Tag: CBD

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The CBD Perception: How to Stay One Step Ahead of your Kids

It's not too complicated to figure out why CBD is so beneficial and popular

What is CBD anyway?

When it comes to society's CBD Perception, you may be among many. You’ve always considered yourself a pretty savvy parent, guiding your kids somewhat peacefully through their pre-pubescent years.  You smiled as they approached their long-awaited teen years, feeling pretty secure “you’ve got this!”  You’ve read and practically memorized important information on recreational drugs. You believe your kids may have tried some stuff, but they’re not addicted. Whew!  You’re almost home free!  But wait.  What’s this?  CBD?  Is this another drug?  You hear the kids talk about it … openly.  You’re sure they’re using it.  No!  “Where did this come from?  What do I do now?”

The best thing you can do is learn to speak their language – especially when CBD (Cannabidiol) is an important part of their lingo.  There’s plenty of information ‘out there’ about CBD – some good, some not so good.  If you’re new to the world of CBD hemp products, you can become confused and mis-informed, quickly!  Is it Marijuana?  Is it psychoactive? Is it addictive?  The answers are no, no, and no.  Here are four simple but important steps you can take to help get you up to speed.

 

How to Buy the Best CBD and Hemp Products for Yourself

  1. Listen to the Experts

Mary Carter, CBD expert and owner of several Carolina Hemp Hut locations (www.carolinahemphut.com) assures that CBD “is a naturally occurring compound found in the resinous flower of cannabis, a plant with a rich history as a medicine, going back thousands of years.”  It is actually just one of more than 100 cannabinoids found throughout the stalks, seeds, and flowers of cannabis plants, such as hemp. Mary confirms that CBD is NOT psychoactive like its cannabis cousin, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).  This means that people will enjoy the many benefits of CBD and be confident it falls under the maximum legal limit of 0.3% THC. The THC concern alone has created a CBD perception which may be negative.

Let’s take a look at some facts and fiction.  The anti-CBD crowd will try to assure you that CBD hasn’t shown to be helpful in any health condition.  Not true, moms and dads.  Katie MacBride (katiemacwrites@gmail.com), a journalist, essayist, and editor, expertly covers drug policy, health, politics, gender, and the arts. She writes in the online magazine, healthline: “Last summer, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Epidiolex, a CBD-based medication for seizure disorders that are difficult to treat.  It’s the first cannabis-based (in this case, CBD-based) medication to get the agency’s approval since cannabis became a Schedule 1 drug in 1970.”  So, what does “Schedule 1 drug” mean?  A drug placed in this category - according to the federal government - means the drug has no medical value.  “Yet,” Ms. MacBride writes, “the results of the clinical trials of this CBD-based medication were so compelling that the FDA was forced to approve it.”

  1. Understand the Hemp and CBD Connection

But let’s backtrack a bit and take a look at hemp.  What exactly is it?  Wikipedia tells us hemp is a strain of the cannabis sativa plant species and one of the first plants that was spun into usable fiber … some 10,000 years ago!  Hemp shows up in many commercial items, including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food and animal feed. Since Hemp and Cannabis in general are often confused, it can create a CBD myth which causes concern for many.

So, what’s the real hemp/CBD connection?  Well, we already know hemp is a strain of the ‘cannabis sativa’ plant species. Although cannabis (the drug) and industrial hemp both derive from cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they are distinct strains with unique compositions and uses.  Unlike cannabis, hemp has lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD). In short, neither hemp nor CBD will get you high.  May I repeat:  NEITHER HEMP NOR CBD WILL GET YOU HIGH!  Mary Carter adds that CBD is extracted from a natural source, the hemp plant.  “It’s a biological and holistic remedy in the eyes of many consumers.”

  1. Learn About the Health Benefits of CBD

Substantial research shows the main component of CBD is the health benefit. Research also shows how CBD helps treat conditions such as nausea, seizures, inflammation, anxiety, certain types of cancers, and much more.  When people can choose a natural solution vs a pharmaceutical, most tend to choose the natural solution first, when they know the product is accessible. Currently, due to the Myths and CBD perception as "weed", it makes it tougher to accept for many. Ms. Carter says it’s a very good idea to consult with a physician or even a pharmacist when taking CBD.  She adds that CBD “is readily available in various formats, including ingestible, such as gummies; drops, topicals, and vaporizers.”

