Many people choose to take CBD for the range of benefits it provides. Since cannabis is often used to treat ailments like pain, large and well funded research into the plant is only just now becoming more common due to the global acceptance of cannabis.

Lots of research lately has focused around CBD, which may not come as a surprise if you've been living in a state where CBD is legalized. There have been some promising early studies that show CBD has strong benefits for those who decide to medicate with it.

CBD (short for cannabidiol), is one of over 100 types of cannabinoids naturally occurring in the cannabis plant. When you consume CBD, it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, and those interactions lead to most of the benefits associated with CBD.

For some people, the fact that CBD is non-psychoactive is one of the main benefits of this substance. This way, it lets you get the medical benefits of cannabis without having to worry about the psychoactive effects.

Of course, the psychoactive benefits are not necessarily a bad thing; they are not always ideal. Many people who like to take advantage of CBD want to be able to function normally at work or school or to drive their cars without impairment. The non-psychoactive nature of CBD also means that you can use it without fear of the results of any drug tests at work or school.

The psychoactive component of the cannabis plant is the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. If you feel that the non-psychoactive nature of CBD is a benefit for you, then make sure you choose a CBD product without THC.

⚠️Some CBD products contain less than 0.3 percent THC, which is enough to show up on a drug test but not typically enough to interfere with daily functions. So, keep that in mind if this is a significant advantage for you.

For many people, the most important benefit of CBD is its ability to help with pain relief. There are indications that our ancestors used marijuana for pain relief as long ago as 2,900 B.C. In recent years, scientists have discovered that CBD is one of the reasons that marijuana can provide pain relief.

Research indicates that CBD might help alleviate chronic pain thanks to its interactions with the endocannabinoid system, specifically the endocannabinoid receptors. The CBD interacts with neurotransmitters and reduces inflammation. Studies in rats have shown reduced inflammation and sciatic nerve pain while human studies have shown CBD, combined with THC, can help with arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS) pain. There is even an oral spray combining these two cannabinoids, and various countries have approved it for treating MS pain.

Another major benefit of CBD is its ability to reduce depression and anxiety without the side effects associated with antidepressants and other medications usually used to treat them. This is important since certain medications for anxiety and depression can be addictive, potentially leading to substance abuse, while others just cause minor yet annoying side effects.

Studies have already shown that CBD has a similar impact as antidepressants in animals. Other studies in humans support the ability of CBD to reduce anxiety in public speaking, along with discomfort and cognitive impairment in that situation.

That ability to reduce anxiety can also help people navigate stressful situations and everyday stress. When you are less anxious thanks to CBD, it becomes easier to handle a potentially stressful situation.

Cannabis may also help you fall asleep at night and get a better night’s rest in the process. Between anecdotal evidence and early research, it seems that CBD is worth a try for sleep disorders. It can specifically help if you have trouble falling asleep or do not feel rested when you wake up.

While there are numerous over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep, they tend to come with side effects. Some may not even be very effective. By contrast, CBD has almost no risk, and it should help you sleep better.

Experts believe that CBD helps with sleep in several ways. Some argue that its ability to reduce anxiety and to relieve pain will naturally help people fall asleep. After all, many people who do not sleep well have those issues. Other researchers feel that CBD might directly affect sleep via interactions with the brain receptors responsible for the sleep and wake cycle.

Given the harsh symptoms typically associated with cancer, and the unfortunate prevalence of the disease, CBD’s ability to reduce certain symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment is a significant benefit. Some of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatments include pain, vomiting, nausea, and changes in appetite. Various studies and anecdotal evidence show that CBD can help with all of these.

Research has looked at both CBD alone, and CBD combined with THC for treating cancer symptoms. One study found that CBD with THC can provide a significant reduction in pain, even if the pain was resistant to traditional medications. More importantly, the pain reduction of CBD with THC was greater than that of just THC.

In terms of nausea and vomiting, a study looked at a group of people undergoing chemotherapy. This study found that CBD did better at reducing nausea and vomiting than just traditional treatments and without side effects.

Although this potential benefit of CBD still requires more research, there is some indication that CBD might lower the risk of cancer or its spread. A study found that animals with CBD in their systems were less likely to get colon cancer after exposure to carcinogens. Some studies have also looked at reported data, including one about male Californians in 2015, that found a significantly lower rate of bladder cancer for those using cannabis.

Potentially Reducing the Spread of Cancer

Early evidence indicates that CBD may be able to limit the growth of cancer cells, this particular benefit should be taken with a grain of salt due to its life and death nature. Animal and test-tube studies indicate that CBD can reduce or slow down the spread of lung, colon, brain, prostate, and breast cancer.

The reason to be extra cautious with this potential benefit is the risk factor. Because CBD has not been proven to reduce the spread of cancer, those who have cancer should not rely solely on cannabidiol to stop the disease from spreading or to treat it. Instead, they can consider CBD when traditional medications do not work. Alternatively, cancer patients can ask their doctors whether CBD would negatively interact with any of their other treatments and if there would be risks to trying it.

Reducing the Risks of Obesity and Diabetes

Some early research has shown that CBD may help reduce the risk of developing diabetes or being obese. This comes from studies that indicate that those who use cannabis regularly have smaller waist circumferences, lower body mass indices, and a lower risk of both obesity and diabetes. This study is particularly useful as it had a large sample size. However, the caveat is that it looked at cannabis as a whole, not just CBD and that it relied on self-reported data regarding cannabis use.

