It’s no big secret that cannabis products are on the rise. CBD is legal in just about every state and more people are turning to this impressive compound than ever before. Millions of people from around the globe utilize CBD on a daily basis, but a surprising number of them have no idea what CBD actually stands for. If you’re one of the many people who isn’t quite sure what CBD is, then you’ve come to the right place.
Many people have been using CBD for years, but it continues to grow in popularity. We know that many of our readers are seasoned CBD connoisseurs, but there are also plenty who are just getting started. If you are unfamiliar with some of the finer details about CBD, we’re more than happy to help. In this article we aim to educate you on what CBD is, where it comes from, and of course answer the question; “What does CBD stand for?”.
What is Cannabis?
If you are unfamiliar with the Cannabis plant, prepare to be impressed! This plant has been a part of the human experience for an estimated 10,000 years. Not only was it used for textile purposes by early civilizations, but it was also utilized for medicinal purposes by Chinese dynasties dating back to the 15th century, and even embraced by Queen Victoria on a monthly basis. We humans have continuously found new ways to utilize cannabis for a multitude of purposes.
So what exactly is Cannabis? Cannabis is a species of plant that is native to the Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia. There are various botanical classes that belong to the cannabis family with “Marijuana” (Cannabis Indica) being one of the most well-known. “Hemp” (Cannabis Sativa), is another botanical class of cannabis plant. While hemp and Marijuana are similar in many ways, they also have some significant differences in the concentration of cannabinoids that they contain. What are cannabinoids? Let’s take a look!
Understanding Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are powerful compounds that exist in the cannabis plant. There are over a hundred known cannabinoids that each have unique properties and effects. Perhaps the most famous cannabinoid of all is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). This cannabinoid is highly psychoactive and found in high concentrations in Marijuana. Hemp has particularly low concentrations of THC and is in no way psychoactive. This is one of the reasons that CBD manufacturers use industrial hemp to create CBD.
There’s a lot to love about CBD, but one of the things that many people hold in high regard is that CBD offers a wealth of potential benefits without any of the psychoactive effects of THC.** Everyone who uses CBD experiences something unique. Because our bodies are all different, they react in their own way to CBD. Some people use CBD to help them sleep, some use it to combat minor aches and pains, and many use it as a convenient way to stay on top of their wellness.** It’s impossible to predict what you will experience when using CBD. The only way to know with certainty is to give it a try. Fortunately, CBD is non-toxic and non-intoxicating even in incredibly high doses. This means that you can explore the wonderful world of CBD without any worry!
The Endocannabinoid System
Growing and selling cannabis products was prohibited in the United States for nearly a century. It wasn’t until 2018 that the U.S. Farm Bill was passed, legalizing the sale of CBD products that contain 0.3% THC or less. Unfortunately, this long period of prohibition means that scientists haven’t had very much time to study CBD. While some of the effects and benefits of CBD are apparent simply through the experience of users, scientists have not yet been able to quantify these benefits or fully understand the medicinal potential of this compound.
Though we have only scratched the surface and don’t fully understand this impressive compound, we are starting to understand some of the mechanisms in which CBD is able to interact with the body. In every mammal exists a complex series of retrograde neurotransmitters referred to as the “endocannabinoid system”. This system is home to various cannabinoid receptors.
The CB1 receptor directly influences the central nervous system and the CB2 receptor influences the peripheral nervous systems. One of the things that many researchers find fascinating is that CBD indirectly interfaces with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system.** Perhaps this indirect interfacing with various cannabinoid receptors is why CBD has such impressive effects.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for “Cannabidiol”. This powerful compound is one of over 100 different cannabinoids that exist in cannabis pants. CBD has become incredibly popular with people who seek wellness through natural means.
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