Cannabinoids Revisited: CBD
Hey folks! Time for another blog from your favourite (and only!) local cannabis retailer. As budtenders who know their weed, we get asked pretty frequently to explain what the different cannabinoids do, cause honestly finding reliable information regarding cannabis can be hard. So, even though we’ve covered this before in a blog post, I think it’s a good time to revisit the major and minor cannabinoids as a refresher. I’m going to skip over THC because…well it’s pretty straightforward in terms of effect. Instead we’re going to focus on the cannabinoids that work in the background and add a bit of wellness to our daily lives. First up, the second most common cannabinoid, CBD.
The Chemistry
CBD (Cannabidiol) is as I mentioned the second most prevalent cannabinoid in the cannabis plant behind THC. It is not intoxicating to any degree, instead binding with the receptors in our body that interact with cannabis in a non-debilitating way. Which means you can have this stuff rocking in your system 24/7 without fear of losing any control. What it does appear to do is help to lower inflammation in our bodies as well as reduce anxiety. These are both awesome traits since almost everyone is rocking at least a degree of anxiety and inflammation is one of the main sources of pain in the average person. It has also been shown in some people and animals to help fight addiction, which is super exciting! Cause getting the monkey of addiction off your back is not an easy struggle and anything that helps is a godsend. Interestingly, one it’s main medicinal uses is to treat the symptoms of epilepsy in children, with it being one of the most effective way to reduce seizures due to it’s anti-spasmodic properties.
Now, nothing in life is made for everyone and cannabinoids (even innocuous ones like CBD) alter your body in a couple of ways while it’s in your system. It has been shown to thin blood when used, which for the average person is not an issue, but for someone who has a condition or medication that is already performing the function of a blood thinner, could be a problem. Rule of thumb for anything you’re not sure of when it comes to consuming cannabis: Consult with a doctor. We may be pretty well informed, but we aren’t doctors and so we don’t know how cannabinoids might interact with any prescribed medication you might be on. Safety first kids.
Where can I find it?
One of the best parts about CBD is it’s wide availability. Any cannabis dispensary worth its salt should carry not only CBD flower but also pre-rolls, edibles and sometimes even vapes. There are also capsules, oils and topicals that have CBD in them that offer a variety of advantages for people who live with chronic pain or anxiety.
So, in summary, CBD is a widely available non-intoxicating cannabinoid that offers up a variety of therapeutic and medicinal benefits that virtually anyone can enjoy risk free. And there’s not much in this world you can say that about. Till next time folks!