What You Should Know About CBD

Everyone seems to be selling forms of CBD these days. It is sold in lotions, oils, gummies, foods, and beverages. What is CBD, and what should you know about it?

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol. It is derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant, which is also called marijuana or hemp. CBD is not psychoactive, so it will not get you high. The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. Although it doesn’t get you high, CBD has other effects that may be beneficial. Not enough research has been done to be conclusive, but people claim that CBD helps alleviate conditions such as anxiety, pain, arthritis, or cancer.

How Should You Take CBD?

If you don’t want to ingest CBD, you can use it in a cream or lotion. This works well for painful muscles or joints. Just rub it in at the site of the pain. If you do want to ingest it, you can use vape pens, tinctures or have it mixed into edibles such as brownies or gummies. There are many different forms of CBD you can choose from according to your needs and preferences. Vape pens work the fastest, but the effect wears off faster, too. Tinctures are the next fastest. Edibles take the longest to work, but the effects wear off most slowly with them. Before you take CBD, check with your doctor if you are taking other drugs to avoid potentially harmful CBD drug interactions.

Are CBD Products Legal to Buy?

CBD is now legal with the federal government. However, individual states have differing laws regarding CBD. You will need to check with your state to see if it is legal there. This is just the opposite of the laws regarding marijuana. Marijuana is legal in some states but illegal according to the federal government.

What Should You Know About Purchasing CBD Products?

There are several things you should be looking for to make sure the CBD products you are thinking of buying are safe and of high quality.

1. Third-Party Testing

Make sure that the product has been tested by an independent lab that is not affiliated with the company making the product. This is to ensure that the product contains the amount of CBD that it claims, not more or less.

2. Dosing Instructions

The product should come with clear dosing instructions so that you know exactly how much to take. Dosing can vary depending on whether a product contains only CBD (called isolate) or whether it contains other cannabinoids (called full-spectrum). The latter can make the product much stronger, so the dosage should be adjusted accordingly.

3. FDA Label

Like other supplements, CBD products should come with the standard FDA label. If not, you need to ask yourself why this is not included.

4. Batch Number

The product should have a batch number, in case it needs to be recalled. This is standard practice for supplements and food products. A batch number will help you to be confident that their manufacturing process is a good one.

5. Where It Is Sold

Be sure to buy your CBD products from a reputable source. A health-food store or natural grocery should be a good place to buy these products. Hopefully, they will have checked out the manufacturer before ordering the items.

What About Drug Tests?

If you need to take a drug test, you probably do not need to worry. CBD without any added THC should not show up on a drug test. However, the drug tests given to athletes are very sensitive, and the CBD could give a positive result due to small traces of THC.

If you live in a state where CBD is legal, it may be worth it to give it a try. It could help you when dealing with anxiety or pain.