CBD: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, and More

Cannabis History

The first recorded use of cannabis for medicinal purposes was in China around 2700 B.C. by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung, known as the “Father of Chinese medicine.” He prescribed marijuana to treat different types of illnesses, such as rheumatism, malaria, gout, and poor memory.

After that, the use of cannabis spread throughout the rest of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Doctors prescribed it to relieve pain but warned people about using too much because they could “see devils.”

In India, Cannabis was discovered and used through  2000–1400 B.C. People still mix it into drinks today and use it for various purposes, including medicine, religion, recreation, and spiritual reasons.

In 1550 B.C., marijuana was used in Egypt to treat inflammation.

Throughout the medieval period, cannabis became popular in the Arab world and was used in traditional Arabic medicine. It was also used in Europe during this time to treat tumors, cough, and jaundice. However, there were still warnings about using it excessively.

The Mexicans brought cannabis to the U.S., and by 1914 it was considered an illegal drug. In the 1970s, cannabis was ranked as a Schedule 1 drug, which is the most restrictive category for dangerousness and addiction, in the Controlled Substances Act.

Nowadays, people are optimistic about cannabis being a potential cure for many medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and maybe cancer. Scientists are conducting a lot of research to explore the possible medical benefits of this plant.

Cannabis Forms

The most common form used for medical purposes is CBD oil, which is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and diluting it with oil like coconut or hemp seed oil.

Usually, cannabis is available in different forms:

- CBD oil: this form contains the oil derived from the cannabis plant. CBD oil is commonly used for medical purposes and doesn't contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive element of cannabis that gives the "high effect".

- Herbal: It is made up of the dried plant leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. Its color generally varies from grey-green to green-brown. It is the most common type of cannabis. This form can be infused in foods and drinks.

- Hash/hashish: this form is made up of dried cannabis resin. Its color generally varies from light brown to very dark brown (almost black). It contains THC and it is commonly used for smoking to get a pleasant euphoria and a sense of relaxation.

- Hash oil: this is an oil extracted from the dried cannabis resin (hash). It is much more concentrated than CBD oil and contains high amounts of THC. Its color generally varies from brown to black.

How Cannabis is Grown

There are three main ways to grow cannabis. These include growing it: indoors, outdoors in the sun, and in a greenhouse.

1- Growing Cannabis Indoors: these plants are grown inside a closet or attic. This system does not depend on the weather but is controlled by the proper lighting, temperature, humidity, and CO2 production.

2- Growing Cannabis in the Sun: these plants are grown outside in nature. This system depends on outdoor weather conditions; therefore, the plants have more variety compared to cannabis grown indoors.

3- Growing Cannabis in a Greenhouse: these plants are grown in greenhouses. This system is similar to the natural growth one but is a more controlled environment. Therefore, there might be less variation per plant.

How Cannabis is Used

Cannabis can be used in the following forms:

1- Smoking: this is the quickest way to get the effect of cannabis. It can be rolled into a cigarette or smoked in a water pipe, either as herbal cannabis or hash. When it is inhaled, THC would need between 1 and 10 minutes to reach the brain for someone to feel its effect. 

2- Oral use (per oz.): hash oil can be taken as drops under the tongue, especially for medical purposes, or it can also be swallowed as baked products or herbal tea. For instance, cannabis leaves, hash, and oil can be mixed into brownies, cookies, and other foods.

If a person consumes cannabis, it will take longer for him or her to feel its effects because it needs to go through the digestive system before it gets into the bloodstream. It might take anywhere between 30 minutes to 5 hours for the body to absorb cannabis properly.

Factors Affecting Cannabis Dose

The dosage of cannabis might differ drastically from person to person, depending on the individual’s condition status, sex, weight, and age.

Several factors can impact the plant’s potency and alter its effects on the body. These factors affect the dosage each person can take. They include:

- The type of cannabis plant

- The quality of the plant

- How cannabis was used i.e., whether it was smoked or ingested

- How the plant has been processed

Therefore, defining the exact dosage remains challenging. It will be subject to disparity until a specific product is defined and tested properly and officially approved by the government.

