Clinical studies have found that, when administered correctly, hemp-derived CBD can help ease stress and promote life pleasure1.* Hemp-derived CBD delivers this sense of calm with a negligible amount of THC—the psychoactive compound in some cannabis strains.* These trace levels of THC in hemp (< 0.3% by U.S. law) mean that it should not make you feel high. But unless you’ve tried hemp CBD yourself, it might be hard to imagine what it does feel like. So, we asked experts and real users for some insight. “The ECS is an important physiological system involved in controlling and maintaining human health, and cannabinoids like CBD interact with the ECS at two known receptors: CB1 and CB2,” Perlman tells mbg. CB2 receptors oversee the peripheral nervous system, aka all the nerves outside the central nervous system (think organs, limbs, and skin). That’s the high-level distribution of these receptors, but in reality it’s more nuanced: CB1 and CB2 receptors are much more broadly located in the body3 (not surprising, given the widespread role of the endocannabinoid system in overall health and wellness). As mbg’s vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, explains, “While CB1 is concentrated heavily in the brain, you’ll also find this receptor in the peripheral nervous system, GI tract, liver, reproductive organs, heart, and muscles. Similarly, while the CB2 is famous for its presence in the peripheral nervous system, it’s also expressed in the spleen, immune cells, testes, and even the brain. So, not as black and white as originally thought.” Perlman explains that the ECS utilizes receptors (CB1 and CB2 and others) throughout the body “to regulate signals from and to our brains.” So where does the hemp phytocannabinoid CBD come in? According to Sheetal DeCaria, M.D., a double board-certified integrative pain physician with Revitalized Med Center, there are three subtypes of hemp CBD options out there—full-spectrum hemp, broad-spectrum hemp, and CBD isolate—and the main difference between them is the presence (or absence) of other naturally occurring plant compounds within the extract. “If a CBD product contains several other naturally occurring cannabis plant extracts, such as other cannabinoids, it is full-spectrum CBD,” DeCaria explains. Full-spectrum CBD may also include up to 0.3% THC, while broad-spectrum CBD is usually entirely free of THC. CBD isolate is just that, CBD, the singular phytocannabinoid from hemp, meaning it contains no other cannabis plant compounds. Ferira adds, “If you want a CBD product closest to the native hemp plant—the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, etc.—look for a full-spectrum oil or extract.” While our bodies generate their own endogenous cannabinoids, plant cannabinoids (aka phytocannabinoids), such as CBD, “can also work on our own ECS,” resulting in a variety of beneficial effects that support balance and homeostasis in our body.* These hemp cannabinoids have been shown to improve stress4, uplift mood, and promote sleep quality5, DeCaria tells mbg, adding research suggests that “CBD’s health benefits may be greater when multiple compounds from the cannabis plant—like those found in full-spectrum formulas—are used together. However, large-scale studies are still limited.”* Its main claim to fame is its reputation for promoting feelings of calm, and many people take it to overcome the stressors of everyday life.* Case in point, a cross-sectional study of CBD users7 published last year in the Journal of Cannabis Research found that of the 387 current or past-CBD users who completed an online survey, 42.6% took CBD for self-perceived anxiousness.* It also found that 42.5% of participants also reportedly used CBD to improve their sleep.* Back in 2019, a large case series explored the efficacy of CBD8. Within the first month of regular usage, stress symptoms decreased in 57 of the 72 adult participants.* Forty-eight participants also reported an improvement in their sleep.* (However, it is worth noting these results fluctuated throughout the trial.) But while the effects of hemp CBD might feel different from one person to the next, medical doctor at USA Hemp Clara Lawson, M.D., guesses that part of the reason CBD is so popular is it allows consumers the opportunity to reap the health benefits of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant without feeling intoxicated or “high.” “Typically, it makes users feel calmed and relaxed,”* Lawson tells mbg. When taking CBD, Perlman adds that users may feel a noticeable reduction in feelings of anxiousness, increased alertness, and improvement in sleep quality (potentially because of that stress reduction).* Unsurprisingly, their experiences were unique, but for anyone interested in trying hemp products for themselves, their insight might be helpful in persuading you one way or another. —Tina —Devon —Angela —Ellen
