Some Fundamentals About CBD
Cannabidiol or, CBD for short, is one of the major compounds naturally found in marijuana. Unlike fellow cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive meaning that it won’t get you high but research has shown that it’s use can have some very positive effects in treating a number of different medical conditions.
Even though limited, studies have already gone on to show promising results when using CBD for the treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, anxiety disorders and many other diseases all the while also acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. Despite this information, federal courts decided not to protect CBD from being targeted by law enforcement. An unfortunate and what some would call misguided decision that may do more harm than good to those that are already benefiting or could potentially benefit from CBD as a form of treatment.
The first thing to know about CBD is that it is not psychoactive; it doesn’t get people high. The primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But THC is only one of the scores of chemicals – known as cannabinoids – produced by the cannabis plant.
So far, CBD is the most promising compound from both a marketing and a medical perspective. Many users believe it helps them relax, despite it not being psychoactive, and some believe regular doses help stave off Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
While studies have shown CBD to have anti-inflammatory, anti-pain and anti-psychotic properties, it has seen only minimal testing in human clinical trials, where scientists determine what a drug does, how much patients should take, its side effects and so on.
Despite the government ruling, CBD is widely available over the counter in dispensaries in states where marijuana is legal.
CBD first came to public attention in a 2013 CNN documentary called Weed. The piece, reported by Dr Sanjay Gupta, featured a little girl in Colorado named Charlotte, who had a rare life-threatening form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome.
Do you agree that CBD should be legal here in the U.S. given that it is not psychoactive and has significant positive medicinal qualities?
What is CBD? The ‘miracle’ cannabis compound that doesn’t get you high | Society | The Guardian
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