 

  1. Buy Only from an Experienced, Trusted Source

Mary Carter says when seeking CBD products, “there are a few simple aspects to consider before making a smart purchase, including isolates, full spectrum and broad spectrum.”  Sound complicated?  Not to worry. She invites moms, dads and people of any age to attend a comprehensive free class at the Carolina Hemp Hut’s Hillsborough store held the first Wednesday of every month at 6 pm.  Mary assures that all Carolina Hemp Hut products are fully tested, and third-party results are always available for Carolina Hemp Hut products.  “We won’t stock any product in our stores that does not meet testing guidelines. We never pressure anyone to buy CBD.  We do offer solid advice on choosing Cannabinoids wisely.”  If you want to learn more about CBD and get on the same page with your kids, give Carolina Hemp Hut a try.

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Reading the Fine Print: CBD Scams at work

Shark Tank CBD Scam

Let's Set the CBD Trial Offer record Straight

If you’ve bounced around the internet (web) and found a site that has CBD and trusted it, good for you. If you found a site with CBD products online that you bought from but they did a “bait and switch” with you or kept charging your credit card, then welcome to the club!

It’s not the first time scammers entered an industry and decided to prey upon people who really just want good products at good prices. Scammers take all shapes and forms. One of the most common scams is the “too good to be true” offer or one that is more like a “Trial Offer”. If you’re looking to buy CBD online instead of shopping for “CBD Near Me” with your local stores, then be sure to read this entire article to learn some features which will save you a great deal of hassle in the future.

Buy CBD Online

It’s safe to buy CBD online. But, there’s a catch. If you’re wary of buying products online, no matter what the products are, then you’re likely a safer consumer and your purchases are probably safer than most. Being wary when you’re online, whether you’re shopping, social media trolling, or whatever, is a good thing. This is why reputable vendors of CBD don’t do things that set up the “red flags” which are triggered when the average person sees something “fishy”. When it comes to buying CBD products online, it’s no different from buying any products from any vendor online – you really need to do a bit of quick homework first.

First off, never buy from an online vendor who doesn’t use HTTPS or a secured connection for their web store. Just look at your browser address bar and make sure the connection to the store is a secured connection. Some fly by night vendors who are trying to separate you from your hard earned money will create a quick website and put a “buy CBD Now” link in place and voila! They’re raking in some quick cash.

Reputable CBD and Hemp vendors like the team at Carolina Hemp Hut take every step possible to ensure that your online order of CBD products is safe and secure and fulfilled with reputable products.

CBD Scam Free Trial Offer Shark Tank
CBD Scam Free Trial Offer Shark Tank

How to detect a Scammer with CBD

Unless you work in the CBD/Hemp industry as the team at Carolina Hemp Hut does, you’re more likely not going to notice the telltale signs of people trying to slime their way into your wallets. We also know that if you have a bad experience online with the purchase of CBD products (Buy CBD Online), you’re also not likely to try again. This is unfair to reputable and well-trusted vendors such as Carolina Hemp Hut. This is why we love taking the time to investigate the scammers and bring them into the light for everyone to see.

How to investigate whether a CBD Source is reputable

  1. Look for the CBD Free Trial
  2. Check whether the source is a PO Box, a PMB, or someone’s house
  3. Read the Terms and Conditions
  4. Check Testimonial links for accuracy or validity
  5. Click on “Related Content” links to see if valid results are shown
  6. Click on the Privacy Policy to see whether it works and shows valid data
  7. Check for Certificate of Analysis links
  8. Verify whether site has a phone number to call for support
  9. Examine whether CBD vendor makes clearly false or unsupported claims (such as “kills cancer”)

Some Clear Indicators that You’ve found a Scammer

Scammers aren’t going to work too hard to create original content after they’ve already had success with a scam in the past. The typical scammer will regurgitate CBD product content from other campaigns and simply change the name of the product along with the corresponding scammer address (web site and “business address”). They’ll also change a few photos and they’re done. Relaunch the campaign and wait for new suckers to arrive.

Here are some images which are repeated with one group of scammers found on the web.

Beware of the Free Trial Offer or great SALE on CBD online

Whole Greens CBD Trial Offer Scam

Just before the holidays in 2019, LifeStream Labs (also known by MANY other names) launched their Holiday Sale with a Free Trial offer for CBD products. The offer included very weak CBD oil that was very over-priced. The more evil part of the scam was their trial offer wasn’t a single shipment, but they keep charging your credit card monthly a very high amount for the product they continue to ship each month. Yes, you get subpar product from LifeStream or Whole Greens and you pay for it, dearly.