Despite these limitations, there have been other studies focused on CBD. One looked at diabetes in rats and found that CBD helped with weight loss and controlling diabetes.

Another significant benefit of CBD is its ability to promote heart health, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improving cholesterol profiles. One study found that those who use cannabis regularly had higher levels of good cholesterol and reduced levels of bad cholesterol. Once again, it is important to note that this study looked at cannabis as a whole, not just CBD.

Although There is some anecdotal evidence that CBD can help with heart health. Some studies also looked at CBD in particular instead of cannabis. One animal study in 2007 found that CBD could provide cardio-protective benefits during a heart attack. Animal studies show CBD might reduce cell death and inflammation due to heart disease, thanks to its stress-reduction and antioxidant properties.

There are also indications that CBD may be able to reduce a person’s blood pressure. Since high blood pressure increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, heart attack, and stroke, this potential CBD benefit is important. Experts feel that this reduction in blood pressure is due to the ability of CBD to minimize stress and anxiety.

In addition to helping the heart, CBD may also help protect the brain. Experts believe that when CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, it can help people with neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. The early research into this is promising.

One of the few FDA-approved medications with CBD is for the treatment of epilepsy. Studies have found that taking CBD can reduce medication-resistant muscle spasticity in persons with multiple sclerosis and can reduce seizures. There are also studies indicating that CBD can help improve the quality of life of those with other neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The research regarding Alzheimer’s so far focuses on mice and test tubes, but the Parkinson’s study includes human participants.

CBD may also be able to protect against broken bones and bone disease. This is because cannabinoids like CBD encourage bone metabolism. That process is when the old material in our bones gets replaced with new material, encouraging healthy and strong bones.

While that benefit applies to multiple cannabinoids, research indicates that CBD, in particular, can block the enzyme that is responsible for destroying our body’s bone-building compounds. That, in turn, reduces the risk of breaking bones as well as that of developing bone-related diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

There are some indications that taking CBD may help people suffering from substance abuse to overcome their addiction. This comes down to the ability of CBD to modify brain circuits that are part of drug addiction. One study involving rats showed that CBD can reduce both heroin-seeking behavior and dependence on morphine.

You can also find research to support the idea that CBD can help reduce acne. Acne is due to sebum overproduction, underlying inflammation, genetics, and bacteria. Some studies indicate that CBD can treat acne, thanks to its ability to reduce inflammation. It may also reduce the production of sebum. The studies so far have not included humans, so more research is still necessary.

On a related note, some research indicates that CBD infused into lotion can improve the skin’s ability to repair damage from environmental pollutants and UV rays. This comes from the skin’s cannabinoid receptors, which are related to sebaceous glands’ oil production.

Although this particular benefit needs more research, some studies have shown that CBD may be able to reduce the psychotic symptoms experienced by those with schizophrenia or other mental disorders.

On top of all the above potential benefits, one strong advantage of CBD is the typical lack of side effects. In most cases, those who take CBD will not notice any adverse reactions. It is possible to experience changes in weight or appetite, diarrhea, or fatigue. CBD may also interact with certain medications.

Other than those rare cases, however, CBD is completely safe. This makes it an appealing option for those who have used traditional medications without success or with horrible side effects. Because CBD has almost no side effects, there is almost no risk in trying it for any of the above benefits.

CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, and it can relieve pain, stress, depression, anxiety, and inflammation, help with sleep and protect the heart and brain. Few people experience side effects with CBD, making it safe to try the cannabinoid and take advantage of its many benefits.&nbsp;

What Are The Benefits of CBD?

Why do people use CBD? What health symptoms can CBD help alleviate? Is CBD right for you?

Glaucoma is a condition that negatively affects your eyes, including your vision. As the use of medical marijuana rises, glaucoma has become one of the more common diseases whose symptoms can be alleviated by the use of cannabis. This trend continues today with cannabis proving itself effective at controlling glaucoma symptoms.

Before you can explore how cannabis helps glaucoma, you need to understand the disease. As mentioned, glaucoma is a disease that affects the eyes and your vision. This is a degenerative condition that can progress very slowly, meaning that many patients do not detect it in the early years.

Research indicates that around 3 million Americans have glaucoma, with 4 percent of those glaucoma patients going blind eventually. Experts agree that many people with glaucoma do not know they have the condition since it is very hard to spot in its early stages.

There are two types of glaucoma, both of which can cause eyesight deterioration without treatment.&nbsp;

Experts believe that the cause of glaucoma is either too much pressure within a person’s eyes or intraocular pressure. Because of that, traditional treatments work to reduce that intraocular pressure.

Traditional treatments usually include surgery, medications, and laser treatment. All of these treatments will focus on reducing the pressure in the lower eye, so the damage slows down. Most patients with glaucoma will have to use daily eye drops that are topical medications. Unfortunately, not everyone tolerates this treatment well, and it can be incredibly challenging for some people to get drops in their eyes successfully.

The first report that marijuana was able to reduce intraocular pressure came in 1971. Since then, cannabis has earned a reputation as a natural remedy for glaucoma with minimal side effects.

One of the landmark cases for medical marijuana was about glaucoma. In 1974, Robert Randall was 26 years old and had poorly controlled glaucoma that was at an advanced stage. Randall usually saw halos around lights, but he noticed they went away after smoking marijuana. Randall risked jail time to bring this information to light and faced a federal criminal judge. He managed to convince the federal judge that his use of marijuana was necessary from a medical standpoint. This became a landmark case.

