Demystifying CBD:
Frequently Asked Questions
CBD is quickly becoming one of the most highly sought after and used supplements in the world.
Why? Because its benefits are finally being discovered and shared.
It also just so happens to help alleviate 3 of the most common 21st-century health conditions:
Stress & Anxiety
Insomnia
MUSCLE & JOINT pain
Please ask the front desk for our binder of peer-reviewed research papers.
What is CBD (Hemp oil)?
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive (it won’t make you feel high) compound found in cannabis. It is one of over 60 different compounds present in cannabis. CBD is usually present in cannabis in high concentrations along with THC (the compound in cannabis that is psychoactive and makes you feel high).
It’s non-psychoactive because of its lack of affinity and attraction for CB1 receptors (the receptors that cause one to experience a cerebral high). There are two types of cannabinoid receptors in the human body; CB1 and CB2. Both are naturally found throughout the body but are most common in the brain and immune system.
CB1 receptors are responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects. These receptors affect memory, mood, sleep, appetite and pain sensation. CB2 receptors have anti-inflammatory effects and are found in immune cells. Cbd does have a great affinity and or attraction for CB2 receptors making it a great natural anti-inflammatory and immune system enhancer.
Is CBD marijuana?
NO. Often hemp and marijuana are considered the same thing, but that is misinformation. There are two main types of cannabis that are different in chemical properties, cultivation, usages and other traits. The biggest difference is hemp contains less than 10-15% THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, in its whole form and less than 0.3% THC in its CBD form. Where as marijuana has up to 80% THC in its whole form a up to 20% THC in its CBD form.
Will I feel intoxicated after taking CBD?
NO. This is the most common question people ask about CBD. "Industrial hemp," also known as "Hemp-derived CBD," has a maximum of 0.3% THC to produce 99% CBD, which is not high enough to cause THC symptoms. So Hemp derived CBD will not make you feel intoxicated.
Will I test positive on a drug test?
NO. Hemp-derived CBD products contain very little if any THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, which causes the "high" feeling. Therefore, you will not test positive in a drug test when using hemp-derived CBD oil.
Is CBD legal in Connecticut?
YES. CBD is 100% legal in the USA as of December 2018, under a signed farm bill. This bill states that as long as a cannabis sativa plant has less than 0.3% THC it qualifies as industrial hemp and is legal to be grown. CBD as of 2018 is legal in all 50 states, whereas medical marijuana is only legal in 28 states.
Where's the research on CBD showing its effectiveness?
Read some of the research studies here.
There are a lot of studies that have proven the effectiveness of CBD when it comes to muscle and joint pain, depression, nausea/vomiting, seizures, tumor growth and cancer. Additional research is also being published on CBD’s ability to calm and protect the nervous system, promote relaxation and deeper sleep. CBD is also being studied for its benefits in the treatment of seizures and neurological conditions such as MS and cerebral palsy.
Studies have found that CBD can:
1. relieve nausea and vomiting, making it a great digestive aid
2. help control and reduce seizures
3. help fight tumors and cancer cells (it’s a powerful antioxidant)
4. help relieve anxiety and depression
5. calm and protect the nervous system
6. promote relaxation and deeper sleep
7. help reduce stress
8. help relieve insomnia
9. reduce swelling
10. relieve muscle and joint pain
Is CBD addictive?
NO. CBD is nonaddictive and safe when your CBD products are reputably sourced. Unfortunately, because the benefits of consuming CBD are becoming more and more known many companies are flooding the CBD market with poor quality and ineffective products. Choose reputable companies that offer organically grown, full spectrum, Co2 extracted CBD.
What is the best way to use CBD? What form is best to take?
CBD is extracted as an oil from the cannabis or hemp plant and comes in various concentrations and forms. It can be consumed orally in the form of a supplement or gummy, in a capsule form, as a liquid tincture, vaporized, or sprayed into the mouth. It can also be used topically and absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin from an externally applied cream or oil.
Does CBD have side effects?
