The Cannabis sativa plant, also known as Cannabis or hemp, is often associated with illegal marijuana and its harmful effects on a person's mind, garnering a negative image among various communities that flinch away at the mention of the plant without much exploration of the subject. Still, while marijuana comes from such plants, it's not the only thing people can get out of Cannabis.
Enter Cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical found in the Cannabis plant that, unlike those that form marijuana, is currently being used for its various therapeutic purposes, from physical to mental health. Currently, CBD is legal in many countries and is widely available in multiple forms for different experiences, be it for recreational or medicinal use.
The guide below will help you learn more about CBD and the different ways you can take it. Plus, we’ll include tips on how to find the right product and more.
Overview of CBD
The Cannabis sativa plant contains about 80 chemicals called cannabinoids, among which are the famous delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is a compound prominent in marijuana. It's responsible for causing the notorious psychoactive effects known in the substance. Meanwhile, CBD is a chemical organically extracted from hemp. It's also psychoactive—but not in the way that THC feels—and offers different therapeutic benefits for the body.
While the studies continue on the effects of CBD on various health problems, the results so far are promising, particularly on conditions like muscle pain, sleep disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Interestingly, there's a form of CBD called Epidiolex, which the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved as an oral solution for treating seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy.
Additionally, CBD also shows promise in treating addiction to various substances. For instance, CBD cigarettes can help smokers quit by providing a non-toxic and more natural alternative to tobacco. Plus, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that, in its pure state, CBD has a low potential for abuse and is unlikely to cause harm.
Furthermore, CBD is legal for use in the U.S through a federal law called the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. Industrial hemp farming is permitted in the country if the product contains less than 0.3 percent THC. Any more than that amount and the authorities will consider the product as marijuana, which is illegal in the country. However, this law may vary per state, so users are always advised to check with their local regulations first before using CBD products.
Although CBD doesn't produce the same side effects as THC, the compound does have a few to keep in mind. Some of its side effects include dry mouth, reduced appetite, drowsiness, fatigue, and diarrhea. The cannabinoid can also interact with over-the-counter and prescription medication and herbal products, reducing their effectiveness on a person's body.
Popular Ways On How To Take CBD
Because of the compound's popularity, there are now various ways to experience CBD, from ingestion to topical. If you're looking for the most effective method of taking this compound, we've listed below some of the ways to do so, how they work, and why you might like them:
Ingestion
CBD edibles and beverages offer a tastier option to make your hemp consumption more exciting. In fact, many users often mix CBD oil with different foods and drinks to mask the product's bitter taste. You can try baking the compound with homemade goodies like brownies and gummies or even making butter with CBD.
However, one important thing to remember is that the heat may reduce the product's effectiveness. The right amount of heat for baking or cooking with CBD is at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, so stick with ingredients that require such heat levels. Apart from that, you can also infuse your coffee or smoothie.
If cooking, baking, or mixing CBD in your meals isn’t for you, you can purchase edibles directly from the market. Among these consumables, you’ll find CBD gummies, lollipops, brownies, and chips. There are also drinks like tea and seltzer or carbonated water, and edibles in the form of CBD capsules and pills—sometimes marketed as daily vitamins or sleeping supplements.
Besides being flavorful, another excellent thing about these products is how they make the cannabinoid’s effects last longer in your body. Digesting food takes time, which means CBD won't enter and leave your system immediately. Instead, it will gradually take effect within your body. That's why users may experience the effects of the compound for up to eight hours after ingesting it.
Unfortunately, many people mistake this lengthy process as a fault in the product, making them take more because they're not feeling the effects of CBD hours after ingesting it. Therefore, we suggest you always wait for CBD to kick in and pass your system before consuming more.
Finally, edibles also provide a more subtle way of consuming the compound. For example, if you're ingesting them near people who are less informed about how CBD works and the legality of its use, they won't suspect that you're using a hemp-related product and would assume that you're snacking.
Topical Application
CBD topicals are one of the easiest, most discreet ways to take the compound. Products like creams, balms, sprays, and ointments are primarily used for intense muscle pain, certain skin disorders, and even migraine because of the compound's anti-inflammatory properties.
Topical products are also straightforward. Simply apply the product to the sore or itchy area and wait for the compound to soothe or reduce the irritation in 15 to 45 minutes. For migraines, just massage your temple with the product and wait for the same results.
The best thing about CBD topicals is that no gadgets, mixtures, or setups are needed to use the product. Still, you may need a higher dosage to experience the benefits of CBD through topicals.
Inhalation
When inhaling CBD as vapor or smoke, the compound quickly makes its way to the lungs, bloodstream, and brain, allowing users to experience its effects and benefits in minutes. Taking the cannabinoid by inhalation also helps alleviate stress and may address known psychological problems like depression and anxiety.
There are various ways you can enjoy CBD through inhalation. The most common way is rolling hemp flowers into a joint and smoking it. If you don't know how to make one or how many hemp flowers you need to do it with, you can buy pre-rolled joints.
Meanwhile, you can use pre-filled CBD pods and vape pens for better dosage, rapid effects, and on-the-go consumption. They come with batteries and coils, like regular vapes, and they work just the same. You can also use your vape pen and buy CBD juice or oil for it.
