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Last week, hundreds of thousands of curious researchers, consumers, members of the medical community, athletes, and others attended the CBD Summit, held prior to the Natural Products Expo. During this summit, cannabidiol market experts announced their prediction for the hemp-derived CBD industry to grow to $450 million by 2020. Yet, a large percentage of the population still has never heard of CBD or fully understands what CBD is. Below we have addressed ten of the most commonly asked questions about cannabidiol and CBD products.
1) Is Hemp the same as Marijuana?
Hemp and marijuana are two types of cannabis that are genetically distinct and differ in both cultivation, chemical properties, and use. Hemp is grown and cultivated for fiber and seed to produce a variety of products including foods, oils, rope, and fabrics. Marijuana is cultivated to yield high levels of the psychoactive ingredient THC, concentrated heavily in the flowers and buds. Marijuana is bred to have THC levels that can exceed 20% as opposed to hemp which has less than .3% THC and no psychoactive properties.
2) What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many different compounds, known as cannabinoids, found in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are unique because they act on cannabinoid receptors that are part of the endocannabinoid system found throughout the body. The second most abundant compound in cannabis, CBD is not intoxicating and has none of the psychoactive properties of marijuana.
3) How is CBD made?
Nearly pure CBD is isolated from the other cannabinoids found in hemp oil. Hemp oil is extracted from the stalks and stems of cannabis using a chemical process and contains the full range of cannabinoids found in the plant. Oil may be obtained using solvents or with a non-toxic and non-flammable CO2 extraction method. Prevalent in the food industry, and “generally regarded as safe” by the FDA, CO2 extraction eliminates the risk of solvent residues in the final product.
4) Will I get High?
CBD does not have any of the psychoactive properties associated with marijuana and will not impair the user or get them “high.” Industrial hemp that has less than 0.3% THC content can yield high-quality CBD that is 99% pure.
5) Is CBD legal?
CBD companies are unable to give legal advice on the legality of CBD. This information is a third party interpretation in an effort to encourage consumers to do their research on the legality of CBD. CBD is legal in 44 states. In 28 states where medical marijuana is legal, CBD products are covered by those same medical marijuana legal protections. In recent years, 16 states have passed CBD-only laws, which legalize the possession and use of CBD products for specific conditions – but not cannabis products containing higher levels of THC. Those CBD-only laws often limit the legal possession and use of CBD products to children with epilepsy, and some nerve and muscle afflictions. Even in those states with CBD legal protections, however, the substance is considered federally illegal by the DEA. Only six states—Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, and West Virginia still consider every part of the cannabis plant, including CBD, to be illegal. The Controlled Substance Act does not contain the terms “Cannabidiol,” “Cannabinoids” or “Hemp.” In order for these terms to be included in the CSA and officially become law, it would take an act of Congress, passed by the House and Senate, and signed by the President. Companies who source domestic hemp products, cultivated in full compliance with the Farm Bill, under appropriate licensing from respective state departments of agriculture in Colorado and Kentucky are covered under this legislation. Furthermore, according to the continuing Appropriations Acts of 2016 and 2017, it is the expressed intent of Congress that hemp cultivated in compliance with the Farm Bill be intended for “transportation, processing, and sale.”
6) Will I pass a drug test?
Many CBD products have no THC in them at all, and all CBD products derived from industrial hemp have less than 0.3% THC. Many factors determine whether a person can pass a drug test, making them unpredictable, but the trace amounts of THC found in CBD products is very minuscule.
7) How is it Taken?
CBD can be taken orally by placing it under the tongue, allowing it to dissolve and be absorbed, or ingested in capsules and edibles. CBD can also be added to ointments and lotions for topical use or inhaled using a vaporizer. The method of ingestion plays a significant role in how quickly CBD enters the system, with vaporizing being quickest and most efficient.
7) What is the difference between Isolate and Full Spectrum?
Products that are Full Spectrum contain CBD as well as other cannabinoids, while CBD Isolate is 99% pure isolated CBD. Cannabinoids affect every individual differently and determining which product is most effective depends on personal needs and preferences.
8) Does CBD produce side effects?
Hemp and CBD are both considered safe and should not produce any adverse side effects in most people. However, everyone processes CBD and other dietary supplements differently, and it is always recommended to consult with a physician before adding any supplement to your diet.
9) Are CBD products safe?
CBD and the processes used by reputable companies enable the manufacture of a variety of safe CBD products. The CBDistillery ensures that its products are of the highest quality by consistently testing and using only non-GMO industrial hemp. All products manufactured by The CBDistillery are from hemp grown outdoors under natural sunlight with pesticide-free organic practices.
10) How much does CBD cost?
Like other diet supplements, the cost of CBD can vary due to a variety of factors including strength and quantity. For more information on CBD product and pricing click HERE.
