road sign. Use this icon to avoid unnecessary pitfalls.
Beyond the Book
The Cheat Sheet is an awesome way to explore bite-sized information on some of the most important points about getting acquainted with CBD. This little freebie is definitely worth a gander.
To access this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “CBD For Dummies Cheat Sheet.”
Where to Go from Here
The great thing about this book is that you can start anywhere. Just mosey on over to the table of contents or index to identify your topic of interest and begin reading.
If you’re not quite sure what CBD is and why it may positively impact your body in a supplementary form, Chapters 2 and 3 give you a complete overview of CBD and what its functions are.
On the other hand, if you feel like you want to get a sense of how to find the right delivery method for you, go straight to Chapter 7.
On the other hand (you’ve got three hands, right?), if you want to get started whipping up some customized recipes, your best bet is to visit Part 4.
Whatever the case, please approach the book with a sense of open-mindedness and enjoyment. Remember, you’re here to have fun and to get great information. It’s go time!
Part 1
Looking into CBD
IN THIS PART …
Beef up your CBD knowledge, vocabulary, and technique.
Define CBD and become familiar with the different parts of the hemp plant.
Dig into the four pillars of CBD relief and the pros and cons of CBD supplementation.
Investigate the different layers of CBD extraction and the different products it can yield.
Chapter 1
Updating Attitudes toward Cannabis and CBD
IN THIS CHAPTER
CBD is one of hundreds of naturally occurring chemical compounds in the cannabis plant. Because that plant has long had a sordid history in the Western world, CBD carries a perception of danger and illicit behavior. The reality is that CBD offers many potential therapeutic benefits in and of itself without the inebriating, or “high,” effects that give cannabis its reputation.
The everyday consumer and even some of the canna-curious find themselves butting up against myths that are a function of the times. In this chapter, I unpack the differences between the different types of cannabis and how CBD got its (not entirely fair) reputation. I also delve into its practical uses and medical benefits, as well as legality issues surrounding CBD. After reading this chapter, you’ll become a pro at separating CBD rumors from realities. (For a deeper dive into what CBD actually is, flip to Chapter 2.)
Debunking Myths about CBD
The list of rumors and myths about CBD is long because the cannabis plant is new in Western applications and the research is young. You may have heard that CBD is illegal because it comes from the cannabis plant. Or perhaps you’ve heard that it comes from hemp, but you’re only familiar with hemp as a source of fabric. You may have heard that CBD is a snake oil, made popular only by the placebo effect. On the other hand, maybe you’ve been told that CBD really can cure it all.
Table 1-1 provides a quick overview of some common myths surrounding CBD as well as the actual facts. In the following sections, I talk about some of these myths in more detail.
TABLE 1-1 Separating Common CBD Fact from Fiction
| Fiction | Fact |
|---|---|
| CBD is a Schedule 1 narcotic drug, so there is no research. | Formal, government-sanctioned research, as well as a host of anecdotal evidence, does exist. It is also “descheduled.” |
| CBD is snake oil and a scam. | CBD has plenty of legitimate applications. |
| CBD as an industry is chock-full of discrepancies and is thus unsafe. | CBD hasn’t been shown to physically harm anyone. |
| CBD can cure anything. | CBD has been shown to help some conditions; like anything, results vary. |
CURE: A LOADED WORD
The myth of all myths is that CBD can cure anything. Cure is a word you don’t often hear in any kind of medicine because it implies that whatever caused the symptoms is no longer there. That’s a hard threshold to reach. Results inevitably vary from body to body, so claiming a cure is difficult. Anecdotal evidence and the FDA’s new approved CBD anti-seizure medicine, Epidiolex, indicate that CBD has provided a lot of relief to a diverse group of people. And as a recognized figure in the space, I have heard of plenty of successful applications of CBD across individuals and with companies developing products.
Understanding where some of the uncertainty about CBD comes from
The CBD molecule is found largely in the cannabis plant. However, new evidence suggests that it also appears in an invasive species of pine tree. Early research suggests that many plants contain a host of other molecules that mimic the functions and properties of CBD.
From
