Happy National CBD Day! What Even Is CBD Anyway?

By Joe Larocca

Happy National CBD Day! CBD has taken the United States by storm in the past few years. But what exactly is it? Normalized and accepted pot? Not exactly.

Its recent burst onto the medicinal scene could be seen as surprising and a little intimidating. But fear not – today we’re celebrating this National Day by taking a look at what exactly is this new trending substance.

WHAT IS IT?
CBD, or cannabidiol, as it stands for, is a chemical found in the cannabis plant. No, not marijuana.

There are two types of Cannabis: hemp and marijuana. CBD can be found in both, but hemp has a much higher percentage of it. Hemp also has almost no THC (often less than 0.03%), meaning it’s not psychoactive. In a nut shell, it's calming and promotes relaxation, but won’t get you high or feel sedated.

SO WHAT’S THE RAVE?
Health.com reports that as more research is conducted, scientists are finding more and more positive and healthy effects of CBD such as:

• Epilepsy treatment
• Aiding nicotine addiction
• Anxiety treatment
• Arthritis Pain Relief
• Hydration and skin moisturization
• Autism therapy
• Cancer treatment

NOT BAD… HOW IS IT USED?
CBD use is most effective depending on what you are trying to get out of it. For example, for arthritis, there are plenty topical creams you can apply to the effected area. Other ways it is consumed include tinctures, edibles, and vape pens. How CBD is ingested can effect how long it takes to kick in, and how long it stays in your system.

THAT CAN’T BE LEGAL, CAN IT?
According to NutraScience Labs, CBD extracted from hemp plants is legal in all 50 states.

ALRIGHT, I’M SOLD. WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING CBD?
Great question – this guy gets it. CBD treatments are still in the process of being approved by the FDA. With that in mind, it would be a smart move to purchase CBD products that have been tested by a third party lab to assure the label’s accuracy. Look for a quality assurance stamp or certificate of analysis from an outside party. If you do not see one on the label, check the retailer’s website where that information should be available. So why not? Celebrate this National Day by checking out some CBD products for yourself!