CBD Truth Finder

FAQs

Welcome to the FAQs! This is a collection of the most common questions that I’ve gotten over the years. I hope that you find it helpful.

CBD Truth Finder

  • No, I don’t work for a CBD oil company or in any business related to the industry.
  • I’ve used CBD oil for many years to help manage my severe chronic pain.
  • I’ve learned everything you need to know about how to get the maximum success with finding, buying, and using CBD oil. 
  • I’m also a certified Medical THC and CBD Specialist through the University of Colorado. 
  • I back up what I say with hard evidence, so you can see the truth for yourself (usually in the form of screenshots). 
  • I don’t just repeat marketing claims, true or not, in order to make more affiliate sales.
  • I never recommend something I wouldn’t enthusiastically use myself.
  • Absolutely! I love to help. Please feel free to reach out anytime with questions, comments, or suggestions (contact).

Is CBD Oil Legal?

  • No, a prescription is not required to buy CBD oil or CBD products. 
  • The only CBD-based prescription medication (Epidiolex) was approved by the FDA in 2018 but only to treat rare and difficult-to-control forms of childhood epilepsy. 
  • No, the CBD oil industry is unregulated. Yikes, right?!
  • That’s why there are so many inferior, or even dangerous, products on the market. 
  • More than likely.
  • However, state laws surrounding the legality of CBD can change and evolve, so always double check your individual state laws.  
  • It’s unlikely, but yes. 
  • There have even been cases where CBD caused a false positive (without any THC).

CBD Basics

  • CBD is short for cannabidiol and is one of more than 100 active chemical compounds, called cannabinoids, naturally produced in all cannabis plants. 
  • CBD is the most common cannabinoid in hemp. 
  • CBD comes mainly from the hemp plant, which is a type of cannabis with less than 0.3% THC. 
  • CBD is found throughout the plant but is concentrated in the flower/bud and leaves. CBD isn’t found in the seeds. 
  • Yes, raw and unprocessed CBD oil has THC. It can range anywhere from trace amounts up to the legal limit of 0.3%.
  • When the oil is processed, the THC can be removed. 
  • The only way to verify how much THC a product contains is to look at the Certificate of Analysis lab results.
  • CBD oil is used for general wellness and for numerous health issues such as chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
  • There’s a growing number of clinical studies that indicate CBD can help with these and many other health issues.
  • Please be aware that the Federal Drug Administration does not allow claims that CBD oil can cure disease or help with specific health problems. 
  • The three CBD formulations are: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
  • Full-spectrum CBD oil contains THC ranging from trace amounts up to the legal limit of 0.3%. It often has a pungent, earthy taste. 
  • Broad-spectrum CBD oil doesn’t contain THC although it can have up to 0.1% and still be marketed as “THC-free”. It usually has a mild taste (from the processing to remove the THC).
  • CBD isolate is 99.9% pure CBD and doesn’t contain any THC or any other plant matter. It’s form is a crystalline solid or power with virtually no smell or taste. 

How CBD Works

  • The entourage effect is a term used to describe when any of the 400+ naturally produced chemical compounds in the hemp plant, work both individually and together.
  • This results in a more robust and broader range of therapeutic benefits. 
  • Cannabinoids are active chemical compounds produced naturally in cannabis plants.
  • While more than 100 have been identified, the most recognized cannabinoids are THC and CBD.
  • Recently discovered, endocannabinoids are molecules that are naturally produced by the body and are similar to cannabinoids which are produced by the cannabis plant. 
  • Endocannabinoids are made by the body on an “as-needed” basis when a system is not functioning properly; they come in and help to restore balance. 
  • In the human body, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is responsible for two main activities.
  • The first is to regulate pleasure, energy, and well-being, and the second is to slowly nudge the body back to health when faced with injury or disease.
  • Full-spectrum CBD oil is the most powerful of the formulations. 
  • This is because it has that wee-bit of THC, and the most hemp plant material, giving it the strongest entourage effect. 

CBD And Your Body

  • No, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive properties. 
  • However, a small percentage of users may be more sensitive to the effects.
  • It’s recommended that if you are new to using CBD oil, don’t operate vehicles or machinery until you become familiar with the effects and your own response to them. 
  • The National Institute on Drug Abuse states, “there are no known harms of taking CBD on its own.” 
  • The potential side effects of CBD oil are mild, with the most reported being nausea, fatigue, and irritability.
  • The side effects often lessen or go away if you take a lower dose. 
  • However, CBD can potentially interact with certain medications so always check with a qualified medical professional before using it.
  • No. There is no record of anyone overdosing on CBD oil, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to chug it.
  • Everyone responds differently to CBD but you might feel calm, relaxed, or sleepy. 
  • Most people are able to work, drive, and carry on with normal life without the “stoned” side effect, but a small percentage of users may notice mental/emotional effects. 