Beware of the Free Trial Offer or great SALE on CBD online

Pay attention to the Lab Coat Cuties

Notice the stethoscope in the image. If you see a stethoscope casually draped around the neck of some web model, run. You’re better off tossing your cash into the air. Reputable vendors of CBD may mention where medical professionals support their product anecdotally, but they’re not going to say “doctor approved” or show doctors or nurses proudly displaying their product for you. When you see the Lab Coat Cutie, it’s likely a scam. Plus, if you pay attention to MORE THAN ONE of the emails or ads with CBD products with Free Trials or Super Deals, you’re likely to see the patter where the same Lab Coat Cutie is used for multiple ads with very similar sales text.

Free Trial offer CBD Shark Tank

Shark Tank CBD Oil? Jamie Richardson As Seen On Shark Tank Available Here

Yeah, you read that with Shark Tank. That makes it really a big red flag. If you see Jamie Richardson on a site, it’s likely fake and built to scam you. Yes, it’s possible it may be legit, but don’t count on it. If you’re a reputable dealer of CBD products, you’re more likely to keep promotional images of others to a minimum or very scarce.

We care: We Earn our Customers' Trust

When searching for CBD and hemp products online (like when you search for “Buy CBD online” or “Buy Hemp online”), you’re going to get a lot of valid CBD vendor sites showing. Take a moment and examine each to ensure that the links you visit don’t have medical claims or “too good to be true” deals. Carolina Hemp Hut has had some super deals before (like we have one now where we are giving away a year’s supply of Hemp Oil Extract/CBD), but they’re typically a giveaway or simple sale that is to reduce or eliminate surplus inventory.

Stores like Carolina Hemp Hut are built around a physical presence like the main store at 137 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Scammers like to hide behind UPS store mailboxes, PO Boxes, and corporate park offices (where you’re never likely to visit for retail purchases).

Free Trial offer CBD Shark Tank

CBD Scammer: LifeStream Labs

Buying CBD Near Me

“CBD Near Me” is one common search term many people use to find local vendors of CBD. This is a reasonable search which will provide both legit and scam results. For the most part, local SEO and searches tend to provide more legitimate than not. However, the ads that result from the search are often associated with scammers. Most of these are easily avoided if you just look to the SERP (search engine results page) info that is search results only and not the “Ad” results that are also returned.

When you’re looking for a CBD vendor near you, go ahead and investigate the target vendors with their street addresses. Are they in a retail establishment? Are they in a PO Box?

Buying CBD online

We don’t want people to stay away from CBD online. We want people to be careful when they buy it. We’ve written articles in the past regarding COAs (certificates of analysis) and checking up on the quality of CBD products. These resources are good for people to investigate when looking for natural health options such as CBD online. You’ll want to email or call vendors too – just to be sure they respond with good answers and are prompt in their responses. If you call a vendor and all you get after three calls is a voice mail during business hours, you’re likely better off moving to the next search result.

When buying CBD online, it’s a good idea to check on their Google or Yelp or similar review as well. Stores like Carolina Hemp Hut, both physical and online, have reviews on these platforms and more. To check up on the reviews of the online scammers, it’s also easy. Just search for something like “[name of vendor] reviews” in Google or your favorite search engine. For example, here’s LifeStream Labs.

Shopping for CBD

We think that the experience around CBD and Hemp Products should be a pleasure and not a nightmare. With educated consumers working to clean up the slime that occurs with any newly popular industry, we’ll be able to steer through more of the mess and into clean and safe transactions.

Download our handy No Scamming Guide to show your friends

Simply right click on this graphic (or use ctrl-Click with a Mac) and access the save meny for this graphic. Share with friends to keep them out of trouble with unsavory vendors and scammers.

Carolina Hemp Hut offers this free guide to prevent you and your friends from falling victim to online or other scammers with CBD,
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Hemp Flower Cigarettes with CBD

hemp flower enthusiasts turning to Hemp Cigarettes in droves due to the more healthy link of Cannabinoids within hemp. People come to us looking for alternatives to their tobacco products.

What's up with Hemp Cigarettes?

