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Though tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are perhaps the two most well-known cannabinoids(chemical compounds derived from the cannabis plant), other cannabinoids can also be extracted that have proven health benefits. One such cannabinoid is cannabinol (CBN). Sharing a similar chemical makeup to THC, CBN is actually produced when THC is oxidized. Being heated or exposed to oxygen for prolonged periods of time will enhance the oxidation process, which is why CBN is oftentimes more present in aged or poorly stored cannabis. Like all cannabinoids, CBN works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors that regulate a variety of bodily activity, and are activated by cannabinoids such as THC or CBD. There are two types of receptors: CBD1 and CBD2. CBD1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and nervous system, where CBD2 receptors are mostly found in the immune system and gastrointestinal tract. Cann

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the major cannabinoids, or chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD has no psychoactive effects (meaning it will not get you “high”).It does, however, have numerous health benefits and uses. CBD has been known to reduce inflammation and pain, reduce the likelihood of seizures, treat anxiety, and even prevent cancer. The key to CBD’s effectiveness is in the way the body responds to cannabinoids. Our bodies have what is known as an endocannabinoid system, which is a biological system of receptors activated by cannabinoids. While the body naturally produces cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system can also be activated by external cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Continue reading

CBD stands for Cannabadiol and is one of over a hundred phytocannabanoids found in the flower of the Cannabis plant. Without going into a full biology/botany lesson, it should be noted that phytocannabanoids are simply naturally occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant.  CBD and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are the two most noted of these compounds and the two most studied. So what is CBD, and why is CBD so popular lately? There are certain aspects that set CBD apart from other compounds found in marijuana. CBD has many therapeutic attributes and is proving to be a very useful compound in research for more natural forms of medicine. As medicinal marijuana research gains in popularity, CBD is one of the main compounds being studied. It has already show promise in treating a wide assortment of ailments and disorders from chronic physical pain to mental issues like anxiety and depression. There is already one CBD drug Epidiolex, used for childhood epilepsy, approved by the

CBD is just one of over 100 types of compounds called cannabinoids. This compound is most commonly associated with cannabis. However, unlike THC, CBD does not cause a “high” or any type of psychoactive or mind-altering effect. CBD comes from natural hemp or cannabis plants, where it is extracted and added into a carrier oil to become CBD oil. What CBD oil does is engage with the human body’s endocannabinoid system or ECS and make it more productive, or inhibit it, in some cases. This is the system in the body that helps regulate sleep, the immune-system, and pain. For example, CBD can stop the body from absorbing pain regulatingcompounds such as anandamide, which reduces the amount of pain a person may feel. This activation of the ECS system is what makes a CBD oil an option for chronic pain management. For centuries, CBD has been traditionally used to treat a variety of conditions, but only recently has it begun to be studied medically. A recent study by t

People take or apply cannabidiol (CBD) to treat a variety of symptoms, but there is some confusion about what it is and how it affects the human body. CBD is one of many compounds in the cannabis plant, known as cannabinoids. Until recently, the best-known compound in cannabis was delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC creates a mind-altering “high” when a person smokes it or uses it in cooking. CBD is different. Unlike THC, it is not psychoactive. This means that CBD does not change a person’s state of mind when they use it. However, CBD does appear to produce significant changes in the body. Researchers have been looking at the possible therapeutic uses of CBD. Hemp contains most of the CBD that people use medicinally. Hemp and marijuana come from the same plant but the two are very different. Over the years, marijuana farmers have selectively bred their plants to contain high levels of THC. Hemp farmers, on the other hand, have rarely modified the plant. These hemp pla

CBD is a type of cannabinoid compound. There are over 100 types of cannabinoids, the most famous of which is THC. This compound is famously associated with marijuana and causing a psychoactive effect or“high”. CBD however, is a cannabinoid that does not have any mind-altering or psychoactive effects. CBD comes from hemp or cannabis plants and can be extracted into a carrier oil to become CBD oil. Sold in various forms, CBD is making headlines for its anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and anti-cancer benefits. CBD affects the body by interacting with the body’s own endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for maintaining the immune system, managing pain, and regulating sleep. Regarding CBD’s possible anti-cancer benefits, there are two main effects associated with CBD, stopping and slowing the growth of cancer cells, and the management of symptoms associated with chemotherapy. A study conducted in 2013 by the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that CBD has

