Everything You Need To Know About CBD, THC & The Endocannabinoid System

CB1 receptors are predominately found in the brain and central nervous system, and to a lesser extent in other tissues. THC binds to these receptors, which causes users to experience the high associated with this compound.

CB2 receptors on the other hand, are abundantly found outside of the nervous system and in the peripheral organs, especially in the immune system. Both of these receptors can be found throughout the body.

Endocannabinoids
Endocannabinoids are endogenous cannabinoids that bind to and activate cannabinoid receptors, similar to the way that plant cannabinoids do. These cannabinoids are produced naturally by cells in the human body and help regulate many biological functions.

Metabolic Enzymes
Metabolic enzymes perform various cellular functions that are vital for homeostasis. When working with the endocannabinoid system, metabolic enzymes get rid of endocannabinoids after they have been used. FAAH is an enzyme that breaks down anandamide, while MAGL breaks down 2-AG.

These enzymes ensure that endocannabinoids are only used when they are needed, but not after they have been used. This allows endocannabinoids to be distinguished from other molecular signals in the body, such as classical neurotransmitters or hormones that remain for later use.

The three main components of the endocannabinoid system can be found inside almost every major system of the human body. When something brings a cell outside of its “middle range”, the body relies upon these components to get the system working properly, thus bringing back homeostasis.

So when the endocannabinoid system stops functioning properly, what happens next? Scientific research has found that the result of a chronically deficient or overactive endocannabinoid system can be linked to pathological conditions.

Including CBD as part of a treatment plan to monitor a deficient or overactive endocannabinoid system has been linked to regulating a poor endocannabinoid system and has been known to slow – or in some cases stop – disease progression.

Is It Safe to Take CBD?

One of the main draws to using CBD over other pharmaceutical (or even over-the-counter) drugs, is that it has shown to be extremely safe in terms of its almost complete lack of side effects.

In fact, just last year (2017) the World Health Organization issued a massive statement to governments all over the world, essentially proclaiming its effectiveness as a medicine and the fact that it is not associated with any adverse side effects. Here is one of the official statements that was released at the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence in November 2017:

| “…[based on evidence from studies, it has been determined that CBD oil] is safe, well tolerated, and not associated with any significant adverse public health effects.”

Moreover, WHO went on to say that the active cannabis compound is “not associated with abuse potential, does not induce physical dependence, [and is] is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”

In short, to answer the question of “is it safe to take CBD oil,” the answer is a resounding YES.

How to Use CBD?

CBD products can come in many forms and are an easy addition to your current health routine. Once the CBD compound has been extracted from a cannabis plant, it is then packaged in the form of a concentrated oil or cream for a range of applications. CBD can be found in pharmaceutical products, beauty creams, shampoos, oils, make-up, food and candy, vaping products, flavored water, and can even be purchased as an all-purpose palliative for your furry four-legged friends who may suffer from anxiety.

How CBD should be used depends largely on what it’s being used for. We suggest talking with your health practitioner before using CBD oil.

Types of CBD Products

• Oils: CBD oils are the most potent and unprocessed form of cannabidiol. The oil is removed directly from the flowers, stalks, and seeds of the plant during the extraction process.
• Tinctures: A tincture is usually extracted with alcohol or another solvent.
• Concentrates: A stronger dosage of CBD.
• Capsules: Typically a capsule will contain 10-25 milligrams of CBD and can be taken with water.
• Topical: More and more topical products are popping up in the market in the form of lotions, salves,  and balms. These can benefit the skin, joints, and muscles, working once absorbed by the skin.
• Edibles: Also becoming more popular, although difficult to measure exactly how much you are getting. Edibles come in the form of chocolate, coffee, baked goods, gummies, and more.
• Powders: Powders are another way to ingest internally and can be added to water, juice, teas, or smoothies. Be sure to do research on how to look for the highest quality powder.
• Vape Oils: A vape pen can be used though this requires heating which can have an effect on the CBD oil.
• Sprays: Sprays usually contain a lower dosage but can be another way to ingest internally.

Where Can I Get CBD Oil?

Though a quick search for CBD products on Amazon serves up more than 3,000 results for expensive tinctures, fancy lotions and overpriced bottles of gummy bears, Amazon’s selling guidelines prohibit the sale of CBD and products containing cannabidiol.

That means most of those products that come up on Amazon when you search “CBD” probably aren’t the real deal. Instead, they’re most likely made of hemp oil, sometimes called hemp seed oil, which is extracted by cold pressing hemp seeds, so it doesn’t contain THC and contains very little CBD, generally.

On the other hand, most real and authentic CBD products don’t come cheap, and there’s a scientific reason why.

Because the CBD industry is still fairly young, it’s important to do your homework and find products that are truly pure. Price is often a marker of purity; if you find a CBD oil claiming 100-milligram potency for under $40, chances are that the CBD is not pure and cannot be sold throughout the country.

But below you will find a couple of CBD product recommendations. We will be adding to this list as local laws and this new industry evolves.

29 states in the U.S. have legalized the medical use of Marijuana and 44 states legally allow usage of CBD Oil and none intoxicating hemp oils (those with THC counts of less than .3%). The law differs from state to state and country to country so it’s best to do some research for your area. For now, Ohio only allows true CBD Oils, that is those with contents  higher than .3% to be sold through licensed dispensaries.

Locally, dispensaries will sell medical marijuana plant material for vaping, and in oil, tinctures, lotions, patches, and edibles. Ohio’s law prohibits smoking marijuana or growing it at home. Patients with one of 21 qualifying medical conditions can buy and use medical marijuana after registering through a certified marijuana doctor in Ohio.

Provisionary dispensary locations in Columbus, OH include Terrasana; Greenleaf Apothecaries, 111 Vine St.; 127 OH, 1361 Georgesville Road; Harvest of Ohio, 2950 N. High St.; and Verdant Creations, which will be on Cassady Avenue.

Check Where You Source From

With the boom of CBD products, it’s no wonder that some are taking the chance to capitalize and get involved in this growing business so it is more important than ever to do your research on what you are buying and where it is coming from.

Don’t be confused by hemp seed oil and true CBD oil. Hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant, it won’t have the same benefits of a CBD Oil. Hemp oil has been available and legal for years, and although a great oil for cooking and your skin, the cannabinoids found in hemp oil are quite low – again close to 0% and less than .3%.

Be sure to read the labels and find out the total milligrams of CBD in the entire product vs. how many milligrams in a standard recommended dose of that product. All products will vary and it will also depend on what your individual goal is.

You will also want to check the CBD and THC ratio. Some products will have microdoses of THC but if you are looking for a product that is strictly CBD, you will want to look out for this when choosing a product.

Be a savvy buyer and ask questions! If you’re looking for a high-quality CBD oil, make sure you are buying full-spectrum hemp extract that contains the beneficial cannabinoids.

With America moving fast into the future of medicinal and wellbeing use of cannabis, we can’t wait to see other countries follow suit. We’ll continue to watch this trend unfold and share more information.

We would love to hear about your personal experiences with CBD and how you incorporate it into your daily health and wellbeing routines. Share in the comments below.