CBD Oil for Beginners: 8 Things You Need to Know

CBD is everywhere these days but there’s still plenty of myths and misconceptions floating around the Internet. In this article, we will help answer some of the most common questions about CBD Oil for Beginners: what it’s used for, whether or not it’ll get you high, how it works, if it’s safe, and how to ensure you’re choosing a safe product. 

 

Let’s start … 

 

THE USES OF CBD?

We need more research, but mounting scientific evidence (both animal and human studies) show that CBD may help treat certain symptoms of folks with the following conditions: 

 

• Anxiety and Depression 
• Sleep disorders
• Pain 
• Autoimmune conditions and symptoms (inflammation, chronic arthritis) 
• Neurological conditions (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury) 
• Neuropsychiatric illness (ADHD, PTSD, alcoholism, opioid addiction)

 

WILL YOU FAIL A DRUG TEST IF YOU USE CBD? 

The average drug test is not designed to pick up CBD, or any other compounds found in cannabis other than THC, says Brenda Gannon. Who is a toxicologist and laboratory director at Steep Hill Arkansas. She says that “because CBD is chemically distinct from THC, it is unlikely that pure CBD would be detected in these types of drug tests.” 

 

WILL CBD GET YOU HIGH? 

No, CBD has no psychoactive effects. THC is the compound in marijuana that produces a high. CBD that comes from hemp contains less than 0.3% THC and is federally legal because we consider this too low to have any impairing effect. CBD may cause you to feel more calm and relaxed but it’s not going to “get you high” like marijuana. 

 

HOW DOES CBD WORK? 

Cannabinoids like CBD interact with receptors throughout our body via the Endocannabinoid System, or ECS. The ECS evolved millions of years ago but wasn’t discovered until the 1990’s so we’re just at the forefront of understanding its potential in humans!

 

FULL SPECTRUM VS. ISOLATE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

 Full spectrum or “whole plant” CBD contains numerous beneficial cannabinoids, whereas CBD isolates only contain one. Experts consider full spectrum CBD to be much more effective due to the Entourage Effect, which means the other cannabinoids work synergistically to provide additional benefits vs. just using CBD by itself. 

 

IS CBD Oil for Beginners SAFE? 

CBD is non-toxic, non-intoxicating, and non-habit forming, with few negative side effects. Your body does NOT build a tolerance to CBD. So there’s no physical withdrawal symptoms or need to continue upping doses once the therapeutic impact you desire has been achieved. 

 

With that said, there are several serious safety considerations: 

1. CBD can thin blood, so people with thin blood or who are on blood thinners should consult a healthcare professional before taking it. 
2. CBD inhibits the CYP450 enzyme system, which is a primary means with which the body processes a large assortment of conventional medications (NSAIDs, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, steroids, anesthetics, etc.). So, with both CBD and these drugs in the system, they’re processed slower than normal which can lead to problems, especially liver toxicity. 
3. Certain drugs are designed (i.e., prodrugs, like codeine which metabolizes into morphine inside the body) to activate during processing. And CBD can inhibit the amount of the drug being activated. 

 

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU START WITH? 

If you’re new to CBD, we recommend starting with our tincture. Because it allows for a smaller dose than our capsules, which have 25 mg of CBD apiece.

 

As far as dosing goes, in our experience 5-15 mg of CBD seems to be a fairly typical range for first-time users to start with. 

 

If you’re using CBD for pain management, working your way up to a 20-50 mg dose may offer added benefit over a smaller dose, based on my personal experience. 

 

The bottom line here is dosing is very individual and if you’re new to CBD Oil for Beginners. It will take some trial and error. Start small, be patient and continue to use it every day. Some people notice effects right away while others may take several weeks (and some don’t see any).

 

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE SAFEST / BEST CBD PRODUCTS?

Do your homework. Here’s the checklist we recommend: 

 

1. Choose CBD products made with U.S.-grown organic hemp (from states with regulated hemp growing program like Colorado, Kentucky, Oregon, etc.) rather than foreign sources. Consumer Reports suggests looking for companies in states. That have legalized the recreational and medical use of cannabis since they tend to have stricter standards.
2. Choose  full spectrum hemp-based CBD oil, not isolates, distillate or products labelled “pure CBD” or “no THC.” Full-spectrum means the product includes other beneficial cannabinoid compounds, which when combined with the CBD create an “entourage effect” (basically means you’re increasing the effectiveness of the CBD by picking a full-spectrum CBD oil over an isolate). The product labels should state the amount of CBD per serving and per bottle.
3. Make sure your CBD is CO2 extracted. The product label or company website should say so. CO2 processing is the cleanest, chemical-free method to extract the CBD from the hemp plant. Other manufacturers use chemical solvents, which can have unwanted side effects.
4. Beware of companies that make explicit health claims about CBD products (this is not allowed by the FDA).
5. Look for a barcode on the product label with a link to lab test results. That show CBD, THC, and other cannabinoid levels and testing for mould, pathogens, heavy metals, and pesticides. If the product you’re using doesn’t have this, it’s a red flag. It’s the industry standard now and one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re getting what the product label says.
   

Follow these tips and you’ll be well equipped to find the best CBD products for you!