CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It’s a compound found in the cannabis plant that belongs to a group of compounds called Cannabinoids. There are over 100 natural cannabinoids found in Cannabis Sativa (a Latin name for this type of cannabis). 

CBD has a variety of health benefits and (derived from Hemp) is legal in most countries.

CBD is non-toxic and does not have any psychotropic (“high”) effects such as those caused by ∆9-THC in marijuana.

CBD isolate or otherwise called “pure CBD” is the CBD molecule separated from the rest of the compounds it normally occurs with. CBD isolate usually appears as a crystalline white powder. CBD isolate can either be synthesized in a lab (synthetic CBD) or made from a CBD containing plants like Hemp.

The cannabis plant consists of a wide variety of chemicals and compounds. Terpenes are essential oils found in plants. There are around 200 terpenes in cannabis. They are what gives cannabis its distinct aroma and flavor. Terpenes have beneficial effects and work synergistically with cannabinoids like CBD and THC – this relationship is called the entourage effect. 

The FDA and other agencies have generally recognized terpenes as “safe.”

A CBD vape oil or CBD e juice is a liquid made for vaping which is infused with CBD.

In the cannabis industry, the word “tincture” and “oil” are used interchangeably. A CBD tincture is just another term for a CBD oil.

A CBD tincture or CBD oil is a liquid concentrate that contains CBD.

Cannabis is a plant species. So both Hemp and Marijuana are Cannabis.

Hemp is Cannabis plant with THC levels below 0.3%.

Marijuana is Cannabis plant with THC levels above 0.3%.

CBD oil and Hemp oil are used to describe the same thing. Both refer to CBD rich cannabis extract. 

But be aware:
Hemp Oil can sometimes also mean “Hemp Seed Oil” derived purely from hemp seeds. It’s used in food preparation and does not contain CBD or any other cannabinoids.

Here’s a video that will explain exactly the difference between Hemp CBD oil and Hemp Seed oil:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwRvc-3gB1A

Several scientific studies have shown that the best CBD oil is a Full-Plant extract or Full Spectrum CBD which contains terpenes and flavonoids naturally occurring in cannabis. All of the extracted plant components work synergistically and can give an enhanced effect.

The Entourage Effect is the synergistic relationship of the naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis plants. The cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in cannabis have shown to work better when they are taken together as opposed to in isolation from each other. 

There are many different ways to use CBD. The four main ways are:
1) Sublingual  – Oils Tinctures and Sprays
2) Topical – Lotions and Balms
3) Oral – Edibles and Capsules
4) Inhalation – Vaporization or Smoking. 

The administration will depend on your needs.  

The fastest way to feel the effect is inhalation. But the effect is not long-lasting.

Sublingual also enters the body fast and since part of the CBD (after holding it under your tongue for 30 to 60 seconds) is swallowed it “becomes” oral and thus gives you that long-lasting effect as well.

Topical is mostly for your skin as most of the CBD does not penetrate deep into the body.

With oral administration, the effect will be felt after 30 to 60 minutes but it’s long-lasting.

CBD drops and CBD Chocolates are the easiest, most convenient and last the longest.

This way it’s also very easy to measure the exact amount of CBD you are taking.

Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, can refer to the use of cannabis to treat disease or improve symptoms. However, there is no single agreed-upon definition. Mostly, this term is used to define plants that contain high amounts of THC, but it is becoming more complicated to define what it is, due to the fact that we have recently found a lot of cannabis plants with many other molecules.

Medical cannabis or medical marijuana is a word used very frequently in the thousands of medical cannabis shops in the USA where they sell cannabis plants legally under state law. Most of the medical cannabis / medical marijuana is sold for recreational purposes.

The endocannabinoid system is a homeostatic regulator of neuronal activity and almost every other physiological system in the body. It has a regulatory role in pain, inflammation, memory, emotion, sleep and metabolic function.

It includes a vast network of receptors in the brain, central and peripheral nervous system and cannabis-like compounds called endocannabinoids.

It has been likened to a dimmer switch, constantly working to bring balance when there is too much or too little activity in the body.

Plant cannabinoids like CBD and THC interact with the endocannabinoid system, which researchers believe may explain some of the reported physiological effects of the cannabis plant.

Scientists also believe that when this system isn’t working correctly, diseases can occur. This is known as Endocannabinoid Deficiency and could be at the root of many conditions such as migraines, fibromyalgia, IBS and multiple sclerosis.

