ABCs of CBD

buzz words lighting up the world of cannabis

Text by Nancy S. Moseley

TThe new local establishment on the college town corner used to be just another ol' pizza joint. But lately our faces are aglow in the reflection of bright neon letters, fixated on advertising that's so garish and excitingly bright, it seems to presume we actually know why we're supposed to be excited. CBD! Delta 8! Smokeables! Edibles! Gummy bears!

Gummy squares! Lotions, potions, oils, pills and tinctures, all of varying sizes, shapes, smells, colors and quantities.

Everything promises to improve our lives, to naturally cure our ailments. But when there is no Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) regulation for ingredients labels (kind of like vitamins), it's up to the consumer to fill in the blanks and make the educated choice. It's important, at a minimum, to have a basic understanding of the words wafting across headlines and shelves before we can know what to try or what to pass by.

Cannabis The scientific term for cannabis is cannabis sativa, and it is a naturally-grown flowering plant. The plant itself contains more than 100 chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The two most abundant cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Marijuana Marijuana is the dried flowers of the cannabis plant. They are most commonly rolled into cigarettes called joints

and smoked as a way of ingestion. Marijuana is currently not legal on a federal level. In 2021, the Commonwealth of Virginia legalized the individual possession of four cannabis/ marijuana plants and the sharing of no more than one ounce of cannabis between adults 21 and over.

THC Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main chemical ingredient found in the resin on the cannabis plant leaves or buds. It is also known as Delta-9 THC, and it gives cannabis its psychoactive properties. THC bonds with receptors in our brain and affects things like mood, sleep, memory and pain. Use of products containing THC will most certainly result in a "high" and produce strong euphoric and intoxicating effects and varying degrees of cognitive impairment. A single serving of THC is approximately 10 mg. While there are no guidelines on how much is safe to consume, know that if you're looking at a cannabis edible - like a giant brownie - it may contain several servings, exponentially increasing the amount of THC. It may seem safe (and normal) to consume a brownie in one sitting, but it's best to do your own serving size-to-THC milligrams calculation. This goes for all edibles currently on the market, because eating too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

Hemp Hemp, also called industrial hemp, is a specific variety of the cannabis plant that contains less than .3% THC. Hemp is among the fastest growing plants on Earth (bamboo, another one) and can be used in the production of textiles, insulation, rope, paper and food. When the federal government passed the 2018 Farm Bill, it legalized hemp production in all forms as long as those products are only derived from true hemp, therefore containing no more than .3% THC. All products on the market today should come from hemp, or they are not legal.

Delta 8 Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabi is just one of the 100 types of cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant and is simply one bonded atom different than THC (or Delta-9 THC). Yet, even the smallest chemical variation can make a difference in pharmacological effects and legalization. There are very small amounts of naturally occurring Delta 8, so in order to make it suitable for mass consumption it undergoes synthetic treatments. Delta 8 still boasts a definite "high," but it's more mellow, less disruptive of focus or the ability to form coherent thoughts. Like traditional marijuana (though it's legal because it comes from hemp), Delta 8 can be smoked or consumed as an edible. Delta 8 is new to neon window displays, but quickly becoming more widespread. Be wary that while it is a naturally occurring cannabinoid, it still requires manipulation in a lab in order to reach your shopping bag. And no one is currently governing or regulating the testing, production or marketing of Delta 8.

CBD Cannabidiol (CBD), along with THC, is the second main chemical ingredient found in the cannabis plant. Both are considered psychoactive; however, CBD does not cause that euphoric "high" because of the way the atoms are arranged and because its bond to our brain receptors is weaker than that of THC. Of the two chemical powerhouses, CBD is more user-friendly. It is non-intoxicating, safer in larger doses and many prefer it because it provides the same calming effect of THC, without the feeling of being drugged, so to speak. Colloquially is said to help with several mental and physical issues including anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, nausea and migraines and even seizures. CBD, used intelligently and intentionally, is a wonderful, safe, natural therapy for many conditions.

What's next? As cannabis producers continue to fiddle with cannabinoids (remember, there are more than 100 to finagle), we should only expect to see more acronym and number combinations lighting up window signage. Delta 10 anyone?

Bottom line: Read up before you eat up, drink up or smoke up. Start slow and low. Potency is powerful, and our bodies shouldn't be experiments. The easiest, most trustworthy way to leave the science'ing up to the scientists is to know and trust your local retailer. Ask the questions, have the deep conversation, lash a critical eye. Make sure your goals are made clear (recreational use? medical use?), then sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. It's going to be a long one.

Nancy S. Moseley is a Blacksburg area freelance writer. While generally an open book, she's hesitant to divulge her experiences with the industry's buzz words. All she can offer is: Be wary of free samples and, well, there's reason she calls them buzz words.