The ABC’s of CBD
3 min reading time
The hottest new products in the confectionery industry are candies and chocolates that contain CBD and THC. Here at Royal, we now carry a high-quality line of CBD gummies and tinctures from Funky Farms as well as a decadent array of CBD chocolates from Incentive Gourmet. While we know these products are delicious and contain high-quality CBD, we understand that many of our customers have a lot of questions and concerns when it comes to these types of products, and rightfully so. For those of you who are new to CBD, the information available on the subject can be confusing. We’ve put together this blog post to help answer some common questions related to CBD confectionery so that you can feel confident in choosing which products are right for you. Please be aware that the information we’re providing is not intended to be used in place of professional legal or medical advice.
What is CBD?
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a substance produced by the flowers of the cannabis plant. It is the main active ingredient in hemp and is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning that it does not produce psychoactive effects (“highs”) in humans. CBD is one of several cannabinoid molecules that are contained within the active parts of the hemp plant. While cannabinoids can be found in foods such as chocolate, pepper, carrots thyme, and other herbs, you would need to consume an unreasonable amount of these foods to receive any beneficial effects of CBD. Hemp, on the other hand, has a much larger concentration of cannabinoids and therefore a much smaller amount can be consumed to reap the benefits of it’s CBD.
How does CBD work?
The human body naturally produces molecules in the nervous system called endocannabinoids. There are also receptors for these molecules called cannabinoid receptors. These molecules and their receptors comprise the body’s internal Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ESC helps regulate the brain, gut, and immune system and is directly influenced by the effects of CBD. This is why CBD is seen to have positive effects on sleep, immune-system responses, and pain.
Benefits of CBD
While we can’t make any medical claims about the benefits of CBD, research has suggested that CBD can help alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms, reduce inflammation, assist with insomnia, be used as an anti-seizure treatment, and reduce pain caused by a variety of medical conditions.
The main reason many people turn to CBD as a treatment for various conditions is due to its lack of intoxicating effects and possible lower potential for side effects than many other medications.
Before taking any CBD products, it is advised that you speak with your doctor about any medications you may be taking, what conditions you’re wanting to take CBD for, and what dosage is right for you.
CBD vs THC
One of the biggest misunderstandings about CBD is confusing it with THC. As mentioned above, CBD is derived from hemp and is a non-psychoactive compound. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is the chemical in cannabis that contains psychoactive compounds and gives you a “high”. By law, hemp must contain no more than 0.3 percent THC to be considered hemp, marijuana on the other hand, is loaded with THC.
Is CBD legal?
Hemp-derived CBD is legal federally in all 50 states, the states themselves are allowed to create their own laws or even ban CBD altogether. For more accurate legal information, please check within your state.