Jamie Evans - Cannabis Drinks: Secrets to Crafting CBD and THC Beverages at Home

If youre just beginning your cannabis journey, its important to familiarize yourself with some basics. Before diving into CBD, lets begin with something called hemp. To clarify, cannabis and hemp are the same plant. When you hear the term hemp, its used to classify varieties of cannabis that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight, delivering no intoxicating effects when consumed.

However, not all hemp plants are grown the same way. There are different levels of quality within the category. To receive the most therapeutic value from hemp, choose full-spectrum items that are sourced from hemp farms using regenerative farming practices, not big industrial hemp farms. Most often industrial hemp is grown for hemp seed oil or for fiber, not for phytocannabinoid and terpene production, which are the critical components that contribute to the plants special healing benefits, including CBD.

So, what is CBD, anyway? As one of the most popular phytocannabinoidsmeaning a cannabinoid that is derived from a plantCBD is a nonintoxicating and nonaddicting organic compound thats created by the cannabis plant. Produced in trichomes (the special glands that create the wonderful components that make cannabis unique), CBD works with hundreds of other important compounds to deliver beneficial effects.

While research on CBD and its healing benefits are still in the early stages, there are a few things we do have a reasonable understanding of. For example, while CBD does not deliver the same high effects as THC, it can help relieve anxiety and stress by interacting with serotonin receptors found in the brain. CBD is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, inhibiting the release of signaling molecules that come from immune cells that promote inflammation in the body. This is one reason cannabidiol is popular among athletes!

Unlike THC, CBD will not make you feel stoned. In fact, you might not perceive any noticeable effects at first because CBD is very subtle. As you will learn throughout this book, to achieve the best results with CBD, you must stick with a daily regimen based on your particular needs. Cannabidiol is a personalized medicine that is most impactful when taken consistently over time.

Its also important to remember that CBD is not a cure-all. Dont let marketing schemes fool you! While CBD can be a beneficial phytocannabinoid and is showing potential to help aid several ailments, CBD will not fix everything and its not for everyone. If youre someone with a serious health condition such as cancer, I highly recommend speaking to a health care professional before using CBD. CBD is a potent inhibitor of two types of P450 liver enzymes that break down more than a third of prescription drugs. If youre using CBD with a drug that is metabolized by these enzymes, the drug could stay in your system longer, which might be dangerous for your health (especially if consumed at higher doses).

Another common misconception is that CBD is nonpsychoactive. Due to how CBD interacts with different receptors, such as serotonin 5-HT1A, CBD does affect your brain in some capacity. Instead of using nonpsychoactive, a better term to use would be nonintoxicating as it will not cause a high like THC.