WHAT IS CBD
CBD is a powerful plant extract that has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. CBD is one of at least 113 Cannabinoids extracted from a proprietary strain of the hemp plant, not to be confused with the plant used to produce marijuana.
Many leading doctors, scientists, and experts in the field believe that combining CBD with the full spectrum of other naturally occurring Cannabinoids, Terpenes and Flavonoids found in this special strain of hemp, may offer a range of measurable health benefits never seen in the pharmaceutical, food, or dietary supplement industries.
In the early 20th century, medicines such as opioids began to be developed. The use of cannabis-based preparations to relieve pain began to decline. However, many medications were developed which combined cannabis with other pharmaceuticals in everything from cough syrup to sleep aids.
By the late 1930s, the war on cannabis erupted, and the cultivation of cannabis became illegal. Again in 1970, cannabis cultivation was banned by the Controlled Substances Act, which listed cannabis — including both hemp and marijuana — as Schedule I substances with no medicinal benefits and a high risk of dependence.
In the late 1960s the mysteries of cannabinoids, including CBD, began to unfold as researchers discovered the role of the human endocannabinoid system in maintaining good health. We’ll discuss this in more detail shortly.
As the 1970s progressed, however, cannabis extracts were once again being used for healing. A quarter of a century later, in 1996, the state of California legalized the medicinal use of cannabis for a list of serious medical conditions.
Over the past few decades, there has been an explosion of research into the health benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids.
CBD has been quickly gaining acceptance in the U.S. as a result of media coverage by respected health experts such as Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The message of CBD’s healing powers is beginning to reach the masses.
Today, CBD oil is available to everyone and research into CBD’s effect on the human body has ramped up substantially.
Modern technology has provided methods of refining and isolating CBD, and even increasing the bioavailability of CBD oil through technologies such as nanoemulsions which make CBD water-soluble and increase its potency.
The demand for CBD is growing so quickly that sales are expected to surpass $1 billion by 2020.