This post is brought to you by Green Apple Solutions.
Today, it is almost impossible to find someone who has not heard of CBD. The substance is a hot topic and has remained so for quite a few years. More people now know about it and what it can do, and it has also increased the demand and usage of the product. It is everywhere.
Although the substance has continued to feature heavily in most discussions these days, it is by no means recent. Indeed, 20 years ago, CBD was not as popular as it is today. It was only known by certain people, especially those who are very interested in and used cannabis. So what has changed? How did a substance emerge from the dark to occupy the center stage in just a few years? Why is CBD everywhere today? Before we look at that, let us understand what CBD is and why it’s used to make products like CBD gummies.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound obtained from the cannabis plant, particularly hemp. This compound, along with over a hundred others, belongs to the class called cannabinoids. It is a stress-relieving substance that also contains healing properties. Even though CBD comes from cannabis, it does not give off the psychoactive feeling commonly associated with the plant. That is the work of another compound called THC, which is less in hemp plants.
CBD is extracted from cannabis, through various means and turned into other things, especially oil or tinctures. From there, it can be infused into other products. The use of CBD is by no means recent as it has been used by different people of various civilizations who recognized its healing properties. It entered into the modern world when people started testing it as a form of alternative medicine. But it was not popular enough, as most people did not understand that the substance was not psychoactive.
However, recently, there has been an acceptance of the product by many people, making it very popular, due to certain reasons.
1. Legalization
Before now, CBD, and everything concerning cannabis, was illegal, even though CBD did not alter people’s moods or make them “high”. At that time, being caught with CBD was as good as being found with marijuana. People only bought it from black markets, and it was considered a great risk, not minding its benefits.
All that changed in 2018 with the Hemp Farming Act. The act stopped making CBD a controlled substance, as it has a THC content of no more than 0.3%. By that act, CBD stopped being illegal and was now available in the open market as long as the THC content is in check.
2. Use
It was earlier assumed that CBD could only be consumed by smoking, which turned off most people as they feared it could affect them in ways THC could also couple with the risk of smoking by itself, which could result in heart-related illnesses. That has since changed since it was discovered that CBD can be consumed if infused in other products, both edible or not.
Today in the market, besides the traditional oil and tinctures, there is a whole range of CBD-infused products, from brownies to cakes to gummy worms, capsules of CBD, and even topicals. This means that anyone can enjoy the substance anyhow they like it.
3. Benefits
People use CBD because of the health benefits associated with it. Although none of the benefits have been backed or supported by a full medical study, the substance remains a form of alternative medicine. It has anti-inflammatory properties, making it suitable for the treatment of a range of skin ailments, including acne, pimples, eczema, and so on. It also helps control spasms and seizures. CBD has also been used by people to manage cancer, although the extent of its functionality has not been confirmed medically.
CBD is also helpful for pain management, making it effective in dealing with arthritis, rheumatism, and other ailments that come with pain. It is also beneficial to mental health, helping allay anxiety and depression.
4. Investment
There are so many CBD brands out there today. A glance online or in your local dispensary would inform you of the many companies into CBD today. These companies have helped make CBD popular, producing many products from it and seeking to improve the way people consume the drug. CBD is indeed a profitable venture, with estimations that the industry could be worth $22 billion by 2022. This has turned people’s focus on the product as a new industry, producing more and more products to meet its increasing demand.
Without a doubt, CBD has come to stay. With so many benefits to offer, people rely on it more and more, as they continue to discover new ways to enjoy it and what else it can do for them.