Cannabis Legalization

Cannabis is recently becoming legal for medical purposes in many countries for several reasons, especially that this plant can help patients manage their pain and ease the side effects of chemotherapy for cancer patients.

So far, the plant has been legalized in Canada and several other countries, including Switzerland, Holland, and Uruguay. Other countries, such as Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, have legalized cannabis for medical purposes only.

There are many ongoing initiatives to legalize this plant’s use for medical purposes in other countries, especially after people saw the various benefits of using it.

In the USA, laws regarding cannabis use are slowly changing. It has become legal for adults in 11 states. Cannabis is also legal for medical use in 33 states. As of May 2020, the only states that consider marijuana fully illegal are Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Last updated: June 2020

How Cannabis works in the Body

CBD (non-psychoactive cannabidiol), known as cannabinoids, is one of over 100 chemical compounds found in cannabis or marijuana. It is the main component of the plant that is used for medical purposes.

It works by blocking the breakdown of our own endocannabinoids, which are molecules that help regulate the function of multiple organs and tissues of the body.

Accordingly, CBD provides support to balance the endocannabinoid system and modulates non-cannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system is quite complex and not fully understood yet. It involves a wide variety of functions, including pain, memory, appetite, stress, mood, sleep, metabolism, immune system, and reproductive function.

As such, CBD can directly activate the serotonin receptor and acts as an atypical antipsychotic. It can also bind directly to receptors to control pain, inflammation, and the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is responsible for coordinating the autonomic nervous system, and the activity of the glands controlling body temperature, thirst, and hunger, among other functions.

It also blocks a specific cannabinoid type receptor, which decreases the breakdown of bone, and prevents cancer cells from growing, among many other things.

Cannabis Benefits

Cannabis has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years and is beneficial for treating many health conditions. Scientists are conducting a lot of research to back up the benefits of the medical use of cannabis.

It can treat conditions like Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, cachexia, and glaucoma. It is also beneficial for cancer patients, especially because it eases the side effects of chemotherapy.

Moreover, cannabis provides anxiety, depression, and insomnia relief because this plant helps people sleep well. It can also help someone overcome chronic pain, severe nausea, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Many studies exist to support these claims. However, this is still a very debatable topic at the moment because more research is still required to better reinforce these theories and understand the mechanism of how cannabis works.

Cannabis Precautions

Some precautions that should be taken into consideration while using cannabis. Below is a list of things one should not do if one has consumed cannabis:

- Drink alcohol: cannabis should not be mixed with alcohol since it may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and impaired judgment. Alcohol will increase these effects.

- Take medicinal drugs: cannabis can increase the effects of medications that cause drowsiness such as antihistamines, antidepressants, seizure medicine, and pain relievers among others. 

- Consume cannabis while pregnant or when breastfeeding: women should avoid using cannabis during pregnancy or if they are planning on becoming pregnant. Smoking may increase the risk of having a child born with physical and mental defects, and a lower birth weight.

- Drive: cannabis use can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and impaired judgment. Therefore, it’s important to avoid driving so you don’t endanger yourself or harm others.

Cannabis Side Effects

Smoking cannabis might have some negative side effects. That is why most doctors would recommend CBD oil rather than smoking marijuana for medical purposes.

CBD and THC have the same chemical formula, but the atoms are arranged differently. This difference in atom position takes away the effect of feeling “high,” from CBD. Hence, CBD has little or no effect on cognition compared to THC.

The harmful effects of smoking cannabis might include developing:

- Respiratory problems: smoking cannabis can irritate the lungs and increase the risk of several conditions like chronic bronchitis and cancer of the respiratory tract.

- Heart disease: smoking cannabis increases the heart rate and might aggravate existing heart conditions.

- Mental health problems: the THC component of cannabis can decrease concentration levels, which can worsen short-term memory. When taken in high doses, it can even cause hallucinations and delusions.

- Addiction: many people who smoke cannabis long term might develop an addiction and start to depend on it because the THC component makes them feel “high.”