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Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard people talking about hemp extracts, CBD, and marijuana, and maybe you are a bit confused. What are the differences and similarities between these things? What will they do in your body? Nutrition World prides itself on being your go-to source for the truth about health and the gatekeepers of information. Here’s the deal.
Let’s set the record straight. What’s the difference between CBD and cannabis?
The greatest myth that is, unfortunately all too common, the false equivocation of CBD with marijuana and THC. Briefly speaking, in our ignorance, we have “thrown the baby out with the bathwater” when we inaccurately associate CBD with the plant marijuana or its other constituent THC. It is important that we investigate and learn more regarding these compounds so as to rightly draw lines of restriction regarding their use, thus utilizing them in the most beneficial manner. Hemp and marijuana are both family members in a group of flowering plants called “cannabis plants.” Both hemp and marijuana plants contain over 113 phytonutrients called cannabinoids which include CBD, CBD-A, CBG, THC, CBN, THC-A etc. These nutrients are responsible for all kinds of effects in our system. Most people are probably directly or indirectly familiar with the psychoactive “high” effect brought on by consuming too much of the phytonutrient THC which can be found within both plants. Many people may or may not be familiar with the effects that the nutrient CBD has on our bodies. We tend to wrongly associate the direct psychoactive “high” effect that the cannabinoid THC produces with the whole marijuana plant and not necessarily with hemp, but only because hemp does not generally contain as much THC as the marijuana plant does. It is key to remember that the physiological effects of a particular plant are solely exhibited by specific fundamental components contained within the plant and not necessarily an effect of every or all nutrient found within that plant. For this reason, it is important to begin finding and understanding the particular or group of nutrients which is directly acting on our bodies and not wrongly making a sweeping generalization, whether good or bad, to the entire plant as a whole. Both hemp and marijuana, being cannabis plants provide a wide variety of utility which is why they both tend to be used in different ways within the industry.
The real difference between the hemp and marijuana plants are primarily between what purposes they are grown for, which will then entail how they are grown and further the specific ratio or amount of compounds found within them.
For more on CBD myths, read this article!
Benefits of CBD
While we are still scratching the surface regarding the effects of CBD, CBD has developed quite the clinical repertoire for its beneficial effects ranging from but not limited to:
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reduction in inflammation
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pain
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anxiety
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psychosis
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seizures
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spasms
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other conditions
Moreover, it has not yet demonstrated any adverse effects, even at very high doses.
Recently, Ed spoke with hemp expert Jon Kennedy on his radio show regarding the benefits of CBD. To listen to that episode click here.
How do I know what to buy?
Given the huge growth of consumer-based hemp extracts and CBD products, there is much to consider regarding the overall quality, purity, and sustainability of these products. Growing practices unto pesticidal, heavy metals and fungal control are crucial to the safety of these products. Nutrition World goes to great lengths to not only vet the companies which we carry regarding these issues, but has methods to further test the products we carry according to the standards and values we consider important for the community we serve. Products containing CBD come in many formulations, both in constituent profile and in delivery. For example, there are CBD isolates, where CBD is isolated completely from other cannabinoids, oils, and other constituents found in hemp. According to research as well as feedback, this seems to be a less desirable option due to exemplifying less effectivity than a “full spectrum” option where CBD is contained within an entourage of the other constituents found naturally found in hemp. The “full spectrum” option seems to be the preferred option at the moment. Due to a highly competitive market, manufacturers are always working hard to bring the most innovative and effective profiles in their hemp extract formulations. Our commitment to the Chattanooga community and beyond is to only offer the highest quality products. Things we look for in a CBD product include:
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“Right” constituent profile
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Purity and Quality
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Consistency
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Sustainability
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Cost effectivity
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Commitment to consumer education
One of the brands that meet our high standards is Straight Hemp.
Straight Hemp succeeds in every criterion we demand when it comes to products containing CBD. Straight Hemp grows their own plants organically in Colorado and run the whole operation from seed to shelf, something very rare in this industry.
We currently prefer full spectrum CBD products at Nutrition World and Straight Hemp offers that. Their products contain the spectrum of wellness intended by nature, meaning there’s much more than just CBD. They offer full spectrum (<0.03%THC) products containing a good terpene and trace cannabinoid profile, which synergize to produce an ‘entourage effect’ powerful enough to reach maximum benefits for body and mind. They use state-of-the-art, terpene-preserving, subcritical CO2 extraction methods to produce the highest quality hemp extract. Quality assurance and standard dosing are how they guarantee us quality and consistency. They provide us with more third-party data confirming purity than any other product in our hemp cabinet.
Is CBD Right for Me?
We always encourage speaking with a doctor or pharmacist when determining whether or not to try any product that may interfere with or complement your current pharmaceutical or therapeutic regimen. Many local doctors send patients to us every day to try out hemp oil so we do encourage having the conversation with your physician. That being said, if you choose to come to us first and would like us to check for interference with current prescriptions we are equipped to handle those situations with our Aisle 7 system. If you are not taking any medication or therapy that may interfere, we are extremely well equipped to answer any questions and offer immense amounts of research on the topic of hemp extracts.
What forms does CBD come in?
DIfferent delivery methods serve different purposes, but you can find CBD in the form of:
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Oils
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Balms
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Vapes
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Salves
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Crystals
Come by and see us at the store for more questions about the purposes of each delivery method and what might work best for you.
How often can someone take CBD?
Currently, there is not enough data to offer a maximum daily consumption for CBD. While CBD has not been demonstrated to be problematic at even very high doses like 1500 mg per day, this does not mean that there is no unproblematic maximum dosage, only that we have more to learn about what role CBD products play in our system. At Nutrition World we cannot recommend nor prescribe a specific amount of CBD to consume for any condition. We do however recommend starting with a “low and slow” approach. Because different individuals will experience CBD’s general effects differently, it is considered physiologically, as well as financially beneficial, to begin with around 5-15mg of CBD twice per day and slowly increase that amount as directed by a practitioner and or as perceived necessary by the individual.
Potential Side Effects of Cannabis vs CBD
Because CBD and THC are both cannabinoids contained within cannabis plants and are the active compounds producing most of the effect within dietary and prescription supplements, it’s important to contrast their potential safety and side effects specifically. Currently, THC is sold as the prescription only, FDA approved product called dronabinol (Marinol), where a quick drug search on a medical reference site like drugs.com, WebMD, or rxlist will inform you that common side effects include clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, false sense of well-being, nausea, trouble with thinking, and vomiting. On the other hand, CBD is generally considered a safe substance anecdotally, by way of its current general distribution and feedback, but has also undergone much clinical analysis which has concluded the following; “Based on recent advances in cannabinoid administration in humans, controlled CBD may be safe in humans and animals. However, further studies are needed to clarify these reported in vitro and in vivo side effects.” PMID: 22129319 CBD has also been clinically demonstrated to have the following possible side effects: Inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism/decreased activities of p-glycoprotein and other drug transporters, which simply means that CBD inactivates a class of liver enzymes called cytochrome P450 which is involved in the metabolism of some drugs, in much the same way that grapefruits can interact with medications. Other side effects can include dry mouth, increased tremor in some Parkinson’s patients, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and drowsiness. As with any dietary supplement and prescriptions, it is important to consult first with your doctor or pharmacist regarding possible contraindications.
If you’d like further information about this topic, here are some great resources!
S.134 – Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015 – https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/134
An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/
Safety and side effects of cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22129319
Hemp vs. Marijuana: What’s the Difference? https://www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/hemp-vs-marijuana-whats-the-difference
Vital Health Radio: Benefits of Hemp. https://vitalhealthradio.com/