There's been a lot of discussion lately on how bad cigarettes with tobacco are and new discussions on hemp flower cigarettes. We're finding hemp flower enthusiasts turning to Hemp Cigarettes in droves due to the more healthy link of Cannabinoids within hemp. People come to us looking for alternatives to their tobacco products.

You don't need a degree in rocket science to know right away that traditional tobacco cigarette smoking is not the best choice for good health. Lung cancer, emphysema and other dire health conditions are possible with tobacco. Hemp has a different aspect when it comes to working with you for your health.  In fact, they're a reasonable alternative to tobacco cigarettes.

Hemp Cigarettes offer a great alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes

Hemp Flower and Lung Health

It's not a good idea for the most part to inhale any smoke. Your lungs are pretty amazing organs and people should consider keeping them clean for as long as possible. That's why so many parenting groups and advocates will warn parents and children to steer clear of cigarettes (especially tobacco) in general. Inhaled products such as vaping and similar are also suspect when it comes to how our lungs react.

Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer. Smoking causes 84% of deaths from lung cancer and 83% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Although CBD and Cannabinoids are present in Hemp Cigarettes, the fact is that smoking itself is still a primary factor in damaging lung health for many.

A Reasonable Alternative to Tobacco Cigarettes

Investigators at the University of New South Wales assessed the relationship between cannabis, tobacco, and combined cannabis-tobacco use and various health outcomes in 350 subjects age 40 and older.

It was discovered that the health impact compared to the benefit of the cannabinoids was not nearly as bad as when you compare cigarette smoking and its impact on health. To make the entire summary very short: Smoking harms, but hemp helps while it has some harm.

One of the key takeaways from this study and others is that hemp cigarettes, when smoked INSTEAD of tobacco products help smokers reduce their addiction to nicotine while boosting the response from the endocannabinoid system in the body.

If you're going to Smoke, consider Cannabinoids in Hemp

It's just like with food products, if you're going to over-eat, it's better to over-eat apples and oranges rather than Fritos and Big Macs. While too much of a good thing is not a good thing, having something that's beneficial while you're engaged in something that is potentially self-harming, may be better overall for some. When smoking hemp or taking hemp products (not hemp oil but hemp oil extracts which contain CBD and other beneficial cannabinoids, terpenoids and more), you're going to be adding compounds which have been shown to work within the body to improve health and reduce discomfort.

Why Hemp?

Many smokers are switching to hemp cigarettes since Hemp has an enjoyable taste while still providing an option to easing tobacco addiction.

A Selection of our Popular Hemp Cigarettes from Carolina Hemp Hut

https://carolinahemphut.com/product/cbd-smokes/

https://carolinahemphut.com/product/cbtrees-hemp-cigarettes-no-tobacco-all-pleasure/

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It’s not the Wild, Wild West when it comes to CBD

The CBD industry is sometimes called the Wild West. But it's not

Is Hemp now Common? What about CBD? Should I look for "Hemp store near me?"

We find the reports all through the web. You look online and search for CBD or Hemp or similar and check the news sites. You can find discussion of CBD just about anywhere. Why is CBD so popular all of a sudden?

CBD is a Natural Product

Let’s consider the source: Hemp. CBD is short for Cannabidiol which is a constituent compound most often found within the Industrial Hemp (cannabis sativa) plant. It has a close cousin, often called marijuana, which has far more THC than CBD in most strains. Since the hemp regulations currently only allow for 0.3% total THC (the psychoactive compound found in ‘weed’), you can rest assured that you’re not likely at all to get a high from enjoying the benefits of CBD or the Industrial Hemp plant.

Since many products containing hemp are minimally processed, they are often considered to be a natural product. We often see the term “botanical supplement” when referencing hemp products. Although the FDA is adamant about not allowing the term “supplement” or “Diet Supplement” on anything hemp, people do understand and appreciate many ways in which hemp products have helped them cope with various health aspects simply by ingesting small amounts of hemp products.

CBD May Help With…

There are plenty of anecdotal statements on the benefits of CBD and related cannabinoids on peoples’ health. In fact, some have also been validated by the US Government with the FDA approval of Epidoliex, a seizure management drug which has CBD as its main ingredient. Many people have tried CBD prior to the approval of this drug with success in the management of seizures beyond the Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome patients.

