While we wish it were not the case, the simple reality is that many cannabidiol (CBD) products have a stigma attached to them by some portions of society. CBD is derived naturally from the Cannabis sativagenus or family of plants; yet, it has very different effects and potential health benefits than traditional marijuana, which is typically associated with the psychologically active compound tetrahydracannabidiol (THC. Unfortunately, because both CBD and THC are cannabinoids that ultimately derive from very similar plants, many lump them together or make damaging assumptions about their qualities.
At Koodegras, we’re proud to offer a variety of CBD products for those in need of the medicinal benefits associated with CBD. From our topical pain management products, to our THC-free, broad spectrum CBD oils, and a plethora of CBD products, we stand out from the crowd by providing experienced customer service and knowledge about CBD such that after a brief conversation regarding your current situation, we will point you to the best and most affordable option to relieve whatever symptoms you may be experiencing. For many who are beginning or increasing their CBD usage, explaining it to family members or spouses who are old-fashioned or perhaps view anything remotely related to Cannabis through a stigmatized lens can be challenging. However, it is important to take on this challenge and break through the stigma as cannabinoids have been scientifically proven to relieve many chronic symptoms while also improving your overall health while also being non-intoxicating. This two-part blog series will go over how to have these conversations with family members and educate them while also explaining your decision to use CBD.
What It Is
For starters, you want to be able to explain to family members or friends precisely what CBD is and how it differs from THC. As discussed above, CBD is the acronym for cannabidiol, a compound found in cannabis plants – note, there are over 100 such known compounds in the marijuana plant, all loosely termed under the umbrella ‘cannabinoids’. So, CBD, CBG, CBN, THC, etc. are all acronyms for various cannabinoids that can be isolated from the marijuana or hemp plants. It is important to explain that while all of these various cannabinoids are found in both marijuana and hemp, these plants differ in the concentration of various cannabinoids. For example, hemp is highly concentrated in CBD whereas marijuana is typically highly concentrated in THC. Thus, all of the CBD used in our products come from 100% legal hemp, locally sourced, and extracted using supercritical CO2 which ensures the CBD you obtain from Koodegras will always be free of excess toxic solvents, heavy metals, microbials, and pesticides (all of which are tested for in our third-party lab).
The next major distinction that must be cleared up in this type of conversation is that while CBD and THC both come from very similar plants, THC is psychoactive and CBD is not. The ‘high’ users of marijuana experience comes from the high concentration of THC. However, whether you smoke CBD, ingest it, take it sublingually, topically, or any other method, you will NOT get ‘high’ nor will you fail a drug test. Now, it is extremely important to recognize that CBD suppliers and retailers often leave a little bit of THC in their products for two major reasons:
- It’s legal. By law, CBD products may contain up to 0.3% (wt.) THC in them. This is a very small amount of THC, and is highly unlikely to product any psychoactive effects although some people do indicate they feel a traditional ‘high’ when consuming this small amount of THC.
- It’s cheap! In order to remove all of the THC from a CBD-enriched oil requires extremely expensive equipment, a knowledgeable chemist or engineer, and expensive solvents and other laboratory consumables. Thus, purchasing a CBD product that is THC-free will typically be more expensive than one that leaves the legal amount of THC in it.
At Koodegras, we don’t sell any products that contain even the legal amount of THC. We believe in the healing and medicinal properties of CBD so much that we don’t want even the smallest amount of THC to produce a psychoactive effect from our products; nor do we want our customers to be in jeopardy of losing their job or otherwise getting in trouble by failing a drug test.
Safety, Health and Bodily Interactions
Both for this and several other reasons, it’s vital to convey to family members or anyone else concerned about your usage, that CBD is completely safe. In fact, just last year in 2019 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its first ever CBD product to be used in seizure patients. Moreover, the World Health Organization has concluded that it has no potential for abuse and cannot produce dependence, conditions that are worrisome in harmful addictive drugs. Recent clinical trials, in fact, concluded that CBD might be a potential treatment for opioid addiction.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system to help control several regulatory and important bodily functions. Feel free to call or come into one of our retail outlets in order to speak to our CBD specialists for further detail on how it interacts with these receptors, the impacts this has on your body, and how CBD can assist in achieving your health goals.
Importance of Accurate Information
Throughout any conversation you have with family regarding CBD usage, it’s vital to promote accurate information. Part of the reason the stigma for CBD and other related compounds and products is misinformation that became widespread in previous generations, then was simply accepted as fact later on – don’t make this mistake. Be sure you know the true differences between CBD and THC, for instance, and utilize helpful resources like this one if you’re unsure.
For more on speaking to family members about CBD usage in a healthy and organic way, or to learn about any of our CBD oil store products, speak to the staff at Koodegras today.