Cannabis can help with treating glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure. By reducing that pressure, cannabis helps to slow down the progress of glaucoma. Cannabis use will not benefit those who have already gone blind from glaucoma; it can just delay the progression.

Research as far back as 2004 indicates that some of the active ingredients in cannabis are responsible for lowering the intraocular pressure. Studies show that THC and marijuana reduce the intraocular pressure in normal individuals and those with glaucoma by between 60 and 65 percent. In one study, the mean reduction in intraocular pressure was around 25 percent. The effect applies to intravenous, oral, sublingual, and inhaled cannabis.

The studies also show that the reduction in intraocular pressure does not last long, only three to four hours. There is also a relationship between the dose-response with the extent of the reduction of pressure and quantity of marijuana. While taking higher doses is more effective at relieving the pressure, it does not improve the duration of the results.

The neuroprotective properties of cannabis also play a role in its ability to help glaucoma. Recent research indicates that the neuroprotective properties of cannabis may help protect damage to a patient’s optic nerve. That would be a very different treatment method for glaucoma than most existing ones since the current methods rely on reducing intraocular pressure, not protecting the optic nerve.

Cannabis Relieves Other Symptoms of Glaucoma

Cannabis can also help patients with glaucoma control related symptoms.

In 2008, researchers found that cannabis did a better job at suppressing chemotherapy-caused vomiting in cancer patients than the medications typically prescribed. Other research shows that the ability of cannabis to reduce nausea extends beyond chemo-related nausea and applies to nausea in general.

Thanks to its ability to reduce nausea, cannabis can also reduce vomiting. This makes sense since the two are usually connected.

There is also plenty of evidence that cannabis can reduce the presence of headaches, which are one of the potential symptoms of glaucoma.

There is some criticism associated with using cannabis to help glaucoma, including concerns about inhaling the smoke and the problems associated with that. This led to others wondering if marijuana eye drops could be the solution. This way, patients would not ingest cannabis through their lungs, avoiding those side effects.

Scientists have run studies that have patients ingest the THC from marijuana via eye drops, or via sublingual (underneath the tongue) or oral methods. These methods do successfully prevent lung problems linked to smoking cannabis. However, there may still be some other side effects.

There are also issues producing cannabis eye drops. While this seems like a logical solution, the fact that THC is not very soluble in water makes it hard to create the eye drops. The attempts so far do not have sufficiently high THC concentrations to make them effective.

Despite the evidence that cannabis can help with glaucoma and its long-standing use for this condition, there are skeptics.

Some argue that cannabis is not an ideal treatment for glaucoma because of the potential side effects of taking it, such as its psychoactive nature. Other than the psychoactive effects of cannabis, however, this concern is largely unfounded. Few people experience side effects when taking cannabis.

Even if there were side effects, they would typically be lesser than those associated with pharmaceutical drugs used in treating glaucoma symptoms. The minimal side effects would also be worth it for most glaucoma patients as there are not many other good ways to relieve the intraocular pressure.

There are also some concerns about the chemical compounds found in marijuana cigarettes. Experts found that these chemical compounds could cause lung damage in a similar way to tobacco cigarettes. You can get around this by rolling your own marijuana cigarettes or choosing a product that is all-natural. Research also indicates that in rare cases, chronic marijuana use could permanently impact brain function. The key here is that this side effect is very rare and requires chronic use.

Experts also believe that in addition to lowering the intraocular pressure, marijuana could lower blood pressure. While this is good for some patients, it would be an unwanted side effect for many. That is particularly true because lower blood pressure means the optic nerve receives less blood, which could further damage it.

They also argue that cannabis is not a feasible long-term solution since the positive effects will only last several hours. This is a valid point as it means that patients need to use cannabis consistently to reap the benefits. Most of the time, the relief in eye pressure will last three to four hours. It is not practical for people to smoke cannabis at these intervals, especially if they need to operate heavy machinery or work in a field that requires attention to detail.

However, there are methods of consuming cannabis that can increase the duration of the benefits and relief. Between the varying effects of different strains and options like edibles that are long-lasting, this criticism is easy to overcome.

The official stance from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, and the American Glaucoma Society is not to recommend cannabis or its derivatives like CBD as a treatment for any eye condition, including glaucoma. The organizations point out the lack of evidence and the inability to reduce the pressure 24/7 with cannabis. They also say that experts still need to conduct more research into how cannabis and its compounds affect glaucoma and eye pressure.

For the ideal treatment of glaucoma that saves the vision of a patient, you must control the eye pressure 24/7. That ideal pressure reduction for the average glaucoma patient is three to five mm Hg. That reduction in pressure would require ingesting ridiculously large quantities of THC, between 18 and 20 mg at six to eight times every day. This would interfere with regular activities and be cost-prohibitive in most cases.

If you deal with glaucoma, you may want to try using cannabis to help prevent the condition from worsening and to treat your symptoms. You should only consider this as a treatment option if medical and recreational marijuana is legal in your jurisdiction and after getting the proper licensing.

If you do live somewhere where cannabis is legal, consider consulting your doctor about using cannabis to help your glaucoma. This would likely supplement your traditional treatments. You should always talk to your doctor before using cannabis to treat glaucoma since the plant can interact with certain medications. You do not want to render the medicines you currently take less effective.Before you use cannabis to help with glaucoma, you should also keep in mind that it would only provide temporary relief. Ingesting cannabis alone will not be enough to keep your intraocular pressure at safe levels unless you consumed large amounts that can hinder you from functioning normally. Because of this, cannabis to treat glaucoma should supplement your other glaucoma treatment, not replace it.

