The Truth About CBD

Does CBD work? Is it safe? You might have heard that hemp and marijuana are the same, but they are not. Let’s talk truths about CBD.

WHAT IS CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is one of the primary natural cannabinoids found in the industrial hemp plant.

WHAT ARE CANNABINOIDS?

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that bind the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) receptors throughout your brain and body. There are over 113 known different cannabinoids found in hemp.

WHAT ARE CANNABINOID RECEPTORS?

Cannabinoid receptors are embedded in cell membranes throughout your body. Researchers have identified two cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily in the central nervous system and are responsible for governing coordination, movement, pain, appetite, memory, mood, and other functions. The CB2 receptors are in the peripheral nervous system, digestive system and and specialized cells in the immune system, influencing pain and inflammation.

HOW DOES CBD WORK?

CBD interacts with your body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which regulates processes in the body such as appetite, pain, mood, memory, peripheral nervous system, and more. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. In each tissue, the cannabinoid system performs different tasks, but the goal is always the same: homeostasis.

Homeostasis in a general sense refers to stability or balance in a system. It is the body’s attempt to maintain a constant internal environment by constantly monitoring and adjusting as conditions change. For example, when we become stressed, the Endocannabinoid System releases cortisol. When you get too hot, you start to sweat to bring your body temperature down.

IS CBD THE SAME AS THC?

While some people confuse CBD with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is also found in the cannabis plant, the two are very different. CBD is not intoxicating and does not cause the euphoric side effects commonly associated with THC. That means you can use CBD products without having to worry about “getting high.”

They cause different effects because CBD and THC interact with cannabinoid receptors in different ways. Because of its molecular structure, THC is able to bind directly with CB-1 receptors. When this bond is formed, the reaction creates signals that are sent to the brain, which results in the the intoxicating effects of “getting high.”

But with CBD, researchers believe it does not directly attach itself to a cannabinoid receptor but influences it in some way. Activating these receptors is what allows for many of the health benefits that people associate with the compound.

 

BUT AREN’T HEMP AND MARIJUANA THE SAME?

No, while both plants are in the same Cannabis plant family, hemp is completely different from marijuana in its function, cultivation, and application — and CBD derived from hemp is will NOT get you high.

Marijuana is produced when the hemp plant is grown without the male variety present. The resin produced from the small, hairlike appendages (called trichomes) of all female plants is full of THC, which produces the psychoactive “getting high” effects associated with marijuana.

CBD (Cannibidiol) is a natural substance from another variety of hemp. It is produced when the hemp plant is grown with both the female and male plant. The resin produced is full of CBD, which does not contain the same heavy psychoactive effects as THC, and has only small amounts of THC. In fact, the United States Congress has legally defined hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3 percent THC content. Some CBD oils are even grown and processed in a way that reduces their THC content to 0%.

IS CBD SAFE?

CBD is considered “generally well-tolerated with a good safety profile” according to a 2018 World Health Organization report. But companies in the CBD industry often lack quality control and don’t know their sources. This is why getting your CBD from a trusted source with high quality control is important. Natures Ultra has one of the best quality control systems in the industry. We’ll learn more about its quality assurance later in this course.