General Questions
Although hemp and marijuana share many similarities, most noticeably in appearance and smell, they have a couple of very key differences. Hemp contains 0.3% THC or less and does not cause intoxicating effects. Marijuana, now more commonly referred to as cannabis, contains more than 0.3% THC and does cause intoxicating effects. When we say “intoxicating”, we mean the impaired perception and motor skills that is a side effect of consuming cannabis or cannabis-based products.
Both CBD and THC are chemical compounds that can be found and extracted from hemp or cannabis. Hemp contains high concentrations of CBD and trace amounts of THC (0.3% or less). Cannabis generally displays low concentrations of CBD and high concentrations of THC.
CBD is the abbreviated term for Cannabidiol and is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940 by Dr. Roger Adams and his team at the University of Illinois. It is one of over 100 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants and accounts for up to 40% of the plant’s extract.
THC is the more widely studied compound of the two because of its intoxicating effects, but it also provides incredible health benefits. Hence why many medical marijuana patients have had great success with consuming THC-infused products!
The primary purpose of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain balance within your body, or homeostasis, which is crucial to overall health.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is made up of endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors. Just as hemp produces cannabinoids like CBD and THC, your body produces its own cannabinoids – anandamide and 2-AG. These chemical messengers bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors like a key fits into a lock. Unlocking the receptor causes changes in how cells function, leading to different effects in the body. Although CBD does not directly bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors, it has many indirect effects and can interact with non-cannabinoid receptors.
Science suggests that an endocannabinoid deficiency and/or a poorly functioning ECS can result in various health complications. How can CBD help? One of the many ways that CBD may help our ECS function better is by increasing the levels of anandamide in our body, which is naturally broken down once inside of the cell. CBD is able to slow down this process by binding to the transport molecules that bring anandamide into the cell. What does this mean? Less anandamide being broken down means that more is available for use by our cells to modulate important processes that improve homeostasis!
You can learn more about the endocannabinoid system here.
CBD, like the majority of cannabinoids, is psychoactive but non-intoxicating. You will not get high from CBD.
CBD is a completely different cannabinoid than THC, which is what drug tests look for. If there is concern regarding a drug test, you will want to stick with an isolate or broad-spectrum product which is labeled THC free. Full-spectrum products should be avoided.
All Relēf CBD products are safe for drug screen tests.
CBD isolate is a crystalline solid or powder that contains pure extracted CBD and no other plant matter. Products made with CBD isolate contain no THC and are safe for drug screen tests.
Broad-Spectrum CBD has been extracted from the hemp plant with all of the other compounds from the plant but has trace amounts of THC removed. That means it contains terpenes, essential oils, and other cannabinoids from the plant. These are all beneficial compounds that work together along with CBD for enhanced effectiveness!
Full-Spectrum CBD has been extracted from the hemp plant with all of the other compounds from the plant, including THC (0.3% THC or less). If drug screening is a concern, we recommend avoiding full-spectrum products. Depending on your daily dose, trace amounts of THC could build up in your body over time and result in a positive test.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, there are no adverse health outcomes but rather several medical applications for cannabidiol, a.k.a. CBD, despite U.S. federal policy on this cannabinoid chemical.
According to a preliminary WHO report published in 2018, naturally occurring CBD is safe and well tolerated in humans (and animals), and is not associated with any negative public health effects.
Experts further stated that CBD, a non-intoxicating chemical found in cannabis, does not induce physical dependence and is “not associated with abuse potential.”
Any adverse effects would be due to interactions with other medications.
Some reported side effects of cannabidiol include dry mouth, low blood pressure, light headedness, and drowsiness. It is important to consult your physician regarding interactions of CBD with any medications you are on.
No, you do not need to have a medical card to purchase CBD products. As for age requirements for purchasing CBD products, some states and CBD companies have their own set restrictions which ranges from 18 or 21 and older. We do not sell to any persons under the age of 18.
When purchasing CBD, you will always want to ask to see the Certificate Of Analysis(COA) of the batch # you are buying. The COA is a 3rd party lab test that shows the test results of the product you are buying. You will want to check to see if the product you are purchasing matches the COA results.
We make all COAs for each of our product batches available here.
