CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of several different cannabinoids within the cannabis plant family. There are many different cannabinoids, which THC and CBD being the most popular.

Many studies point to different health benefits that CBD might offer. Companies extract CBD from hemp, and produce different products like oils, capsules, vapes, and topical products.

CBD is federally legal within the United States. The Farm Bill of 2018 legalized CBD, and other cannabinoids as long as they didn’t contain and THC content over 0.3%.

That said, every state follows their own laws in regards to CBD products. Almost all states, though, follow the federal guidelines.

Check this state by state guide on CBD laws to be sure that your state is CBD friendly.

This is a really complex area.

Basically, we have an endocannabinoid system within us that can process both cannabinoids (made from plants, like cannabis) and endocannabinoids (made from within our bodies).

The result is different effects like a balancing of chemicals, mood, or even things like pain reduction and anxiety reduction.

We are still discovering a lot about this complex bodily system and how it works.

Related:

The Endocannabinoid System
How Does CBD Work?

CBD products are split into three different categories:

This is a grey area. Technically, there is no determined dose of CBD that is authorized for use.

Although CBD is federally legal, the FDA still hasn’t authorized it for use as a dietary supplement. This is why things like medical claims and dosing can’t technically be made by companies.

What can be done though, is a review of different studies that talk about effects and dosing of CBD.

As with any substance you introduce to your body, always start with the lowest effective dose and work your way up from there.

Related:

How Much CBD Should I Take?

CBD can come from both hemp and marijuana. These two plants are actually identical except for one thing:

THC content. 

Hemp plants must, by law, contain less than 0.3% THC. Marijuana, on the other hand, can contain far more THC – there really is no limit.

Hemp-derived CBD products are the types of CBD items that are federally legal. Marijuana-derived CBD products, unless legalized in your state for recreational use, are still a controlled substance.

All CBD products for sale online are going to be hemp-derived CBD.

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