When deciding if you should use cannabis to help with your glaucoma, you also need to consider your lifestyle and the psychoactive properties of the plant. If you have a detail-oriented job or operate heavy machinery, including cars, you would not be able to use your medical cannabis at or right before work, since it would pose a risk.

Even if you do not have a detail-oriented job, drive, or operate heavy machinery, you should confirm how you react to cannabis before incorporating it into your glaucoma treatment. Start by trying it on a weekend or holiday so you can gauge your reaction since this varies by person.

Although medical experts and glaucoma patients have recommended cannabis to treat the disease for well over a decade, there are still no clear guidelines on using cannabis in this way.

Given the challenges associated with using cannabis for glaucoma, such as side effects, some wonder whether CBD could be a better option. After all, CBD or cannabidiol provides relief for a range of conditions. Unfortunately, researchers still need to conduct more studies on the potential of CBD for glaucoma treatment. One study actually showed that it could worsen glaucoma by increasing the intraocular pressure, but this was a single study.

If experts could create a CBD-based solution to relieve the symptoms of glaucoma and prevent its spread, this would be ideal. This is because CBD is non-psychoactive, so it would not interfere with a patient’s daily life by making them high. CBD is also legal in more states than cannabis is, which would make it easier for patients to get treatment. For now, those with glaucoma need to wait for more research.

Experts tout cannabis for its ability to help with glaucoma treatment, but there is still some debate about its effectiveness. Cannabis can help prevent the spread of glaucoma by reducing the intraocular pressure that causes the condition. The caveat is that cannabis will only last for several hours in a row, and you need to control your intraocular pressure 24/7 to prevent worsening your vision.

Experts have more planned research to look into the impact of cannabis on glaucoma. Hopefully, they will achieve more concrete results and be able to develop a cannabis-based solution that lasts longer than four hours and does not come with side effects.

Does Cannabis Help With Glaucoma?

Widely purported as being beneficial to those with glaucoma, does marijuana actually help with the eye condition?

To put it simply, CBD should not show up on your drug test. However, there are some important caveats to keep in mind if you want the benefits of cannabidiol but need to pass a drug test.

To understand why CBD should not show up on a drug test, let’s take a closer look at this substance. Cannabidiol is one of the main cannabinoids present in cannabis. CBD is non-psychoactive, unlike THC, which is the major psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana.

The lack of psychoactive effects in CBD is part of the reason why it should not appear on your drug test. Most drug tests for cannabis search for THC or the THC metabolites. The most common versions will check for Delta-9-THC, the most common form of THC. Delta-9-THC stays in the urine and serum for weeks. While it used to be more common to have false positives on drug tests, this is now rare.

CBD and THC are distinct chemically. As such, a test that looks for THC should not find CBD.

Watch Out for Products With Trace THC Quantities

The big issue with drug tests and CBD is that many cannabidiol products will contain THC in trace quantities. Legally, CBD products can have up to 0.3 percent THC content. This is a trace quantity of THC, but it is enough to count in some cases. The main branding or packaging of your CBD product does not need to specify that it contains THC in large print. However, you should see THC listed in the ingredients list or another area in the fine print.

Since THC is the main culprit when CBD products show up on a drug test, it is natural to wonder how much THC you have to consume to fail a drug test. Unfortunately, there are some variations based on the person, thanks to differences in metabolism. To make up for this, there are official levels based on federal workplace drug testing limits. The thing to remember is that these limits indicate how much THC can be present. The amount of THC you must consume to reach that level will depend on your body chemistry.

In urine testing, the concentration of THC-COOH needs to be at least 50 nanograms per milliliters to cause a positive result. Most of the time, THC metabolites will stay in your urine for three to 15 days following the consumption. However, if you use it more frequently or in larger quantities, it can stay in your urine for more than 30 days.

Urine testing is the most commonly used in workplace drug testing.

Blood tests are less commonly used to check for drugs since THC leaves the bloodstream quickly. It only remains detectable in your plasma for five hours or less. The THC metabolites may stay in your blood for as long as seven days.

The blood concentration limit for THC will vary by state. Some states have zero-tolerance policies, especially if cannabis is illegal there. Where cannabis is legal, the limit maybe 1, 2, or 5 nanograms per milliliter.

It is most common for blood drug tests to occur in situations where your current impairment requires testing. One example would be when driving under the influence.

There are no established THC limits for testing in hair. Private industry cutoffs tend to be at 1 picogram (or one-trillionth of a gram) per milligram of THC-COOH. THC metabolites can stay in the hair for as long as 90 days.

You are unlikely to come across drug testing for cannabis via saliva. There are not any official limits for THC in saliva. In 2017, however, a Journal of Medical Toxicology recommendation suggested a limit of about 4 nanograms per milliliter.

THC usually stays in oral fluids for about 72 hours. If you use cannabis chronically or in larger amounts, it may stay detectable for much longer.

Under the Farm Bill of 2018, hemp-based CBD products are no longer illegal. Theoretically, the FDA must now regulate CBD products based on hemp. This was always the case, but prior to the Farm Bill, cannabidiol was illegal, and that meant there was no reason for the FDA to regulate it.

The FDA did recently state that it is illegal to sell CBD in foods or supplements despite the legality of hemp (with THC of less than 0.3 percent). This is somewhat limiting for those who sell products with CBD, and the challenges are still being worked out.