Recent research has demonstrated that active compounds from other plant species such as carrot (Daucus carota), kava (Piper methyscum), New Zealand liverwort (Radula marginata), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) contain compounds which also interact with the endocannabinoid system in our body.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid found most in abundance in the cannabis plant. It has a psychoactive effect, hence plant varieties that have been bred for recreational use are particularly high in THC.

That is not to say that THC doesn’t have any therapeutic use. It has been found to be effective for reducing nausea and vomiting experienced by patients during chemotherapy, can slow down the progression of glaucoma and help reduce nerve pain.

CBD Oil extracted from Hemp contains:

CBD, Chlorophyll, Alkanes, Nitrogenous compounds, Amino acids, Sugars, Aldehydes, Alcohols, Ketones, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Vitamins, and Pigments.

Research has shown that Hemp contains over 400 different molecules. Recent research shows there is a group of molecules that cannabis produces called cannabinoids, which are mostly responsible for its effects. There are over 120 cannabinoids including CBD, THC, CBG, CBC, and CBN.

A famous cannabinoid is THC, which is psychoactive and responsible for the high. CBD products however usually contain only traces amounts of THC, not enough to get you high.

All are actually cannabis plants. However, hemp or industrial hemp is a term commonly used for cannabis strains that contain very low levels of THC – to be precise below 0.3% THC. 

Marijuana, in general, is a word used for plants that contain high amounts of THC.

Our grandfathers did not know anything about THC (that it is psychoactive) and were just growing cannabis and calling it hemp. It’s only in modern times that the definition of hemp means low levels of THC.

A lot of people seem to be confused about Hemp CBD oil vs Hemp Seed oil

It’s because the term “Hemp Oil” is used for both.

But there’s a big difference. Hemp SEED Oil is produced from Hemp Seeds being cold-pressed. It’s usually sold in bigger bottles and has no cannabinoids.

Hemp CBD Oil is produced by the extraction of Hemp Flowers. It’s usually sold in tincture size bottles and it’s super-rich with cannabinoids.

When you are buying CBD products you have 2 important questions:

1) Exactly how much CBD does the product contain
and

2) Is that the so-called Full Spectrum CBD oil or CBD isolate

And here’s also a video about the difference of Hemp CBD Oil and Hemp Seed Oil:

https://youtu.be/HwRvc-3gB1A

CBD can be taken either way. If you want to maximize absorption, or if you have a sensitive stomach, it is best to take CBD with meals or within an hour of eating. A few human studies have found increased absorption from the gastrointestinal tract when it is taken with food, especially fatty foods. Studies have also shown CBD taken orally when combined with lipids to increased systemic availability by almost threefold!

CBD has been shown to lessen anxiety in humans, and it does so through actions on a variety of brain receptors but primarily those for serotonin. One study shows CBD has a rapid-onset antidepressant effect on the brain by promoting changes in synaptic plasticity and the release of growth factors such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). This study was on mice, but CBD is thought to have similar effects on the human brain which may contribute to its mood-boosting effects, along with actions at the serotonin receptors.

To extract CBD-rich cannabis oil, you must start with CBD-rich plant material. 

There are many ways to extract oil from the cannabis plant, each has its pros and cons. Some methods are safer and more effective than others. 

Cannabis oils made with neurotoxic solvents like butane and hexane may leave unsafe residues that interfere with immune function and impede healing. 

Supercritical CO2 extraction is non-toxic and produces high-quality oil, but requires significant expertise and access to expensive equipment. 

If you want to extract CBD your self you can also use safer solvents, such as ethanol, or prevent exposure to organic solvents entirely by using olive oil to extract cannabis oil, according to Dr. Arno Hazekamp director of phytochemical research at Bedrocan BV, which supplies cannabis, including a CBD-rich strain, for the Dutch Health Ministry’s medical marijuana program.

By juicing or otherwise ingesting raw, unheated cannabis, you consume CBD and the other cannabinoids in their acid form. A CBD-rich strain contains CBD-acid (CBDA), which, when heated, becomes CBD. 

Nevertheless, unheated CBDA and other cannabinoids do have medicinal attributes and are indeed very good for the human body.

By the same methods, you would use to make any kind of cannabis-infused edible. 

To make CBD-rich brownies or other CBD-rich edibles, you must first make an extract from a CBD-rich strain and infuse it into olive oil, coconut oil or butter. These infused oils or butters are the most common ways to cook with cannabis. 

You’ll need to combine the CBD-rich plant material with the oil or butter and expose to low heat over a long period of time. This will help to avoid breakdown and vaporization of the CBD and other cannabinoids. After straining out the plant material, you can put CBD-rich cannabutter or canna-oil into your favorite recipes.