Cannabis products are experiencing a renaissance they haven’t experienced in our lifetime. Now that there are dozens of states jumping on the bandwagon and adjusting their legislation concerning cannabis products there are countless companies that also want to cash in on the trend.
Sure, lots of these are cottage operations making artisanal THC products, but what about for the folks who aren’t looking to catch a buzz while medicating? That’s where hemp oil, or CBD, comes into the equation.
But what exactly is the difference? Can CBD products really do what they say? Can they treat skin issues, pain, sleep issues, and more? We’re going to take a deep dive into CBD and hemp products to find out if they really work. Along the way we’re going to learn all the details we can about hemp and the products that are made from it.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Cannabis Products
What Is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the dozens of cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. By far, the most well-known cannabinoid is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is also psychoactive. However, while THC is most abundant in the female flowers of the cannabis plant, CBD can be obtained from the males, without many of the other cannabinoids.
Is CBD Legal?
CBD, if properly extracted and labeled, is completely legal in the US now. There is a qualification that all CBD has to have a THC content of 0.3% or less in order to be produced and sold legally. However, provided this condition is met, there is little CBD regulation so far.
Why Am I Seeing CBD Everything On The Market Right Now?
The short answer is that it’s legal, and it’s popular, so everyone is hopping on the CBD train. You can take just about any health or beauty product, add CBD, and make it better or more effective. So not only is everyone doing it, but it works, so it has created a snowball effect.
How Does It Work?
CBD interacts with our body’s natural endocannabinoid system, mimicking anandamide and promoting higher levels of it. This creates healthy anti-inflammatory effects in the brain and body, as well as interacting with some other receptors. There are even preliminary indications that it can help mitigate some of the symptoms of epilepsy that are normally resistant to other treatments.
What’s the Difference Between Isolate & Full-Spectrum CBD?
When shopping for CBD, you may see some products say they are made with an isolate, instead of full-spectrum oil. Full-spectrum oil has the full range of other cannabinoids in it, still with 0.3% or less THC, while isolate has had all other components removed except for CBD.
So, What Kind Of Products Can I Get With CBD In Them?
1. Lip Balm
These have become very popular with the same crowd that hopped on the lip balm bandwagon following the brand about the bees and the fellow that cares for them. The CBD helps to regulate oil and moisture, as well as help repair skin, so CBD lip balms and chapsticks are a perfect combination.
2. Oils
Oils or tinctures are often the most potent administration of CBD. They are oil or alcohol suspensions and are dropped under the tongue for the most effective use. They can be incredibly powerful, and when shopping for them you should be very attentive to the dosage.
3. Edibles
The most common way you’ll see CBD products designed to be eaten are gummies, by far. There are countless companies and varieties and flavors. Be smart about shopping for CBD gummies, make sure you check the dosage per gummy since many companies will only put a tiny dose in them so that they can still market them as CBD gummies. You will probably want at least 10mg per gummy to make it worth your while.
4. Lotions & Creams
There are countless creams and lotions that are formulated with CBD, for varied purposes. CBD lotions are usually used to help repair the skin tone and complexion, and sometimes for light pain relief. It has been shown to mitigate psoriasis and eczema symptoms. CBD is also a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
Higher dose CBD creams are often used for topical pain treatment, or before using additional healing equipment such as the Hempvana Rocket for muscle therapy. Be sure that if you are shopping for CBD pain relief creams, that you verify that they have the appropriate agents in them to boost absorption of the CBD into the bloodstream.