The Farm Bill and the FDA regulation also do not mean that all of the hemp you find for sale will be regulated. It is still possible to find illegitimate retailers that may lie about the content of their products. They may lie about the THC content of CBD products or whether the product is hemp- or cannabis-based.

One of the biggest factors influencing whether CBD will show up on a drug test is the type of CBD that you have. CBD can be an isolate or a spectrum, with two types of spectrums. Generally, isolates do not contain THC while full spectrums do. Broad spectrums should also be safe if you take a drug test.

If you need to pass a drug test, then you should always choose a CBD isolate. This is the purest version of CBD that you will find. It only includes CBD, extracting it and isolating it (hence the name) from the other compounds. This means that CBD isolates will not contain other cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids. CBD isolates are usually hemp-based. Most CBD isolates will have absolutely no THC, while others will have very low quantities.

Full-spectrum CBD products sit at the other end of the spectrum. These include all of the compounds in the source plant, including the cannabinoids as well as the flavonoids and terpenes. As such, there will be THC in full-spectrum CBD products, which means you might fail a drug test. You may still pass one, however, since the product will still not have more than 0.3 percent THC if it is legal in the United States.

The reason for using full-spectrum products is the increase in efficacy. Experts believe that combining CBD with other cannabinoids, including THC, produces better results than CBD alone. This comes with a tradeoff of a higher risk of trace amounts of THC.

Broad-spectrum CBD products are a middle-ground between isolates and full-spectrum CBD products. You will find a range of terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids in these items. However, you will not find THC. Broad-spectrum CBD products should contain no THC, just as is the case with isolates. However, you still get to take advantage of other cannabinoids and compounds that can enhance the effects of the CBD.

Research Products Before Buying If You Need to Pass a Drug Test

If you need to know whether your CBD products will not show up on a drug test, then you need to do your research before choosing the products.

Start by evaluating the brand that you want to buy from. You can find information on the brand’s website, but this will be one-sided. Look at reviews from other individuals and third-parties to get a better idea of whether you can trust the brand. You could even do an online search for a brand review that includes the term “drug test.”

By buying from a retailer and brand with a strong reputation, you will reduce the risk of being intentionally or unintentionally misled. Some manufacturers may lie about the source of their hemp or THC products. Others may accidentally switch two products and give you one with THC. You can avoid both of those issues by choosing a reputable and established brand.

You will also need to pay attention to the source of the CBD. Start by confirming that the CBD is hemp-based as this almost always guarantees that there will be no THC. Most hemp does not have THC, although there are exceptions, including products that are tampered with.

You can also look at where the hemp was grown. If you do not want the CBD to appear on a drug test, opt for hemp grown in the United States whenever possible. Legally, that hemp can only contain trace quantities of THC, less than 0.3 percent. Typically, it will not have any THC.

To further your research, look for CBD products with a certificate of analysis. The best retailers offer this type of official analysis, although they may call it something else. In most cases, the certificate is the result of independent third-party testing of the product. It should indicate the quantities of CBD and THC as well as other ingredients. The lower the THC content on the certificate of analysis, the less likely it is to appear on a drug test. If you want to minimize the risk, only buy products with certificates of analysis that show zero percent THC.

Understand CBD’s Influence on THC Levels

We have established that CBD alone is unlikely to show up on a drug test, but will it increase your THC levels? This may be a concern for those who use products with trace quantities of THC that may or may not cause them to fail a drug test. If CBD were to increase the THC levels, supplementing your THC products with CBD isolates could cause you to fail a drug test even if you would not without the CBD.

Experts are still researching this potential connection, but it does seem that CBD may increase THC levels. That is because CBD might impact your hepatic metabolism. This slows the system’s THC processing ability, so your brain and serum levels of THC are higher. This will not affect most people, but if you occasionally consume very low levels of THC, it is worth consideration.

There is also some data suggesting that in vivo, CBD may convert to THC depending on the stomach’s acidic conditions. In that case, CBD could cause false positives.

Although false positives on drug tests from CBD are rarer than they used to be, this is still possible. You may fail a drug test after consuming CBD, even if you do not think it has THC, in the following situations:

Incorrect labeling, which may be intentional or unintentional, can lead you to consume CBD products that contain THC. That would result in a positive drug test. Because CBD products do not always fall under regulation, mislabeling is more common for these than other better-regulated products.

If the manufacturer of your product does not have strict methods to control cross-contamination, this is also a possibility. This cross-contamination can occur at the manufacturing level, during storage, or while being consumed.

You are unlikely to test positively for drugs after secondhand THC exposure or secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke, but it can happen. It will depend on the quantity of THC that you’ve absorbed via the secondhand smoke. That inhaled amount will depend on marijuana’s potency and the area’s ventilation and size.

The bottom line is that CBD alone should not show up on your drug test. However, if you take a CBD product that contains THC, there is a risk that you will fail the drug test. Hemp-based products, including CBD, legally cannot have more than 0.3 percent THC. This will not always show up on a drug test, but it might.

If you cannot fail a drug test but want to take advantage of the benefits of CBD, opt for a CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD. In this case, look at lab test results to confirm that your chosen product has zero percent THC. To ensure you get the promised products, without THC, always buy from a reputable source.&nbsp;

Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

There is a great deal of confusion regarding CBD or cannabidiol and whether or not it will impact a drug test screening.

