You have likely been hearing or may have even come across CBD oil and may be wondering what all the fuss is about. It is because CBD, which can also be referred to as cannabidiol, is a very potent drug or medication with several health benefits. It is also because it is derived from the cannabis plant which potentially could be a problem. This potential problem can arise from an individual’s confusion regarding its legality in their society or place of work. Also, there is the other issue and the possibility of getting high when it is used. These and many other concerns and questions are what this article is meant to address. First, what is CBD?
What is CBD Oil?
As mentioned earlier, cannabidiol is a compound that is extracted from the cannabis plant by various methods with CO2 extraction the best of these methods. The cannabis plant comes in two variants. They are marijuana and hemp. Asides cannabidiol, the cannabis plants contain other compounds such as terpenes, flavonoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), omega-fatty acids, and essential oils. These substances all have their unique characteristics, usefulness, and benefits but cannabidiol seems the most popular of them all. This article helps to highlight this.
Cannabidiol that can be consumed by humans is taken from the hemp plant rather than marijuana. It is extracted from most of the plant parts such as the leaves, seeds, flowers, stalk, and stem. The main difference between marijuana and hemp is the amount of THC that is present in both plants. THC is the substance that causes a person to get high when they use any part of a cannabis plant. While marijuana contains high concentrations of THC, hemp contains very low amounts and it can even be cultivated to contain no traces of THC. More on this shortly.
Cannabidiol can be made into several products and it is useful for humans as well as animals. Some common products are oil, smokes and vapes, tea, capsules, pills, etc. It can also be made into CBD sprays and added as an ingredient in cosmetics. Additional products for animals include various kinds of treats.
Cannabidiol can be introduced into the body sublingually, topically, via inhalation or by ingestion. This will be determined by the kind of product that a person decides to use.
The Legality of CBD
Before now, it was illegal to use anything derived from cannabis plants but in 2018, the United States Congress passed a bill to make its growth, distribution, sale, and use legal. This bill is referred to as the Farm Bill. Part of the provisions of the bill is that the acceptable legal limit of THC, the substance that gives cannabis its psychoactive effect, should not be more than 0.3% in any consumable product. This is why hemp rather than marijuana is the acceptable plant to use for human and animal consumption.
Regulation
Although CBD is legal to use in the United States, it is not fully regulated. The industry can operate within certain guidelines but without the approval of the FDA. This has resulted in several retailers, manufacturers, and individuals producing various kinds of strains and products without monitoring.
As a result of this, consumers have to be careful when buying any product as some may not be all they claim to be. It is possible to buy a product with more THC content than is allowed or even buy one that is advertised as CBD but contains none of it. The good news is that there are decent, trusted, and reputable manufacturers and sellers that if you seek, you can buy from.
Who can use CBD?
Cannabidiol is available for both humans and animals. It is available for anyone to use provided that they stay within the legal limits and also that it is allowed in their sphere of endeavor or their jobs. This leads to the issue of federal workers who are discouraged from using it. This affects the military, coast guards, marines, NASA, Department of Defense, and so on. They are not allowed to use any form of THC and none must be found in any worker’s system during a drug test.
This means that federal workers cannot buy any CBD product just off the shelf and use. The only acceptable and recognized form of the product are these two cannabis-based prescription drugs Sativex and Marinol. There is also Epidiolex. Asides from these medications, federal workers are not permitted to use CBD or any of its products. This may also be the situation for using CBD in some other workplaces and offices. You can read more about this on through links like: https://cheefbotanicals.com/can-federal-employees-use-cbd-oil-legalities-explained/ where you can be sure you’re getting legit information.
Conclusion
Cannabidiol is legal in the United States and it can come in any form; oil, capsules, pills, lotion, etc. As a user, you have to be careful while buying these products. Be sure to only get them from trusted sources so you are not purchasing poor quality products. Also, before attempting to use it, it is important for you to ascertain that it is accepted wherever you work or live.
