What is CBD oil and what does it do
CBD oil careened into our lives with a bang, when it was made federally legal toward the end of 2018. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the Farm Bill) legalized CBD which is one of hundreds of ingredients in marijuana. CBD Oil that is from hemp and contains no more than 0.3% THC, which is the ingredient in marijuana that gets people high.
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the cannabis sativa plant. It’s a naturally occurring substance that’s used in various products ranging from oils to edibles for a plethora of medicinal uses and wellness-related benefits. That being said, CBD has also grown to be quite a hot topic for those in recovery from substance addiction. Are you still sober or clean if you are in recovery? is a marijuana question people debate endlessly.
What are the CBD Oil benefits
CBD is considered a natural health tool that is popular for both humans and animals. It is touted to have a multitude of benefits for: skin, hair, nails, anti-inflammatory, pain management, anxiety deterrent, digestion aid, and has overall preventative health measures.
Some people swear by CBD Oil. they use it for sleeplessness, weight management, epilepsy, and acne, to name a few issues CBD is said to help. CBD oil for anxiety is another use people have for it. There is a growing industry that preaches CBD as a cure-all, a holistic remedy that anyone can benefit from with little-to-no CBD side effects.
For the most part lack of CBD Oil side effects has proven accurate according to “An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: Few (and I mean super few) people reported diarrhea, change in appetite and weight, and fatigue.
Where is it available
CBD Oil can now be purchased virtually anywhere, however higher-grade products will be sold from certified dispensaries and companies that pride themselves by following FDA regulations. It is important to be vigilant where you purchase CBD products. Do your research and read the ingredients.
In June 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first ever CBD-containing drug called Epidiolex, which is used to treat seizures. Currently, multiple scoliosis (MS) and cancer CBD drugs are in rounds of testing for FDA approval. Nonetheless, the natural remedy is being used to treat the pain-related and shaky effects of MS as well as increasing hunger while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer patients. Bottom line, there is powerful science behind the medical benefits of CBD, and we can expect more CBD drugs in the future.
CBD Oil and addiction recovery
Because CBD Oil is derived from the cannabis plant, there is also much controversy about its use in the recovery community. Unlike its cousin, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC — the major active ingredient in marijuana — CBD is not psychoactive. CBD cannot get you high.
It’s not psychoactive and won’t make you high
Let me say it again, because this is a popular question: CBD cannot get you high. However, there are two possible exceptions. One, which is very rare, is that a person reacts different physiologically to the CBD and feels high. This occurs for an unknown reason, but is usually the same group of people who have feel loopy after taking Advil or Tylenol. Two, as mentioned above, be vigilant of where you buy CBD, it can contain ingredients that will make you feel high. The FDA doesn’t regulate CBD production; that being said, ethical companies will still make a point to follow FDA requirements.
What is the controversy around using it
There are recovering people on both sides of the spectrum when it comes to taking CBD. Some are all for it as long as you appropriately check your motives for why you take the supplement. Some are entirely against it and refuse to sponsor someone who uses CBD products, because they consider it a relapse.
Will it trigger a relapse, depends on your point of view
Overall, addiction recovery is individual. There will never be concrete answers to these questions, because it is up to you … it’s between you and your Higher Power. Some people are even against the use of prescription antidepressants in recovery, because that makes you drug reliant. However, most people are not as strict and recognize that the benefits and needs are necessary. “If your use is not compulsive and continued despite negative consequences, it doesn’t meet the technical criteria for addiction,” reports Workit Health. In the end, it is entirely your decision. This is a very controversial topic and potentially slippery slope. It is important to consider all the pros and cons if and when taking CBD in recovery.
With the implementation of the Farm Bill in 2018, the cultivation and use of cannabis became more liberal and opened more opportunities.
It meant having access to more durable sources of materials to create industrial-grade fabrics and ingredients to help ease health conditions, including cancer.
While Hemp remains to be a federally-accepted material source, the use of Marijuana is still subject to regulations that states can autonomously decide.
That can be confusing, as each state has its own set of laws governing the possession, use, and cultivation of cannabis as a whole.
For the most part, cannabis laws per state focus primarily on whether you can have Marijuana or not, as Hemp is legal.
But if both are kinds of cannabis, what sets them apart from each other?
The line between Hemp and Marijuana?
The main difference between Hemp and Marijuana lies in the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Hemp has low concentrations, often less than 0.3 percent per dry weight, making it non-psychoactive and non-intoxicating.
Hemp is still cannabis and does not differ that much from other common strains.
Marijuana, meanwhile, contains at least 0.3 percent THC and is generally grown to maximize the growth of flowers and increase the concentration of THC to produce the effects desired.
If examined closely, the law that draws the line between Hemp and Marijuana focuses more on the THC content, but not so much on other factors, which may be the cause of confusion for some people.
Six Key Differences Between Hemp and Marijuana
There is more to comparing THC levels between Marijuana and Hemp.
As it is, other factors distinguish the two (2) kinds of cannabis. Here are six (6) points to consider.
Appearance
You can tell Marijuana and Hemp apart from their appearance.
Marijuana leaves tend to be wider, with buds that look like nuggets that have tiny crystals.
Hemp, meanwhile, has thinner leaves that are concentrated on top of the plant. It does not have many branches below it.
Marijuana plants tend to be shorter and plumper, while Hemp are often slender and tall, with heights that can reach up to 20 feet.
THC Concentration
Both can produce high amounts of CBD, the non-intoxicating cannabis compound; but, THC is produced at very different levels as stated before.
While hemp can contain no more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight, marijuana can contain up to 30% THC content producing psychoactive effects.
Now, even if the concentration of THC in marijuana is at the baseline of 0.3 percent, it still does not count as hemp.
The same can be said if Hemp has a THC concentration that goes above 0.3 percent, it merits destruction for exceeding the allowable threshold. That usually happens when flowering periods are prolonged.
CBD: Hemp vs Marijuana
CBD can be derived from either hemp or marijuana and they are chemically similar which should make CBD completely legal if hemp is legal right?
Wrong.
Only CBD which is “derived from hemp and hemp-derived products” are legal while CBD from Marijuana, even within the prescribed thresholds for THC content, is classified as restricted.
If you don’t want any issues, get your CBD only from hemp-derived sources.
If Marijuana has higher levels of THC, Hemp has more CBD in it.
Composition
There is a stark difference in the composition of Hemp and Marijuana.
Hemp is known for having Vitamin E, which serves as antioxidants.
When you derive oil from Hemp, you can get doses of good fatty acids composed of:
- Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), which can help mitigate the effects of psoriasis, atopic eczema; and
- Omega-3 Stearidonic acid (SDA), which helps in dealing with cardiovascular diseases.
Marijuana, meanwhile, is more focused on having high concentrations of cannabinoids that induce any psychoactive, yet medical benefits.
If you are into extracts, you can get better extracts from Marijuana, as most of the cannabinoids are concentrated in the buds.
Hemp, meanwhile, has most of its cannabinoids stored in the leaves.
