Dive into the world of CBD: A look into the benefits and uses of the drug written by Olivia Gianettino and Jordan Bigelow
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BD products have gained immense popularity in the past year. Stores specializing in these products are rapidly popping up around the country, and reasonably so. People are flocking toward the alternative medicine, but with preconceived ideas of what marijuana is and does, it can be hard to understand what makes the plant so beneficial.
So, what is CBD? CBD is short for cannabidiol and is derived from the marijuana plant, but contrary to popular misconceptions, it does not create a high. Marijuana contains many active chemical compounds, the two most relevant being CBD and THC. While THC acts as the psychoactive element of the plant that gets folks high, CBD solely contains medicinal properties and reacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body. “It’s an internal system that’s found in all mammals, and it’s comprised of CB1 and CB2 receptors,” said Chris Yeager, the owner of the West Virginia-based CBD shop Appalachian Cannabis. “When you start to consume CBD and/or cannabis-based products, it stimulates that endocannabinoid system in our body and it promotes natural homeostasis, so things like blood temperature, blood sugar and blood pressure.” The CBD is separated from the other compounds in the plant and is used to aid people in numerous ways. According to Yeager, the CBD receptors are found in many different areas of the body and therefore allow access to a vast range of bodily functions. Because of this, there are endless ways to utilize CBD. It can be absorbed through the lungs to quickly stop panic attacks and can be applied topically to relieve chronic pain. Some of the most basic products are oil tinctures, CBD ranging in different concentrations to be orally ingested. Companies like Appalachian Cannabis have lines 7
of products to ingest in less mundane ways, like gummies, chocolates and even CBD-infused Italian ice syrups. “It’s crazy because we’ve taken this plant, and where we grow it and process it, it really gives us the ability to create what we want,” Yeager said. In some ways, the push for CBD use is part of a much bigger picture. Yeager explained that his clients often struggle with chronic pain and a dependency to opiates, an issue that is specifically relevant in West Virginia. “They’re coming in and they’re actually replacing opiates,” said Yeager. “I’ve lost two family members to opiates, and we just felt like we needed to explore a natural alternative that there was no fear of anyone losing their life.” Many manufacturers are making CBD so easily accessible and user-friendly in hopes of combating issues like these. Yeager is hoping he can give people their lives back. “Our biggest hope is to just get people away from those deadly pharmaceuticals,” Yeager said. “If you really dig into the core of why we’re doing what we’re doing, that’s the reason.”
