5 Things You Need to Know About CBD Marijuana
by Ariana Marisol
REALfarmacy.com
CBD, or cannabidoil, is quickly changing the debate around the potentials of medical marijuana.
When most people think of marijuana, they think of the chemical THC because it is the chemical that gets users high. But recently, more and more people have been looking into another compound found in marijuana called CBD.
While many doctors have trouble looking past certain side effects caused by THC, CBD doesn’t seem to produce the same high as THC. Evidence of CBD’s medical benefits are growing everyday.
Here are five facts about this amazing and unique compound that everyone should know:
You can have CBD without THC
CBD is one of over 60 compounds found in cannabis and it belongs to a class of molecules called cannabinoids. Of these compounds, CBD and THC are usually found in the highest concentrations, and therefore most studied and recognized.
CBD and THC levels vary among different plants, and while most marijuana grown recreationally contains more THC, plants can be grown with high levels of CBD and zero levels of THC. These strains are becoming more and more popular as the health benefits of CBD come out.
CBD is non-psychoactive
Unlike THC, CBD does not cause a high. While it may seem like a poor choice for recreational users, it has a significant advantage for medicinal use since health professionals prefer treatments with minimal side effects.
CBD is non-psychoactive because it doesn’t act on the same pathways as THC. These pathways are called CB1 receptors and they are highly concentrated in the brain and responsible for mind-altering effects of THC.
A 2011 review published in Current Drug Safety proves that CBD does not interfere with psychomotor and psychological functions. It also mentions that CBD is even safe at high doses.
CBD has many medical benefits
While CBD and THC act on different pathways of the body, their medicinal benefits are very similar. Studies have found CBD to possess a long list of medical properties. Some of these properties include its ability to reduce nausea and vomiting, suppress seizure activity, combat psychosis disorders, combat inflammatory disorders, combat tumor and cancer cells, and combat anxiety and depression disorders. This means that CBD is antiemetic, anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumoral, anti-cancer, anxiolytic, and anti-depressant.
One pharmaceutical company, GW Pharmaceuticals, is now funding clinical trials on CBD as a treatment for schizophrenia and certain types of epilepsy.
A team of researchers at California Pacific Medical Center, led by Dr. Sean McAllister, has stated that they hope too begin trials on CBD as a breast cancer therapy.
CBD reduces the negative effects of THC
Many studies show that CBD can actually reduce the intoxicating effects of THC like memory impairment and paranoia.
CBD also appears to counteract the sleep-inducing effects of THC which is a huge plus for sleepy stoners. This also may explain why some strains of cannabis are known to increase alertness.
CBD and THC have both been found to present no risk of lethal overdose.
CBD is still illegal in some places
Although it doesn’t have the same properties as THC and doesn’t get you high, CBD is still illegal in many parts of the world. This chemical has great beneficial properties that should not be ignored. It’s potential is vast.
While it is legal in some states, country-wide legalization would benefit the health of thousands of people.
Ariana Marisol is a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She graduated The Evergreen State College with an undergraduate degree focusing on Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
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