regards to ancient China, “The use of (it) in medicine was probably a very early development” and, “since ancient humans used hemp…as food,” it was “natural for them to also discover the medicinal properties of” Cannabis plants.

91. What Research Has Been Done Regarding CBD?

So much. There has been so much research regarding CBD since it was first isolated in 1940. To date, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has more than 2,900 results for “Cannabidiol” when searching on PubMed, which is a part of the
United States’ National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are also 7,130 results when searching PubMed for “CBD” and 111 results when searching specifically for “CBD oil”.

There have been many research studies done that looked at CBD’s effect on epilepsy and seizures, some of which share a similar basis with research that played a role in the emergence of the FDA’s first (and currently only) approved marijuana-derived medication, Epidiolex.

Studies looking at CBD potentially playing a role in pain relief, through a variety of different ways, have also occurred in large numbers, such as the study that looked at CBD’s effects on neuropathic (nerve) pain, or studies that have looked at CBD’s efficacy as an anti-inflammatory.

CBD has also been looked at for possible effects it might have on liver damage, endocrine cancer, and reducing high blood pressure (hypertension), among many others.

92. Is CBD Used in Medicine?

Currently, CBD is only used in one FDA-approved medication, which is called Epidiolex and which is used to treat two rare and severe forms of childhood epilepsy; Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Epidiolex is manufactured by GW Pharmaceuticals. Epidiolex, which is also known by its generic name (Cannabidiol) Oral Solution, is classified as a Schedule V drug in the United States (which is the least restrictive classification) and is a Cannabis-derived drug that features CBD as a main and integral ingredient.

Aside from Epidiolex, CBD isn’t used in any other FDA-approved medications to date. However, hemp (and thus CBD) is used as either a key ingredient or as a supplemental herb in a lot of traditional and folk medicine, such as traditional Chinese medicine, and traditional medicine throughout Europe.

93. What Do Doctors Say About CBD?

Medical doctors can not currently legally prescribe CBD as a medical treatment option, however many doctors agree that the user-reported health benefits and that the medical research that has shown evidence of CBD’s many therapeutic uses are very promising and exciting.

It is wholly recommended that you speak with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) or family doctor before introducing CBD into your daily routine, as is the case with starting any new supplement or before making any changes to your lifestyle that could have an impact on your health, or that could itself be impacted by your health.

By researching around the internet, you can find many quotes from doctors that are recommending CBD as an all-natural alternative to some over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, such as Will Cole, D.C., IFMCP, who has said that he has been using CBD on various patients at his functional medicine center, and they are “loving the results.”

Another doctor, Carrie A. Diulus, M.D, has stated that she believes that there is a role for CBD when it comes to a variety of different conditions, because it “decreases anxiety, is anti-inflammatory, and can help with sleep” and that there is an impact that it has on pain.

94. Can I Take CBD If I Have Health Problems?

You absolutely can take CBD if you already have pre-existing health problems or conditions. There is currently no evidence that definitively proves that CBD might have a negative influence on individuals that have other underlying health conditions.

In fact, there is a case to be made for the opposite. CBD is a great supplement for those that are suffering from any number of health ailments, due to the numerous beneficial properties that regular CBD use exhibits and that have been reported by many different long-term users of CBD.

Because CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, pain-relieving properties, mood-enhancing properties, and emotion stabilizing properties (among others), CBD use can have a positive impact on those that have a health problem that causes symptoms of inflammation, pain, or are suffering from mood or emotional disorders, such as anxiety or clinical depression.

There is a case to be made for those that have a condition that causes hypotension, or are on medications for hypertension, as one of the rare side-effects of CBD use is a drop in blood pressure. If you are in this situation (or even if you’re not!) it is highly advisable that you consult with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) or your family doctor before you start taking CBD.

Because these medical professionals will be more familiar with your personal medical history, they will be the ones that can best advise you on the use of CBD, such as giving their medical insight into recommended dosing information or any information that you, as their patient, might need to know before taking a CBD supplement.

95. Can I Take CBD With Other Medications?

In most cases, yes, you can take CBD with other medications. There is some reported evidence and theoretical possibilities that CBD might have an impact on your medications, or that your medications could impact how CBD works in some way.

If you are currently taking a medication that has overlap with the positive effects of CBD use, there could possibly be some interaction with how these medications behave and how CBD works.

For example, if you are currently taking a different medication for pain, there could be some interaction between that medication and the CBD because they are both having their own separate impacts on your body’s response to the pain stimuli.