Still, if you want to avoid refilling cartridges and waiting for the battery to charge fully, you might have a better experience with CBD cigarettes. These products are recently becoming a hit in the market because they're easy to use—you just light a stick and enjoy. Most CBD cigarettes are manufactured with the proper dosage and don't contain any harmful chemicals found in tobacco products, especially nicotine, a very addictive chemical that makes smokers subconsciously reluctant to let go of their habits.
Remember that CBD cigarettes may produce the same scent as marijuana, so be wary of those who still don't understand the compound. They may be spooked if you light one in public. Proceed with caution to avoid unnecessary arguments. It also helps to understand the know-how of consuming CBD through smoking or vaping.
Sublingual
CBD tinctures or drops are sublingual products or products administered underneath a person's tongue. This type of CBD consumption is faster than ingestion because the compound is directly transmitted into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. The process also occurs in minutes, significantly quicker than edibles, and just as fast as inhalation.
Tinctures are alcohol-based products, though they don’t make a person intoxicated, as only low doses of tinctures enter the bloodstream when used sublingually. These products use high concentrations of alcohol to extract the natural compound of the cannabis plant, making the drops we know have a bitter taste.
Primarily because of this taste, many users prefer mixing their CBD drops with their food and beverages instead of administering them sublingually for a faster effect. It doesn't help that other manufacturers are marketing their tinctures as oils because of how users are consuming them.
Fortunately, many manufacturers are now creating tinctures with additives like flavoring and sweeteners to eliminate that bitter taste.
Tips on Finding the Right CBD Product
Unfortunately, purchasing a CBD product is not as easy as grocery shopping. There are many key considerations to ensure a safe and quality product—as a consumer, you're entitled to know those. Ending up with poor CBD products could cause health and legal issues, and you wouldn't want any of those. Here are some of the things that you should look for when buying a CBD product:
Full Or Broad-Spectrum
Always purchase CBD products with full-spectrum or broad-spectrum oil instead of distillate or isolate. These two types of CBD use all the beneficial compounds found in a cannabis plant. The only difference is that full-spectrum includes low amounts of THC while broad-spectrum doesn't have it at all.
Researchers believe that by combining CBD with other cannabis compounds, such as flavonoids, terpenes, and other lesser-known cannabinoids, you’ll experience stronger effects, achieving what's called the entourage effect.
Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD helps against seizures, anxiety, muscle pains, sleep problems, and inflammation. Plus, they also make for excellent antioxidants, so it’s better to look for products with either of the two to get the maximum benefits of CBD.
Lab-Tested CBD
CBD is legal in the U.S, but the products available aren't exactly FDA-regulated. One way to verify safety and quality is through third-party laboratories that test CBD products for market reference.
These tests are conducted by labs not associated with the industry to ensure an unbiased result for consumers, adding credibility to manufacturers once their products pass. Labs look into a CBD product by isolating and testing the compound, allowing them to provide a quantifiable number of THC and CBD levels.
Apart from that, these tests also provide a heavy metal analysis, which identifies the levels of various heavy metals in a product. High or prolonged exposure to metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury can lead to severe health problems, like kidney damage.
Lab tests also look for chemicals, like pesticides, that growers use to protect the plants during farming. Exposure to such substances can lead to weak immunity, liver problems, and hormone disruption. In extreme cases, they might also cause congenital disabilities and cancer.
Finally, third-party labs provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that approved manufacturers can show their customers as proof of quality. Always request that from your preferred manufacturer before buying.
Extracted Organically
Hemp farming is approved in the U.S, which means the government regulates manufacturers so that they make safe and clean products. They're also required to maintain the legal 0.3 percent amount of THC in CBD products, so consumers won't have to worry about experiencing the adverse effects and legal troubles of having too much THC.
Always go for hemp extracted or grown on these farms to ensure that you're getting the right amount of the compound and a product that's safe from horticultural chemicals and heavy metals.
Government Approved
CBD is technically a distant relative of marijuana, notorious for its psychoactive effects. This is why many countries are still reluctant to legalize CBD for recreational and therapeutic use. But some countries do, with regulations that differ from one another. For instance, CBD oil is legal in the United Kingdom if the product doesn't exceed the 0.2 percent THC level.
You should always check the CBD regulations in your area before making your first purchase.
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CBD is a beneficial compound recently gaining popularity because of its promising effects on various health conditions, including chronic pain, seizures, and depression. It's become such a popular compound that users can now choose to take it in various different ways—edibles, topicals, tinctures, vapes or cigarettes.
However, there's a lot that users need to know to ensure they get a quality and safe product. It should have the correct type of CBD, be farmed organically, and be lab-tested.
If you're interested in experiencing CBD’s many benefits, you should try all the ways to use it until you discover what fits you best. A good way to start would be with CBD cigarettes from Oklahoma Smokes.
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FAQs on How To Take CBD
1. Will CBD appear on drug tests?
Drug tests don't look for CBD. However, because most CBD products contain little THC, trace-sensitive tests might pick that up, especially if you consume the compound frequently. Still, most tests are unlikely to detect THC. It may be best to just be transparent about your CBD consumption before a test.
2. How long does it take for CBD to take effect?
Effects vary depending on how you chose to take the cannabinoid. Edibles take the longest to take effect, with users experiencing the effects of CBD a few hours after ingesting it. Other methods—like vaping or using it sublingually—take no longer than an hour.
3. What to expect when you start taking CBD?
If you're taking the right amount of CBD for the first time, you’ll experience general body relaxation, a calm mind, and some pain reduction. However, expect some side effects like dry mouth and fatigue, though these don't always happen when you consume the compound.