Ever since the 2018 farm bill eased some of the legal concerns of hemp producers, hemp and cannabis cultivation have become a huge industry.
37 states have some form of law in their books legalizing buying and selling of marijuana products. Some with almost no restrictions at all.
Crucially both CBD and THC are still considered federally a schedule 1 drug. This means at any time after the publication of this article the federal government may interfere with cannabis production and consumption again.
But that hasn’t stopped people from using CBD and THC for:
Muscle and joint pain
Headaches and migraines
Symptoms of epilepsy
Mental health
Sleep
Do these medical claims pass the sniff test? What’s the difference between CBD and THC? Consult our little guide to find out.
Are CBD and THC the same thing?
CBD and THC are part of the same base marijuana plant. They are both cannabinoids, substances that when consumed activate much like the endocannabinoids naturally produced in the human body.
CBD is made up of the same 21 compounds of THC but is bound together slightly differently. When consumed, CBD can produce similar effects to THC, but without the same psychoactive high associated with THC.
This can be great for people who prefer to use CBD only for their muscle and joint issues. CBD is even medically prescribed for the management of epilepsy symptoms.
What makes CBD different from THC?
Weed and marijuana used to have only one cannabinoid we cared about: THC.
Recently CBD, another cannabinoid was found in marijuana plants that were discovered to provide many of the same muscle relaxing and light euphoric feeling, without the brain fog that might turn off consumers who needed to stay focused.
So does CBD work?
Harvard Medical School performed a medical review of CBD claims, and found strong evidence “in numerous studies” of CBD preventing seizures for kids with childhood epilepsy, and“ in some cases stopped them altogether.”
An animal study from the European Journal of Pain found CBD could lower pain and inflammation in animals with arthritis.
Further claims of anti-anxiety and addiction treatment need more studies, though there are new studies being performed currently.
In conclusion with new legislation, CBD could be a legal, effective way to treat a variety of conditions, but more research is required.
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