What Is CBD (Cannabidiol)?
CBD hemp oil is growing in popularity with good reason: it’s changing lives.
Whether you’ve heard something on the news, seen mention of it on television, or are simply searching for a natural alternative to treat an ongoing health condition or frustration, CBD oil has likely come to your attention. However, finding clear, reliable information on what is CBD, what it does, and whether it’s legal in the first place, has probably presented a challenge.
We’re here to change that. Read on for information on what CBD is, how it can be used, and whether it might be right for your specific needs.
Pressed for time? Check out the “What is CBD” intro video (2min)
CANNABINOIDS? CANNABIDIOL? LEARNING THE LANGUAGE
CBD – or cannabidiol – is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical that’s naturally found in cannabis plants, which is where concern generally starts to arise. Before going any further, it’s important to note that while CBD comes from cannabis, it doesn’t create a high, because on its own it cannot; that’s caused by another cannabinoid, THC, which we’ll get to later.
Instead, full-spectrum CBD hemp oil is derived from cannabis plants that produce over 400 different compounds. Some are unique to the plant while others are common in other species of plants as well. Sixty of them, however, are unique to cannabis plants. These sixty compounds are classified as cannabinoids; cannabidiol is one of them. It happens to be the second-most prevalent cannabinoid occurring in cannabis and is completely separate from THC.
The exciting part? CBD – one of the 400 naturally occurring compounds in cannabis plants – can be isolated and used for specific medicinal purposes without the common psychoactive affects commonly associated with recreational marijuana use.
For Definition's Sake
CANNABIS
Cannabis is a type of plant with different varieties, including marijuana plants and hemp plants. Until recently, it has been strongly associated with recreational marijuana use. These plants produce over 400 compounds, over sixty of which are unique to the plant and can be isolated for medicinal and other purposes.
CANNIBINOIDS
Cannabinoids are the active chemical compounds that are unique to cannabis plants. They are the active ingredients in various cannabis products that have positive effects.
CANNABIDIOL
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol – or THC – is the most commonly found cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. Known for its psychoactive effects, it is the compound responsible for the “high” produced by recreational and medical cannabis or marijuana.
Originally posted by CBD Central.
