CBD Oil: All You Need to Know About the Rise of CBD – Hemp’s Potential Cure
CBD is a non-psychoactive, natural compound derived from the cannabis plant. It is being researched for its potential effects on pain relief and other health conditions but isn’t approved by the FDA currently (though it has been fast tracked) as stated by mercurynews.com.
This article will explore whether CBD is available in India, how safe it may be to use, and what kinds of CBD oil quality to look out for.
What Is CBD?
Historically, the cannabis plant was delivered medicinally as an herb and physically as a tincture. Today, pharmaceutical companies are producing pure CBD isolate for consumption in many forms including vaping liquid or edibles like brownies and gummies.
Although CBD oil comes from cannabis, it is not chemically related to the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. And unlike THC, CBD is non-habit forming and doesn’t cause the high associated with marijuana use. There are many types of CBD oil produced and they can be categorized as follows:
- Full spectrum oil: Each type has its own benefits in addition to CBD. Hemp-derived oils and full spectrum oil contain all the different compounds found in cannabis plant. The “entourage effect” involves all parts of the plant interacting together to create a more holistic experience.
- CBD isolate: It is 99% pure CBD which means it has no THC or other cannabinoids.
- Hybrid oil: This contains a mix of full-spectrum and CBD isolate.
History of the Cannabis Plant & CBD Use through the Ages
CBD use dates back to 2737 BC in China where it was used as a natural treatment for rheumatism, gout, malaria and even facial wrinkles. At the end of 18th century, the first story of cannabis being used as medicine was documented in England by a man named James Russell. He prescribed cannabis to treat his own pain, and was in such a high state of pain that he rode a horse back and forth around his house.
The first recorded patent for medical marijuana usage came in 1797 when Dr. William B. O’Shaughnessy experimented with cannabis as an analgesic for dysmenorrhea-related cramps. His first use of the plant was ineffective, but it wasn’t until 1839 that the herb was officially named “Marihuana” by Mexican physician Gabriel Morado.
In 1937, the U.S. government passed the Marihuana Tax Act, which effectively banned marijuana and hemp consumption. This was the start of a 70 year-long “War on Drugs” that prohibited Americans from using CBD oil and marijuana for medical purposes, including deterring research into medical applications of the plant.
It wasn’t until 2017 that the DEA announced a change in its policy on CBD oil, stating that it is now considered a legal substance again for medicinal use under federal law. (Previously, it was technically still illegal but wasn’t actively prosecuted.) Today, CBD is being used to help with anxiety and depression, among many other physical and mental health conditions.
