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CBD is similar to blockchain and bitcoin in that they are buzzwords people hear a lot about on the internet, but the general public still does not know precisely what they are. They are the subjects of a significant amount of misinformation, so many people shy away from them because they do not understand. You have most likely heard of CBD before, but when you heard about its proximity to marijuana, you might have shied away. Are you still curious about the incredible benefits this molecule can provide the human body, though? If CBD is a drug, why are so many people talking about it? Let’s clear up a few of your misconceptions about CBD: CBD gets you high like marijuana You know that marijuana affects your brain and makes you feel “stoned.” This effect is the result of THC, a psychoactive molecule. THC can indeed provide bodily health benefits as well, but not everybody believes that the price of getting high is worth those benefits.However, CBD products, such as CBD Oil and CBD Gummies, are not intoxicating, so it can work wonders in your body without the effects of THC. Your body has its own endocannabinoid system that plays an integral role in regulating bodily functions like digestion, sleep, mood, pain, motor control, inflammation, your immune system, and more. Essentially, it helps you maintain homeostasis. Your body produces its own endocannabinoids (“endo” meaning “inside”), but sometimes, people like to give it some assistance with the phytocannabinoids (“phyto” meaning “plant”) found in cannabis—and one of those phytocannabinoids is cannabidiol (or CBD for short).  CBD doesn’t affect your brain On the flip side, another misconception amongst people who know that CBD is not intoxicant is that it does not affect your brain whatsoever. This is not the case—some of CBD’s primary benefits are in the brain (so it’s a bit misleading to call it non-psychoactive). CBD is a miracle drug Though CBD boasts a significant number of benefits, it is in no way a cure for any disease or condition. Cannabidiol can treat symptoms, but not the root cause. It is a pharmaceutical alternative for people who desire a natural treatment for their symptoms. All trustworthy businesses know this, so if you encounter a product that claims to “cure” a malady, steer clear of it. CBD works better in higher doses The logic here is that if CBD is good for you, then taking more means reaping more benefits. However, this is not exactly the case—you should consult with a doctor to determine what dosage and concentration are appropriate for you. A lower dose might actually be more effective, and many studies show that CBD is more effective when combined with a bit of THC. CBD is legal in all 50 states The 2018 Farm Bill passed late last year, which legalized cultivating industrial hemp (cannabis with less than .3 percent THC). CBD is now no longer within the DEA’s purview and the Controlled Substances Act. This sounds like CBD is completely legal on a federal level, but each state has the freedom to make its own rules and laws regarding the molecule.In some states, CBD is legal for both recreational and medicinal purposes. It is only permitted for medicinal or other purposes in 23, and 14 only allow CBD oil products. Both medicinal and recreational use is prohibited in Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska, so conduct some research regarding the legalities surrounding CBD in your state.Returning to the federal level, the FDA has only approved a pharmaceutical drug with CBD called Epidiolex. It maintains that selling CBD as a dietary supplement is illegal. The DEA also maintains that CBD derived from marijuana, not hemp, is unlawful. Project CBD notes that marijuana prohibition is actually rooted in reefer madness racism and disproportionately affects people of Color. It doesn’t matter where CBD comes from It does indeed matter where your CBD comes from. Hemp is a bioaccumulator, meaning it absorbs substances from its environment—including pesticides and toxins in the soil. If you are going to purchase CBD, it is imperative to double check that who you are doing business with practices sustainable farming, only grows organic hemp, tests their products with third-party labs for potency and purity, and is transparent about their processes.Some people are nervous about embracing CBD due to misinformation, so hopefully, we have corrected some of your misconceptions. What other questions do you have about CBD?

Many CBD users advocate for its array of health benefits. Though scientific evidence is still lacking, an increasing number of researchers are looking into CBD’s qualities and finding that some of the hype is true. Combined with anecdotal evidence, people are slowly finding their way to CBD products to treat conditions like anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and more. H However, because CBD is derived from cannabis, there are still a high number of folks who steer away from it due to its relationship with marijuana. Advocates know that hemp-derived CBD products have little to no THC, so it’s not a psychoactive—but still, the stigma continues… for now. So, with newfound research, education, and market interest, where will the CBD industry be approximately one year from now? The market will be booming According to Hemp Business Journal, the market will be in a very good place. It estimated in 2016: “The CBD market will grow to a $2.1 billion market in consumer sales by 2020 with $450 million of those sales coming from hemp-based sources. That’s a 700 percent increase from 2016. In 2015, the market for consumer sales of hemp-derived CBD products was $90 million, plus another $112 million in marijuana-derived CBD products which were sold through dispensaries—bringing a total CBD market to $202 million last year.” This trajectory is impressive seeing as CBD products almost exclusively rely on word-of-mouth marketing. As more and more people try it, though, they share it with their friends and assure them that it is not a recreational drug, but something you take to promote bodily wellness. The market will grow in such a way not just thanks to millennials: baby boomers, many of whom have been away from the cannabis industry for decades if they ever participated in it at all, are learning to use CBD products to treat arthritis and other pain symptoms. The James New York-Nomad Hotel offers a room-service CBD tasting menu, and the Standard brand hotels in New York and Miami sell CBD gumdrops in their minibars. CBD will most likely not be mainstream by next year, but it is becoming more commonplace. More people will be educated While CBD products remain a mystery to much of the general public—they’ve probably heard about the buzzword but still do not quite understand what it is—a lot can change in a year. Judging by sales within the past two years, many people are willing to give CBD a try, which means that people are becoming more educated. In a society where medications are expensive and come with side effects, it’s no surprise that people are seeking out pharmaceutical alternatives that can treat conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and pain. With help from celebrities like Mandy Moore and doctors like Sanjay Gupta promoting the benefits of CBD, 2020 will doubtlessly see a rise in consumer interest. Stuart Tomc, Vice President of Human Nutrition at CV Sciences (the creators of PlusCBD Oil, which is sold in 1300 health food retailers), says: “It’s evident that hemp-derived CBD products are doing better and growing faster than almost every other category in the supplement industry, and it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a supplement trend truly demonstrate demand in such an immense fashion. There are no barriers to acceptance as the idea of hemp-derived CBD is finally ripe. Consumers are embracing hemp-derived CBD.” One reason people are keener to embrace hemp is that legal hemp-derived CBD products, such as CBD Oil and CBD Gummies, contain .3 percent THC or less—meaning that there is no way for it to induce a “high.” People who do not want the psychoactivity of marijuana but desire the cannabidiol of hemp products need not worry about losing mental faculties while CBD is in their system. Uncertain industry standards and legality Despite the increased market interest, CBD remains subject to unclear legalities and near inexistent industry standards. The Farm Bill passed at the end of 2018, so hemp and hemp-based products are no longer restricted by the Controlled Substance Act, but that does not mean there are not still state-level hurdles and federal restrictions. The FDA, for instance, has still only approved Epidiolex and declared that manufacturers cannot sell CBD in dietary supplements or conventional foods. As the market grows, though, the number of businesses willing to cut corners most likely will as well. There is no entity holding companies accountable for their growing practices, so consumers will need to be on high alert for brands that do not grow organic hemp, neglect to test their products with third-party labs, or fail to be transparent in their growing practices. The CBD market is in a complicated place, but the odds seem to be in the industry’s favor. Where do you think CBD will be one year from now?