WHAT IS CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is just one of over 100 unique compounds called cannabinoids that are found within the cannabis plant. CBD is found throughout the seeds, stalk, and flowers of various types of cannabis plants, including hemp and marijuana.
Cannabidiol naturally occurs in large quantities within the cannabis plant, thus the easy extraction of it. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is non-psychoactive and doesn’t elicit a “high” feeling when consumed, making it safe to use by members of your entire family. Cannabinoids, including CBD, interact with the body through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is made up of receptors in the brain, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system (nerves throughout the body’s limbs and organs).
The endocannabinoid system plays a role in many of the body’s biological responses, including balance in our body’s immune system, communication between cells, appetite, metabolism, memory, and more.
IS CBD LEGAL?
WHY THE 2014 FARM BILL CHANGED EVERYTHING
The legal growth and sale of hemp would not be possible without the 2014 Farm Bill. As passed by the House, the bill includes the two-page Section 7606, entitled “Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research” provision. This section states that regardless of any other federal law: “the industrial hemp is grown or cultivated for purposes of research conducted under an agricultural pilot program or other agricultural or academic research; and “the growing or cultivating of industrial hemp is allowed under the laws of the State in which such institution of higher education or State department of agriculture is located and such research occurs.”
On December 20, 2018, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed into law the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act, otherwise known as the 2018 Farm Bill. This act contained language specifically inserted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) that completely legalized industrial hemp and ended nearly 80 years of prohibition on the plant. Hemp is now completely exempt from the definition of the controlled substance act (CSA).
Furthermore, the 2018 farm bill clarified the definition of hemp — often limited to fiber and seed — to include the entire plant, specifically the floral parts and cannabinoids derived from it. This put into motion the legal framework for the already burgeoning marketplace for hemp and CBD extracts.
The 2018 farm bill also opened up the ability for tribal lands to grow hemp and made provisions for USDA crop insurance and grants.
WHY WAS HEMP LEGALIZED?
Following the passage of Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill, Kentucky became the first state to create state sponsored industrial hemp pilot programs. These pilot programs were designed to test the agronomics of the crop, and what it could mean to farmers and processors who want to enter the industry. Citing 5 successful years of growth and an increase of farming salaries in his home state, Senator Mitch McConnell, along with other influential policy makers such as Sen Ron Wyden (OR) determined that it made sense for hemp to be available for farmers to grow legally in all 50 states. The return of this crop to our nations farmers should be heralded as a decree of job creation, economic growth, and innovation.
While it’s true that CBD is legal in all 50 states, there are situations when it isn’t legal. The difference between legal and illegal typically depends on several important factors determined by the state in question. There is, however, one very important factor that is a crucial determinant across all states, and that is whether the CBD is derived from hemp, or marijuana.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARIJUANA AND CBD?
Now, marijuana and hemp are both members of the cannabis family, so they do share a lot of characteristics. There is, however, a crucial difference between the two–the amount of psychoactive Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) each plant produces.
While marijuana can contain up to 30% of THC, hemp contains no more than 0.3% of THC. In other words, marijuana can get you really high, while hemp has such a low amount of THC, that it would be impossible to get high off it. CBD from hemp is legal in all 50 states if THC is below .3% of THC.
WHAT IS CBD USED FOR?
1. Among the many CBD benefits, pain relief is the most prevalent. Research has proven that CBD is effective in inhibiting neuronal pathways that induce the sensation of pain. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, found that CBD significantly suppresses chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Researchers suggest that CBD and other non-psychoactive components of hemp may represent a novel class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic pain.
2. Studies using patients with anxiety and depression clearly point to an anti-anxiety effect caused by CBD. Cannabidiol has shown to reduce anxiety and depression in patients with social anxiety disorder and researchers suggest that it may also be effective for panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
3. Even if you are healthy, CBD can do wonders to relieve your stress from life. Again it is not psycho-active, but it can help you relax and prepare you for a good night’s sleep.
CBD AND DRUG TESTING
1. First, isolated CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, generally will not show up in a drug test. That’s mainly because drug tests are not looking for all cannabinoids, they’re looking for one specific cannabinoid. However, a full spectrum product will contain array of other cannabinoids (such as CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV, etc) which may show positive on a drug test. Currently we don’t know what other cannabinoids may trigger a drug test.
2. Here’s the complicated part. There are a lot of variables at work here, from the drug test itself (different manufacturers, different detection levels, sensitivities, etc.), and the individual that consumes the CBD product. Here are some additional factors to consider:
a. Is your product a full spectrum product? Meaning, are there cannabinoids other than CBD?
b. How much is consumed and how often?
c. Medical factors, such as medications taken, liver and/or kidney disease; see our article regarding side effects of CBD here.
The metabolism of the individual.
3. First, let’s consider full-spectrum products. All of Ananda’s products are derived from hemp, which means they have a naturally low level of THC: less than 0.3%. This also means they are perfectly permissible under federal law and, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, the cannabinoids in these products are permanently removed from the Controlled Substances Act. Due to the low level of THC, these products are not considered intoxicating. They won’t get anyone high. Although unlikely, it is possible that someone could fail a drug screen when using these products. Drug tests look for elevated levels of the intoxicating molecule, THC. The drug test identifies if a THC level is above a particular threshold. If so, it’s considered positive. Theoretically, you could use enough hemp extract and therefore consume enough THC to truly surpass that threshold and trigger a true positive…but it would be pretty difficult. And expensive. And no, there is no “magic dose” of CBD oil / hemp extract that you can use and ensure you stay below the THC threshold in a drug screen. Metabolism of THC is highly individualized and depends on many variables, including body composition, activity level, dose, duration of use, etc. If you are worried that using CBD will have a negative impact on your job, A THC FREE VERSION IS AVAILABLE.
QUALITY CONTROL OF ANANDA PROFESSIONAL CBD PRODUCTS
Highest Quality - ANANDA tests ALL their hemp extracts at every step of the process to ensure quality and consistency. By the time product reaches the shelf it has been tested at least 3 times for potency, contaminant, and quality. We use only notable, certified cannabis and 3rd party food testing labs to verify the consistency of our product.
Hemp is a rigorous crop that can easily be grown without pesticides or harmful chemicals. Growing our crops outdoors in the natural sunlight ensures we do not face some of the challenges of pest infection that often plague indoor cannabis operations. We have never sprayed pesticides on our crops and never will.
Each product you purchase has a lot number that can be used to obtain a CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS to assure the quality. www.anandaprofessional.com
TRYING CBD SAFELY WHILE TAKING OTHER MEDICATIONS
If you want to try CBD as an add-on therapy to ease symptoms of a certain condition, talk to your doctor about it first. They may be able to help determine a dosage and schedule that’s safe with your medications. For some situations, your doctor may want to monitor blood plasma levels of certain medications you take.
Don’t stop any of your medications to try CBD, unless your doctor says it’s safe to do so.
Keep in mind that topical CBD, like lotions, creams, and salves, may also be an option. Unlike oils, topicals don’t typically enter the bloodstream.
CBD DOSING AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Included with each order we will include a dosing card and patient information. A suggested starting dose of Ananda Professional tincture is 10mg, however starting at 5mg and working up to best optimal dose is my preferred method.