New to CBD? I Got You!
The CBD craze is truly upon us! And for good reason. Thanks to positive media coverage and hype from mainstream public figures such as professional athletes, politicians, doctors, and celebrities, the average North American consumer has likely heard of the wonders of the CBD molecule and considered whether this would be a beneficial addition to their own wellness routine.
I’m a big fan of CBD for everyday wellness, and I’m excited to share this approach with you!
Not everyone, though… A few months ago, I was surprised to find out that my uncle had never heard of CBD (what?!). That’s OK, though - you can bet I gave him an earful about the wonders of CBD and encouraged him to conduct his own research.
My goal with this article is to help you navigate your personal CBD exploration and purchasing decisions. Personally, I have used CBD with success, and incorporating a few drops into my daily morning coffee has allowed me to reduce aches and pains from an old sports injury and even reduce my constant levels of anxiety.
Below, I will also include a guide that will help you select the right CBD formula for you. Finally, I will answer the oft-asked question, “Should I be scared of using a product with THC?”.
Why CBD?
The appeal and growing popularity of CBD is simple: CBD products provide consumers with the healing, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis without mimicking the full “psychoactive” feeling associated with eating or smoking cannabis flower. Essentially, CBD products allow consumers to take in beneficial segments of the cannabis plant with limited psychoactive activity.
CBD is being praised for its ability to act as an antioxidant, relieve spasms, contribute to pain relief, reduce nausea, decrease anxiety, support healthy sleep patterns, and even relax the muscles throughout the body. See this visual Cannabinoid Guide for more details on the benefits of CBD (as well as its sister cannabinoids, THC, CBG, and more).
Want to learn more about CBD and how it works in the body? Check out my other blog post, “So... What Does CBD Do, Exactly?”
What Type of CBD Product Should I Source?
There are many ways to consume CBD, including the ingestion of oils (also known as tinctures) or capsules. Additionally, people can consume CBD by vaping high-CBD concentrates or smoking high-CBD flower. Finally, CBD can be applied topically with a CBD topical, lotion, lubricant, or lip balm.
In the CBD marketplace, you will find that different products are marketed as either full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate. Continue reading for context on what makes up the distinction between each of these categories. Essentially, it all comes down to how much THC and other cannabis constituents are contained within the product.
The cannabinoid in cannabis responsible for consciousness-altering effects is called tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly referred to as THC. In today’s CBD market, consumers are able to select the amount of THC they wish to consume with their CBD product, if any at all.
With so many CBD products on the market these days, it is important to consider the specific formula that’s going to work best for you
Here are some of the common terms you should understand when selecting a CBD product: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate.
Full-Spectrum: A cannabis product that contains not only CBD, but also terpenes, flavonoids, and THC
Why full-spectrum?
Many cannabis healers (including yours truly) advocate for “full-plant” or “full-spectrum” cannabis medicine, meaning they advocate for the consumption of all of the cannabinoids and natural molecules found within cannabis. The benefit of consuming full-spectrum forms of cannabis is that you are able to experience all of the various components of cannabis, including the full array of cannabinoids (including CBN and CBG), terpenoids, and flavonoids, each with health benefits of their own. So far, researchers have identified 113 cannabinoid molecules that are found within the cannabis plant.
When our endocannabinoid system (ECS) interacts with the full array of components contained within cannabis, we experience what is referred to as the “entourage effect”. The entourage effect is the synergistic interaction of all of the cannabis molecules, which produces a deeper physiological response than if any single cannabis component was consumed on its own. Nature designed cannabis therapy to include all of these components, not just CBD.
A note about full-spectrum CBD:
Even among full-spectrum CBD products, there is a large degree of variation in how much THC could be contained within. The difference depends on whether the CBD was derived from “marijuana” or “hemp”.
As of the 2018 Farm Bill, the US government distinguishes between “marijuana” and “hemp” based on the amount of THC found within the Cannabis Sativa plant. If it has more than 0.3% THC, it is considered marijuana. If it has less than 0.3% THC, then it is considered hemp. Due to these differences between marijuana and hemp, CBD products derived from marijuana have a higher THC content than their hemp-based counterparts.
