CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, comes from the marijuana plant, causing many people to believe it has psychoactive properties. Various legal and reputational challenges have made dispelling those misconceptions more difficult.
State laws to prohibit marijuana began appearing in the first couple decades of the 20th century. It wasn’t until the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 that marijuana and derived products were made illegal on the federal level.
Various levels of decriminalization began appearing 40 years later, with a handful of states passing laws to reduce criminal penalties of being caught with small quantities of cannabis. Medical marijuana laws began passing in many state legislatures in the mid ‘90s, but true decriminalization of recreational marijuana use didn’t begin in earnest until just the past decade.
Many societal and cultural factors contributed to marijuana’s bad reputation, from its association with the counterculture movement in the ‘60s to trafficking violence fueled by entirely unrelated drugs in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s to various anti-drug campaigns championed by U.S. politicians in the 20th century.
A handful of states still consider the marijuana plant a fully illegal substance. This mixed stand on marijuana causes many people to shy away from using any products derived from the plant. A large part of the reason is the lack of understanding of cannabinoids and the difference between cannabinoids like CBD and THC.
If you’re interested in incorporating CBD into your daily routine but you’re on the fence about it, it’s important to decipher facts from myths.
What Is CBD?
CBD is a component of marijuana extracted from hemp plants, thus it doesn’t contain any THC and doesn’t have the ability to make people feel high. Instead, CBD can produce a calmness within the body and help with several conditions, including pain, anxiety and insomnia. Although CBD was first isolated more than 80 years ago, only recently have people begun taking advantage of its benefits because of recently passed legislations allowing people to grow, extract and research industrial hemp.
Common Misconceptions About CBD
CBD Can Make You High
Many people automatically assume CBD will make them feel intoxicated because it comes from marijuana. Even though CBD is derived from the marijuana plant, it doesn’t have any psychoactive properties. The psychoactive properties are only found in THC–another component of marijuana. While CBD products can have trace amounts THC (less than 0.3 percent), this insignificant amount isn’t enough to get you high.
There’s No Science Behind the Effectiveness of CBD
There’s been plenty of research done on CBD. Findings indicate CBD can help alleviate several health conditions. For example, a 2019 study concluded that CBD helped to destroy cancerous cells in patients with glioblastoma (aggressive cancer occurring in the brain or spinal cord) without causing damage to healthy cells. There are also a variety of studies on CBD use for pain management.
CBD is also scientifically proven to treat epilepsy. The FDA-approved drug Epidiolex contains CBD as its primary ingredient. It is used to treat two rare types of epileptic seizures: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
CBD Converts to THC in Your Stomach
Before CBD gained its present-day popularity, it was assumed the hydrochloric acid in people’s stomachs could change CBD to THC. However, there is no scientific evidence of such occurrence, even if you were to consume high doses of CBD.
CBD Can Show Up on Drug Tests
Since pure CBD products don’t contain any THC, it shouldn’t show up on a drug test.
However, it’s important for users of CBD to research the products they’re purchasing. Look for CBD products with the lab work to back up their CBD and THC content claims.
CBD Acts Like a Sedative
Taking high doses of CBD can make you sleepy, which is a good thing if you’re suffering from insomnia. However, CBD does not act like a sedative. When taken in small or moderate doses, CBD can make you feel rejuvenated and energized, just like that first cup of coffee in the morning.
The CBD Industry Is Dubious
Since CBD products aren’t monitored by the FDA (except for Epidiolex), some CBD-labeled products sold online don’t actually contain any CBD in them. Unfortunately, these sketchy “CBD” manufacturers give trustworthy brands a bad name.
To make sure you’re only purchasing quality CBD products from reputable providers, it’s important to research what’s in the product and whether it’s been tested by a third-party lab.
Purchase High-Quality CBD Products from Revana Collective
At Revana Collective, we strive to produce only the highest quality CBD products. Our carefully crafted and 100 percent plant-based products embody the natural and tranquil beauty of Oregon—the place where we proudly grow our organic hemp.
Our CBD blends are also entirely THC free and third-party lab tested.
To learn more about our unique blends, browse our products or visit our FAQ page.