Medical education is inundated with a systematic bias against any medication that is not mass produced in a pharmaceutical laboratory. The mere suggestion that cannabis could harbor any serious therapeutic benefits was the subject of ridicule and scorn during my clinical training. It was long assumed that anyone taking a cannabis-derived product was likely abusing it someway and somehow. For the longest time, I used to believe that.
Fast forward nearly a decade and I’ve seen my opinion on the matter completely change. I now consider myself to be a staunch advocate for patient access to medical cannabis, especially cannabidiol (CBD). But how could my opinion change so drastically in just a few short years?
I first became interested in CBD after hearing the story of one of my patients. He was an older man, with a long-standing history of diabetes complicated by peripheral neuropathy, which is a painful condition of the legs and feet. He started taking CBD as a supplement along with his other morning medications. After a period of time, he noted a gradual improvement in his sense of overall well-being.
As time went on, I heard additional stories that seemed to suggest CBD was impacting lives in a positive way. I could no longer ignore the potential therapeutic benefits that these individuals claimed to have experienced. Ultimately, this led me to undertake a thorough investigation of the medical and scientific literature to see if my patient’s experiences could be backed up by research.
What is CBD and How Does it Work?
CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid produced naturally in plants of the Cannabis genus, with the most common being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD is uniquely different from THC, in that it is not psychoactive, meaning that it does not cause its user to feel intoxicated or “high.” Additionally, according to the World Health Organization, CBD has no potential for abuse or dependence.
In order to understand how CBD works, it’s important to first understand how any pharmaceutical drug operates within the body. For a medication to be effective, it needs to interact with systems already present within the body. Think of the medication as kind of a key and the receptor (where the medication acts) as a kind of lock. When the “key” interacts with its “lock”, it could either activate (i.e. epinephrine boosting blood pressure) or inactivate (i.e. ibuprofen reducing inflammation) the body’s normal physiologic response.
However, the exact mechanism of how CBD exerts its effects on the body is far more complicated. In fact, unlike many compounds, CBD has been shown to influence a multitude of potential receptors in animal models.
The Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a collection of cell receptors and their corresponding neurotransmitters in the human body. This system helps to regulate sleep, appetite, mood, motor control, immune function, pleasure, pain, reproduction and fertility, memory and temperature regulation. This system is regulated by specific neurotransmitters, namely anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, that act directly on cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). These receptors are primarily found in neuronal synapses (the communication hub where two nerves interact with each other to transmit or modify signals going to or within the brain).
Unlike THC, which has a direct interaction with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBD does not seem to have any significant direct interaction with either of these receptors. Rather, the best available evidence suggests that CBD acts as a reuptake inhibitor of the neurotransmitter anandamide. Basically, this just means that there is more anandamide available within a neuronal synapse to interact with receptors in the ECS. The more anandamide within a synapse, the greater its ultimate effect will be.
The Vanilloid Receptor (TRPV1)
Anandamide also directly acts on the TRPV1 or the vanilloid receptor. This receptor is partly responsible for the transmission of painful stimuli to the brain from a variety of stimuli. Capsaicin, which is responsible for the “heat” in chili peppers, also activates this receptor. Capsaicin-based topical medications work by overstimulating this receptor, making it less effective at transmitting the pain signals. Similarly, increased levels of anandamide within nerve synapses caused by CBD could also theoretically provide analgesia through this same mechanism, but this needs more study.
Serotonin Receptors (5-HT1a)
CBD has been shown to act directly on some serotonin receptors within the nervous system. Serotonin helps to regulate mood, anxiety, appetite, sexual function, and even social behavior. Many medications have been developed to influence these receptors. Buspirone, for example, also directly acts upon the 5-HT1a receptor and is an effective treatment for anxiety. Whether or not CBD can achieve similar results remains to be seen.
Conclusions
After evaluating the available research on CBD, I see great potential in how CBD could benefit the well-being of individuals. More research will be required to further quantify the effects of CBD within the human body, how it achieves them, and whether or not these effects are clinically beneficial.
About Dr. Kevin Frey
Dr. Kevin Frey, MD specializes in Internal Medicine in Canton, Ohio. Dr. Frey received his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University and completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Frey has partnered with The CBDistillery™, where his goal is to focus on educating others on the basic science behind CBD and its potential to improve well-being.
Studies referenced during my investigation.
In August 2017, Forbes published the largest survey on cannabidiol (CBD) usage to date conducted by the Brightfield Group and HelloMD where they found that vaping is the number one preferred form of administering CBD across all users. Why is it so popular? There are two key benefits to vaping which make this form of consumption superior to others: quick relief and efficient results.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the natural compounds found in cannabis and has been shown to provide medical benefits in both humans and animals. One of the most promising medicinal plant-based resources known, CBD has become well known throughout the world after reports of its amazing benefits.