According to the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, 100 million Americans live with chronic pain. Chronic pain can increase healthcare costs, negatively impact productivity at work, as well as drastically reduce the overall quality of life. Over-the-counter and prescription pain medications are often recommended in the treatment of chronic pain, but many people seek out alternative forms of relief. Some of these people wish to avoid the side effects frequently associated with standard pain medication. Others have apprehensions about becoming dependent on such medications. As concerns over opioid overdoses continue to escalate, some proponents suggest that CBD oil could provide a solution to opioid addiction. Scientists are still trying to determine how CBD oil might alleviate pain. There is some evidence that cannabidiol may affect the body’s complex system of cell-to-cell communication called the endocannabinoid system. Along with contributing to brain func

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most popular chemical compounds derived from the cannabis plant. It boasts a variety of health benefits, which has resulted in a surge in popularity and use over the past few years. However, since cannabis use has long been federally illegal, the legal status of cannabis-derived products such as CBD has been somewhat of a grey area. Furthermore, each state has its own cannabis laws, and CBD and marijuana is not the same thing despite their close association. Thus, navigating who can and cannot legally use CBD is tricky. To better understand the legality of CBD, it is first worth distinguishing cannabis, hemp, marijuana, and CBD. Cannabis is a plant with primarily two classifications: indica and sativa. Marijuana is derived from both cannabis indica and cannabis sativa plants, where hemp is derived from just cannabis sativa. Marijuana contains both tethrydrocannabinol (THC—the chemical compound that induces a “high”) and CBD, where hemp contains mos

On December 20th, 2018, President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law. The United States Agricultural Act (better known as the “Farm Bill”) is a piece of legislation that is passed approximately every five years, and essentially outlines U.S. policies for food and agriculture. In recent years, the Farm Bill has been particularly significant because of its stance on industrial hemp, cannabis, and CBD. The 2014 Farm Bill was the first piece of American legislation that defined industrial hemp as different than marijuana, and authorized Universities and state Departments of Agriculture to research and cultivate industrial hemp (i.e. the parts of the cannabis sativa plant that have a concentration of THC no higher than 0.3%). Though the 2014 Farm Bill allowed for the cultivation of industrial hemp under extremely narrow parameters, it nonetheless opened the door for hemp use and helped destigmatized public understanding of hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill expanded upon the progre

Since hemp products like cannabidiol (CBD) have become federally legal, many people have turned to CBD to treat a variety of health problems. CBD has been known to treat inflammation, reduce the likelihood of seizures, combat anxiety, and in some cases prevent cancer. Mental health issues are one area that CBD can help, that has gained widespread popularity and recognition recently. In particular, current research shows that CBD has potential to help combat survivors and sufferers of PTSD with the symptoms of depression. To grasp how CBD can treat depression, one must first understand the nature of depression and how it works. Depression is defined as a mood disorder characterized by severe feelings of sadness or emptiness. For many years, the prevailing narrative surrounding the cause of depression has been that it is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. While there is some validity to this, the exact cause of depression is unknown. However, there are many factors t

In 2014, President Obama signed the Agricultural Act of 2014 (perhaps better known as the “Farm Bill”) into law. Farm Bills are passed about every five years, with the purpose of creating and reauthorizing federal agriculture programs. However, the Farm Bill of 2014 introduced new laws regarding industrial hemp and its legal uses. Section 7607 of the 2014 Farm Bill defines industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana, and authorizes state Departments of Agriculture and educational institutions to conduct research and initiate pilot programs. The Bill specifies that industrial hemp consists of any part of the cannabis sativa plant that possess no more than a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 0.3%. In other words, industrial hemp is the low THC and therefore non-psychoactive content of the cannabis plant. Though it is derived from the same plant that produces marijuana, industrial hemp has no uses as a recreational drug. The 2014 Farm Bill’s partial legalization of indus