A good portion of men and women confuse hemp buds. However, hemp is a completely different plant. Marijuana and hemp share the same scientific name, Cannabis sativa, but they are not similar.
Marijuana is grown primarily for its psychoactive cannabinoid, a chemical compound called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, for recreational and medicinal use.
According to the World of Female CBD article, hemp contains only a smidgen of THC, less than 0.3%, compared to the high of 5-35% in marijuana. The main cannabinoid in hemp is CBD, but there are over a hundred other cannabinoids in hemp, along with chemicals that create odors and flavors called terpenes (e.g., the citrus scent of oranges, the excellent smell of pine trees, as well as the sweet floral scent of lavender).
It is one of the oldest domesticated plants in the world. In early times, hemp was a very important crop in the United States. In the 17th century, colonial farmers grew the bark primarily for its strong fiber.
Hemp Plant
Over time, many speculated that the real reason for the anti-cannabis efforts boiled down to the fear that hemp would become a cheap substitute for pulp. They began a smear campaign to ruin the lucrative hemp market, fearing that the rise of hemp would reduce their profits. However, decades later, it was learned that hemp did not have a sufficient concentration of cellulose to be a thriving substitute for paper.
Eighty long decades later, hemp has finally regained its legal status in the United States following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp, designated as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, will be removed from Schedule I Controlled Substances. Hemp products are legal as long as they come from licensed growers. A growing number of universities and hospitals have begun testing it. Americans can now legally consume CBD. It can be ordered online and shipped to all 50 states.
The Law
Weed laws are also changing rapidly across America. In the remaining states, some have allowed medical use and others recreational use. In the 1990s, researchers made the startling discovery that the ECS plays a vital role in our overall well-being. The ECS maintains constant communication with all of the body’s organ systems.
This communication involves messenger molecules called endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors in every cell that receives them. Endocannabinoid receptors are secrets that relate to these receptors and unblock them.
How CBD Works
Researchers have discovered more than 1,000 receptors in the body. CB1 receptors are found primarily on nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, as well as in the eye and retina. As we age, the body becomes much less efficient at producing anandamide and 2-AG. The proper functioning of the ECS also depends on the adequacy of omega-3s in the diet. Many people have experienced feeling good or “great” after a strenuous workout. The improved mood is due to the release of endorphins. The cannabis plant contains over 100 cannabinoids. These compounds are very similar to endocannabinoids in humans. Unlike THC, CBD does not penetrate our cannabinoid receptors. It does, however, stimulate CB1 and CB2 receptor activity without actually interfering with them.
Health Benefits
Researchers are beginning to uncover many of the health benefits of CBD: CBD is known for a huge collection of wellness activities, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its efficacy in treating two rare drug-resistant childhood seizure disorders, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS). The FDA has approved the first CBD-derived drug, Epidiolex, for these disorders alone. In a series of studies, CBD has been able to reduce the number of seizures and sometimes even stop them completely.
Studies show that applying CBD oil directly to the problem area helps reduce pain and inflammation.
Researchers also found that subjects did not build up a tolerance to the effects of CBD, so there was no need to increase doses continually. Unlike some pain medications, CBD is not addictive and has no unwanted side effects, which is a great relief for chronic pain sufferers.
