Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t
Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t POSTED AUGUST 24, 2018, 6:30 AM , UPDATED AUGUST 27, 2019, 5:21 PM Peter Grinspoon, MD Contributor Cannabidiol (CBD) has been recently covered in the media, and you may have even seen it as an add-in booster to your post-workout smoothie or morning coffee. What exactly is CBD? Why is it suddenly so popular? How is cannabidiol different from marijuana? CBD stands for cannabidiol. It is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana , it is derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant. While CBD is a component of marijuana (one of hundreds), by itself it does not cause a “high.” According to a report from the World Health Organization , “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems a...