Beginner’s Guide to CBD

Let’s start at the beginning – what is CBD, anyway?

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid. That means it’s a compound found in the hemp and cannabis plants. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring, and they interact with your body by binding to receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) – more on that later. The most famous and well-known cannabinoid is THC, but CBD is a close second – and while they are related, their effects couldn’t be more different.

How many cannabinoids do you think are found in the cannabis and hemp plant? You’ve probably only heard of one or two, maybe five at most – but the reality is that there are well over 100 different cannabinoids in these plants. Each has their own properties and effects.

Let’s take a look at some of the most notable cannabinoids:

• CBD – non-psychoactive, and legal at the federal level when derived from hemp, CBD is said to carry many healing and therapeutic properties when ingested. It can be used in conjunction with other cannabinoids, or on its own as an isolate.
• THC – the most well-known cannabinoid, THC is responsible for the characteristic “high” that cannabis produces. It can be used in a myriad of ways, but is typically smoked.
• CBG – Cannabigerol, also known as CBG, is the decarboxylated (activated by heat) form of CBG-A, or cannabigerolic acid, which is the “parent” cannabinoid from which all others are derived. CBG is said to have anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful in treating glaucoma, among other conditions. While still underresearched, keep an eye for CBG in the coming years – it holds a lot of promise as a therapeutic cannabinoid.
• CBN – cannabinol, or CBN, is a cannabinoid that emerges when cannabis or hemp products are oxidized, heated or otherwise degraded. While that might not sound the most promising, CBN is known for having various therapeutic properties including the ability to promote sleep. Some people create cannabinoid products that are high in CBN intentionally, as sleep aids or for other therapeutic purposes. CBN is said to be mildly psychoactive.

These are only a handful of the dozens of cannabinoids that exist, but they’re some of the most well-known and well-researched. Savvy cannabinoid connoisseurs will be paying attention to other cannabinoids in the coming years – as research continues, we expect to learn more about the possible therapeutic and recreational properties of various cannabinoids.

Ok, so we’ve learned about some of the various cannabinoids out there. And we know that THC is illegal in most parts of the world. But what about CBD? Is CBD legal? Can you buy CBD online or in store legally in your area?

It depends on where you live, and the local and federal laws of your area.

To know how CBD might be helpful to you, it’s important to know how CBD works in the first place. With all the claims being made about CBD’s potential therapeutic uses, what do we know about how CBD works?

While scientific research is ongoing, and we don’t know everything about CBD yet, we know some things already about how CBD works and how it interacts with the body.

All animals, vertebrate or not, have what’s called an Endocannabinoid System, or ECS – and that includes humans, of course. The ECS is a biological system comprised of cannabinoids and receptors, similar to other systems in your body like the nervous system. Preliminary research indicates that the ECS plays a role in modulating all sorts of different body functions, like appetite, mood, pain sensation, and even fertility and pregnancy.

Part of the ECS is composed of receptors, called cannabinoid receptors. There are two known types of cannabinoid receptors, called CB1 and CB2, respectively. CB1 receptors are expressed primarily in the brain, whereas CB2 receptors are found mostly in the immune system – though some new research has identified CB2 receptors in the brain as well.

These receptors get activated when a cannabinoid binds with them – whether that’s a naturally occurring cannabinoid (called an endocannabinoid, produced naturally by your body), or one that’s introduced by ingestion. In short, when cannabinoids bind to receptors, various body functions are triggered, depending on where the receptor is located.

One example of a body function triggered by the ECS, that will be very familiar to recreational cannabis users, is the modulation of appetite – colloquially, “The Munchies.” When cannabinoids bond with certain CB1 receptors, they were found to increase sweet tastes, and pleasure associated with them. This is one example of how cannabinoids can modulate appetite – by making sweet things taste sweeter, and increasing the pleasure from eating them, cannabinoid users may be inclined to eat more. This is what’s happening on a basic level when you get really hungry after using cannabinoid products.

Appetite modulation is just one effect of the ECS – it has been shown to affect all kinds of processes in your body, from sleep, to anxiety, to pain, and more.

CBD comes in three main formulations:

• Full-spectrum CBD, containing all of the cannabinoids and compounds found naturally in the hemp plant – including trace amounts of THC.

• Broad-spectrum CBD, which is the same as full-spectrum but with all traces of THC removed. This removal of THC is typically done through chromatography

• CBD isolate, which is what it sounds like – a totally isolated formulation of CBD, containing no other cannabinoids, compounds, or anything else. Typically, isolate clocks in around 99% pure CBD.

As mentioned, full-spectrum CBD is considered by many to be more effective than isolated formulations, since it creates the synergistic Entourage Effect. But that’s not only because of cannabinoids – there are other beneficial compounds found in hemp, as well.

One of those types of compounds are called terpenes. Terpenes and terpenoids (derivatives of terpenes) are natural compounds found in many different types of plants, and have a vast array of different uses and purposes. Scientists estimate there are over 55,000 different terpenes. Terpenes have strong odors and are responsible for a lot of different tastes, smells and flavors found in foods, and yes – in hemp. If you’ve smelled different varieties of hemp or cannabis, you may have noticed that each has a similar but slightly distinct aroma – this is due to varying terpene content by strain. Terpenes can carry their own therapeutic properties – one study found that terpenes can demonstrate various properties, from anti-microbial and anti-fungal, to relaxing and antioxidant properties. Full-spectrum CBD contains lots of terpenes along with cannabinoids, which many people believe to be responsible for part of its benefits.

Speaking of benefits… what are the effects of CBD?

With all this talk about CBD, its formulations, and how it works, you might be wondering: what are the effects of CBD? From benefits, to potential side effects, CBD can carry a lot of different properties. Let’s examine some of the main effects and benefits of CBD, and how they might be able to help you.

When it comes to determining the right CBD dosage for you, there are a few things to consider. Since CBD is not regulated by the FDA, and there is still minimal research on dosing, you need to do a bit of experimentation to find the amount that works for you. However, since the side effects are minimal, there’s little risk in trying CBD for yourself and tuning in your perfect dose.

We always recommend that you start low and go slow when it comes to dosing CBD. Generally speaking, you want to start with a very small amount of CBD, and gradually increase it until the desired effects are achieved. A good place to start is around 5mg of CBD. You should keep close track of your symptoms and how you feel to determine when you’ve found the optimal dose. While there’s no risk of overdose, you can increase your tolerance by taking more CBD than you need – making it more expensive to achieve the same results down the line.

Your CBD dosage regimen might look something like this:

Week 1: 5mg CBD per day. No effects felt.

Week 2: 10mg CBD per day. No effects felt.

Week 3: 15mg CBD per day. Mild relief felt.

Week 4: 20mg CBD per day. Feeling great!

Stop increasing once the desired effects have been achieved, and continue at that dose unless you feel it’s necessary to increase or decrease it. In this example, you’d continue with a 20mg per day dose.