The majority of products available in the CBD marketplace (including CBD products that can be sourced online and shipped anywhere within the US) are hemp-based as hemp is federally legal, while marijuana is still federally illegal.
Therefore, in order to purchase a CBD formula with a substantial amount of THC, you will need to source this from a legal retailer in a state with an established recreational retail marketplace (WA, CO, AK, IL, MA, ME, MI, NV, CA, OR, VT, and also D.C. as of May 2020).
Broad-Spectrum: A cannabis product that contains not only CBD, but also terpenes, flavonoids, and other natural components found in cannabis (but zero THC)
Why broad-spectrum?
Opting for a broad-spectrum CBD product allows a consumer to experience an amended entourage effect experience (the synergistic combination of the various cannabinoid molecules found within cannabis) with the sole exception of THC. Broad-spectrum offerings are often the right approach for someone who is not permitted to consume THC for legal or occupational reasons.
CBD Isolate: A cannabis product that only contains CBD
Why CBD isolate?
The option to consume the cannabidiol molecule (CBD) in “pure” form may be the most appealing option to consumers who are concerned about the health and legal implications associated with consuming the greater array of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. For example, some folks prefer to use CBD isolate products because they feel more comfortable consuming the main molecule that has been deemed to be “safe” by cannabis researchers and the mainstream media, at least until more research is completed on other cannabinoids and components of the cannabis plant.
Personally, I would recommend a well-sourced broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD product, depending on the laws in your state. The cannabis plant is natural medicine, so why not try all that it has to offer? And this is a perfect segue into my next topic…
Don’t Be Scared of THC
People in my community, including dispensary customers, friends, or family members, will often as me, “Should I be scared of using a product with THC?”. My answer is “NO!”.
There is nothing inherently wrong with THC. However, in an era where CBD is having its moment in the spotlight and government regulation is inconsistent at best, it’s common for me to hear from folks who frame the main cannabinoids found in cannabis in a black and white framework where CBD is “good” and THC is “bad”. But plant medicine doesn’t fall within a black and white framework, and THC is an important aspect of what makes cannabis medicine so powerful. So, if you do live in a state where cannabis is legal, I invite you to explore a product with THC and test how it reacts in your body.
THC isn’t the wicked witch… in fact, when she partners with her sister, CBD, the two components can provide real, positive results. And when combined with the other natural components in cannabis, including CBN and CBG, the full cannabis profile culminates into the entourage effect - and this is when the real magic (and healing) happens.
No “wicked” witches here! Rather, CBD and THC work together to improve overall endocannabinoid health.
Need Help Understanding CBD Ratios?
If you are planning to source a CBD product that contains THC, the psychoactive component of the plant that is also beneficial for pain management, then you need to consider what CBD:THC ratio is right for you. Essentially, CBD oils containing THC are manufactured with varying levels of THC. The CBD:THC ratio, which any reputable producer will include directly on the product packaging, will help you to understand how much “psychoactive” activity you can expect from any specific therapy.
To help you better understand expected results from the various CBD formulations available on the market, check out this helpful Find Your CBD:THC Ratio resource from Medical Marijuana 411 that explains the benefits of the various CBD:THC ratios. I want to also highlight that, according to this resource, the best option for pain relief is a 1:1 CBD:THC product.
I hope the information contained in this post helps you as you explore the benefits of CBD! If you have any questions or concerns on your CBD journey, as always - don’t hesitate to book a call with me!
Two of the resources in this post, both the Cannabinoid Guide and the Find Your CBD:THC Ratio resource, were sourced from Medical Marijuana 411, the cannabis education company that hosted my Medical Marijuana Consultant Program. Thank you to Medical Marijuana 411 for the excellent content and their permission to share these resources. For more easy-to-consume and informative cannabis education resources, visit medicalmarijuana411.com.