Some CBD Misconceptions Explained – What’s Right And What’s Not
Some CBD Misconceptions Explained – What’s Right And What’s Not!
Confusion over CBD, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, is growing daily as it gains popularity and information about it becomes more readily available. How does one choose what to believe, what is true, and what is false?
In this post, we will try to make things a little easier to understand. So here is our list of some CBD misconceptions explained, what’s right and what’s not.
THC Is Recreational, CBD Is Medical
One of the most typical misconceptions about CBD is this one. You often hear that THC is only used recreationally whereas CBD is only used medically. This isn’t really the case though, as both cannabinoids have therapeutic potential. The production of amyloid beta plaque, which is linked to dementia brought on by Alzheimer’s disease, is blocked by THC, according to research.
Even the federal government, in the US that is, has recognized the therapeutic potential of THC for nausea and improving one’s appetite. It’s allowed Marinol ( Marinol is the brand name for a synthetic form of THC called dronabinol ) to be produced, and yes, it contains THC. Marinol is a Schedule III drug, but cannabis remains a Schedule I drug.
Drugs listed as Schedule III have a low risk of abuse. How, then, is Marinol’s THC classed as Schedule III and the cannabis plant as a whole as Schedule I? It makes no sense at all, and no one seems to truly understand.
CBD Is Non-Psychoactive
This CBD myth is most likely the most prevalent. It sounds strange, and we thought the same thing until we heard a doctor, a real doctor, explain that CBD is not intoxicating but is psychoactive. Psychoactive substances are those that alter the mind, this alteration of the mind need not be debilitating or intoxicating, nor does it always have to impair your ability to function, it merely refers to a change in the brain.
The psychoactivity of CBD is beneficial rather than harmful, which is why this is desirable. So, for people who experience sadness, mood swings, or stress-related illnesses, CBD may promote a better reaction to conditions that cause these sensations. In other words, yes, there is a change in response.
The claim that CBD is non-psychoactive has been avoided by many in the CBD industry since it is untrue. Simply put, it doesn’t get you high, making it non-intoxicating.
Let’s consider a person who has chronic depression as an example. Using CBD on a bad day can potentially help that person smile more, feel calmer, and possibly even be cheerful because of the way it interacts with brain receptors.
CBD Works Better Without THC
This isn’t always the case, the entourage effect happens when all of a cannabis or hemp strain’s terpenes and cannabinoids interact to produce a positive effect. If even one cannabinoid is eliminated from an extraction procedure, this won’t happen.
This has led to a lot of debate because some CBD manufacturers claim that their product is full-spectrum yet THC-free. This is impossible, and the reason is that if THC is absent, the product is no longer considered to be full-spectrum. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that THC and CBD are complementary to one another, they operate well together and have even been dubbed the “power couple” of cannabis cannabinoids. The truth is that these two cannabinoids work in concert to increase each other’s medicinal advantages.
In fact, one study found that the combination of CBD and THC was more effective at shrinking tumors and had more potent anti-tumor effects than either cannabinoid alone.
CBD Is A Sedative
Although it is true that CBD does not itself relax, higher doses have been proven to have a more calming effect. Myrcene, the most prevalent terpene in cannabis, may have a sedative effect if a cannabis strain high in CBD also contains higher levels of this compound. For people with sleeplessness and persistent pain, myrcene is the best terpene. Small CBD dosages might even be stimulating.
Whole Plant Medicines Are Inferior Compared To Single Molecule Pharmaceuticals
Although the entire cannabis and hemp plant does not have therapeutic value, the US federal government and big pharma think that certain cannabinoids do.
This is one of the main justifications for allowing the production of THC and CBD products like Marinol and Epidiolex in pharmaceuticals. Making these drugs from a single molecule is therefore the corporate way of doing things when it comes to big pharma and the government.
Cannabis is an incredibly complicated and fascinating substance that contains hundreds of different chemicals like terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids. All of these substances contribute to the therapeutic and medical benefits of whole-plant therapy.
The entourage effect is significant because it occurs when all of the components of a cannabis strain interact with one another in the body. While each chemical of these plants has value on its own, they are more potent when acting together. The entourage effect backs up the idea that whole-plant remedies are preferable to single-molecule preparations.
CBD Is Good, THC Is Bad
THC tends to be viewed as the villain these days, while CBD receives all the attention. Unfortunately, a sizable portion of people still stigmatize cannabis and its potential for healing. The fact is that CBD doesn’t provide a high or any intoxicating effects, but this doesn’t imply that THC is a poor cannabinoid because it’s actually pretty beneficial, and the two work well together.
Their potential increases when both cannabinoids are present. The ability of cannabinoids to support one another in the body and to encourage healthy responses to a variety of conditions means that while they can act on their own, they function best when combined.
Psychoactivity Is A Negative Side Effect
CBD is psychoactive since, as was already established, it does result in a change. Although the examples of depression and mood disorders were used, it should be noted that they are excellent illustrations of how CBD’s non-intoxicating qualities but positive psychoactivity encourages good responses to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
One medical professional was actually quoted as saying, “We should be thinking of cannabis as a medicine first that just so happens to have some psychoactive effects, like many medicines do, rather than as an intoxicant that happens to have a few therapeutic properties on the side.”
As that one doctor noted, a lot of pharmaceuticals have psychoactive properties, so why is the psychoactivity ( intoxicating psychoactivity ) of cannabis seen as a bad thing?
CBD Works Better In High Doses
This may be the part of CBD that is most misunderstood. Because each of us is unique and different from the other, each of us has a certain optimal dose. Although there is no known dose of CBD that is harmful, some people respond best to smaller doses and higher frequencies, while others may only require greater doses occasionally.
As with all forms of medicine, using cannabinoids has always been customized, therefore two people may consume the same amount of a drug or cannabis/CBD and have very different results. Microdosing is a technique that works well for some people when administering lower doses of many cannabinoids.
CBD Turns Into THC In The Stomach
In other words, once in your stomach, CBD cannot turn into THC. This is due to how different the two cannabinoids are from one another; one just cannot be the other, and vice versa. Therefore, when it comes to CBD myths, it is important to disregard this one.
For instance, CBDa is one of the things that can change; when heated or triggered, it turns into CBD. Over a long time, THC can deteriorate and transform into CBN. Upon heating or activation, THCa transforms into THC.
In Conclusion
Given all the information to keep track of, CBD continues to be a perplexing and misunderstood substance. The volume of information available makes it difficult for even the most seasoned CBD users and aficionados to stay on top of everything. Because of this, it can be confusing to determine what to believe and what information to trust.
This is only a small example of the numerous CBD myths that exist, but with a little research and the drive to learn more, you can drastically cut down on that list and grow into a much more aware and informed CBD user and enthusiast.