The CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive compound found in Cannabis Sativa plants. It has been known to help with pain relief, inflammation, appetite stimulation, etc. Different research departments are studying the effects of CBD on the state of mind and memory. The cannabinoid has been shown to have some impact on improving chronic disease by reducing inflammation levels and inducing neurogenesis in the brain’s hippocampus region.
As mentioned earlier, CBD cartridge doesn’t affect you in the same way that THC, which is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis that produces a ‘high.’ If you smoke a joint and feel more relaxed, then you have opened up more receptors to THC, essentially making the experience much more intense. CBD does not do this. It works on a completely different mechanism. It seems to help with pain relief rather than euphoria (although it is still not confirmed whether it is definitively just pain relief or something to do with reducing inflammation).
The primary way that CBD is said to work is by inhibiting the enzyme fatty-acid amide hydroxylase (FAAH), which breaks down anandamide. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter or signaling molecule produced by our brains when we do something rewarding. These include eating good food, having sex, exercising, and even taking drugs like cannabis. CBD only helps with pain relief and not other effects of cannabis consumption.
So what does this mean? Well, research on animals has shown that CBD affects the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens region of the brain and other areas. This brain region is responsible for a sense of reward, motivation, and pleasure. Brain imaging studies have shown that when CBD is administered to an animal, the production of dopamine increases.
Does this mean that CBD has the same effect on humans? Well, it’s difficult to say without further research because we don’t know how CBD affects the brain region in humans. However, we know that there are no severe side effects when using high doses of CBD, which is why it has become so popular.
There are different types of CBD with varying levels of THC in them as well as differences in delivery methods as with all cannabis products. CBD oil can be ingested through drops placed under the tongue, applied topically with a spray, or rubbed into body areas that are affected by pain. The CBD oils are also available in capsule form and some foods and beverages, so there is no need to smoke anything if you don’t want to get high.
The most famous strain of cannabis that has been bred for high levels of CBD is Charlotte’s Web. This medical marijuana strain was developed to help with the severe seizures experienced by five-year-old Charlotte, who had suffered from hundreds of episodes every week due to a rare form of epilepsy known as Dravet Syndrome.