What Is CBD? The Ultimate CBD Guide for Beginners

New shops are springing up like mushrooms after the rain – and our CBD guide shows you what is really behind the trend. Almost everyone now knows someone who has tried CBD. In recent years, CBD has become a real trend product for “everything”. Many of us are now asking ourselves: what is behind the CBD trend? What am I actually buying, and is it even legal? In short: how to CBD? We answer all these questions and more in our post!

First of all: yes, CBD is legal! But only with an if: it is legal if the THC content of the products is below 0.3% (Austria) or below 0.2% in most of the EU. We explain further below how you can tell that the THC content is below the legal value!
Let’s start with the basics:

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol and is a component of the female hemp plant (cannabis). CBD is one of the cannabinoids, a group of chemical compounds that so far have mainly been found in the hemp plant. More than 100 such cannabinoids have been discovered so far, including THC and CBD. CBD – unlike THC – is not intoxicating, but is said to have many positive effects on the human body and on mental health. Many consumers report that CBD has a calming, pain-relieving, antipsychotic and antispasmodic effect on them.

How does CBD work?

CBD supports the endocannabinoid system. This is part of our regulating nervous system and includes the two CB receptors and the enzymes that break them down. The good news is: every one of us has this system; the bad news is: activating the endocannabinoid system can take a few weeks. So be patient!

But how is natural CBD actually produced?

As explained above, CBD is a natural component of the female hemp plant, found in the flowers of the cannabis plant. Besides cannabinoids, every plant also contains terpenes and flavonoids. These influence the taste, smell and appearance of plants. They are not only found in cannabis plants but also, for example, in lavender. How much of which cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids it contains depends on the strain.

The CBD and THC content of cannabis plants also depends on the strain. In EU industrial hemp, these are currently usually in a ratio of 1:20 up to a maximum of 1:30 to each other – it is not possible to breed a pure CBD or a pure THC cannabis plant.

However, it is possible to breed for the highest possible CBD content while keeping the THC content as low as possible. What does this mean for the CBD and THC content of the little plants in Austria? At the moment it is not possible to harvest a legal cannabis flower that contains more than 9% CBD without exceeding the legal limit of >0.3% THC.

So how do I know whether the product is legal?

That is a question we are asked very often. The answer is quite simple: Look at the certificates of analysis! Every reputable CBD shop should provide you with the certificates of analysis for its flowers. In our online shop you can view a certificate for every single one of our flowers. This means you can be absolutely sure that you are not being lied to about the CBD content and, much more importantly: you don’t have to worry about buying an illegal product!

Speaking of worries: is CBD dangerous?

Here too the answer is very clear: No! According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), CBD is absolutely harmless. The 2018 report states very clearly that it has a good safety profile and is not addictive. However, this does not mean that CBD is a cure-all. The real danger lies rather in the promises that are often made about CBD.

It is not advisable to stop therapies or medication prescribed by doctors on your own and replace them with CBD. If you would like to try CBD but have concerns, please talk to a doctor about it, ideally someone who is familiar with CBD and the endocannabinoid system. They can advise you on the appropriate dose as well as any interactions with other medication you are already taking. We are also happy to recommend doctors we already work with.

That brings us to the end of our guide, and we hope we have been able to cover all the basics. If we have forgotten anything, feel free to write to us by e-mail or via social media. Would you like more blog articles like this or articles on a specific topic? Then simply write to us at socialmedia@magu-cbd.com!