CBD AND THC HYPE IS EVERYWHERE. DO THEYWORK? ARE THEY SAFE?
Reefer madness recently hit the 2019 Oscars. No, not the psychedelic and fear-mongering 1930s propaganda film designed to terrorize parents about the “dangers” of marijuana. Last month, Hollywood’s biggest stars received gift bags at the annual awards ceremony containing the latest fad – products infused with the key compounds of cannabis. That includes cannabidiol (CBD) skin care products, as well as chocolates infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). (Maybe the actors wanted a less painful way to get through the hours of pomp and circumstance.) But across the country, shops selling CBD- laced products (like lattes and cookies) have been met with a crackdown from federal regulators. Last month, the health department confiscated thousands of dollars’ worth of CBD-infused goods from different shops. Maybe you’ve seen an increase in products in your area, too. Here in Baltimore, we have CBD advertisements in local vape shops and a bakery that makes CBD-infused donuts. The boom in the cannabis industry hasn’t gone unnoticed. We’ve gotten a ton of emails from our Health &Wealth Bulletin readers asking us about CBD and marijuana. Here are the basics...
Two of the main active components in cannabis are THC and CBD. Both of these compounds act the same way... they mimic a transmitter in our bodies called an endocannabinoid. These transmitters – and the plant-based versions – bind to receptors in our bodies. These receptors control things like mood, appetite, memory, and pain. There are two types – CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are in our brains, organs, and nervous systems. CB2 receptors are in our immune systems. THC is often called the stronger “psychotropic” compound. That’s because it binds strongly to CB1 receptors in the brain. It causes the high you experience from marijuana and THC-laced products. But CBD binds weakly to these transmitters. It also interferes with THC, so if you ingest or inhale both, you won’t get as much of a psychoactive effect as with THC alone. In other words, CBD won’t get you high, but since it dulls pain receptors and alleviates anxiety, it still acts on your brain. CBD oil primarily comes from the hemp plant, not from marijuana. But both hemp and marijuana belong to the Cannabis family of plants.
By Dr. David Eifrig
CLICK HERE TO READ THEWEB VERSION
American Consequences 69
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online