CBD - cannabidiol has gained some notoriety the past few years as more and more people turn to this magical cannabinoid to avoid taking pharmaceuticals or drastically reduce their dependency. CBD is non-intoxicating and has little side effects.

How CBD works in the body

THC binds to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your body giving you that euphoric high, whereas CBD doesn't bind to those receptors but rather works in an indirect way, which is why it's non-intoxicating. THC mimics the endocannabinoids in your body (endocannabinoids are produced by your body, phytocannabinoids come from the plant) and CBD blocks them, making CBD good for reducing the side effects of THC. CBD does bind to various other receptors in the brain that include regulation of pain, and a specific serotonin receptor, giving it promise for treating depression, anxiety and addiction. 

CBD won't give you any high feeling, when you take CBD you likely won't feel anything. However if you're very tense or anxious, you'll notice you'll feel a bit calmer and  more relaxed. CBD is safe to take daily and you won't build up a tolerance, early research is suggesting that the opposite is true, you may need less CBD over time rather than more. 

How CBD is extracted

CBD can be extracted from industrial hemp or from the medicinal cannabis plant (*note hemp and cannabis are essentially the same plant however hemp can contain no more than .3% THC) There's no difference between CBD from hemp, and CBD from medicinal cannabis however it takes a large amount of hemp to produce a CBD rich product.

CBD from hemp 
CBD is extracted from hemp using solvents such as butane and hexane and it's been known to leave toxic residue in poorly produced products. The hemp plant absorb toxins from the soil, therefore the soil hemp is grown in should be tested and monitored before used for human consumption. If you're buying hemp derived CBD make sure it's from a good source that provides the labs so you can see it's free from toxins.

CBD from cannabis plant (full spectrum)
The cannabis plant on the other hand has cultivars with high levels of CBD, up to 20% therefore, CBD can be extracted using a simple oil infusion, or in tinctures with alcohol. CBD derived this way is preferred because of the entourage effect (meaning all chemical compounds are working together in a synergistic way). Whole plant therapy uses the full spectrum, whereas hemp has lower levels of some compounds, therefore CBD derived from the medical cannabis plant is believed to have better efficacy.

Weed Mama Tip

THC and CBD work beautifully together, always take CBD when using THC products


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There's 3 types of CBD extracts you can buy

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CBD isolate

CBD isolate

CBD isolate is when all of the plant matter is stripped  so you're left with 99.9% pure CBD. 

Broad spectrum

Broad spectrum means all of the plants compounds are present however THC is removed. 

Full spectrum

Full spectrum means all of the plants compounds are present. Full spectrum will have very low amounts of THC present.

How to take CBD

There's numerous ways to take CBD and it's best to try different methods to see what works best for you. You can take it in the following forms:

  • Pills
  • Tinctures
  • Transdermal patch
  • Inhaled
  • Edibles
  • Oil infusions
  • Topically

Dosage

There's no standard for dosing CBD, the dose highly depends on the method of delivery and the condition it's used to treat, and the size of the person taking CBD. For serious conditions a very high dose might be needed, such as a panic attack. However in general, start around 20mg and gradually increase as needed. If you find even a high dose isn't working, go back to a low dose like 10mg, until you find what works for you.

General guide for dose:

Standard dose: between 10mg to 100mg per dose/day. On average people take between 50 to 60mg a day.
Therapeutic dose: between 50mg to 800 mg per dose/day

Precautions

While it's perfectly safe to take even large doses of CBD, it might interact with certain prescriptions. Before taking CBD consult with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there could be a drug interaction, or if you're on blood thinners.

CBD is generally tolerated well and has few side effects. However it can cause drowsiness, irritability and nausea.