There are many CBD products on the market but they are all not created equal. One CBD tincture from another company will not have the same effectiveness as a CBD tincture from another. Be careful of where you’re purchasing from because as with any type of product, you get what you pay for. The best quality products will not be cheap, but since we control the manufacturing of our products, we’re able to provide some of the most affordable prices without losing quality.
If you’ve had the opportunity to meet our team in person, you’ll notice that we’re every day individuals. We think that’s what makes us so special. Our passion for helping people live better has driven us to find ways to deliver exceptional and effective CBD products that you can trust. We believe in taking the time to get to know you before ever recommending a product. Call us, and our phone calls will be pleasant and enjoyable. No rush, no product pushing. We are patient, understanding, and accommodating. That will never change no matter how much we grow!
About Our Hemp Oil Tinctures
We’ve spent months searching for the best quality hemp extracts organically grown here in the US to use in our products. If you are one of our many repeat customers, you may have noticed a change in taste and effectiveness of our hemp oil tinctures over the past year. We’ll be honest, it has been a journey to find the perfect raw hemp extract source…but finally! We have partnered with a trusted source that has not only provided us with high quality hemp extracts, but also all of the important documentation to back it up. All of our raw materials, from Broad-Spectrum Oil to pure cannabinoid isolates like CBN and CBG, have been tested by our 3rd party lab and approved by our crew here at Relēf CBD! New formulations are always tested for taste quality and effectiveness by our staff before becoming available to our customers.
All extracts used in our products were obtained from organic Farm Bill Compliant Industrial Hemp grown in the USA.
Always consult with your trusted physician before starting CBD oil. We recommend all beginners start with a lower concentration tincture, either 300 mg or 600 mg. It is believed that small doses of CBD are beneficial for those with stress/anxiety and higher doses are needed for those with serious pain and inflammation. Most customers looking for relief from feelings of pain eventually work their way up to a 900 mg or 1500 mg tincture.
The general rule is “Low and Slow.” We recommend starting between 10 mg – 20 mg per day for one week then increase as needed in 5 mg increments. This may be taken all in one dose or spread throughout the day. Taking CBD is not like taking a prescription medication where your dose is set. Everyone requires a different daily dose since everyone’s ECS is different.
It could take between one week to a month to feel effects. It takes time for CBD to build up in your body. We always recommend treating a tincture like a dietary supplement and incorporating it into your daily routine. Be consistent and patient. For relief from feelings of stress or anxiety, it may be more difficult to determine if CBD is working for you. It’s important to find other ways to help reduce stress/anxiety, such as meditation, yoga, or light daily exercise.
Currently, there are no known harsh side effects associated with starting then stopping. Because CBD acts on the body without causing intoxicating effects, sometimes it may be hard to determine if it’s working for you. We’ve had quite a few customers mention that once they ran out of CBD oil, their symptoms started to arise again after not taking it for a couple of days. Being in tune with your own body and how your feeling is so important when taking CBD oil.
CBD may act as a mild sedative when taken at high doses, which is not a bad thing if you have trouble sleeping! But if this is not a desired effect for you, simply lower your daily dose. There is no chance of overdosing on CBD oil, even at daily doses of 1,000 mg!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is used as a “carrier” oil to enhance the effectiveness and absorption of CBD, which as we know is also an oil in its natural state. Not only does EVOO help to preserve the potency of CBD oil, it also is commonly known for being one of the healthiest fats. It is rich in antioxidants, healthy monounsaturated fats, and even has anti-inflammatory properties of its own!
Nausea can be a common side effect of ingesting CBD oil. We don’t hear of this symptom often, but here are some questions to ask yourself if you are experiencing nausea:
- Am I correctly dosing myself? (Nausea may be a side effect if your dose is too high)
- Is this tincture unflavored or peppermint? (You may be sensitive to the peppermint flavored tincture. If you think this is the case, reach out to us and we’ll swap you out with an unflavored tincture!)
- What other medications am I taking that may be interacting with the CBD oil? (We ALWAYS recommend consulting with your trusted physician before trying CBD if you are taking prescription medication. CBD can increase or decrease the strength of certain types of medication.)
We are aware that CBD oil may not be for everyone! That is okay. We’re happy that you gave it a try and will offer a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
