CBD FAQs
WHAT IS CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a compound found in the hemp plant. It's a naturally occurring substance that is often used in products such as oils and edibles to support a feeling of balance and calm. Unlike its cousin, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the major active ingredient in marijuana, CBD is not psychoactive.
WHAT IS THC?
THC stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is another cannabinoid molecule in cannabis plants that has been known to cause psychoactive effects. It has also been known to have therapeutic benefits, but with those come a “high” sensation.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP OIL AND CBD OIL?
Hemp and CBD oils come from two similar, but different part of the hemp plant. Hemp oil is made by pressing the seeds of the hemp plant into an omega-rich oil used in a variety of recipes and products. CBD oil, however, is made by extracting the compound CBD from the leaves, flowers and stalks of a hemp plant. Hemp oil typically does not contain any CBD.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FULL SPECTRUM CBD, BROAD SPECTRUM CBD AND CBD ISOLATE?
We touched on the differences between the spectrums in our Is CBD Right for Me page; here is a snippet:
- Full spectrum CBD products contain all of the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids from the hemp plant, including trace amounts of THC, but not more than 0.3% by dry weight.
- Broad spectrum CBD products contain all of the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids from the hemp plant, but does not contain any THC, as it has been removed during the refinement process.
- CBD isolate products include only the CBD (cannabidiol) molecules from the hemp plant. All other cannabinoids and terpenes and THC have been removed, so you’re getting pure CBD.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANNABIS, HEMP AND MARIJUANA?
- Cannabis, hemp, and marijuana are all terms for plants in the Cannabaceae family, but there are botanical and cultural differences between them.
- Cannabis is a term that describes the broad classification of plant species, which contains both hemp plants and marijuana plants.
- Hemp is a cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% (by dry weight) of THC. While containing low amounts of THC, hemp contains high amounts of CBD (cannabidiol), which is the non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid found in hemp plants.
- Marijuana is a cannabis plant that contains more than 0.3% (by dry weight) of THC. It is the intoxicating phytocannabinoid found in cannabis plants which is responsible for the ‘high’ that users report.
DO CBD PRODUCTS CONTAIN THC?
It is possible for some CBD products to contain THC, and those products will be labeled as ‘Full Spectrum,” which means that the products contain all of the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids extracted from the plant.
For zero-THC CBD products, look for “Broad Spectrum” and/or “CBD Isolate” products.
Many who are new to CBD ask this question because they are subject to drug testing and want to know if taking a CBD product will cause them to fail a drug test.
Just Live’s Chief Science Advisor Alex Capono answered this question this way: “Drug tests don't look for CBD. So if you just take CBD, you're not going to fail a drug test. However, CBD is best utilized when it’s combined with other cannabinoids that exist in the plant, sometimes including THC. If you have enough of THC, even if found in a hemp plant, you could theoretically fail that drug test. Even if you eliminate all traces of THC, you could have something called cross reactivity, so that means that another cannabinoid looked like THC on a drug test.”
HOW DOES CBD WORK?
To understand how CBD works, you must understand how your Endocannabinoid System works. An endocannabinoid is a cannabinoid that is produced by your own body. A phytocannabinoid is a cannabinoid that is produced by a plant. All cannabinoids (both endo- and phyto-) are responsible for bringing your body back into balance, or homeostasis. They do this by acting as signal messengers for your Endocannabinoid System. Wherever there is imbalance, inflammation or disharmony, cannabinoids are working in your endocannabinoid system to restore order.
In short, CBD is a phytocannabinoid that works with your body to optimize the effects of beneficial endocannabinoids.
WHAT IS A CANNABINOID?
A cannabinoid is any chemical compound that interacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system. They can be found in the hemp plant and the human body produces them.
WHAT IS THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT?
The Entourage Effect is the idea that cannabis compounds work together to produce more benefits and higher efficacy than when taken alone.
IS CBD LEGAL?
When the Farm Bill was signed into law in December 2018, CBD that is derived from hemp and contains no more than 0.3% THC was legalized. Still, CBD that comes from the marijuana plant is illegal, since marijuana still has Schedule 1 drug status federally. Recently, the TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) announced that it would allow people to fly with hemp products, including CBD produced within the regulations defined by the 2018 law.
IS CBD THE ONLY CANNABINOID IN THE HEMP PLANT?
No, there are more than 120 other naturally occurring cannabinoids and over 540 phytochemicals known to exist in the hemp plant. The two most popular cannabinoids are CBD and THC. The hemp plant is an ideal source of CBD as it contains more CBD than it does THC. This is in contrast to the marijuana plants, which contain more THC than CBD.
WILL I GET "HIGH" FROM USING CBD?
Just Live’s CBD products only contain broad spectrum CBD or CBD isolate, which don’t contain any the intoxicating cannabinoid that is responsible for the “high” feeling, THC. Just Live’s Chief Science Advisor Alex Capono notes that “CBD is a molecule that has a lot of therapeutic targets without the risk of overdose, without the risk of getting someone high, without that risk of intoxication, or fall, or dizziness, or paranoia, or anxiety.”
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF CBD?
There are many delivery methods for CBD, from vaping to ingestion to topical application, and each one has its own efficacy time. On average, you can begin to sense the effects of CBD within 15 minutes of vaping or sublingually using a tincture. It can take as long as an hour or two for edibles and topical products to kick in.
DO I NEED A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION TO USE CBD PRODUCTS?
CBD is an over-the-counter supplement and as such, you do not need a CBD prescription from your doctor or another medical authority in order to buy CBD products.
HOW MUCH CBD SHOULD I TAKE?
A 2017 study showed that there’s not a universal dosage of CBD that everyone should take. Instead, the study emphasized the fact that different people (and, in the animal studies, different animals) respond to different dosages of CBD. That said, most of the human studies used dosages between 20 and 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day. A good rule of thumb is to start small, keep track of your dosing and increase as needed.
HOW DO I USE CBD?
Once you understand how CBD works, you’re better equipped to make an informed decision on how best to use it. The most common ways of using CBD are ingestion and topical application. Ingestion includes swallowing CBD supplements like softgels or capsules, chewing CBD gummies, sublinguilly consuming CBD tinctures, and inhalation of CBD vapor. Application of CBD topicals come in the form of creams, roll-ons, lip balms more.