What you need to know about CBD

The recent legalization of marijuana around the world has opened up a lot of conversations about CBD, THC, and marijuana in general. CBD is a part of the hemp plant responsible for many of the healing properties associated with marijuana. It does not contain, or contains very little of, THC, the part that gets you high.

CBD has a stigma around it, but studies have shown that the benefits of CBD could be enormous. Science has shown that CBD is extremely beneficial for treating:

·     PTSDdepressionanxietyand other neurological conditions

·     Chronic pain

·     Symptoms associated with cancer

·     Medication resistant seizures in children

·     Eating disorders

 

In the face of the opiod crisis, with thousands killed and hundreds of thousands more hopelessly addicted to opiods, the potential for CBD as a pain treatment is exciting for many doctors and scientists looking at the drug because it is non-addictive.

Side effects for CBD are relatively benign. These include nausea, fatigue, and irritability. The concern for many doctors and scientists is that it is being marketed as a supplement rather than a medicine. Because of this, the safety and purity of the 'inert' ingredients in the CBD products you purchase are questionable, as is the amount you are getting.

In another study, scientists took CBD off the shelves of a local market, and found that 70% of them were mislabeled. That means if you are interested in trying it, you may find that the amount of CBD you get is different from bottle to bottle, and there may be unexpected ingredients in it—such as THC

 There are still some things unknown about CBD, such as what the most therapeutic dosage is, and the regulation is still not up to par, but the potential health benefits of this drug could be very helpful in the future.

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