CBD can be ingested orally in capsule form or edibles, or placed under the tongue and allowed to absorb into the mucous membrane sublingually. The compound can be applied topically using lotions or ointments and inhaled by vaporizing. The time that it takes an individual to get relief is dependent on the ingestion method and can differ among individuals.
The fastest and most efficient way to ingest CBD is by vaporization. A vaporizer heats the oil enough to release its active compounds without causing combustion.Vaporizing allows the CBD to enter the bloodstream through the lungs directly. Inhaling CBD with a vaporizer enables the patient to experience relief in as little as five to ten minutes, whereas the effects from other products might not be felt for forty-five minutes to an hour later.
Only a percentage of the CBD consumed will enter the circulatory system and produce the desired effects. The scientific term for the proportion of CBD that enters the system when introduced into the body is “bioavailability,” and it is dependent mainly on the method of ingestion. When taken orally CBD has a bioavailability of about 15% which means that for every 100 milligrams of CBD eaten, about 15 milligrams will enter the circulatory system.
CBD’s unique properties combined with functions of the digestive system cause the low bioavailability percentage when taken orally. CBD is not water soluble and does not readily enter or stay in the bloodstream. Like the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, THC, the CBD compound collects in fatty tissues, quickly dispersing from the bloodstream. This property severely reduces the quantity of CBD that enters and stays in the circulation system limiting its overall bioavailability. Additionally, when taken orally CBD must pass through the digestive tract and the liver where the concentration of bioactive compounds is reduced by absorption or through chemical breakdown by liver enzymes.
Inhaling CBD with a vaporizer allows the compound to directly enter the bloodstream through the lungs, bypassing the digestive system and the loss of CBD it causes. This method provides faster relief and allows a maximum bioavailability of nearly 50% to 60%. Compared to oral ingestion, vaporizing allows approximately four times as much CBD to enter the body, enabling patients to receive the same beneficial effects with a much smaller amount of CBD.
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Cannabidiol has been embraced by patients across the globe and has shown to provide many benefits. The most effective and efficient way of ingesting CBD is by inhaling it with the use of a vaporizer. Looking for CBD vape products? Click HERE.
If you’re here reading this, you may already know there are many benefits to humans using hemp derived, CBD products. But, did you know that dogs can also see health and wellness advantages from hemp products in the same way that humans can, and for the same reason?
In this article, we will gain a better understanding of what hemp oil products are, how they interact with dog’s systems, and what dog owners are using CBD to treat.
Introduction to Hemp and CBD
Cannabis plants contain 60+, naturally occurring, active compounds called cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of these compounds found in hemp and marijuana plants. It is important to note that CBD is a different component than Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the cannabinoid that creates the “high” feeling from marijuana. While THC can be dangerous for animals, CBD has considerable benefits according to most pet owners who give their animals CBD products and – aside from a slight drowsy reaction or increased appetite – most report no side effects from giving their dogs CBD oil. How do cannabinoids interact with dog’s systems and why do cannabinoids cause different effects? To answer this question, we must introduce the endocannabinoid system.
Dog’s Endocannabinoid Cannabinoid System
In the 60’s chemist, Dr. Ralph Mechoulam, Ph.D. isolated the CBD and THC cannabinoids and it was later discovered the endocannabinoid system has receptors that exist in canines as well as humans. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essentially a central regulatory system that affects a wide range of processes including pain sensation, appetite, sleep, mood, and memory. The system consists of a group of molecules known cannabinoid receptors.
Endocannabinoids are the molecules that act as chemical messengers that bind to cannabinoid cell receptors and tell the body to do certain things. Dogs and other animals naturally produce endocannabinoids with the help of consuming foods like fatty acids found in nuts and fish. The 60 cannabinoid molecules found in cannabis also have the ability to bind to cannabinoid receptors. Although different cannabinoids (like CBD and THC) cause different effects, it is all through the same system that similar molecular messages are sent throughout the body. Put more simply, the molecules found in cannabis plants aid in a dog’s endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for many vital functions.
For example, Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are essential acids that dogs don’t naturally produce enough of but which are important for healthy skin, fur, and general well-being. Most dog foods contain these essential fatty acids but CBD oil is rich in these essential acids, providing a healthy supplement to their diet. What other benefits can dogs reap from hemp derived, CBD oil?
Uses of CBD Oil
Although there has been no clinical research done on the effects of hemp for animals and we cannot make official medical claims, The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association did a study called “Consumers’ Perceptions Of Hemp Products For Animals” wherein they performed an anonymous survey of 632 pet owners who buy hemp products for their animals.
