1. How Many Cannabinoids Are There?
There are over 100 known cannabinoids. Most are denoted by starting with the letter C, such as CBD, CBL, CBE, and CBT. The cannabinoid known as THC is an exception to this rule.
How is CBD different than marijuana?
Cannabidiol (CBD) doesn't contain much THC and won't make people high like marijuana will. Also, cannabidiol is derived from the hemp plant which is a kissing cousin of the marijuana plant. Marijuana will contain CBD as well as THC.
Is it addictive?
Generally, people seem to get addicted to cannabinoiol, although in those who have drug /alcohol addiction, it's a possibility.
2 Does CBD Have Side Effects?
Because it interacts with P450 enzymes, its cannabinoids likely have multiple drug interactions. The P450 enzymes are drug metabolism enzymes. They are responsible for breaking down medications. Because of this interaction, it's possible cannabinoids may make some drugs break down too quickly and others breakdown slower than normal. This can lead to either lower or higher drug levels in the body.
Both of these scenarios can be dangerous for those who take medications. Possible cannabidiol drug interactions can include:
- blood thinners
- blood pressure meds
- epilepsy meds
- testosterone
- viagra
- depression
One study noted that 600 mg of cannabidiol reduced blood pressure and heart rate in healthy men. This could be an issue for those taking medications for high blood pressure.
Preliminary evidence suggests side effects may include sleepiness, fatigue vomiting and raise liver enzymes. In children with epilepsy, high doses promoted weight loss, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Like dietary supplements, its likely best to start with the lowest dosage possible at first and see how you respond.
3 What’s Better CBD or Hemp Oil?
Pure hemp oil (hemp seed oil) won't have much CBD because the oil comes from hemp seeds. Hemp oil is a good source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and protein but they don't have much cannabidiol. CBD oil comes from the flowers of the hemp plant and contains more CBD.
4 Do You Take It With Food?
If you're taking an oral product, remember CBD is fat-soluble. This means its best absorbed when taken with food that contains some fat. You won't absorb as much if you take CBD on an empty stomach.
5 Will CBD Cause a Drug Test Failure?
By definition, CBD products are supposed to contain less than 0.3% THC. That’s not a lot but it could still cause you to fail a workplace urine drug test. At least one clinical study has noted someone testing positive for THC after taking a cold-pressed hemp seed oil product for 4.5 days. This is nothing new. A study as far back as 1997 also noted hemp oil products causing people to fail drug tests at work
Another study noted THC metabolites in the hair after applying hemp oil to the hair. This is important for anyone who uses hemp oil hair products. If you are subject to drug testing you want to ask if using cannabidiol will result in a drug test failure.
6 Can It Lower Blood Pressure?
Can cannabidiol lower blood pressure? Early research suggests it might. Researchers looked at 9 healthy guys who were given 6 or 8 milligrams of either CBD or a placebo. Results showed CBD lowered blood pressure by about 6 points. While that is interesting, its good to remember, these men were healthy, with healthy blood pressure. This doesn’t necessarily mean cannabidiol helps people with high blood pressure.
7 Does It Improve The Microbiome?
We don’t yet know of cannabinoids alter gut health.
8 Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum: What's The Difference?
What’s the difference between broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD products. The basic difference is:
- Broad Spectrum has no THC
- Full-spectrum has some THC
There is some evidence THC may help the other cannabinoids work better. So, in theory, this means a full spectrum CBD product might be better. This is sometimes called the “entourage effect.”
One downside though is a full spectrum product may be unwise for those subject to drug testing. It may cause someone to fail a drug test.
9 How Much To Use?
We’ll know more as more research is done. Some feel 10-20 mg is sufficient for most people. Remember more is not always better. Start with the lowest dosage you can and see how you react.
10 Do Cannabinoids Work For Everyone?
It looks like there will be variability in how well someone responds to CBD. Some may respond well while others may not at all.
11 Is Cannabidiol Addicting?
Is this stuff habit forming? Early research involving people suggests CBD may be addicting but the research involves giving people a lot – more than is in most products. Right now it's not known if people can become hooked on CBD products. Until more is known, those in recovery should talk to their doctors first.
12 What is Hemp Oil?
Don’t confuse CBD or CBD oil with hemp oils. Hemp oil is also called hemp seed oil. This is because the oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant. CBD and hemp oil are not the same. Generally, hemp oil does not contain a lot of CBD unless the company adds it during the manufacturing process. Remember CBD comes from the flowering parts of the hemp plant. It does not come from the seeds.
That said, don’t write off hemp oil. Just because it doesn’t have CBD, it does contain other cannabinoids. Remember, there are hundreds of cannabinoids. CBD is just one of them. So hemp oil will have different types of cannabinoids. The oil also contains other plant chemicals called terpenes and omega 3 fatty acids as well as omega 6 fatty acids.
It's quite possible these other compounds have different effects on the body.
13 Is CBD Safe During Pregnancy?
Don't use CBD products while pregnant or breastfeeding. There are two reasons for this.
1. It's not known what CBD does to developing babies. The FDA has stated THC can stay in breastmilk for up to 6 days after use. This can impact how your baby acts. We don't know if THC breastmilk has long-lasting effects on a baby's development. Animal research tells us high doses of CBD can affect the reproductive organs of developing babies.
2. Some CBD products may contain multiple ingredients. So, even if CBD is ultimately proven safe during pregnancy, what about the other cannabinoids (CBE, CBG, CBN, etc)? Products that have multiple ingredients may have vastly different effects on fetal development. And what about low-quality products that contain may not contain what you think. Either way, using CBD during pregnancy is not worth it.
14. Can CBD oil increase appetite?
People taking cannabidiol products have reported a loss of appetite. This is the opposite of what has been observed with marijuana.
15 What about liver problems?
So far no reports of liver damage, have been reported in people but high doses may raise liver enzymes. The dosage shown to do this is between 10 mg and 20 mg per kilogram of body weight. For someone who weighs 180 pounds (91 kg), this is 910 mg to 1800 mg. Heres a basic dosage breakdown based on weight
- 130 lbs (59 kg): 591 mg t0 1180 mg
- 150 lbs (68 kg): 680 mg to 1360 mg
- 160 lbs (73 kb): 730 mg to 1460 mg
- 170 lbs (77 kgs) :772 mg to 1540 mg
Elevated liver enzymes have also been observed in dogs and cats given cannabidiol. How hemp products affect cats need more study. Cats appear to breakdown cannabidiol differently than dogs. Based on this pet owners should talk to their veterinarian before using CBD pet products.
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