The time is right to add CBD to your lifestyle

The way I got started on cannabidiol (CBD) oil-infused product was through a friend. One day, I was visiting with her during her recovery from surgery. While talking about our lack of sleep due to the inability to stay asleep through the night, she waddled to the kitchen cabinet, opened the door, and threw me a pink color package.

“Try this,” she said with a grin. “It’s really good. It helps me a lot.”

Turns out it was a pack of CBD-infused gummies. We tried it immediately that night, and lo and behold, the sleep got sooo much better. That pack made me a believer and marked the start of my journey to incorporate CBD into our lives.

If you have heard of the benefits of hemp-derived cannabidiol oil and want to give it try, here are some tips to get started.

The knowledgeable buyer is a smart buyer. If you don’t know what you are buying, you may end up getting cheated, or getting something you don’t want, or worse – get into trouble with the law. Before you start buying, learn more about the following topics:

1. What CBD is and isn’t
   In short, CBD is one of the many cannabinoid compounds derived from the Cannabis genus of plants. Some are generally cultivated for non-drug use such as hemp fibre, oils, and leaves for juice and vegetables. These plants produce low levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that gives users the “high” effect associated with smoking weed, and are legally defined as hemp. CBD does not produce the same effect as THC. This leads us to the next point.
   
   
2. The difference between CBD and THC
   Both compounds interact with different receptors in the brain and therefore produce different reactions in the body. They both relax the body and help manage anxiety, pain, and inflammation, among many other physiological reactions. Because of potential medical benefits, both THC and CBD are used as alternative treatments. However, THC creates psychoactive effects; CDB does not. THC makes the consumer hungry; CBD does not. More here. 
   
   
3. What the side effects are and whether it is safe for you
   In general CBD is well tolerated and regarded as safe in low dosage, with minor side effects including dry mouth and drowsiness. It can be used at higher dosage to control seizure and epilepsy. As there is not enough reliable research, it’s not recommended if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. For children, take recommendations from their pediatricians.
   
   
4. What are the legalities pertaining to your state and city that may affect you Finally, you have to understand the U.S. federal, state, county and city laws that govern the use of CBD. Because it can be complicated – or easy, depending on where you live. Taking it from the top: in 2018, the U.S. Congress passed a farm bill governing items such as subsidies, insurance, trade, R&D, cultivation, and nutritional programs for agricultural crops including cannabis (hemp) plants. However, the hemp cannot include more than 0.3% of THC. Read more here. This means low-THC hemp can be grown, but the sale and use is governed by states. Some states defer to counties and cities for details and the enforcement.
   
   Note that we are talking about CBD with 0.3% to no THC. Anything above that amount is considered controlled substance and mostly still illegal (depending which state you are talking about, and what use). That’s a whole other discussion that is not for this forum.

Look for top brands that offer premium CBD
There are lots of cultivators and suppliers of CBD – some domestic, some from other countries. Regardless, it’s best to find a supplier who has a robust hemp program and has a good history in the business. Ask for a Certificate of Analysis (COA) which should tell you the tested levels of CBD, THC, and any other contaminants. More importantly, be wary of products that promise unrealistic health or medical benefits.

Be willing to try
Try different items and dosage to find one that not only you like, but also works for you. When you start looking into various CBD-infused products, you’ll find that there are lots of items on the market. There are products for external use, like shampoo and creams and lotions. These generally don’t contain much CBD in each use. Get something to replace your usual product to ensure consistent usage, for example, a night cream or a shampoo. This way you won’t forget as it’s part of your routine.

And then there are products for internal consumption, which are more popular, like tinctures, candies, capsules, even coffee and tea. These come in different dosage, depending on your preference. You can start low with 20 to 30 mg of CBD per day and see how you feel afterwards. Keeping a journal might be helpful.

Select your timing carefully
Whether you are starting a new routine, or making adjustments to an old one, pick a weekend or when you don’t need to be up and running first thing in the morning! You really don’t know how your body reacts to the new amount of CBD. You might feel groggy or sleepy, so it’s best to give yourself time to get used to it.

Give it some time.
More importantly, give yourself some time to get used to CBD in your lifestyle. If it doesn’t work on your first try, give it a week or so, making adjustments along the way – unless you have an allergic reaction, which means you should stop using that product right away.

With this information, you can get started on your journey, and feel free to share your experience here.