CBD is taking off. Over a few years, it went from a controversial ingredient to a wellness must-have that everyone, from doctors to professional athletes, is talking about. You’ve probably seen this super ingredient before, including in food, skincare products, CBD drinks, and many other wellness products. You’ve maybe used it before, not knowing what to expect.  

Despite CBD being a buzz-worthy word today, most people still have questions about it. Like, what really is CBD? What are the benefits? Why is it in so many products today? And, how do I know if CBD is right for me?

To help answer some of your most commonly asked questions about CBD, we asked the DEFY team to shed some light on the topic. 

1. What exactly is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol, a naturally occurring compound in the Cannabis Sativa plant. THC is the psychoactive part of cannabis and a product needs greater than 0.3% THC content to cause the so-called “high” effects. CBD comes specifically from what’s known as “industrial hemp,” which has less than 0.3% THC content. Hemp with lower federal legal limits of THC has been growing for decades.

CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid compound derived from the hemp plant. When therapeutic amounts of CBD are added to wellness products while maintaining the federal legal limits of THC, you get wellness products like DEFY’s, which make you feel good without the high!

2. Are CBD and marijuana the same?

We get this question a lot. No, CBD is not the same as marijuana or pot. It’s a common question because the marijuana and hemp plants look similar, but CBD from the Hemp plant is legal under the FDA and has no psychoactive impairment.

Marijuana refers to THC-containing cannabis at higher levels beyond what’s considered federally legal. At a federal level, marijuana is still labeled as a controlled substance. 

On the other hand, federal law in the United States allows for CBD to be extracted from the hemp plant and sold nationwide, as long as levels of THC are less than 0.3%, although states have their own regulations and restrictions as well. 

At the same time, it’s important to note the difference between CBD and hemp oils. Hemp seed oil contains no CBD at all. CBD is extracted from the hemp flower using a different process from extracting hemp seed oil. Most CBD products only use the flowers of the hemp plant to produce pure CBD, as the therapeutic compounds that provide the benefits are found in the bud and less the seed, stalk and stems.

3. Can CBD get me high?

No, CBD will not get you high. Here’s why:

The cannabinoid known as THC is responsible for euphoric and psychoactive effects. THC is most often grown from the marijuana plant, another species derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant.

Unlike non-psychoactive hemp, the marijuana plant contains high amounts of THC. In CBD manufacturers, any product with over 0.3% THC is destroyed. This is federally mandated.

Therefore any CBD on the market meets these standards and is void of psychoactive THC. Furthermore DEFY has 0% THC, which is lower than the federal limit (0.3%) to be sure there is no impairment whatsoever.

4. Is CBD totally legal?

Yes! CBD is legal. CBD manufacturers have to meet strict standards set forth by the government. That means any CBD on the market has zero psychoactive effect. Keep in mind that while CBD contains less than 0.3% THC, some non-DEFY products do contain trace amounts of THC (and if you’re sensitive enough, they could make you feel high and even cause you to test positive on a drug test).

5. What are the benefits of CBD? Why is everyone talking about it?

This is our favorite topics because we’ve experienced many benefits of CBD. We also hear daily success stories from people who use DEFY and other CBD products.

CBD may be anti-inflammatory, and we use it to help recover after skiing or playing baseball. Any athlete knows how hard you push during a game and how sore you are the next day. In our experience, CBD reduces sore muscles and allows me to bounce back faster. 

A faster recovery means you can maintain a higher level of performance, but best of all, you’ll feel less depleted at work or with your family because you’re not fighting pain. But this isn’t just for athletes. Those with arthritis or joint muscle pain can reap the benefits too.

Researchers are doing clinical studies to confirm this benefit thanks to the high number of personal reports that claim CBD reduces stress and anxiety.

For ourselves and many others, better sleep, less pain, and less stress help positively regulate moods. Some of us suffered from insomnia before using CBD. Now, they fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night, which helps them perform better.

6. How does CBD work?

Our endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one giant regulatory system involved in many physiological functions. It comprises three parts: endocannabinoids (a type of neurotransmitter), receptors, and enzymes.

The trick is to maintain homeostasis in the body by supplementing the endocannabinoid system with CBD when your body is naturally deficient or depleted due to exercise, age, or illness.

Our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids that interact with cell receptors throughout our bodies. These receptors are often found in the central and peripheral nervous systems.

The endocannabinoid system regulates many body processes, including pain, sleep, inflammation, memory, digestion, immune functions, and neuroprotection. But studies show that we can experience endocannabinoid deficiency in certain situations, like when we’re sick, tired, or aging.

Enter CBD, which contains plant-derived cannabinoids (that act like our body’s own endocannabinoids) we can supplement when we’re not producing enough.

When CBD is introduced to the body — whether in a carrier oil, a topical cream, or an edible product — it interacts with the ECS and helps regulate the above processes.

7. Is it safe to try CBD?

Yes! But as with any new regime, we always advise talking to your medical professional. We’ve found no side effects from taking CBD. Some people report CBD effects such as being sleepy or tired, but generally, these occur during the first few days when you get your dosage right. 

8. What is the right CBD dose for me?

That depends on your weight, age, condition, and form of CBD. Most pre-dosed consumable products, like our DEFY RECOVER drinks, are third-party tested to contain just the right amount of CBD and 0% THC.

Consider starting with morning and night doses to find your perfect therapeutic dose. This can help you understand how CBD interacts with your conditions, emotions, and moods. Low and slow is the way to go. We recommend keeping a journal, so you can track the effect of different products and amounts, before you start using it regularly, say before a stressful meeting or after workouts.

9. What’s the best type of CBD product to start with?

When it comes down to choosing the right CBD product, it’s all about your lifestyle. Today you can find many CBD products, including: 

• CBD drinks
• CBD gummies
• CBD oils
• CBD muscle balms
• And many more!

When finding the right one to start with, we always ask people if they want a product that works fast or long.

With topicals, drinks, and tinctures, you’ll experience a fast onset because they bypass the stomach allowing CBD to enter the bloodstream quicker. On the other hand, capsules or edibles are being metabolized, leading to extended-release and more prolonged onset.

10. What should I look for when buying CBD products?

Unfortunately, not all CBD is created equal with the rise in popularity. This is why it’s vital to investigate the source material and how it was treated to determine its quality. 

When shopping, always look for a Certificate of Analysis or its Certificate of Authenticity (COA), which means the CBD has been tested for heavy metals, pesticides, and more by an accredited third-party lab. A reputable CBD company will always publish this information. 

We also recommend looking for the term “grown using organic practices” or “USDA certified organic,” meaning no pesticides or herbicides are used when farming.

Something else to keep in mind:

• Isolate products contain CBD that has been isolated from all the other hemp plant components. This extraction removes all other cannabinoids, terpenes, and waxes, leaving just pure isolated CBD.
• Broad-spectrum products blend cannabinoids, terpenes, and fatty acids naturally occurring in the hemp plant, which studies have shown to be beneficial over just isolate CBD. It’s called the entourage effect.
• Full-spectrum products contain all of the plant’s naturally-occurring compounds. This includes other cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and THC.

A quality CBD product will always have COA testing for purity and potency, like all of our DEFY products do!