Cannabidiol (CBD) is a hemp derivative that is believed to offer a wide range of health benefits. While it’s a staple in the modern wellness world, it wasn’t always that way. There was a ton that we didn’t know, and there’s still so much more to be discovered. If you’re interested in taking CBD or simply learning more, let’s take a closer look at how CBD has changed over the years.
What Is CBD?
CBD is a chemical derived from hemp that belongs to a broader group of chemicals found within the plant known as cannabinoids. Our body has a system that produces its own cannabinoids, but phytocannabinoids like CBD are believed to offer a wide range of benefits when they are introduced to the body and bind with the receptors in our body that exist for the endocannabinoids we produce.
How Has CBD Changed Over the Years?
Prior to the 2000s, CBD was largely unknown. It was a chemical that was first discovered in 1940 by chemist Roger Adam. Despite his achievement and findings that indicated there were other compounds beyond just THC, the stigma around THC would suppress these findings and the potential for other cannabinoids for decades still and even affect them today.
In the 1960s, CBD was synthesized for the first time by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam. While still problematic given the lack of support for anything hemp-based at the time, his discovery paved the way for a better understanding of how CBD functions within the body as well as how the body has a system that already aims to achieve homeostasis using internal cannabinoids.
The biggest development, however, came quite recently. The 2018 Farm Bill made it so that hemp became legal to produce and sell, which included any hemp derivatives like CBD. As a result, more people are able to try CBD for themselves to see if it offers them any of the health benefits they’re looking for.
What All Is CBD Used for?
Modern CBD products are used to target a wide range of conditions. While more research still needs to be conducted in order to understand what CBD is truly capable of, many will use CBD to address minor discomfort, improve overall sleep quality, enhance focus, increase relaxation, or just bolster overall health and wellness. CBD has also come a long way in terms of the forms that it’s sold in, with products expanding from just CBD oil to gummies, capsules, vapes, and so much more.
CBD is something that’s so widely used and recognized today that it might be strange to think there was a time when CBD was unknown or not being used. In a matter of a few short years, this legal cannabinoid has become something that many rely on in their daily lives. While there’s always more to explore, the above provides you with more information on CBD and how our attitudes and approach to this hemp compound have changed since it was first discovered in 1940. Who knows where we may go next?