There is undoubtedly a lot of buzz spreading about cannabidiol (CBD) across media platforms and from different brands and companies. You might be wondering what CBD is, whether or not it is legal, and why it is suddenly so popular. In this post, we will address all of these topics.

How does CBD Work?

Cannabidiol is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. These cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, and CBN to name a few, have long been thought to produce therapeutic effects when used under the right circumstances.  It is only in the last 100 years, however, that we have begun to develop rigorous scientific testing, extraction methods, and uses for the plant’s compounds. During this development, it was discovered that the human endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a significant role in regulating the body's central nervous system, immune system, and GI tract. The ECS can be best understood as a regulatory system, designed to oversee various nervous system functions such as sleep, mood, emotional processing, pain, and stress.

The ECS is comprised of a series of receptors located all over the body. These receptors vary in type, but the most common ones are abbreviated as CB1 and CB2. These receptors are triggered by cannabinoids, which act as an agonist. When these receptors are triggered, they interact with the body's varying bodily systems and may produce therapeutic effects. Other plant components such as terpenes and similar organic compounds may also interact with cannabinoids to produce additional benefits.

It is important to keep in mind that the science of CBD is ever-evolving. The information that we have today may be radically different from what we find out over the course of the next few years. The key is to have an open mind, stay informed, and figure out which products are best for you personally. If you’re interested in learning more about how to take CBD, check out our in-depth guide here or take our CBD Personalizer to get customized product recommendations from our experts.

How is CBD Different from THC?

CBD is the second most active compound in the cannabis plant. While CBD is a key component in medical cannabis, it is usually derived from the non-psychoactive version of the plant, known as hemp, instead of from cannabis with a high THC content. Hemp can be seen as a first cousin to medical and recreational cannabis, typically chosen for its low to non-existent THC content. While THC-containing cannabis and hemp are both members of the cannabis family, CBD does not produce any of the psychoactive "high" effects associated with THC. In addition, at Verdable, we lab test all of our products to ensure that each product contains undetectable levels of THC.

The World Health Organization has noted that “in humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential… To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” 

Is CBD Legal?

In December of 2018, the House and Senate passed the 2018 Farm Bill. This bill removed hemp (cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC) from the Schedule 1 Controlled Substances list from a congressional standpoint. From a federal standpoint, CBD is no different from any other agricultural product, making it legal to grow and purchase in the United States. In addition, the FDA recently approved a CBD-derived drug called Epidiolex to treat certain childhood seizure symptoms. 

All 50 states have laws legalizing CBD, with different levels of regulation and restriction. It is important to pay attention to your state’s local laws. Right now is a tumultuous time for cannabis regulations, so stay informed before you make any purchases. We do our best to track these legal changes as they occur and we’ll keep all of our customers in the loop as we learn new information.

Is there any evidence of CBD’s benefits?

CBD is often touted as a magical cure-all for a variety of different health benefits. While this is not necessarily the case, there are still a wide variety of symptoms that many have reported successfully treating with CBD. Here are some of the reported benefits of CBD, as well as the scientific evidence behind these treatments.* 

• Seizure Relief
• Anxiety Relief
• Pain Relief
• Neurological Condition Treatment
• Pancreatic Benefits for Type 1 Diabetics
• Acne Treatment

*None of these statements have been recommended or approved by the FDA. Please consult a medical professional such as your general physician before and while engaging with CBD.

Does CBD show up on a drug test?

Drug tests are common in today’s day and age. As a result, it is important to ease concerns as they relate to CBD and to drug tests.

The most common test that is administered is a urine test that looks for the presence of specific controlled substances. In general, urine tests typically screen for the presence of THC. More specifically, they are looking for the metabolized compound 11-nor-delta9-caboxy-THC that occurs when the body processes THC. These tests are not designed to detect CBD alone. That means that those who consume CBD oil containing less than the legal limit of 0.3% THC should be fine.

Something to consider: The amount of CBD consumed can have an effect in some cases (For example, an individual consuming high doses of CBD (1,000mg+ daily) could be exposed to up to 3mg of THC daily). This is enough to result in a positive test, even if the user did not consume marijuana itself. Responsible usage is thus important. If you are faced with a drug test in the near future, we recommend looking for CBD oil that is guaranteed to contain zero THC. To minimize risk completely, it is also recommended to cut your consumption down until after the test.