Cannabis is known for its relaxing effects and the “highs” that it produces. Cannabis is also commonly used to treat a range of ailments, from pain to anxiety to inflammation. Most people who smoke or use cannabis in other ways are aware that there are various strains. However, you may not realize the extent to which the variety determines the effect that cannabis has on your body.

Every strain has its own set of effects that you are likely to experience. There is plenty of overlap between them, but when you account for results, THC and CBD content, aroma, and other factors, each strain is genuinely unique. Take a look at some of the more common cannabis strains and how they affect you.

Before getting into specific types of strains, it is wise to go over the difference between sativa and indica. These are the two main types of cannabis strains that you will come across, although hybrids also exist. There is a third type of cannabis, ruderalis, but this is seldom used for a “high” or other benefits due to its extremely low potency.

The biggest differences between sativa and indica strains are their appearance, origins, and typical THC to CBD ratio. Sativa plants tend to be tall, growing over 12 feet high. They have very thin leaves and take longer to develop. By contrast, indica plants are shorter and stocky, featuring chunky leaves and growing more quickly.

Sativa plants are native to western Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central America, doing well in dry and hot climates that have long, sunny days. Indica plants are native to Turkey, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. They do well in turbulent, dry, and harsh climates.

As a rule of thumb, indica strains have more CBD than THC, while sativa strains have more THC than CBD.

Many people connect sativa strains of cannabis with energizing effects and indica with relaxation. Some research, however, shows that this is not something you can count on. Instead, the effects of a given cannabis plant will depend on the strain’s specific characteristics. In other words, you can easily find a sativa strain that relaxes or an indica strain that energizes.

In addition to cannabis sativa and indica types, some hybrids combine them. These hybrids are typically developed by growers to have specific desired effects. Hybrids can be balanced, sativa-dominant, or indica-dominant.

There is still some debate as to whether there is an actual difference in effects between sativa and indica strains. Because of this, some people have created various categories between those two types of strains and hybrids.

Heavy indica strains are said to offer an intense head effect and long-lasting physical relief. It is popular for pain relief, relaxation, and sleeping. Clear indica strains have lasting physical relief along with a clear head that makes functioning easy. It is popular for physical relief during the day.

Heavy hybrids balance mental and physical effects. They are said to help with relaxation and pain relief without too much drowsiness. Even hybrids balance the body and head effects. They are supposed to help those who do not want to feel too tired or too energized.

Clear hybrids balance the effects on the body and head but keep things mostly clear. It is recommended for those who want to stay clear-headed. Heavy sativa is said to offer uplifting body effects with intense mental and physical relief. Clear sativa strains are supposed to give you a clear, uplifting effect without physical effects.

Other experts or growers may have similar scales that aim to show the range of effects you can feel between sativa, a sativa-dominant hybrid, balanced hybrid, an indica-dominant hybrid, and indica strains.

Before getting into the specific effects that you are likely to experience from a particular strain, keep in mind that everyone will experience cannabis differently. This comes down to differences in how our endocannabinoid systems react to the CBD, THC, and other compounds in the cannabis strain.

Some of the variations between people come from the differences in biochemistry. The effects of a particular strain can also vary across people based on their biological sex and their overall health. People with certain medical conditions, for example, will more likely feel a decrease in their symptoms instead of a “high,” although that is not always the case.

The bottom line is that no matter how much you read about a particular marijuana strain, you will never know how it will affect you personally until you try it. With that in mind, take a look at some of the most popular cannabis strains and the strains’ most common effects.

Acapulco Gold&nbsp;is a strain that gets its name from its origins in Acapulco, Mexico. This strain induces euphoria and provides energization. Users also report that it can reduce nausea, pain, stress, and fatigue.

Afghan Kush is a very popular strain that comes from the mountains of the Hindu Kush close to the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This strain is known for its relaxing effects, as well as its ability to help users fall asleep. It is also suitable for pain relief and for stimulating the appetite.

Blue Dream is a popular cannabis strain for those who want to relax without feeling sedated completely. As such, it is a popular option for overcoming pain, inflammation, and cramps in situations when you still need to stay alert. At the same time, Blue Dream typically provides a mood boost with some feelings of euphoria.

Bubba Kush is a cannabis strain known for its ability to promote relaxation and induce sleep. It is an excellent choice for those who have insomnia. It also helps relieve stress and reduce pain.

Do Si Dos&nbsp;is an indica-dominant hybrid, and its parent strains are Face Off OG and&nbsp;Girl Scout Cookies. This strain is famous for assisting with stress relief, arthritis, and pain management. It is known for its strong head “high” combined with medicinal properties, including assistance in managing depression, inflammation, and pain.

Fruity Pebbles OG&nbsp;is sometimes called FPOG and helps with relaxation and euphoria, making it an excellent choice for those suffering from stress. Using Fruity Pebbles OG can also help in reducing nausea and increasing appetite while leading to the giggles.

Girl Scout Cookies&nbsp;is indica-dominant and has THC of between 21 and 28 percent. It smells like earth, cherries, and blueberries. It is popular for its euphoric effect with creativity, energy, relaxation, and happiness.

Golden Goat is a strain that leads to feelings of creativity along with euphoria. It is an excellent choice for those who want to overcome their fatigue and stress and would like a mood boost to go along with it.

Granddaddy Purple&nbsp;is a cannabis strain that is also known for its relaxation effect. It also helps fight stress as well as insomnia. This strain also appeals to those having a lack of appetite due to its ability to increase the feeling of hunger. As a bonus, it boosts your mood by creating feelings of euphoria.

