The mainstream media buzz around CBD has been growing ever since the Agriculture Improvement Act of Farm Bill of 2018 made the sale of hemp and hemp-derived products legal. Now you can buy these products over the counter in different outlets in all 50 states in the United States. In Tampa CBD products are popular with customers for providing natural remedies for various health issues and have little or no side effects. Before you order some for your personal use, it might be a good idea to get informed about the different components of CBD.

What is a CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural chemical compound found in the Cannabis Sativa plants. Unlike THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the other main compound that is found in these plants, CBD has almost negligible psychoactive properties. It means that you will not experience a high after consuming or applying CBD products. And that is why CBD is legal and available over the counter, while THC remains on the list of Schedule I controlled substances issued by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

What are the components of CBD?

Hemp plants contain at least 113 cannabinoids, and CBD is one of these. In cannabis extracts, the CBD content is about 40%, while the majority content is THC. The molecular structure of CBD and THC is the same. It consists of 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. There can be slight differences in the arrangements of these atoms, and these differences may explain why you experience different effects after consuming or applying CBD.

How does CBD affect you?

CBD can mainly affect you as a pain reliever and relaxant. Both CBD and THC are similar to endocannabinoids, the signaling molecules that the body produces naturally. The endocannabinoids are lipid-based neurotransmitters and can bind to cannabinoid receptors that are present on cell surfaces throughout your body.

C1 and C2 are the two primarily known types of cannabinoid receptors. C1 includes the cannabinoid receptors present in the brain and spinal cord, while C2 is the receptors that occur in the immune systems and peripheral nervous system. According to researchers, there may also be a third receptor type. At present, they do not have much information about it.

After the endocannabinoids bind to the cannabinoid receptors, they send signals to the endocannabinoid system. It is a highly specialized cell signaling system that regulates many body functions. These include hunger, pain sensation, sleep, and immune system response.

Since CBD is similar to the endocannabinoids, it can also bind to the cannabinoid receptors and affect the endocannabinoid system. It sends signals to reduce inflammation, which can lessen the pain arising from the inflammation.

Due to its pain-relieving properties, CBD is used to treat a range of chronic health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Many people have used it successfully to relieve stress, insomnia, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Researchers have also found CBD useful in helping people with addiction issues. It can lower the cravings for tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other stimulants.

What types of CBD products can you buy?

In Tampa CBD products are available for purchase in specialty CBD stores, grocery shops, and shopping malls. The products are available for sale as oils, creams, salves, lotions, tinctures, pills, capsules, patches, vapes, and sprays. Currently, it is illegal to sell CBD by adding it to edibles or to market it as a dietary supplement.

Aside from a prescription drug to treat seizures, the FDA has not yet approved any of the available CBD products for medical use. That means there are no established national standards to regulate the production, testing, and labeling of these products. That is why you need to be cautious about buying them. Purchase them only after you have researched the vendor, the products, and the ingredients. You can also read the customer reviews and check if they are overwhelmingly positive about the beneficial effects of CBD products.

If you have any chronic health conditions, it is advisable to consult your physician before using CBD. You want to make sure that it does not have any adverse reactions to any prescription medications you already take.