After significant initial effort, researchers have discovered that the cannabis plant contains several hundred cannabis-derived compounds called cannabinoids. These biochemical compounds number more than 600. Wrap your mind around that number, 600. 

And what’s really interesting about all of this is that the most prominent cannabinoid is, of course, THC. When people think of marijuana, the chemical that explains most people’s impression of marijuana is THC. 

It’s the stuff that gets you high. It’s the stuff that produces euphoria and gets people hungry. It’s the biochemical compound that makes all the stress and low-level pain go away. In other words, it’s the main thing a lot of pot smokers seek out from marijuana. 

It’s also one of the mainstream media’s favorite bogeymen-remember “Reefer Madness”? There is no shortage of stoner or pothead movies. What do they all have in common? They all share the idea that marijuana is THC and THC is bad for you. Either it makes you dumb or it acts as some sort of evil gateway to all sorts of harsher ‘heavy’ drugs.

But marijuana is a medicinal plant. It can soothe your nerves, reduce your overall stress levels. It can encourage you to eat if you are suffering from nausea and vomiting. If you’re suffering from epilepsy, it calms your nerves to the point that you can function again. 

It is a miracle plant. The problem is it has an ingredient that has been demonized for as long as marijuana has been illegal in the United States. This is the reality of THC. 

It is no surprise that a lot of people are excited about CBD or cannabidiol because it’s marijuana’s “clean” twin brother. Think what you want about THC. What’s indisputable is that it’s a potent chemical with a lot of medicinal value. The problem is it gets you high, and since it gets you high, it triggers drug tests. You can lose your job. You can go to jail in certain contexts. 

Cannabidiol is a lifesaver because biochemically speaking, it produces a lot of the medicinal benefits THC brings to the table without the major headache of legal issues. In other words, you’re not going to flunk a drug test. 

This is why a lot of people have gotten turned on to CBD. Either you apply a few drops under your tongue, you apply it into a smoothie, or you add a few drops to cookies or brownies, CBD does the job. 

If you are depressed, CBD may be able to smoothen your moods. If you have issues with anger management or mood swings, CBD can mellow you out. If you’re suffering from epilepsy, some studies have shown that CBD can reduce the frequency and severity of epileptic attacks. 

The benefits, both official, unofficial, highly studied and less researched can go on and on. And the best part to all of this, once again, is that CBD will not lead you to into unnecessary drama with the law. It doesn’t trigger blood tests as well as other diagnostics used by legal authorities and others. 

The best part of CBD is that it doesn’t get you high. This is extremely important if you’re operating heavy equipment or you are in a very socially-sensitive job. This is the biggest benefit that CBD brings to the table. Like it or not, there’s still a certain stigma about THC (marijuana) use and while there’s been a lot of progress in gaining social acceptance, this is still a reality we have to deal with in the here and now. CBD enables you to enjoy all the medicinal benefits of marijuana without the legal and social baggage.