What is CBD?

Ever since the federal government passed the Farm Bill, a piece of legislation which removed industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act so it is no longer illegal, and therefore not subject to enforcement by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, it seems that CBD—a hemp plant extract—makes the news in some fashion every day. But what exactly is CBD and why is it constantly showing up in your news feed?

CBD stands for cannabidiol and is just one of many cannabinoids found within the cannabis plant. Some of the other cannabinoids or chemical compounds found within the hemp plant include:

But perhaps the best known of all the cannabinoids is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Though this active ingredient also comes from the marijuana plant, it is very different than CBD.


One of the main things that set CBD apart from THC is the effect it has on the brain. Specifically, although THC is well-known for its psychoactive effects and giving users a feeling of being “high,” CBD does not have this impact on cognition.

That makes CBD extract easier to use without compromising safety during everyday activities that require a fair amount of focus and concentration, such as driving a car or caring for your children.


CBD is also different from THC from a legal standpoint, most notably when the CBD is extracted from the hemp plant. What does this mean?
When CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, it is legal because hemp is now legal in the US. Furthermore, by law, hemp cannot contain more than 0.3 percent THC.
Yet, if you look at the amount of THC (which is still illegal) that is in medical marijuana, it isn’t uncommon for users to be exposed to anywhere from 5 to 20 percent THC. [1]


To understand how CBD works, it helps to first understand a little bit about the human body’s endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system is a system that every person has, regardless of whether they use cannabis or take cannabinoids. Essentially, it is a system that helps regulate processes related to a variety of activities. [2]
This regulation occurs based on interactions between two key endocannabinoids manufactured within the human body (anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglyerol) and cannabinoid receptors, the latter of which are referred to as CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors.



CB1 receptors are located in your central nervous system and the CB2 receptors can be found in your peripheral nervous system (the nervous system which exists outside of your brain and spinal column), which includes the cells in your immune system.
When you take CBD, it interacts with these same receptors.

When it comes to the use of CBD extract, there are a number of different options.

The first option is in regard to the type of CBD as this cannabinoid is available in a variety of forms.
The type of form also impacts bioavailability.

The second option related to CBD is either a full spectrum CBD or a CBD isolate. What’s the difference?
Full spectrum CBD references a compound that, in addition to containing CBD, includes other cannabinoids, terpenes (the aromatic oils), and flavonoids.
CBD isolate, conversely, contains only one cannabinoid: CBD.



Although most CBD oil users typically report no negative side effects when taking this hemp extract, some have experienced diarrhea and fatigue and others report a change in appetite. [18]
If you take prescription medications, it’s also important to note that the CBD may negatively interact with them. [19] Namely, the medications at risk of interacting are those that are metabolized by the same enzymes as CBD.
Therefore, you’ll want to check with your primary care physician before ingesting CBD.

Because CBD comes from a cannabis plant, many users are concerned about whether this substance will cause a positive on a drug test.
According to workplace compliance experts, because CBD is not yet regulated, it may, but mainly because product labels may incorrectly state less than 0.3 percent THC.
In cases such as these, where a label is incorrect, it is possible that the THC will show up on a drug test.
This outlines the importance of choosing a reputable, manufacturer that sources its high-quality hemp inside the U.S.A., thus adhering to our national guidelines.
That said, now that the Farm Bill is in place, it is likely that more regulations will be put in place in the future. No doubt, this will impact users’ experience with CBD, as well as what constitutes its legality—both in the workplace and out—across the 50 states.