What is CBD?
CBD is a plant extract derived from the Cannabis Sativa L. plant (also known as “Hemp” when it has been cultivated for Federally legal, non-intoxicating levels of THC). While it is a naturally occuring component of the Cannabis plant, don’t worry — Hemp-derived CBD is now Federally legal in all 50 US States, and it won’t get you high. In fact, many people around the world have found CBD to greatly improve their quality of life with zero negative impacts.
Would CBD improve Your life? This article is designed to help arm you with the knowledge to make that decision for yourself.
Where does CBD come from?
‘CBD’ is an abbreviated form of the word ‘Cannabidiol’ (pronounced ‘canna-bih-dye-ol’), which is a compound known as a ‘cannabinoid’. As you may have guessed, this word implies that all cannabinoids come from the cannabis plant, but that isn’t quite true. Cannabinoids can be found in chocolate, Echinacea, black pepper, even human breast milk!
That’s right – every breastfeeding mother is supplying her child with lots of cannabinoids! In fact, every mammal on Earth has what is known as an ‘endocannabinoid system’. This may sound confusing and scientific, but all it really means is that your body produces its own cannabinoids (called endocannabinoids) which are used to regulate all kinds of bodily functions. More on that later.
The cannabis plant contains many cannabinoids (144 is the current number according to Dr. Lumír Hanuš). You’ve probably heard the most about THC, which is the main component that recreational users want since it gives that high feeling they’re after.
THC has proven to have many beneficial effects on the human mind and body. However, it does alter mental functioning (which is referred to as psychoactive), and it is the true target of the laws and propaganda against cannabis.
CBD is a sister cannabinoid that also has many beneficial effects, yet it is not intoxicating. In fact, CBD is considered to be an antipsychotic (Note: there is some debate over whether or not CBD is psychoactive, as it can improve mood and focus, and as mentioned it is considered an antipsychotic; so while some say CBD is not psychoactive, we avoid making that claim and refer to it as non-intoxicating).
CBD is typically extracted from hemp plants, which are really just cannabis plants bred specifically to have extremely low levels of THC. The distinction between cannabis and hemp is a legal distinction and not a botanical one. From the perspective of a botanist, there is no difference between a hemp plant and a cannabis plant. But in an effort to avoid violating federal laws, most companies extract CBD from ‘Hemp’.
Is CBD Truly Legal?
According to Bob Hoban, of Hoban Law Group:
“Cannabis Sativa, the plant, is not illegal. What is controlled is marihuana.” Note the spelling of marihuana with an ‘h’ instead of marijuana with a ‘j’. This is because of the laws regarding the cannabis plant, which dates back to the ‘1937 Marihuana Tax Act’.
In January 2017, the Hoban Law Group filed a lawsuit against the DEA for illegally classifying CBD, hemp, and cannabis in general as a ‘controlled substance’.
“The DEA is governed by Federal Law. It can’t make law on its own,” argues Hoban.
Even with that in mind, we are happy to report that the current farm law, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Act), was signed on December 20, 2018, and ‘Hemp’ — defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC — is now permanently removed from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). It is forever deemed an agricultural commodity, no longer mistaken as a controlled substance, like marijuana.
With this legislation, we also believe Congress clearly intended to have CBD and hemp products available to consumers in a wide range of product categories – including food and dietary supplements — however, some states and institutions are still reluctant to open up the market as we wait for more guidelines from the FDA in the years to come.
To see the status of hemp products in your state and take action, visit hempsupporter.com and click on your state in the map.
Is CBD Worth It?
This is a question you must answer for yourself. Is the possibility of improved health worth it to you?
We all know the dangers of free radicals within the body. They are thought to be the root cause of many ailments, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disorders and complications, arteriosclerosis & atherosclerosis, inflammatory diseases, and even cancer.
CBD is one of the best-known antioxidants. In fact, the US Government filed a patent in 1998 on “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants”. That is a powerful statement of truth considering that same US Government claims that Cannabis ‘has no therapeutic uses’ and yet their own patent plainly states:
”Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.”
Their own patent claims cannabis is useful in treating a number of diseases, yet their laws claim there is no medical benefit! No wonder Hoban Law Group are suing them, and we wish them success – for all our benefit.
Interestingly, the US Government patent singles out CBD as being extraordinarily beneficial and safe, saying:
”Non-psychoactive cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), are particularly advantageous to use because they avoid toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses useful in the method of the present invention…”
If a government who is trying to eradicate this plant has deemed it necessary to file a patent on the medicinal benefits of this plant, then perhaps it is worth our time to look into.
Please note: we have only briefly touched on the benefits of CBD as an antioxidant in this article. However, there are so many more areas of human health where this phenomenal substance has been shown to help. To dive deeper, we invite you to read our article on the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which is your body’s ‘endogenous’ or internal system for utilizing cannabinoids.
So far, study of the ECS has helped researchers identify cannabinoid receptors present in the brain and central nervous system, including the Cerebral cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum; the reproductive system; throughout the immune system (including macrophages and leukocytes); the Pancreas; Spleen; Thymus; Bone Marrow; Tonsils; and more are being discovered regularly.
Some researchers, such as Dr. Robert Melamede Ph.D., consider cannabinoids to be “an essential nutrient” for human health.
Is CBD Safe?
As far as health risks are concerned, there really are not many. This is because there is no lethal dose for CBD, nor is there any known dose that causes any harm to the human mind or body. The only potential dangers are possible interactions with prescription medications or poisoning as a result of pesticides or other chemicals used in growing the cannabis.
Always consult with your doctor before adding any substances to your diet, and consult with them about any possible interactions between CBD oil and any medications you are currently taking.
The key to avoiding toxins in your CBD oil is simple: know your supplier. At Healing Harbors, we only use the highest quality CBD made from US-grown hemp. To obtain a copy of the latest test results for our CBD contact [email protected].
Conclusion
In the end, the decision to incorporate CBD into your life is a very personal decision. We hope that this article has given you quality information to assist in your choice. Your health is your most valuable asset, and decisions affecting your health should never be taken lightly.
If you have any further questions or comments, we invite you to join the discussion on Facebook or Instagram. Alternatively, you can send us a private message via email or Facebook Messenger. Some topics are best discussed in private.
We look forward to hearing from you!