The Most Common Questions About CBD, Answered

CBD is like the popular girl in high school: No one can stop talking about it, everyone seems to universally agree that it’s great, but you still have some questions (like what makes it so popular in the first place?). In just a few short years, CBD has evolved from being a controversial ingredient to become a well-known wellness product that almost all of our team members swear by. By now, you’ve probably seen the super-ingredient in anything and everything from food to skincare to wellness products. But what is CBD? What are the benefits? Why is everyone raving so much about this once-controversial ingredient.

Because there’s still so much confusion surrounding the benefits of CBD and uncertainty about whether it is right for you or if it’s just another passing wellness fadWe turned to experts for help. Beyond our team’s own FAQ surrounding our beloved CBD, we polled you, dear readers, in hopes that we can provide some much-needed clarification by offering answers from a CBD education expert. We talked to Autumn Mehl, the senior manager of Member Education and a CBD Dosage Specialist at our go-to source Equilibria, to find out how to shop for CBD, the real difference between CBD and marijuana, how to know if it’s right for you, and more FAQs. We answered your questions. 

 

What is CBD? How does it work?

CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It is one of over 150 naturally occurring compounds (AKA “cannabinoids”) found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant is bred and grown in two different ways: either as “industrial hemp” with less than 0.3% THC content (which makes it a completely federally legal agricultural crop in the U.S.) or for “THC-dominant cannabis or weed” that’s bred and grown to contain more than 0.3% and up to 30% THC content. 

THC is the psychoactive part of cannabis, and a product tends to need about 10% THC content or more to cause intoxicating, “high” effects. Hemp with lower federally legal THC limits has been used historically for industrial purposes, such as rope and other materials. Equilibria is a way to increase the therapeutic value of Cannabis sativa while still maintaining the lower federally legal THC limit.

 

How can I tell if a CBD brand has been certified or not? What makes a brand trustworthy? 

CBD products are made from hemp plants, so just like many other products on the market, it’s important to investigate how the source material was treated to determine its overall quality.  

Equilibria has partnered up with an amazing farm just outside Boulder Colorado. This farm follows strict procedures to ensure our members have pure, organic, full-spectrum CBD oil without any surprises. We hand harvest the flower and test it throughout the whole process.

A well-respected CBD company will always publish the testing certificate of analysis, or its COA. The best COAs are able to test for both potency AND purity. This means that they can determine the amount of beneficial, medicinal cannabinoids within the product.

 

How can I tell if the product is of high quality before I buy it?

High quality CBD products will always have a COA for purity and potency. Companies should be transparent about the results of their testing and their farming practices.

Full-spectrum CBD also contains trace amounts of THC (less that 0.3%), which is federally legal and can induce the entourage effect. The entourage effect is when THC and CBD combine to create a synergistic effect. This makes the product more potent and more powerful.

Oftentimes, you’ll see smaller dosages with full-spectrum CBD bottles as opposed to other forms such as isolate CBD. Isolate CBD product is exactly that—it contains only CBD and  no key additional cannabinoids to induce the entourage effect, so it takes higher doses to achieve noticeable effects. Equilibria is a full-spectrum product that contains a variety cannabinoids to induce the entourage effect. Members often notice benefits from smaller doses of CBD, usually starting at 20 to 30 mg per day.

 

 

What is the difference in CBD and marijuana?

When talking about cannabis products, “marijuana” typically refers to THC-containing cannabis at higher levels beyond what is federally legal. There are many medical dispensaries that offer high-THC products. Some products include tinctures, gummies, chocolates, topicals, and even the actual flower, or “weed,” itself. 

To be sold nationally, a CBD product must meet a lower federally-approved limit of 0.3% THC. THC and CBD both come from the exact same type of plant. However, the percentages will vary depending on how the plant was bred. 

 

 

What is the difference in CBD and hemp oil, you ask?

While oil can be extracted from hemp seeds, this oil—commonly referred to as “hemp seed oil”—is not the same as CBD. It typically contains no CBD. CBD oil is extracted from the hemp flower using a different process from extracting hemp seed oil and, in Equilibria’s case, using only the flowers of the hemp plant for the purest CBD possible. The therapeutic compounds that provide benefit are within the flower, which is why it’s important that your product is a CBD oil, not a hemp seed oil.

