To be completely honest, in the current CBD marketplace, it can really be both… or either. Let me explain.
FIRST, A BIT OF BACKGROUND
CBD or Cannabidiol is the second most active ingredient in cannabis. As such, it is one of the essential elements for the use of medical marijuana. THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most active compound in cannabis and is responsible for all of the psychoactive reactions that come with marijuana use. Both THC and CBD are cannabinoids, which is to say chemical compounds found in both marijuana and hemp. In total, there are 113 cannabinoids found in cannabis and each exhibits varied effects on everyone.
CBD in its purest form is, in all probability, a magical elixir that may provide a profoundly positive impact on your life. It certainly did for me. Soul Dude
In short, cannabinoids bind with special cannabinoid receptors in humans causing a whole host of effects. The receptors are all part of the human Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS is a system in humans (and actually many other animals too) that is thought to have a great regulatory impact on many aspects of a person’s well-being, including memory, metabolism, energy, stress response, sleep, analgesia (pain control), reproduction, and immune response.
A tremendous amount of research has been done and is currently being done, on just how much cannabinoids can positively impact us as humans. So far, the results are all fairly positive. Best of all, Cannabidiol (CBD) is non-psychoactive (meaning it will NOT get you high), non-physically addicting, and non-toxic (meaning there are little to no negative side effects and no threshold for overdose).
As such, it’s easy to see why CBD has exploded in popularity in recent years. People are using it with good results to ease any number of ailments. While relatively few medical claims can be verified scientifically at this point, “the proof is in the pudding” as they say. Millions of people are currently using CBD products (and other cannabinoids) to positively impact their lives and improve their overall wellness. If it didn’t work, the popularity of CBD would have melted away long ago.
So, in and of itself, Cannabidiol (CBD) in its purest form is, in all probability, a magical elixir that may have a profoundly positive impact on your life. It certainly did for me.
SO WHAT’S THE CATCH?
Of course, as with any shiny new object that catches someone’s eye, overwhelming popularity comes with its own unsavory side effects. This is particularly true in an unregulated area (such as the CBD industry). Some of the problems stem from greed and some of it comes from a lack of awareness on the part of the consumer.
For modern snake oil salesmen and women, it’s frighteningly easy to market and sell a product that contains the words CBD on the label and have non-CBD savvy consumers snatch them right up. Generally, these same folks are often heard to exclaim, “Oh, I tried CBD and it didn’t do anything for me.” Since these inferior products don’t produce the desired results, these consumers just give up. In fact, testing has shown that some of these products don’t even contain the amount of CBD that they claim they do.
You also have the fact the quality CBD can be pretty pricey, which may prevent some people from using the proper amount to achieve the desired effect. Some consumers may find it hard to strike a balance between the known quality of a product and the affordability of a product.
CBD can be pricey, but an informed consumer can manage costs by educating themselves first. You need to know the effect you are trying to achieve (understanding the problem) and then learn some simple basic truths about CBD (the solution)—this includes understanding things such as dosing, bioavailability, and the entourage effect. This knowledge will go a long way towards increasing the effectiveness of CBD for you. The more you know, the more likely you will find that CBD is closer to magical elixir than snake oil.