LA Confidential is a nice choice for cannabis users who want something that will soothe their insomnia symptoms by inducing sleep and providing relaxation. Users also agree that LA Confidential can help with pain reduction and has anti-inflammatory benefits. This makes it a very popular choice among those who deal with chronic pain.

Maui Wowie is yet another cannabis strain commonly used for relaxation. It is unique, however, in that the feelings of relaxation are accompanied by creativity and a dose of energy. Maui Wowie is a popular option for those who need a burst of energy as it reduces fatigue and helps with productivity.

Northern Lights is a cannabis strain that can help you fall asleep and will provide relaxation. It is also a mood booster, helping those with depression. In addition to assisting with insomnia and depression, Northern Lights can also help reduce stress and pain.

Pineapple Express predates the famous 2008 movie, but that movie helped make it famous. It has a scent reminiscent of pineapple and will boost your mood while relaxing you. At the same time, Pineapple Express also provides you with an energetic buzz, making it a healthy choice for those times you need to be productive.

Purple Kush is associated with creating a feeling of bliss. This helps users feel happy, sleepy, and relaxed. Because of its sedative abilities, many people with insomnia use Purple Kush to get better sleep at night. It can also help with reducing muscle spasms and pain.

Sour Diesel is a strain that helps lift the mood of its users while also providing a nice dose of energy. After consuming Sour Diesel, you are likely to feel a burst of productive energy. It is also popular for relieving pain and overall de-stressing.

Super Silver Haze is a cannabis strain known for its energizing effects. Consuming this strain can relieve nausea and pain while also boosting your mood with feelings of euphoria. As such, it is a popular choice for those in search of stress relief.

Wedding Cake offers well-rounded effects that appeal to recreational and medicinal users of cannabis. It provides an immediate and robust head “high” that then shifts to a warm and heavy body “high.” It is famous for exercising, gaming, and creating.

White Widow will boost your mood while also helping you to relax and providing you with energy. Those who use this strain also indicate that it relieves stress, depression, and pain. It can also help those who are fatigued to remain alert and energized.

With so many strains of cannabis available, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and be unsure about which one to try.

Start by looking at the effects of each strain and comparing them to what you want to get out of your marijuana experience. With so many strains available, it should be easy to find one that meets your unique goals.

When looking at the effects of potential strains, also examine their potency, paying attention to both CBD and THC content. Choose a strain with a higher THC content if you want a potent strain that will give you a solid “high.” If you are more concerned with effects like pain relief than getting “high,” then you may prefer a strain with higher CBD content compared to THC. It all comes down to personal preference.

You should also consider the flavor and aroma of each strain. For many people, the flavor of a strain is a significant factor in their enjoyment of the cannabis, so you do not want to overlook this.

If you are still unsure what strain to try, consider asking an expert for their advice. When you go to your local dispensary to make a purchase, ask them for recommendations. This is a standard service that most dispensaries will gladly provide. After all, their staff tends to be incredibly familiar with the various strains on offer. They should have information, such as the likely effects and whether a strain is indica or sativa.

The side effects of cannabis tend to be minimal and similar across strains. You are most likely to experience dry eyes or dry mouth. You may also notice other effects like an increased heart rate or lung irritation.

Every strain of cannabis will give unique effects on your body, with some being better suited to helping you get a good night’s rest and others doing best at pain relief. You should have no problem finding a cannabis strain that provides the effects you want, whether you need more energy or to relax.

Effects Different Strains of Cannabis Have on the Body

Sativas and indica strain types have differing effects on the body. This guide will help you understand what they are.

Anxiety attacks are terrifying. Pills can make you feel like you’re a zombie or just disconnected from reality. Using cannabis can help relax yourself during the onset of an attack, or even before you feel the warning signs of anxiety start coming on. Here are six marijuana strains that help reduce anxiety.

Sativa strains are ideal for daytime use. These two are ideal for reducing the effects of anxiety on your body.

Strawberry Cough&nbsp;- Strawberry Cough is a heavy-hitting sativa. It energizes you but provides calming effects at the same time.

Jack Herer&nbsp;- Jack Herer is one of the most well-known sativa strains. It's great for depression and stress, but also works well for anxiety and PTSD. It's got some euphoric cerebral effects as well. Cerebral effects slowly surface, as Northern Lights is one of the parents of Jack Herer, which provides relaxing effects.

Indica strains are ideal for nighttime use. Your mind and body will both be relaxed before drifting off to sleep.

Blackberry Kush&nbsp;- Blackberry Kush stems from Afghani and Blueberry parents. It’s a heavy hitting indica that is likely to make you sleepy (combat this with a cup of coffee). Even in situations that would normally send you tail spinning into a major anxiety attack, you’ll notice that you’re cool as a cucumber and feel completely comfortable.

Granddaddy Purple&nbsp;- GDP as it is often referred to is known as the daytime indica. You’ll feel nice and calm but won’t need to take a nap. At the onset of your anxiety symptoms, take a few hits. Give yourself about 10 minutes to feel the full effects of GDP and enjoy being social without your heart beating out of your chest.

Hybrids are good options for afternoon and evening use. You’ll feel relaxed but not overly tired.

Girl Scout Cookies&nbsp;- &nbsp;Girl Scout Cookies is a bit unique. It helps our bodies reduce deficiencies of anandamide. Lacking anandamide can cause memory issues and can heighten symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. This strain typically has high THC percentages and is a Cannabis Cup winner several times over. Go light with GSC, a little too much can leave you feeling a bit confused. Take a couple of hits and give yourself 10 minutes to see if you need more to achieve a comfortable state of mind.

