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THE CBD BOOM SO MUCH MORE THAN HYPE Cannabidiol (CBD) may seem like a novelty in health these days but it has actually been strong on the market for at least a decade. In 2020, it was valued at a whopping €2.5 billion and Grand View Research reports that its value is set to soar at an annual growth rate of above 20 per cent until 2028. Its many healing properties, alongside greater acceptance on the part of governments across the globe, has led to a big rise in demand for CBD and today, it is widely used for therapeutic reasons ranging from anxiety and depression to inflammation, pain relief, cancer symptom relief, and the list goes on. Those who are wary of the product, take note – it is non-addictive and devoid of psychoactive effects. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
HOW DOES CBD DIFFER FROM MARIJUANA, CANNABIS, AND HEMP? Although CBD is present in cannabis (marijuana) and it is a vital component of medical marijuana, it is actually derived from hemp – a variety of the Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) plant. CBD can be manufactured synthetically though it is mostly extracted from hemp plants in oil form and mixed with a carrier oil such as hemp seed
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oil. As stated by the World Health Organisation, CBD has no potential to be abused. Moreover, it has no associated health problems.
IN WHAT FORM IS CBD CONSUMED? CBD can be purchased in a number of different formats – including oils, pills, capsules, and even crisps and gummy bears. When buying CBD, make sure to choose products that
are made with full or broadspectrum oils (which are less processed). Full-spectrum oils contain CBD and THC, while broad-spectrum oils have all the important cannabinoids without THC. Research shows that you may obtain the best results from combining CBD and THC (this is known as the ‘entourage effect’). THC does have psychoactive effects, however, so if these are undesired, simply stick to CBD to obtain a wide range of benefits.