 

Can CBD influence drug testing?

Everyone’s body chemistry is different, so drug testing is kind of a gray area; we don’t know for sure how your body will metabolize our products. It is possible to test positive for a drug test if you use full-spectrum CBD every day. 

Consider it as consuming alcohol. A beer containing 5% ABV/Alcohol by Volume (or 0.3% THC) will determine your BAC/Blood Alcohol level (or THC level in your bloodstream). The more you consume at a given time, the more likely it will show up on a test.

If you’re worried, I’d recommend grabbing an over-the-counter THC test at your local pharmacy to find out for sure. If possible, it is better to have a blood test than a urine test. Blood tests are more accurate than urine tests. If you have any questions, you can provide our lab results to your employer.

 

Does CBD get you high?

Since all of our Equilibria products are made with full-spectrum CBD, they do contain small trace amounts of THC—but always less than 0.3%, which means they are federally legal! We find the average dosage among our members overall is around 20 mg to 50 mg of full-spectrum CBD per day, which is not considered enough to elicit psychotropic effects (or in other words, won’t get you high!).

We recommend that you start slowly if you are sensitive to THC. This allows us to go slow and start slowly, increasing as necessary. You can always add doses, but you can’t take them away! 

Remember, the main benefit to including trace amounts THC is that it will induce the entourage effect, which makes your product stronger and more potent.

Due to each individual’s unique body chemistry, full-spectrum CBD may affect everyone a bit differently. It is important to test out any new product, change in dosage, or modification to your personal regimen on a day that you are able to be there and observe how you feel. This will allow you to better understand your body’s response and help you avoid any surprises as you adjust.

 

 

Where should a beginner begin with CBD?

Before starting your CBD routine, it’s always a great idea to reflect and journal about the benefits you’d like to experience with your CBD routine, like “I’d like to finally get a full night’s sleep without waking up” or “I’d like to feel less stressed and more productive at work.” Being clear about why you’re using CBD will help you determine the best products and the best time of day to take your doses. 

A slow-release option such as a softgel, or gummy, might be a good choice if you need to sleep through the night. Taking these closer to bedtime may help you stay asleep. Our Daily Drops are quick-acting and flexible and can be used for small, calming doses during the day and extra, intermittent doses when things go sour. 

 

Our members often find positive results from starting a CBD regimen with approximately 20 to 30 mg per day.

If you’ve been trying CBD for about a week and aren’t seeing the results you want, that’s OK! We recommend that you give CBD products a try for seven days. After that, we recommend meeting with your Dosage Specialist and discussing your experiences so far. We prefer to see positive results within the first two to three weeks, and we often see the best results after three to six months of consistent use.

The full effects of CBD may only remain in your system for four to 12 hours, so it’sx important to be thoughtful and consistent with your CBD intake. The goal is to maximize the strength and effectiveness of the body’s endocannabinoid system. Consider your health goals to determine the best time of day to take your CBD—you may find it’s best to dose at night before bed and again in the morning during breakfast.

 

How can I determine the right CBD dose for me?

We recommend that you take our Get Started Quiz to get started on your CBD journey. This quiz will give you recommendations for products that meet your needs. Once you purchase, you’ll also have access to a personalized routine page that’s designed just for you!   

Your ideal CBD dose has a lot to do with the amount of stress and cortisol you’ve experienced in your lifetime. Chronic issues like discomfort, stress, or sleep problems over several years can cause our body to deplete its own endocannabinoids, our body’s regulatory molecules. A higher CBD dose may be beneficial for those who are dealing with chronic or high levels of stress. 

When asking yourself, “how much CBD should I take?,” remember to start low and go slow. This means you should start with a low amount of CBD, and then gradually increase the dose over time. The best results with CBD come with time, so it’s best not to rush into things. Consider your daily CBD dose as a marathon and not a sprint.

Most Equilibria members begin with a CBD daily dosage of 20 mg to 30, mg. This is a good starting place to determine the effects on your body. Here at Equilibria, we want to empower our members to listen to their bodies and tune into the impact they’re experiencing.

