CBD IS HOT RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT IS IT?

CBD IS HOT RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT IS IT?

Here’s what you should know.

By Mimi Minsky

Chances are, you’ve been hearing a lot about CBD lately. It’s become so popular, everyone from your sister to your grandmother may have tried it by now -- and with good reason.  CBD has caught the world’s attention, arriving as a natural alternative in health and wellness. At a time where Americans have found a staple in avocado toast and acai bowls, people are far more receptive to try something new.

Yet, while Cannabidiol -- commonly referred to as CBD - has been on the rise, many aren’t exactly sure what it is or where it comes from. You’ve seen it on shelves, you’ve heard it will transform your life, but you don’t have all the facts. Perhaps, to better understand CBD, we need to take a step back into the past and learn of its source to discover how it can impact our future.

A LITTLE HISTORY:

Before the world evolved through man’s creation, there was hope in plant life. Nature’s ability to nourish is no secret, yet, hidden in one plant, the cannabis sativa, was the power to provide restorative qualities far beyond anything Western medicine was offering at the time of civilization. Basically, there was this plant that looked ordinary but upon closer inspection, it was anything but ordinary.

Discovered in the brushstrokes painted along the walls of the Japanese caves and later used to create woven textiles and provide a more holistic approach toward modern medicine, the cannabis sativa became a game changer in both clothing and in health. While Hindus in ancient India preferred to drink cannabis, mixing a cocktail they referred to as ‘bhang’, the plant slowly made its way across the world, eventually reaching the Western world and growing wild out in the fields for its inhabitants to explore. The cannabis sativa offered a silent promise to restore balance from within and it wasn’t long before everyone knew its name.

WHERE DOES CBD COME FROM AND WILL IT GET YOU HIGH?

“I’m stoned from ingesting CBD,” said NO ONE ever.

CBD is a chemical compound known as a cannabinoid found in cannabis, most commonly extracted from the hemp variety. Yet, unlike other more popular cannabinoids such as THC, CBD will not get you high. But, allow me to explain why that is.

The cannabis family is extensive there are different varieties of plants, one being the far more famous cannabis variety, from which marijuana is born, and the lesser-known hemp variety where CBD is most commonly extracted from. While the cannabis varieties like marijuana contain high levels of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, giving off that euphoric state of being (or high), CBD or cannabidiol produced from hemp, reveals only trace amounts of THC, proving there can be restorative properties cannabis without the high.

< CLICK HERE to check out InCann’s product line now! >

THREE QUICK CBD TRUTHS:

1. CBD IS A COMPONENT OF THE CANNABIS PLANT.

If you read the part of this blog post titled “CBD…WHAT IS IT?”, you now know that CBD is most commonly extracted from hemp, which is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant. While cannabis is famous for THC and its side effects, hemp is now gaining popularity thanks to CBD and many other minor cannabinoids gaining traction.

2. CBD WILL NOT GET YOU HIGH.

I repeat, CBD will NOT get you high. While cannabis has a primary active ingredient of tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) and promises a subjective experience where one’s psychological state of being is altered, the hemp variety is completely different in appearance and application to daily life. A marijuana batch can contain anywhere from 5%-20% THC (and some premium batches can contain up to 30%), while hemp has a max level of 0.3% THC. The high CBD content that hemp contains also makes it nearly impossible for the tiny percentage of THC that is present to have any effect.

     3. CBD IS AVAILABLE IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS.

Today, brands offer a variety of CBD products from tinctures to topicals, sprays to capsules, and CBD can be ingested or vaped, depending on preference. It is recommended that you consult with a trusted professional before selecting products and then trying a limited dosage to see how your body reacts to them, to then determine a regimen that is beneficial for your individual lifestyle.