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All CBD products listed in this story are derived from hemp. Some CBD products, like those derived from marijuana, are only legal in certain states; see here to determine whether or not you can legally make a purchase. Additionally, THC/CBD edibles and additives are not necessarily FDA-approved.
It's been around for years, but CBD randomly seems to be everywhere lately. What used to be a niche obsession is quickly turning mainstream, from the coffee shop down the street that’ll add a drop of oil to your morning latte to recipes for CBD cocktails on GOOP. Even Coca-Cola is looking into it.
Its reputation can mostly be attributed to the oil, but beverages aren't the only way to get a dose of CBD. Candy edibles, vape pens, and skin creams are just a few alternatives — CBD for dogs is a thing, too.
Only around 39% of people know what the "CBD" in "CBD-infused" stands for.
Despite the fact that mentions of CBD seem to be growing exponentially, the weird part is that no one really knows what it is: Mashable surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. consumers via Google Surveys between Jan. 22 and Jan. 25, 2019 and found that only around 39% of people knew what the "CBD" in "CBD-infused" stands for. A whopping 61% were completely clueless. (It stands for cannabidiol, BTW.)
In light of these statistics, it's probably no surprise that a massive 81% of the people we surveyed haven't tried CBD — meaning that even if a person knew what it was, they still hadn't taken the CBD plunge and tried it themselves. Even with the random surge in CBD popularity, there's clearly a knowledge gap surrounding the world of CBD — a gap that we're intent on closing.
We know you're not about to buy some random oil made in a sketchy basement somewhere. This guide acts as your CBD101, sifting through the safety stuff, the legal stuff, and the fun stuff.
What is CBD?
CBD (short for cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis. Because it contains super low levels of THC (like less than .3%), CBD is not going to get you high. THC is the part of the weed that gets you high (standard-issue pot is about 18% THC, for reference). These THC levels are so low that CBD lacks the psychoactive properties. Instead, CBD fans swear by the stuff as a way to relax, get better sleep, and manage anxiety, among other things.
Why all the hype?
People like marijuana for all kinds of reasons, including relaxation, pain relief, and overall good vibes, right? It's the same story with CBD, just without the mind-altering high (or the munchies). You're essentially getting that chill factor without actually feeling different, and you're leaving behind the red eyes and hysterical laughing, too.
The FDA has officially approved the use of CBD for seizures and epilepsy, but people are finding that it's helpful with so much more. Users who swear by this stuff have become enthusiastic advocates in online reviews and social media, trumpeting the benefits they've experienced: For these fans, CBD has helped them combat anxiety, depression, sleep troubles, stress, pain, and inflammation — take that, cortisol. Apparently, it can also help with your sex drive and sexual pleasure.
🌻🍄💚 Drea 💚🍄🌻
@tiny_mushies
Tried CBD oil for the first time ever and I honestly think I'm a believer. This is the first time in 9 years, yeah - 9, that I have gone an entire day without experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety and I just. Is this much peace really what I've been missing?? 😭😭😭
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Professional athletes are also starting to join the CBD party. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD already made it attractive to heavily active folk for better recovery times and pre-game stress reduction. Once CBD was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of banned substances, it gave runners, bikers, NBA, NHL, and NFL players alike more of a reason to ditch OTC pain pills.
AARP is even pro-CBD for seniors, citing it as an option to combat arthritis and other pains, help manage osteoporosis and blood pressure, and even tremors due to cancer. While your conservative grandma probably isn't going to roll a joint anytime soon, these benefits may just have her asking to hit your CBD pen.
Is CBD safe to use?
CBD isn't a fix-all and usage should probably be discussed with your doctor first. Formal research and scientific findings on this stuff is pretty limited at the moment, so most of the knowledge we have about effects comes from real-life users. But FDA approval of CBD for seizures and epilepsy could certainly pave the way for more widespread use.
The World Health Organization has said that there's no evidence of public health-related problems correlated with the use of pure CBD. You could feel fatigued or irritable, but that's the extent of the bad parts.
But we can't take that statement and run with it just yet. In the spring of 2018, the Natural Products Expo estimated that the CBD industry doubled in size in the last two years, which is super fast for a product that so many people are clueless about — let alone the fact that it's associated with marijuana and drags along negative connotations.
SEE ALSO: Understanding the confusing world of CBD and THC ratios
It's awesome that so many people have seemingly found the relief they've been looking for, but it needs to be met with caution. Clinical trials are having a hard time keeping up with the demand, and people should chill with their dosages and talk to their doctors if symptoms become too intense.
This isn't bad news, though, and the trials that have already happened have found that the seemingly too-good-to-be-true compound might be for real, as long as it's not a mix of THC and CBD disguised as pure CBD. Everyone will obviously react differently, and we're not trying to play doctor here — we're just telling you what we've heard.
NYU's Dr. Esther Blessing is a psychiatrist and researcher in the midst of testing numerous possible benefits of CBD — like combatting PTSD and substance abuse — and who has received funding for her studies from the National Institutes of Health, a good sign for anyone who's been on the fence. NPR talked with her in 2018 about CBD:
"It may seem counterintuitive that a component of marijuana could be useful in treating addiction to another drug. But Blessing says using CBD is very different from using marijuana. Though CBD is extracted from cannabis, it does not lead to altered perception and cognition.
'Drugs can be non-psychoactive and still have an effect on the brain,' Blessing says. 'CBD does have an effect on the brain, but it seems to affect the brain in possibly medicinal ways.'"
Final results from all of Blessing's studies as well as others likely won't reach the public for a few more years. So until then, we'll have to keep scanning Reddit and listening to our friends on their CBD-scented soapboxes.
Is CBD legal?
If the CBD is derived from hemp (like all of the products mentioned below), you're pretty much in the clear. Hemp's low THC content (under .3%) isn't enough to get you high, which was a good enough reason for the senate to pass this 2018 farm bill to legalize hemp.
CBD derived from marijuana is where things get a hazy — this is where THC to CBD ratios matter, and it's all up to your state's discretion. We're not advocating for you to break the law here, and you should definitely deep-dive into your state's weed laws before purchasing any CBD, even if it's hemp derived. (This table goes into more detail and is super helpful.)
That said, it's worth noting that hemp-derived CBD and pure hemp oil aren't exactly the same thing. According to The Growthop:
"Although CBD oil and hemp oil are both low in THC, the difference in the amount of CBD these products contain is huge. Hemp oil has only traces of CBD (around 3.5 percent,) while CBD oil can have up to 20 percent. It is the higher concentration that makes CBD beneficial in the treatment of various health disorders. Hemp oil based CBD products do not contain enough of the compound to be considered much more than a health supplement."
This difference is exactly why you should skip buying CBD on Amazon. To get around Amazon's legal policies, store owners will sell something that looks like CBD and market it as hemp oil — while forgetting to mention that hemp oil contains almost no CBD.
But starting with a hemp-based CBD could be a low stakes intro to the entire world of CBD. And that's where we come in.
