Over the last decade, CBD oil has gained incredible popularity. Everyone from celebrities to veterinarians have gone on record talking about the potential benefits found in every tincture. But how did CBD become the hot health product of the new millennium?
While cannabis and CBD use are documented as far back as 2700 BC, modern medicine has improved how its extracted and purified, to help users get all the reported benefits from every drop of golden oil. Here’s everything you need to need to know about the history of CBD.
Discovery and Isolation of the First CBD Molecules
From a historical standpoint, early apothecaries used cannabis as a cure for many different ailments, ranging from anxiety to gout. What they didn’t realize is in many of those cases, CBD – short for cannabidiol – was the most important compound for driving relief.
It wasn’t until 1940 that scientists were able to find CBD among the other naturally-occurring compounds found in marijuana plants. According to a peer-reviewed historical study of CBD published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, both Roger Adams in the United States and Lord Todd in the United Kingdom were able to successfully identify CBD.
IT wasn’t until 1963 when CBD was able to be isolated from THC and other compounds found in hemp plants. In 1963, Israeli researcher Raphael Mechoulam successfully isolated CBD for the first time. By 1965, Mechoulam was able to synthesize CBD, leading to further pharmacology research.
CBD Research Grows Throughout the 1980’s
As the world’s attitudes on cannabis use began to relax, research on the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids started to accelerate. This early research focused on the effects of THC – the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana plans – on the human mind and body.
This changed in in the 1980’s, when researchers discovered the endocannabinoid system in humans. Allyn Howlett is credited as the first person to find cannabinoid receptors in humans, which ultimately lead to the research into CBD as a beneficial compound.
Because of the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, more researchers began focusing more on the positive properties of CBD. This shift came from the realization that CBD and other cannabinoids found in organic, full spectrum CBD oil is received better by the body than THC.
By 2005, a peer-reviewed study published in The AAPS Journal discovered pairing certain medications with CBD oil could improve efficacy and drive better results. Some of the conditions included in the study were multiple sclerosis, several kinds of pain, gastrointestinal conditions, heart disease, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder.
These studies also lead to the approval of the first prescription medication in America with CBD as the active ingredient. In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Epidolex (cannabidiol) for treatment in two rare forms of pediatric epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome.
Humans aren’t the only ones who may be able to benefit from CBD oil. In 2019, the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences ran a study on older dogs suffering from seizures. In the clinical study, those who were given CBD suffered from fewer seizures than those on the placebo.
Where the U.S. Stands on CBD Oil Today
Although the research suggests that there’s a lot of potential benefit to gain from the use of CBD, America has created a patchwork of rules surrounding the use of CBD oil. As of 2020, 47 states have legalized the medical use of cannabis.
However, the law has not necessarily caught up to CBD oil. Is organic, full spectrum CBD oil legal to use in the United States?
The good news is that CBD oil is legal in all 50 states, regardless of statewide marijuana laws. As an industry standard, full spectrum CBD oil must contain less than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight. CBD products under this set level are allowed for personal consumption nationwide.
Additionally, CBD oil-based products that maintain those standards cannot get you high. Although organic, full spectrum CBD oil products contain trace amounts of THC, it’s not enough to create the intoxicating feeling associated with its use, and is not enough to be found on drug tests. So long as your CBD oil comes from a high-quality source which maintains strict quality control standards, you shouldn’t have any problem using it at home.
With mounting research behind it, CBD oil has a track record of offering lots of potential benefit for users. As with any regimen, be sure to talk to your doctor to see if starting CBD oil for sale is right for you. With their help, you can find the right organic, full spectrum oil to give you the historically-proven boost you may be looking for.