Or if you’re taking an antidepressant or another medication class that is used to treat either a mood disorder or an issue with your emotional response (such as suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, clinical depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, as a few examples), then there could be an unplanned interaction between those medications and the CBD.

Finally, because a rare side-effect of CBD that has been reported by some users is a drop in blood pressure if you’re currently taking medication for hypertension (high blood pressure), or you are taking a medication that lists hypotension (low blood pressure) as a side-effect, there could be an unwanted interaction between the CBD and that medication.

Generally speaking, however, there aren’t any negative interactions that have been reported in notable amounts that would suggest that responsible CBD use would possibly be dangerous to those that are currently on a prescription drug.

Regardless of this, it is still very important that you speak to a medical professional, such as your family doctor, before taking CBD and make sure that they are aware of all of the medications and supplements that you are currently taking, what frequency you are taking them, and in what doses.

96. Can I Take CBD With Alcohol?

To date, there really is only one notable piece of research on the interaction between alcohol and CBD in humans. This research, which was published in 1979, involved four groups in the study: placebo (the control group), those that were given alcohol, those that were given alcohol and CBD, and those that were given just CBD and no alcohol.

The study’s conclusion was that mixing CBD and alcohol didn’t seem to affect a person’s overall level of impairment in comparison to those that were given alcohol and no CBD. In fact, this study ultimately also showed that the group that had both alcohol and CBD had significantly lower blood alcohol levels when compared to those in the group that were given alcohol and nothing else.

As long as you are responsible in your consumption of alcohol and in your use of CBD, using one while the other is still in your system should not cause any negative outcomes or unexpected side-effects.

97. Can I Take CBD With Vitamins or Supplements?

Negative interactions between CBD and vitamins and / or other dietary supplements are highly unlikely, but (as with any other possible CBD interactions) are possible. There is currently no clinical evidence that would suggest that taking CBD in addition to other vitamins or dietary supplements could be dangerous to one’s health, however.

By letting your family doctor or your Primary Care Physician (PCP) know that you intend to start taking CBD (either infrequently or for long-term use) and by letting them know any and all other vitamins or supplements that you take, how often you take them, and in what doses you take them, you will best be able to mitigate any potential unwanted outcomes.

The medical professional that already best knows your medical history will have a better overall picture of the current state of your health, you will be able to get any medical advice that they might have for you and your specific situation, and they will be able to let you know if there is anything that you should be aware of when taking CBD and other vitamins and / or supplements.

98. Should I Tell My Doctor I’m Taking CBD?

As with any other change that you make that could have an impact on your health, yes. You should absolutely tell your family doctor or your Primary Care Physician (PCP) that you are taking CBD, or that you are intending to take CBD.

You should tell them regardless of any other medications that you are taking, regardless of any other vitamins or dietary supplements that you are taking, and regardless of any preexisting health conditions that you may or may not have.

By providing the person that needs to be aware of all aspects of your healthcare with essential information, such as whether or not you are taking CBD, they will be able to have the broadest and most complete picture of your health as a whole, which is imperative for them to be able to provide you with the best possible healthcare and healthcare advice.

You should be prepared to provide your doctor with basic information on your CBD use, such as how often you are taking it, how much you are taking at a time (how many milligrams of CBD you are using in total), and what you are using it for. You should also have a discussion with your doctor on whether or not the CBD use is helping you, and if it is, to what extent.

If you are not currently taking CBD but would be interested in starting to take CBD, you should have a discussion with your doctor about why you would like to start taking CBD, and take any advice that they have on the matter seriously, such as what kind of a dose that they feel you should start out taking, and how often you should take the CBD product at first.

Finally, you should ask them if there might be any potential interactions between the CBD and any other medication, vitamins, or supplements you might be taking, and what to do if you experience any interactions or side-effects from the CBD.

99. Is CBD Similar to Kratom?

While both CBD and Kratom have gained a lot of popularity recently, they are not really similar to each other at all, other than the fact that they both have the ability to provide their respective users with some level of pain relief.

The use of Kratom causes opioid-like effects and comes with opioid-like hazards. Kratom has the user-reported effects of providing pain relief, helping to overcome opioid withdrawal through as a treatment option in Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT), and it is used by some for recreational purposes.

Kratom comes in three different varieties, each based on the color of the plant’s leaves: red, green, and white. Red Vein Kratom is said to be relaxing, White Vein Kratom is said to have stimulating properties, and Green Vein Kratom is said to be in between the previous two.

