From cosmetics to supplements and even food, CBD is the ingredient taking the wellness world by storm.
But, despite being linked to a series of benefits, many of us still don’t know what CBD actually is.
There are still so many questions around it: where does it come from? How is it manufactured? Most importantly, how do you trust what is says on the bottle?
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 chemicals in the Cannabis sativa L. plant otherwise known as hemp, a variety of cannabis grown specifically for industrial use.
You produce the extract by processing the inflorescence (or flower tops) before it is extracted using ethanol or CO2. It is then tested for potency and quality.
Is it legal?
Widely used in the food and cosmetic industry, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed it does not cause addiction. Although not classified as a controlled drug in the UK, the Trades Association recommends retailers do not sell it to anyone under 18.
Is CBD the same as THC?
Although tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are both derived from the cannabis plant, they are different.
THC is the psychoactive compound responsible for the euphoric ‘high’ feeling often associated with marijuana and it is contained in a particularly high concentration in the marijuana Cannabis indica.
THC interacts with CB1 receptors in the central nervous system and brain and creates the sensation of euphoria.
As CBD comes from hemp cannabis, many people assume it makes you ‘high’, but this is not the case. That’s because hemp is a non-psychoactive strain of the cannabis plant.
Hemp cannabis, on the other hand, contains low amounts of THC, and in most cases is too low to cause these psychoactive effects.
Source: Mail Online