CBD has what’s known as a biphasic response, meaning that if you take too little or too much CBD, your CBD likely won’t provide the effects you’re looking for. Therefore, it’s best to try to find your “sweet spot” dosage, which is the dosage where you’re seeing the benefits you’re looking for without tipping over into feeling groggy or drowsy. Some of our members consume between 20 and 50 mg of CBD every day.

 

 

Do you notice a difference immediately?

CBD takes time to build up in your body. This is why it is important to start with the right routine. We love to see positive effects in the first few weeks, but we also often see the benefits in the third and fourth weeks. BestResults after two to three weeks 

Some people may feel the effects more strongly than others after taking their first few doses. This is quite common for people who have never tried CBD products before. Once the body adjusts and “understands” CBD better, your experience will evolve! Talk to a Dosage Specialist about how to adjust your dosage and regimen. 

 

What should I do if I don’t notice any difference when I take CBD?

If you’re taking between 20 mg to 30 mg of Equilibria CBD each day for more than fourr weeks and have not noted any benefits, it may be time to adjust your routine’s dosage and/or timing. Members with long-term, more serious health goals may require more time to reap the benefits of CBD. 

For example, if you’ve been dealing with sleep issues for over 10 years, it will likely take more than 4 weeks to improve with a plant-based product. Give it time! Connect with a Dosage Specialist for help in getting your results. We are here to assist! 

 

 

Is it possible to consume too much CBD?

While CBD can’t be overdosed, the World Health Organization (WHO), published a safety statement that stated that CBD cannot be taken in excess. However, CBD isn’t always better. CBD has a biphasic effect which means that too much or too little CBD could make you sick. To find your “sweet spot” dose, we always recommend going low and slow with your doses and journaling to record your reaction to your doses.

Our members typically start with 20 mg to 30mg of CBD daily to ease into a routine. Our members with more established regimens consume between 20 and 50 mg of CBD per day on average. You may want to decrease your dose if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• A sustained increase in drowsiness or sedation during the daytime hours that doesn’t taper off after the first five to seven days of starting your routine
• A rise in frequency and intensity of headaches that persists after five to seven days of beginning your routine. This is even after increasing your daily water intake.
• GI upset persists for at least five to seven consecutive days after you start your routine. This is even after you’ve paired your CBD dose with food, and increased your daily water intake.
• It is interesting to see that CBD seems not to produce the desired effect you were expecting (e.g. Instead of helping you fall asleep, CBD actually energizes and energizes.

 

Can CBD cause long-term health effects?

CBD was legalized in the United States in 2018. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough long-term studies of CBD and side effects. CBD has a positive effect on the endocannabinoid, a biological system that helps our bodies achieve balance. Some people experience side effects that disappear as their bodies adjust to CBD. 

Side effects may vary depending on your body chemistry and health conditions. Therefore, it’s essential to talk to your health care provider before incorporating CBD into your routine to understand if CBD is a good fit for you.

Side effects include dry eyes, dry throat, nausea, drowsiness, headaches, dry eye, and dry throat.
If you’re noticing some of these effects as you start your CBD routine, you’re not alone! Some members have reported side effects after starting their CBD regimens. These effects often disappear within a few weeks. 
Cannabis in general can be dehydrating, so when starting a CBD routine, it’s important to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

 

Can CBD make it possible to sleep during the day?

Drowsiness during the daytime, or anytime when you are normally alert, is an indication that the CBD dosage you’re taking might be more than needed. You may find yourself feeling more relaxed than you intended during the day. For additional support, your Dosage Specialist can help you reduce your CBD dosage by half. 

 

Can pregnant women use CBD?

We work with many women who are interested to try CBD while trying to conceive. We are unable to take a firm stance on the issue of CBD during pregnancy or breastfeeding as there is not enough research. The final decision about whether or not CBD is used during this time will depend on the conversation between you and your doctor. This will allow you to make an informed and safe decision before you introduce CBD into your daily life. We are here to help you if you decide to use CBD during this period. You can also adjust your subscription to accommodate this time.

 

 

This post is sponsored by Equilibria, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.