CBD rarely has side effects when using the commonly recommended doses of anywhere between 2.5mg to 1500mg. However, studies have found possible side effects include:
Drowsiness
Diarrhea
Increases or decreases in appetite
Minus diarrhea, these sides effects could potentially be beneficial depending on the reason you’re taking CBD in the first place. Often CBD users are using CBD to help them get higher quality sleep. The majority of studies currently available were performed for treatment of epilepsy and psychotic disorders. Here, the most commonly reported side effects were tiredness, diarrhea, and changes in appetite/weight. In comparison with other drugs, used for the treatment of these medical conditions, CBD has a better side effect profile. More clinical trials with a greater number of participants and longer chronic CBD administration are still lacking.
How much should I take? How do I dose CBD?
There is no one size fits all or easy answer to this question. It really depends on several factors. First, it depends on the quality of the CBD product that you are using. Second, it depends on the reason you are using CBD. Are you using it to relieve pain? Help you get to sleep or to manage anxiety? Are you using it to manage MS or Parkinsons? Everybody is different so it’s best to experiment with different dosages until you achieve the desired effect.
Start small – start with the smallest dose possible. Everyone reacts differently to various supplements so it’s important to become familiar with how your body responds.
Size Matters – larger individuals may prefer a high dose of CBD than smaller people. With CBD, you can easily scale up just a few mg at a time to meet your needs.
Consult with a medical professional – if you have a serious medical condition, always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before consuming CBD.
Consistency is key – use CBD consistently to stimulate a healthy, functioning endocannabinoid system. As cannabinoids enter the system, your body becomes more sensitive over time.
Where can I purchase the best CBD products?
As more and more scientific studies are released on the benefits of CBD more and more products will hit the consumer market. Right now you can purchase and a wide variety of CBD products online and in some health foods stores across the country. As with all supplements, it’s important to consider the quality, extraction, storage and manufacturing methods before purchasing a product. Many supplements on the market today are ineffective and a complete waste of money because they simply aren’t of quality ingredients or have poor extraction methods making them ineffective at best.
Elm City Wellness has thoroughly researched and tested the CBD products and brands we choose to sell. We only work with companies who produce third-party tested, pharmaceutical-grade CBD products.
in related news...
Veterans push lawmakers to legalize hemp products
Veterans are twice as likely as non-veterans to die from accidental overdoses involving prescription opioids. In an effort to lower opioid intake, some veterans are turning to hemp products, like CBD oil, to treat chronic pain and PTSD. Now some veterans are saying they want more research and access, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.
They are not your typical lobbyists. They're veterans whose lives were nearly ruined — first by their injuries, and then by their meds.
"I was at a higher than likely rate of committing suicide from pain," Navy veteran Veronica Wayne told lawmakers. She took opioids for 17 years after an airplane maintenance hatch hit her head.
"I basically became a walking zombie," Wayne said.
She tried medical marijuana, but still felt impaired. That's when she heard about hemp.
Hemp products
"It'll still kill all the pain symptoms and give you the relief that you need, but you're not going to feel high," Wayne said.
Now she uses CBD oil. But, she notes, "You can't get it from the VA. It's not, it's not legal."
Like marijuana, hemp is derived from the cannabis plant. But hemp does not contain THC, the chemical that makes you high. Still both hemp and marijuana are classified as Schedule 1 controlled substances, restricting the VA and other federally funded entities from conducting research. The American Legion is leading the push to change that.
"Anything that makes a veteran feel better — especially something that's non-toxic — is something we're going to support," said Louis Celli, national director of Veterans Affairs and rehabilitation at the American Legion.
Currently hemp products are marketed as unregulated supplements, which makes many doctors reluctant to recommend them.
"We're not exactly sure how to use them, what the right dose is, how they interact," said Wayne Jonas, the former director of the NIH office of alternative medicine.
But lawmakers on both sides are pushing to change the law.
"I'm actually cautiously optimistic if we get something on the floor, that it will pass," Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said.
Until then, Army reservist Dale Rider said many of his buddies are wary of the product that he said helps his back pain.
"For them, they're all worried that because it's so closely related to marijuana, that it could pop up on a drug test randomly," Rider said.
The industry has a powerful ally in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who represents Kentucky, where hemp is seen as a potential cash crop. Last month he introduced a bill in the Senate that has bipartisan support to legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity.
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