Carnival barkers may now exclaim that CBD cures pretty much everything including cancer. But, let’s not run down that path so quickly. While it’s true that CBD is a great component for just about anyone’s medicine cabinet, the studies are still needed to validate what diseases and treatments are best for CBD.

Carolina Hemp Hut offers more research into the Hemp and CBD products

Using CBD on Your Own

Many enterprising customers have already jumped on the cannabis bandwagon with CBD and cannabinoid products to improve their health. We’ve had customers stop by for reasons of:

  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • PTSD
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neuropathy
  • Sleeplessness/Insomnia
  • Lack of Focus
  • And yes, even cancer

While your family doctor may cringe when you tell them you’re taking CBD for something, many are now jumping on board the CBD train. Doctors in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough are actively sending their customers to Carolina Hemp Huts to pick up salves and drops of CBD to alleviate discomforts that may not be so readily addressed with conventional Western pharmaceutical products.

If you or any family member (including the furry ones) have the need for a hemp product, please be sure and consider the resources available at the Carolina Hemp Hut stores.

Editor’s note: A primary care physician should be consulted before taking any supplements. No one other than a doctor should provide medical advice. This article is not intended to include medical advice, nor should it be interpreted as such.

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USA Today: Ask Google about CBD – Get Results

Shark Tank CBD Scam

USA Today Checks in with Google

USA Today recently covered CBD and how much it's being searched on Google. Rest assured that the popularity of this wunderkind of cannabis compounds is not slowing down as far as online popularity.

If you perform your own research, you'll find plenty of articles from the mass media outlets and, better still, from the academics studying cannabinoids. Even though we've been aware of the cannabinoid THC for many years, the popularity of it's cannabis cousin, CBD, have been only recently propelled into the spotlight.

Like any other mainstream health fad and product, CBD has been marketed by both kind-hearted businesses and unscrupulous vendors. Some selling the hemp-derived compound in various forms to help people address symptoms and conditions such as:

  • Epilepsy
  • Anxiety
  • Pain
  • Sleeplessness or Insomnia
  • PTSD
  • ADD/ADHD

Smart vendors of the products infused or created with CBD know to speak of the abatement of discomfort from these conditions and never lay claims that CBD is a cure for anything directly.

CBD Oil for Health and to combat discomfort from Pain and Anxiety

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Through the decades, we've encountered plenty of health-related product fads. Some of these were based on solid science while others, such as the "Toning Sneakers" and "balance bands" (shilled by the huckster CEO from CBD company called PrimeMyBody, Paul Rogers), were merely tools to separate people from their money while making them think they're getting a benefit.

How does CBD stand in this?

As far as research goes (as provided in the many Google search results from NIH and related health studies), CBD or Cannabidiol and other Cannabinoids are showing that, for the most part, they're doing something positive for health from a number of fronts. How effective the various products are really amounts to a small series of questions that need to be asked by consumers:

  • Where is the product sourced?
  • Does the product have reliable third party testing results with their products?
  • Do you know how many milligrams of CBD you should be targeting for your particular health condition?
  • How much legal THC is in the Product?
  • Is the product Full Spectrum (does it have THC?) or is it an isolate (isolated with only CBD)?

The smart money is on producers of CBD that is sourced within the United States. This means the hemp is harvested and goes through extraction or isolation in the USA and not imported from China or Europe. While there are many good products available overseas, hemp is one crop that you should scrutinize well before purchasing hemp products. The big reason for this is products should have a COA (Certificate of Analysis) which takes form typically with total cannabinoids being graded. But, good COAs also include Heavy Metal and Pesticide testing. Can you imagine buying a 1/4 ounce of radioactive Chernobyl dank weed on sale for $20? Sounds like a bargain, maybe. The hemp plant is notoriously good at removing contaminants from the soil. If you're importing CBD products made with foreign grown hemp, you're not easily able to get the testing results you'd need to be assured that the product is responsibly sourced.

Further, the COAs provide you with a solid understanding of the spectrum of cannabinoids in the product. Most COAs will indicate the total percentage of (dry weight) CBD within a product. Let's say you're examining a bottle of CBD water soluble drops from Hemplicid. You see that the total Cannabinoids for the container is 49.848 mg/ml. This means that there is about 50mg of total useful CBD and CBD related cannabinoids (excluding the fun cousin, THC) in each milliliter (or typically one dropper) of CBD oil from that bottle. More specifically, the total percentage of CBD is 4.97% (total percentage of CBD based upon the dry weight).