The peer-review survey came to some telling conclusions. Among others, the study found:
Aside from the anecdotal medical benefits of hemp, there are dietary considerations as well.
While most veterinarians are reticent to sing the praises of CBD oil because of a lack of clinical research, anecdotal information can be cited to indicate CBD for dogs is an effective treatment for many of the same ailments humans struggle with.
The Healing Vet – “Dr. Edward” – has witnessed in his practice many incidents of how CBD oil has worked to help his four-legged patients. Located in Australia, Dr. Edward has more than 20 years of experience as a veterinarian and prefers a holistic approach to animal care. Recently, he provided an interview to “The Devil’s Lettuce” podcast in which he provided specific examples of ways he witnessed CBD oil alleviate problems for his patients.
One dog owner says, “CBD Oil really makes a difference! We’ve been giving this to our dog for a couple of months now. We’re very impressed. So glad we found CBD!”
If you are looking for a natural way to help your dog, CBD Oil is a fantastic choice.
We surveyed our customers not so long ago, about what their New Year’s Health and Wellness Resolutions were and about how they were planning to use CBD products to support in achieving these goals. Over one thousand of our customers shared what they have set out to achieve in 2018 and we want all of our customers to know we are here to support you every step of the way.
As a company, we set our own 2018 goals and revisited our mission statement to reflect who we as a company want to be in 2018. Here is our new mission statement:
The CBDistillery™ is more than just a supplier of CBD products, we are thought-
Our hope is that you, our customers will hold us accountable to this mission statement. In return, here are 7 of the health and wellness resolutions you told us you are focusing on as well as tips on how to put your best foot forward and turn your resolutions into a success!
So how are you doing so far?
Are you on target, taking positive steps and marching toward your personal resolution? If you have procrastinated in starting or even fallen off the path, its okay! It isn’t too late, to jump back on the horse! Here are some tips and tricks to achieving your 2018 goals.
Resolution #1
Overall Better Health
The Plan
Baby Steps. This is a big and lofty goal but not unreachable. The key to reaching any goal of sizable consideration is to employ baby steps. If you were one of the many citing better overall health as your personal resolution, employing baby steps will help. This may look like getting to the gym four days a week or cutting fast food out of your diet. The idea is to create obtainable and measurable short-term goals. Using small goal like these (baby steps) will provide motivation and help to keep you moving forward.
Resolution #2
Start a New Fitness Routine
The Plan
Fun and Manageable. The motivations behind starting a new fitness routine could be many. Maybe you want to take your health to the next level and now that your diet is getting better this is the next step. It could be that you just want to add some physical activity to your sedentary lifestyle. Whatever your reason, keep it fun and make it manageable. If it isn’t enjoyable are you going to stick with it? With your hectic schedule, can you really commit to six days a week? Find a routine you like and a schedule that is realistic.
Resolution #3
Lose Weight
The Plan
Eat the Right Way. It was just a matter of time before weight loss appeared somewhere on the list right? Many of our customers and about half the world make this resolution every year. What people most often miss and are never told often enough is that a healthy diet is as much about how you eat as it is what you eat. Eat six to eight times a day and control your portions. Doing this will force your metabolism to work and help prevent your body from storing food (fat).
Resolution #4
Breaking Bad Habits
The Plan
The Reward System. Trying to break a bad habit? Many of our customers said that they made this their New Year’s resolution. Try using a reward system. Positive reinforcement works and your brain can be trained. Give yourself a treat (you know what you like!) every time you stop yourself, go a week or have a breakthrough toward breaking those bad teeth grinding, nail-biting habits.
Resolution #5
Get More Sleep
The Plan
Schedule Plus Sleep Aid. Stick to a schedule, train your brain and your body. Sometimes using additional aids to help you get on a schedule can be useful. Our customers have cited that some of our most popular products help promote falling and staying asleep longer.
Resolution #6
Eat Healthier
The Plan
Find a Few Favorites. Overall health includes eating smart and losing weight but is also about what you eat. It may take some time for your palate to adapt to less fatty, less salty and less healthy foods. Find a few staple foods early on that you can rely on. The key is to train your brain to crave these healthier foods rather than the junk it was once used to. This takes time (they say it takes 21 days to break a habit), but once you are over the curve your body will thank you.
Resolution #7
Stress Reduction
The Plan
You Time. The world is chaotic, crazy and constant. What we need is a refuge and those moments of peace and sanity. Take time for yourself and literally schedule some time to do nothing every week, just “you” time. Still having a difficult time controlling your response to stress? Many of our customers have reported successfully using CBD products as a way to find mental and physical relief, contributing towards overall better health.
It isn’t too late and there is plenty of 2018 left to make your New Year’s resolution a reality. Please let us know if there are any ways that we can support you!
