In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has gained immense popularity as a treatment for various medical conditions. CBD is a non-intoxicating compound found in the cannabis plant, and unlike THC, it doesn’t make you feel high. This has made CBD oil and other CBD products, which can be found at stores like Canna Cabana, very popular, and people are using them for everything from anxiety and pain relief to treating cancer. But is CBD legal? Here’s what you need to know.
What Is CBD?
If you are curious about CBD’s legality, a good place to start understanding this interesting dilemma is to understand what CBD is. CBD is formally known as cannabidiol, one of the many cannabinoids found within the cannabis plant, along with the well-known THC cannabinoid.
However, unlike THC, CBD does not produce the same intoxicating effect; in other words, it won’t make you high. In a nutshell, THC mimics anandamide and, when tightly attached to the CB1 receptors, blocks the signals from other neurotransmitters. On the other hand, CBD acts like a modulator, making the receptors more sensitive to the endocannabinoids already present within the body.
Different Types Of CBD
The next thing you should understand when talking about the legality of CBD is the fact that there are different types of CBD. Currently, there are three main types of CBD: CBD isolate, broad-spectrum CBD, and full-spectrum CBD. So, what are the differences between the types of CBD?
- CBD isolate: CBD isolate basically only contains CBD, and nothing else, which means no other THC and no other cannabinoids. This form of CBD is widely legal because of this.
- Broad-spectrum CBD: Broad-spectrum CBD is a type of CBD that contains pretty much all of the cannabinoids and trace amounts of THC.
- Full-spectrum CBD: Full-spectrum CBD, as you might have guessed, contains all parts of the marijuana herb and less than 0.3% THC.
Is CBD Legal?
So, to answer the question “is CBD legal?” the short answer would be yes. CBD is widely legal across 50 states in the US. However, the long answer is that it is complicated, and the laws differ from state to state. For example, if CBD has been procured from the hemp plant, it is legal, but if it comes from the cannabis plant, it is illegal.
You might also have heard of Epidiolex, a CBD-based prescription medicine that treats seizures. However, only those associated with Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. This is the only FDA-approved drug that contains CBD, meaning that any CBD product advertised as a dietary supplement or health product is illegal. Some states even require you to have a prescription for CBD before you buy it.
Different Methods Of Consumption
Now that you have a better understanding of whether CBD is legal or not, you might be wondering how it is consumed. There are many different ways that people consume CBD, such as through edibles, dab rigs, vaporizers, tinctures, capsules, and more. An interesting point to remember is that CBD infused in food products is illegal in some states.
The method of choice would depend entirely on why the person is consuming CBD since the consumption method affects the efficiency of the cannabinoid. For example, edibles have a duration of effects of about 6-8 hours and can contain far more CBD than a vaporizer, which only has a duration of effects of around 2 hours. This means that edibles would be the better choice if someone were consuming CBD to help them sleep.
How To Identify A Trustworthy CBD Product
Finally, knowing how to identify a trustworthy CBD product is essential. As you can imagine, since CBD was legalized, many companies have entered the market, and some have subpar practices compared to others.
The first thing you should look for would be information related to how the CBD has been extracted; some extraction methods are unreliable and might let in more THC than is legal. Another thing to look for would be a Certificate of Analysis, so you can rest assured a reliable third party has tested the product.