CBD Oil

What you should know about this constituent of the hemp plant

- Lisa Turner

You’ve probably heard of—and wondered about—CBD (cannabidiol), a constituent of the hemp plant that’s being used in everything from topical creams to daily supplement pills. And even though CBD has been used as a medicinal cure for thousands of years around the world, it’s still shrouded in mystery—and fears that it will make you high, or that it’s not safe for kids. Here’s what you need to know:

IT’S NOT POT.

CBD oil comes from the hemp plant, which is in the same plant family as marijuana. But it’s not pot. “CBD is like marijuana’s non-psychoactive cousin,” says Alex Corren, founder and CEO of Hempower Nutrition, Inc., in Boulder, Colo. CBD is made from a type of hemp that’s very low in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the component that’s responsible for marijuana’s mood-altering effects. The hemp plant has been used for thousands of years for building materials, textiles, and food products like hemp seed and hemp oil—which is not the same as CBD oil (more on that below).

IT WON’T MAKE YOU HIGH.

Unlike medical marijuana products, which contain large amounts of THC, CBD products are not psychotropic, meaning they don’t cause the euphoric feeling associated with marijuana. Most contain miniscule amounts (less than 0.3 percent) and some are completely THC-free, Corren says. CBD won’t impact drug tests, and it’s safe enough for children. In fact, CBD came to national prominence with the discovery of its ability to halt seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. And while both THC and CBD are considered phytocannabinoids, they interact with the body in very different ways. THC works by directly binding to cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2). CBD does not bind to these receptors, but instead interacts with the endocannabinoid system; more on this below.