Cannabidiol, a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants that is better known as CBD, often gets a bad rap because of its association with marijuana and THC. Marijuana is a schedule 1 drug under the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s controlled substances list, despite it being legalized in fifteen states and the District of Columbia. Much to the chagrin of parents throughout the decades, marijuana has been used recreationally by teens and young adults for generations because of the effects of THC in the brain that create a feeling of being ‘high.’
Consequently, when CBD started gaining popularity as a natural way to combat many ailments, there was substantial push back from some. But as more and more research is being done, CBD is being found to be a legitimate defense against many conditions – even for those who do not use marijuana.
A study by the Center for Medical Cannabis Education in Del Mar, California, found that those who do not use marijuana are approximately 1.5x more likely to use CBD to treat an ailment or condition. In fact, this study found that 62% of CBD users took the supplement for medical purposes as opposed to using it recreationally. Considering that CBD does not have the ability to create psychoactive responses the way THC does, these findings make a lot of sense. Individuals are becoming aware of the fact that CBD and THC are very different and function in very different ways in the brain.
Of those who use CBD for its renowned medical purposes, 36% said they feel as if CBD treats their ailment “very well by itself” and 4.3% noted that it functioned “not very well” in remedying their condition. The most popular conditions being treated by the consumption of CBD were cited by participants of the study to be pain, anxiety and depression. Cannabinoids like CBD find their way through the brain and into the cannabinoid receptors located within the endocannabinoid system of the body. Once CBD hits these receptors, it works much like a dimmer switch to help alleviate aches, pain, swelling and even feelings of unrest and uneasiness.
The numbers associated with the data points above show that there seems to be a shift occurring in our culture in regard to collective thought about CBD. This product is gaining its own ground in the minds of Americans who are learning that it is not a drug to be abused but a beneficial supplement with many medical uses. While you may come across CBD products that say they have trace amounts of THC in them, these low amounts are still not enough to incite the psychoactive effects of marijuana and actually help bolster the effects of CBD, which works even better alongside other cannabinoids.
The next time you are experiencing a twinge in your back, an ache in your knee, problems with sleep or a myriad of other plights, consider trying out CBD before turning to painkillers and sleep aids.