CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the many biologically active compounds called cannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa plants. Unlike THC, the primary psychoactive component in marijuana, CBD is non-intoxicating and does not produce the same euphoric effects. For many years, THC was considered the most popular cannabinoid, but with the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018, which made the cultivation of hemp legal as long as it contains less than 0.3 percent THC, CBD has taken the spotlight.
Hemp-derived CBD has become increasingly popular in recent years, with big-name stores like Sephora, Walgreens, and CVS starting to sell products containing CBD, and celebrities endorsing them. People are turning to CBD as a way to self-treat symptoms like anxiety and pain, sometimes as an alternative to opioids. However, it is important to note that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any uses of CBD in food, beverages, or dietary supplements. It is currently illegal for any company to claim that CBD has medical or therapeutic benefits.
While some studies suggest that synthetic versions of CBD may work on seizures and even have antibiotic properties, these results are still preliminary, and the quality of human research on CBD is spotty. According to Simon Haroutounian, chief of clinical pain research at the Washington University Pain Center in St. Louis, researchers still don’t know enough about how CBD works in the body to make any definitive claims.