When you've checked the data on the COA, you're more apt to discover whether you're really taking a super small dose of CBD or you're taking one adequate to address your particular health concerns. Reverting back to the COA sampled above, we understand that the particular product had 49mg of CBD (rounded down) per dropper from the 1500mg bottle. Since a bottle typically holds 30ml of CBD with the 1ml dispensing dropper, you're likely to get 30 total doses out of the 30ml bottle (about one ounce).

1500mg CBD Hemplucid COA for Hemp

Let's say you ran into an old friend who you've not seen in years. They're bubbling over their new business venture: They're selling Hempworx CBD. The price of the 500mg bottle of Hempworx CBD oil is $69 plus shipping. Your friend tells you that this is the best CBD, hands down. Doing the quick math on the investment for CBD from Hempworx, you're able to find the value at $0.14 per milligram of CBD before shipping cost.

Comparing the cost to a certified organic CBD oil (we're trying to stick to Apples to Apples comparisons here - Hempworx is not certified organic, but they claim to be organic), we can place Hempworx head to head with Nature's Love. The price of the 500mg bottle of Nature's Love CBD oil is $40 plus shipping (but shipping is free if you use a promo code with Carolina Hemp Hut). Running the math for this you'll find $40/500mg=$0.08/milligram of CBD.

We're not claiming superiority of CBD product here, but the math becomes a bit easier for consumers to appreciate once they pull together the answers to the key questions.

Back on the COA, we can see whether the THC (not the THCA) is under the legal limits in your State. In North Carolina, we're required to maintain our product inventory with less than 0.3% of total THC (by dry weight). We are strict about maintaining this compliance as well as making sure we do actively stock LEGAL products with trace THC since THC has been shown to be very beneficial to health (see above pubmed studies).

Finally, you're going to be better off comparing the snake oil products from China and unscrupulous vendors (they're a dime a dozen and popping up in Facebook and elsewhere) before you invest any money. An example of one of the known slimier sellers on the web is one that pops up frequently with MANY different names. They set up a UPS Store mail box in Las Vegas or Chicago or similar, create a website and start creating ads on Facebook and Google searches (against the policies of both). These ads stick around until enough people complain to the platform management. When this happens, they just change the name and launch a new website with a new Post office box in some big city.

Here's an image from one of the slimier sites:

Shark Tank CBD Scam
Shark Tank CBD Scam

The team at Carolina Hemp Hut has been working with authorities and industry leaders to ensure that all products offered under the Carolina Hemp Hut and Hemp Oil Rockstar umbrellas are above-the rest when it comes to product quality, strength, price/affordability and availability.

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What does THC do with CBD?

THC and CBD relationship

If you're already a fan of CBD, then you're in growing company. Many people have taken to CBD (Cananbidiol to those who are more aware of Cananbinoids) to improve their health and the overall balance that their body needs. Some have found that it helps with aspects such as:

  • Sleep Modulation
  • Reduction of discomfort
  • Lessening of anxiety

Many would contend that THC is better at these aspects than CBD. The truth is, they're both beneficial to the human (and other organisms) body.

A recent article in Inside Science details the relationship between THC and CBD.

If you find that THC's psychoactive component is lessened when you take CBD, you're not alone. However, it's still key to acknowledge that the "high" often felt with THC products is typically unavoidable when you reach a strong enough dose.

THC and CBD in one product
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Drug Warriors Ignore Basic Facts to Push the Vaping Scare

Is Vaping Dangerous? CBD?

August was not a good month for harm reduction advocates striving to save the lives of millions of smokers. Many media outlets have been spreading fear and panic among Americans trying to quit smoking by raising hysteria about a mysterious lung ailment popping up across the United States, claiming it is a deadly side-effect of using e-cigarettes.

This could not be further from the truth. By all indications, the vapes causing breathing problems are black market devices tainted with impure, illicit substances. If the excessive taxation and government prohibition on cigarettes and marijuana are any guides, restrictions on e-cigarettes will almost certainly backfire and lead to more contamination and disease. Instead of catering to fearmongers, policymakers should ensure a safe, open, and low-cost environment for purchasing harm-reduction products.

Since the end of July, more than 150 people have been hospitalized with a strange constellation of lung-related symptoms, all reportedly after using vaping products. This simple-sounding correlation was seized by “public health” advocates already convinced that e-cigarettes are a societal scourge (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary). One such group, Parents Against Vaping, called the disease wave “terrifying” and used the tragedy to argue that “our kids should not be guinea pigs for the JUUL experiment!”

