Lately, it seems like people can’t stop talking about CBD. There has been a huge surge in all things CBD, from beauty products to dietary supplements—some companies even sell CBD-infused lubricant. When it isn’t already integrated into a product, CBD often comes in the form of an oil. The compound supposedly helps to alleviate a variety of conditions, including pain, anxiety, and inflammation. While cannabidiol (CBD) is safe and beneficial for treating these conditions and more, there are still a lot of misconceptions surrounding this versatile compound. Increased interest in CBD has led to a surplus of CBD-related products hitting the market—which also means a surplus of misinformation. Let’s take a look at some of the most common CBD myths:
1. CBD Is “Non-Psychoactive”
When someone says CBD is non-psychoactive, they’re referring to the fact that CBD does not get users intoxicated, or high, like THC from the same cannabis plant does.
But to call CBD non-psychoactive is incorrect, since a psychoactive substance is simply one that affects the brain—not necessarily one that causes intoxication. A psychoactive substance can affect mood, cognition, and behavior. CBD has been shown to have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, so it is psychoactive because it affects mood and mental processes.
2. CBD Is Used For Medicine And THC Is Used for Recreation
The human body has an endocannabinoid system, meaning it produces its own cannabinoids. External cannabinoids from plants (called phytocannabinoids) can also influence the endocannabinoid system, where pain, inflammation, and other processes are regulated.
THC and CBD both work on the endocannabinoid system, THC directly and CBD indirectly, to unleash their effects. Both compounds are medically recognized to alleviate a number of conditions.
To call CBD the medicinal part of the plant and THC the fun part of the plant is far from the truth. Anecdotal and scientific evidence has long suggested that CBD works better with some THC present. Many medical marijuana patients use THC on a regular basis for conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, nausea, and more. To ignore the years of medically verified uses for THC while embracing CBD would be ill-informed.
CBD has gained popularity because it has therapeutic effects without intoxicating the user, which appeals to many people hesitant to use cannabis. That doesn’t mean CBD is the only medicinal compound in the plant.
3. CBD Works Best When Isolated
The bulk of the CBD market is made up of either isolates or whole-plant extracts. Many mistakenly believe that isolating cannabidiol from the rest of the plant is the best way to get therapeutic effects, but evidence suggests that the opposite is true.
When using whole-plant extracts, all compounds of the plant are able to work synergistically with one another to boost their effects. Terpenes, the organic compounds that make up the taste and smell of cannabis, create a symbiosis with CBD and other cannabinoids in the plant, resulting in a stronger therapeutic effect.
CBD in its isolated form can still provide relief, but using full-plant CBD is more effective. This was shown in a 2015 study that stated, “Other components in the extract synergize with CBD to achieve the desired anti-inflammatory action.” The study also found that isolated CBD only worked in limited dosage ranges.
4. CBD Is A sedative
This is a confusing one, because a lot of people claim to use CBD to help them sleep. It can help with insomnia, as CBD relaxes the body, which can help you fall asleep faster. One study has even shown that CBD increases overall sleep time.
This does not make it a sedative, however. In fact, it’s been found to promote wakefulness, and many people consider their CBD dose to be energizing.
Those experiencing sedative effects from CBD may be able to attribute it to myrcene, a terpene found in high concentrations in many CBD strains. Myrcene is known for its sedation-inducing effects.
5. CBD Is Legal Everywhere In The United States
With CBD’s mainstream uprising, you might think that it must be legal everywhere. But the compound is still in a gray area when it comes to the law. Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is recognized as an agricultural tool and is no longer considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance. CBD derived from hemp is now legally in the clear anywhere in the country. However, marijuana-derived CBD’s legality depends on the state where it is being sold, and that state’s own cannabis laws.
To sum up, CBD extracted from cannabis (rather than hemp) is federally illegal, but may be legal at the state level. Hemp-derived CBD is legal everywhere in the United States.
This murky legality hasn’t had much effect on availability. CBD can be found just about anywhere these days, and it’s only growing in popularity. That makes it all the more important that you know fact from fiction when it comes to common CBD myths.
Images: Caleb Simpson / Unsplash; Giphy (5)
CBD is all over the place right now, especially in LA. Everywhere from my favorite coffee shop to my dog groomer carries products with CBD. And tbh, I totally can see why. CBD does not get you high, but instead can help with pain, arthritis, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and it seems like a million other things. Like most popular health kicks, everyone tries to get it on it. Here are a ton of products that I would have never thought would have CBD, but do, and their unexpected uses for it.
1. High Heel Pain
I’m sorry, what? I love heels and I’m famous for being able to wear my shoes all day and night without flinching. I’ve walked the entire Vegas strip in 6-inch stilettos. It’s mostly due to my paralyzing fear of germs, and over my dead f*cking body would I ever walk around barefoot, especially somewhere as dirty as Vegas. But anyway. There is now a foot cream called Cannuka that uses CBD to ease inflammation and calm angry feet so that your heels don’t kill you by the end of the night. It also can be used to help with any skin ailments like dry skin, lips, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. No pain and I don’t have to take my shoes off? What is this, witchcraft?
2. Athletic Recovery
Weirdly enough, I would never think this would apply to me, but I’m currently in so much pain from doing squats for the first time in a while two days ago. Seriously, I’ve been half-limping all day. Elevate Pain Relief Cream is to help actual athletes, instead of just out-of-shape people like me, recover from their workouts and injuries without prescription painkillers. It also helps them bounce back quickly to get back to training. I’m all for using a natural product over highly addictive drugs, so yeah, this is a really great idea, regardless of your athletic level.
3. Dry Skin Relief
Body creams with CBD (like this one from Extract Labs), help with winter skin, dry skin, and itching. It also helps your skin heal and rejuvenate faster. As a victim of adult acne (and chestne, backne, assne, etc, is it skin? I get acne on it), it’s super hard to find lotion that is heavy and moisturizing enough but also doesn’t make me breakout. Since CBD is also an acne treatment, this seems like it would basically solve all skin problems? Is that possible? That’s pretty cool.
4. Concentration
Sweet Reason Strawberry+Lavender
Ladies, put down your Adderall. Sweet Reason is a CBD sparkling water company, and honestly, I want it just because the bottles are so cute??? Like, this is way chicer than La Croix. Anyway, by putting CBD in the water, Sweet Reason boasts that you’ll feel calmer, have less anxiety, be less stressed out, and be able to concentrate better. So yeah, way more beneficial than La Croix that is just expensive flavored water. I say, un-ironically, as I take a sip of my La Croix (it’s the mango one, unsure if I like it). And don’t be grossed out by the thought of drinking CBD—I promise, it does not taste like the smell of your college dorm. And their flavors actually sound really good, like Grapefruit, Cucumber and Mint, and Strawberry and Lavender.
5. Sexual Arousal
Foria Awaken Natural Arousal Oil
Yes, you read that correctly—CBD is in lube now. Foria is the first company to make an “intimate arousal oil” with broad-spectrum CBD and botanical and aromatic oils. The company says it’s “formulated for women to enhance tactile sensation and pleasure while decreasing tension, discomfort and dryness” and has a chocolate and mint aroma. It’s only intended for topical use, but it is edible, vegan, and gluten-free. It really checks all the hippie boxes.
6. Dry Lips
Image: Kimberly Nanney / Unsplash
Betches may receive a portion of revenue if you click a link and purchase a product or service. The links are independently placed and do not influence editorial content.
