Are cannabis-derived CBD products an effective treatment for anxiety, depression and insomnia? Are they legal and where can you get them?
Medicinal cannabis and hemp products are becoming increasingly common thanks to their powerful properties that science is beginning to recognise as effective in helping mind and body – but different jurisdictions legislate them differently
The historical and cultural roots of the cannabis plant are age-old and far-reaching. The plant’s medicinal healing properties were heralded in ancient medicine and have been used for thousands of years. Yet within the last century or so, cannabis has become taboo in the west. The plant’s traditional medicinal usage has fallen out of practice and some components of the cannabis plant remain illegal in parts of the US.
Despite this, today many different components of cannabis plants are finding their way into the sphere of wellness. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive cannabis-derived substance that is becoming increasingly popular and incorporated into various products. CBD is a noted restorative for the human body and people are now tuning in to its healing properties. Because cannabis products are in general less tainted with taboo and are gaining legal credibility, their popularity and production is growing.
In the US, regulations on cannabis-based products vary from state to state. Generally speaking, if a CBD-branded product contains less than 0.3 per cent THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, and is derived from a legal plant, in many states it is legal to distribute and possess. The word “hemp” is often used to differentiate these products. In states where any use or possession of cannabis- or hemp-derived substances are criminalised, it is likely that CBD is also illegal. However, laws tend to be complicated and so the precise picture depends on where you are.
Legality aside, it is hard to dispute that the benefits of CBD are extensive and can provide medicinal solutions to a multitude of physical and physiological ailments. “People in the west are beginning to awaken to the healing potential in nature,” says Kristi Blustein, founder of Khus + Khus, a CBD-infused skincare line. “I see the cannabis plant as one of the most powerful species on the planet – it is very prolific in terms of healing.”
From ingesting pure CBD oil, consuming CBD-infused food, or using CBD-infused skincare products, there are many ways to reap the benefits of this powerful plant.
For mind and mood
One of the most powerful attributes of CBD oil is its believed ability to soothe feelings of anxiousness and reduce general stress. Though research on these effects remains in its infancy, the few studies conducted so far have produced promising findings. In a 2014 study conducted on animal models, CBD was found to have both anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.