Kratom is reported to have the following side-effects associated with its use: erectile dysfunction (ED), hair loss, constipation, respiratory depression (a decrease in breathing), seizures, psychosis, high heart rate (tachycardia), high blood pressure (hypertension), liver toxicity, and addiction. When a user stops using Kratom after prolonged use of it, opioid withdrawal symptoms will usually occur.

Kratom is classified as being a controlled substance in 16 different countries (including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, and Sweden), and in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) banned importing and the manufacturing of Kratom for use as a dietary supplement in 2014.

Kratom and CBD are both all-natural products, and both can help their respective users in a variety of ways. But, Kratom is known to pose a greater risk to its users. CBD, on the other hand, has no clinical evidence supporting it being addictive or harmful. CBD use has never been linked with an overdose death.

On the other hand, the CDC has detailed how there were 91 overdose deaths where they strongly feel Kratom played a significant role in the death in a survey that just looked at overdose deaths from 27 states just during the period of July of 2016 to December of 2017.

100. Is CBD Similar to Synthetic Marijuana?

CBD is what is known as a phytocannabinoid, whereas synthetic marijuana is what is known as a synthetic cannabinoid. While both have an effect on and are utilized by, the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), there is a very big difference between the two.

Synthetic marijuana is what is referred to as a “designer drug” because it is a synthetic analog of a legally restricted or legally prohibited drug, which was designed in such a way that it emulates what effects that the illegal drug has on its users but still circumvents drug laws because it has not yet been restricted or prohibited.

Synthetic marijuana products are often marketed as being herbal incense blends or “herbal smoking” blends and have been sold under names such as K2, Spice, and Black Mamba.

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that there had been hundreds of cases of users suffering from severe allergic reactions and that a few users had died, because they had used a synthetic marijuana product that was contaminated with Brodifacoum, which is a chemical that is typically found in rat poison.

Aside from the many health risks that we already know the use of synthetic marijuana can pose, and the many health risks that doctors think the use of synthetic marijuana can cause, many users of synthetic marijuana don’t even think the “high” that it causes is comparable in any way to the high that is achieved from smoking real marijuana.

Because synthetic marijuana is precisely what it says it is, synthetic marijuana, which means it does not contain any of the 120 identified phytocannabinoids that the Cannabis plant actually does contain, including THC and CBD. There is absolutely no clinical evidence that using synthetic marijuana has any positive benefits associated with it, and there is a lot of clinical evidence that the use of synthetic marijuana can actively be harmful to its users.

In short, CBD and synthetic marijuana are nothing alike. CBD is not known to be harmful and shows a lot of promising evidence that there are therapeutic uses for it. Synthetic marijuana, on the other hand, is the exact opposite.

101. Does CBD Show Up in a Drug Test?

Theoretically no, CBD is not a substance that is tested for by drug tests and, as such, it does not show up on a drug test’s drug panel.

A common urine drug test, such as one that would likely be used by an employer, only tests for the presence of the following substances in the urine: amphetamines (such as meth, speed, crank, and ecstasy), THC, cocaine (both crack and coke), opiates (such as heroin, opium, codeine, and morphine), and Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust).

Higher-end urine drug tests will additionally detect barbiturates (including phenobarbital, butalbital, secobarbital, and downers), benzodiazepines (which are tranquilizers such as Valium, Librium, Xanax), methaqualone (Quaaludes) for eight-panel tests, and all of the previous plus methadone and propoxyphene (including Darvon compounds) for ten-panel tests.

While they commonly are not used to test for the following, a commercially available drug test can also be made to test for: hallucinogens (LSD, mushrooms, mescaline, and peyote), inhalants (common inhalants being paint, glue, and hairspray), anabolic steroids, hydrocodone, and MDMA (which is commonly known as ecstasy).

Because CBD isn’t one of the substances that are being tested for, it will not show up on a drug test’s drug panel. CBD does contain ≤0.3% of THC by total volume (as mandated by Federal law), but these trace amounts of THC are incredibly unlikely to show up in a normal drug test, as they would basically be undetectable by most commonly used drug tests.

Regular CBD use, where the user isn’t taking doses of CBD that are way above the recommended dose ranges, basically runs no risk of building up enough THC in their system that it would be detectable.

As with most things, the possibility, of course, does exist that a drug test could detect the trace amount of THC that is present in your CBD product (regardless of how unlikely that would be in most cases), but the test wouldn’t detect the CBD itself.