ACDC&nbsp;- ACDC is a high-CBD hybrid strain. The psychoactive effects are minimal, so for those that need relief but don’t want to feel high in some situations, this strain is ideal. You’ll be comfortable in public places and can also reduce inflammation at the same time. Typically, ACDC contains 20 times more CBD than THC.

Anxiety can ruin someone’s life and their ability to experience quality of life. It can be debilitating. You don’t have to be a slave to prescription medicine to relieve your anxiety. You can do it naturally and when you need to with quick relief of symptoms as marijuana works to combat symptoms of nearly any ailment (when choosing the right strain for your condition) in as little as 5 minutes.

Best Cannabis Strains for Anxiety

Find out which strains are helpful for coping with anxiety

There are general rules of thumb to follow, but your body’s metabolism also plays a major role in how long cannabis stays in your system. Traces of cannabis, even from just being in the room with someone that is smoking it, can be detected in hair follicles. Hair follicle tests can actually breakdown the time frame of your last exposure to the plant.

The potency of your cannabis does not play much of a role in how long it will stay in your system – contrary to popular belief.

If you have only used cannabis once or twice in a month, or only tried it once, don’t panic. With a bit of activity, you can get most of the THC out of your blood and urine streams within a few days – (3–5 days&nbsp;on average).

It's best to try to wait at least&nbsp;7 days&nbsp;to be scheduled for a drug test if you have only tried cannabis once, just to be safe.

Daily users are likely to still test positive more than 30 days after last consumption period. &nbsp;If you are a social cannabis user, it's best to wait&nbsp;30 days&nbsp;after your last use of cannabis to have the lowest levels of THC possible present, if at all.

💡Note: Even after 30 days of abstaining from using cannabis, you can still show a trace of THC in your blood.

As mentioned above, your metabolism plays a major factor in how your body processes THC. Metabolites, for this purpose, are THC and CBD. The lipid-soluble metabolites build up in your fat cells and release over time.&nbsp;

Now, if you only use CBD strains, you are not likely to test positive if it has been several days since your last use of cannabis. CBD strains tend to carry 3% THC or less in them, so they tend to metabolize out of your body a little faster.

Hair follicles hold THC the longest. If you are a daily user of cannabis or are exposed to cannabis smoke daily, it can be detected in your hair follicles for roughly&nbsp;6 months&nbsp;– at the very longest. Strands of hair have to be at least 1½ –inches in length to be a viable sample. It typically takes&nbsp;3 days&nbsp;to analyze a hair follicle test.

What most employers and drug testing facilities are not going to tell you is that there are pre-set sensitivities of drug tests. Employers can set the sensitivity as they wish, as can a state/federal government. Depending on the sensitivity level of the test, a trace amount or small amount of THC may not be detected.

If you are unsure as to how long cannabis is going to stay in your system, take advantage of the over-the-counter at-home drug tests available at most mass retail stores and pharmacies. You can order the tests online too.

It helps to know how long your body takes to process THC completely out of the body. THC hugs your fat cells, so those with larger body masses are likely to take a bit longer to process THC. THC is not like alcohol where you can go out drinking one night and within 24 hours pass a blood alcohol test.

As a general rule, it is likely for cannabis to stay in your system for&nbsp;30 – 45 days&nbsp;if you are a regular/heavy user.

How Long Does Cannabis Stay in your System?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding how long cannabis really stays in your system.

There is a great deal of controversy over CBD, with the FDA still not confirming a stance on it and no official recommendation about its use. There are very few exceptions to this rule, one of which is Dravet syndrome. This syndrome is one of the very few cases in which the FDA acknowledges the benefits CBD and has even approved a medication containing CBD. To date, the remedy for Dravet syndrome with CBD is the only cannabis-based medication with FDA approval.

Given this unique status, those in favor of CBD accessibility and cannabis legalization should familiarize themselves with Dravet syndrome and the positive effects that CBD can have on the condition.

Dravet syndrome was previously called Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI) and is sometimes still referred to by that name. It is a rare and catastrophic seizure condition that lasts for life.

The condition affects one out of every 15,700 individuals, and about 80 percent of those patients have mutations of the SCN1A gene.

Seizures are the main symptom of Dravet syndrome, with signs typically appearing within a child’s first year. The seizures are usually prolonged and frequent.

In addition to the frequent and prolonged seizures, many patients with Dravet syndrome will experience other symptoms. It is common for comorbidities with abnormal EEGs or development delay to occur when the patient is one or two years old. Some of the other common symptoms of those with Dravet syndrome are:

There is also a mortality rate of 15 to 20 percent with Dravet syndrome because of seizure-related accidents, prolonged seizures, infections, and SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

Dravet Syndrome and CBD

One of the few recommendations from the FDA indicates that CBD can help Dravet Syndrome.

Health

What Are The Benefits of CBD?

Does Cannabis Help With Glaucoma?

Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

Effects Different Strains of Cannabis Have on the Body

Best Cannabis Strains for Anxiety

How Long Does Cannabis Stay in your System?

Dravet Syndrome and CBD

Does Cannabis Affect Your Dreams or Cause Nightmares?

Are Cannabis Vape Pens Safe?

Why Does Cannabis Make Your Eyes Red?

Can Cannabis Cure Cancer?