This predictably ludicrous response betrays a fundamental lack of understanding about the cases in question. Competitive Enterprise Institute scholar Michelle Minton points out that

While details have not been made public for all of those hospitalized, in every case where a product has been identified, the culprit was not ‘vaping,’ but vaping illicit THC oil.

That’s right: not one identified case thus far stems from an ordinary nicotine-only vaping product. Rather, these cases were caused by users doctoring their vapes or purchasing underground to procure illegal THC (the chemical responsible for marijuana’s effects).

Even if the media points this out, prohibitionists are bound to leap into the fray. Armed with this information, the dwindling number of drug warriors will surely use this evidence to scare Americans about cannabis.

But so far, it seems the THC was purchased on the black market. In one of the worst cases yet, a 26-year-old Wisconsin man is in a medically-induced coma after purchasing vaping cartridges containing cannabis oil from a black-market decentralized “brand.” It’s no coincidence that Wisconsin is one of the strictest states in the nation when it comes to cannabis products; decriminalization and medical marijuana proposals are regularly shot down by state lawmakers. In states such as Wisconsin, e-cigarette users wanting to vape with a touch of THC must go through shady brands that are likely contaminated with other illicit substances.

Absent any regulatory oversight or monitoring by stores looking to maintain their pristine brands, black market dealers regularly “cut” their products with unsavory, dangerous substances. Reckless behaviors and sudden, violent illnesses regularly result from marijuana being laced with PCP. Nor is this problem limited to marijuana or cannabis oil. High tobacco taxes lead to people buying “loosies” on the street that are often laced with dangerous chemicals. Cigarettes are harmful enough as it is, and the addition of embalming fluid hardly makes matters better. By legalizing products and keeping taxes low, consumers won’t have to turn to black markets in the first place.These black markets also lead to violence, as seen in the tragic case of Eric Garner.

The same “public health” groups pushing for e-cigarette restrictions have repeatedly lobbied for higher cigarette prices, claiming countless lives have been saved thanks to tax hikes. But whether for vaping products or cigarettes, prohibition exposes users to deadly substances not ordinarily found at a convenience store. Cigarettes containing asbestos fibers can be lethal, and contaminants such as feces can lead to serious medical ailments.

These street drugs and products will inevitably be laced at the whim of black marketeers. Policymakers can arrest perpetrators, but the failure of the War on Drugs and “Cigarette Strike Forces” speaks to the limits of that approach. By legalizing products and keeping taxes low, consumers won’t have to turn to black markets in the first place. This access is especially critical for e-cigarettes, which, when legally manufactured, are 95 percent safer than ordinary cigarettes and are nearly doubly as effective for quitting smoking as nicotine patches or gum. Policymakers can help smokers to quit and keep lung diseases at bay by keeping vapes on legitimate markets.

Ross Marchand

Ross Marchand

Ross Marchand is the director of policy for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the original article.

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What about the Liver?

Ethanol Based Solvents may be safe for CBD

We've heard this too. People using anecdotal information from others to make claims about CBD and health risks.

Let's quickly get to the facts to dispel possible rumors. First, most CBD is extracted via CO2 or Ethanol extraction. When ethanol extractions is used (or a similar chemical extraction), the alcohol is used as a solvent to pull the CBD and other oil-based components from the dried hemp material. This solvent should be evaporated or removed in another method to prevent it from remaining with the concentrated CBD and oils.

It is possible some manufacturers (or backyard processors) will leave some solvent behind before continuing the preparation of the extracts for sale or distribution. These solvents MAY cause issues with some people. The alcohol is less likely to be an issue, but others can be more of an issue. It's a really good idea to ask for a COA (Certificate of Analysis) from the retailer. If they don't have it, then go elsewhere. Major brands such as Hemplucid, Charlottes Web, and Nature's Love store these COAs on their sites. If you come across a "no name" brand, check for the COA. You'l see the analysis and should be able to determine whether it's solvent rich and possibly harmful.

The Carolina Hemp Hut is expanding!

More information will be made available as CBD and other fine Hemp Oil Extract and Hemp related products are made available via Carolina Hemp Hut. Visit their Durham Store or their newer Hillsborough Store!