Using CBD

  • Currently, there are no scientifically established guidelines for how much CBD to take. 
  • It’s recommended to start with a small amount and pay close attention to your reaction. Increase the amount little by little every 2-4 days until you find your “sweet spot”. 
  • Dosage matters because if you don’t take enough CBD, it won’t work well (or at all) but if you take too much, it might cause side effects or even do the opposite of what you want it to.
  • How long CBD takes to work depends mainly on how you use it.
  • Ingesting it, such as capsules or gummies takes 30 minutes to 2 hours or more to work.
  • Orally or through the mouth, with things like an oil or a tincture, takes 15-60 minutes to work.
  • Inhaling it by smoking or vaping the flower/bud works immediately because it enters the bloodstream directly through the lungs.
  • Topical products like balms or salves take about 15 minutes to work (sometimes much less).
  • How long CBD keeps working has mainly to do with what method you use to take it.
  • Ingesting it, such as with gummies or capsules, the effects last roughly 5-7 hours.
  • Orally, with things like drops or a tincture, the effects last roughly 4-5 hours.
  • Inhaling it by smoking or vaping the flower/bud or a concentrate, the effects last roughly 2-3 hours.
  • Topical products applied on top of the skin through things like balms or salves, the effects last roughly 2-4 hours
  • CBD oil can begin helping almost immediately but it can take anywhere from 7-14 days before you experience the full benefits. 
  • CBD formula differences boil down to the taste, form (e.g. oil, powder), and whether it contains THC. 
  • Isolate or broad-spectrum is usually fine for general wellness or minor issues. 
  • Full-spectrum is often ideal for more serious and chronic issues. 

Shopping For CBD

  • The cost of CBD oil varies across brands, although the average is somewhere between $0.05 to $.20 per milligram (mg).
  • Anything more than $0.20 per mg is probably overpriced.
  • To figure out the cost, simply divide the price of the product by the total amount mg of CBD in the product (i.e. $120/2,400mg =$0.05 per mg). 
  • Simply put, CBD oil is expensive because it is expensive and time-consuming to grow, harvest, cure, process, and package, along with significant ongoing expenses like lab testing. 
  • Most CBD oil companies have discounts available for those on long-term disability, first responders, veterans, and so on, depending on the individual company. Discounts range from around 10-60% off.
  • Good quality CBD oil is expensive to make so anything under $0.05 per mg may be an outright scam or a low-quality product.
  • If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. 
  • Watch out for cheap hemp seed oil, that doesn’t contain any CBD, being sold as authentic CBD oil.
  • Protect yourself by looking at the Certificate of Analysis lab reports for each individual CBD oil batch to make sure you are getting what you pay for. 
  • Yes and no. CBD, by itself as a chemical compound, does not have a shelf life or expiration date, but the oil the CBD is mixed with can degrade and break down with age.
  • The best way to slow this down or prevent it is to store it in a cool, dark place like the fridge. 
  • It is generally suggested to try and use CBD oils within one year. 
  • The most important thing to look for when shopping for CBD oil is up-to-date Certificate of Analysis (COA) reports (commonly called 3rd-party labs) for each individual batch of product.
  • Lab testing is the only way to know what’s in the CBD oil. It’s the only way to protect yourself from a contaminated product.
  • If you have to jump through hoops to find the COAs on the website, they’re missing or seem sketchy, that’s a giant red flag and you may want to do business with a different company.  

CBD Oil And Pets

  • Cannabis has been used to help treat animals for thousands of years, but there’s very little scientific research. 
  • CBD oil for pets and CBD oil for humans are the same thing, although CBD oil is often sold in lower strengths when packaged specifically for use with pets. 
  • Dosing is extremely important with pets. Due to a pet’s small size and physiological differences, they should not be given doses as if they are “small humans.” 
  • The exact dose to start with depends on the size or weight of your pet is and the strength of the specific CBD oil.
  • There are usually guidelines for dosing on the bottle. 
  • CBD oil can be given directly by mouth or added to food.