CBD is often treated like the new kid on the block. A wellness wunderkind shrouded in mystery and mysticism, this buzzy little bad boy is here to stay.
Some of the stuff you may have heard about CBD is true but like with anything that has recently become mainstream, there is a lot of misinformation floating around. Ever since hemp-based CBD became widely and commercially available, we started noticing the same pattern of questions about its composition, effectiveness and even legality crop up. Today we are dispelling some of the common myths around CBD… and hopefully also answering some burning questions.
Myth 1 — CBD products and marijuana are the same thing
Cannabidiol or CBD is one of many phyto-cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis plant (the umbrella term of the hemp plant). “A cannabis plant has over 100 compounds,” according to Perry Solomon, M.D., anesthesiologist and chief medical officer at HelloMD. All humans have an endocannabinoid system – a system in the body to interact with and break-down cannabis, including CBD and THC. THC is also a phyto-cannabinoid found in cannabinoids and it is the stuff that gets you high. CBD based wellness products typically contain only Cannabidiol or small trace amounts of THC. Marijuana on the other hand, is typically a high-THC variety of the cannabis plant and usually contains small or moderate amounts of CBD. So, if you’re ever in doubt about a product, look for the THC content. If the THC content is negligible to non-existent, chances are you’re looking at a hemp-based CBD product and not marijuana.
Myth 2 — CBD is just a wellness “fad”
Fads are simply trends that are temporary and passing. Like crocs (can we please pause for a moment and be grateful that crocs are over) or Livestrong bracelets. Modern extraction methods and uses of CBD have been around since the 1940s, when Dr. Walter S. Loewe succeeded in testing CBD on lab animals. He was able to conclude that CBD does not cause an “altered mental state.” In the 1960s, British pharmacologists released the first CBD oil meant for therapeutic use and in the eighties, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam ran a study where he proved that CBD could be a factor in treating epilepsy. Basically, the long and short is that CBD as a key wellness compound has been around for a while, and its effectiveness in treating many common ailments has been proven time and time again.
Myth 3 — CBD usage is illegal
This myth comes back to our original point about distinguishing CBD and THC products. An amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill, completely removed CBD and hemp from its list of “scheduled” drugs. Basically, CBD products are legal in all 50 states. The key to a healthy and safe CBD based wellness regimen is educating yourself on products, buying from quality and reputable sources and never using CBD as a replacement for medical attention, advice or intervention. CBD’s place is as a natural supporter in an overall healthy lifestyle.
Myth 4 — CBD can be used to replace medication
This is where we tend to see the most misinformation floating around about CBD. This and the marijuana thing. We always recommend checking with your doctor and healthcare provider when starting any new diet, exercise or wellness-based regimen and we never recommend CBD use in lieu of doctor prescribed medication. Natural based wellness can coexist with modern medicine – supporting it and enhancing a general feeling of wellness. While there are areas of health and wellness where CBD truly shines if you see a CBD product advertising itself as a replacement for medication – walk away.
Myth 5 — You can’t be sure what chemicals are in CBD
Most CBD brands exist in the space of natural wellness, so they typically tend to have as few chemicals as possible. However, like anything that grows in the ground, CBD products can contain insecticides, pesticides and chemicals used in the growing process. That’s why it’s important to buy from a reputable seller. Reputable sellers will always be able to provide you complete lab reports on exactly what their products contain, their potency and effectiveness and pretty much anything you want to know about the growing process. It’s your right as a consumer to know so be sure to ask lots of questions if you’re a new or even veteran user of CBD.
These are some of the most common misconceptions we’ve encountered around CBD and CBD based wellness. Our FAQs and Hemp 101 pages, are excellent resources to learn more about this incredible compound and it’s many uses in a wellness regimen. Remember that CBD can be an incredible resource and tool in your wellness kit. As long as you’re armed with information, you can enjoy CBD’s many healing properties!
