What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

Canada’s CBD market has significantly grown over the years and has quickly become a billion-dollar industry. The forecast also shows that, by 2025, it could balloon into a 3-billion-dollar industry, and this is for CBD gummies alone.

CBD is an integral part of many Canadians’ daily health habits. Not only does CBD support a healthy mind and body, but it also helps relieve many symptoms.

If you’re asking “is CBD oil legal in Canada,” then know that it is. CBD oil is perfectly legal. You don’t even need a prescription for CBD in Quebec or other parts of the country, if it’s hemp-derived.

So, what is CBD? Why is it so popular, and what does science say about this cannabinoid?

What Does Research Say?

The history of cannabidiol or CBD dates back to the 1940s when it was first extracted from cannabis by Roger Adams, a chemist. CBD’s chemical structure was then discovered by the Father of Cannabis Research, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, in the 1960s. It was Dr. Mechoulam and his team who also discovered the endocannabinoid system in the early 1990s.

Succeeding research studies showed the many health benefits of CBD. Today, this non-psychoactive cannabinoid has become a vital part of many Canadians’ lives. We can buy CBD products at our local dispensaries or order them online.

Question from you: does CBD oil expire?

Yes, just like any food supplement or medication, CBD oil also expires. It has a shelf life of about a year to a year and a half. Store in a cool, dark place for a longer shelf life. 

Substance Identification

What does CBD look like?

The chemical structure of CBD is composed of 21 carbon atoms as well as 30 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms.

In its pure form, cannabidiol has crystalline appearance. It’s naturally formed in the resin glands of hemp and cannabis. Studies on cannabidiol synthesis show that CBD comes from the degradation of another cannabinoid called CBG, the “mother of all cannabinoids.”

General Pharmacology

CBD oil in Vancouver is available in your local dispensary or online. If you recently bought one and wondering about its basic pharmacology, then here are a few answers to common questions like:

• How soon can you feel its effects?
• How long does CBD last in the body?

The onset of CBD’s effects usually depends on the mode of administration. If you place CBD drops under the tongue, for example, you’ll typically feel its effects in less than 15 minutes. CBD is directly absorbed by the cells and goes into the bloodstream.

For CBD edibles, it can take anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours. CBD has to pass through several organs such as the stomach and the liver before entering the bloodstream.

The effects of CBD can last anywhere from two to six hours. However, CBD molecules can stay in the body for days to even weeks.

Adverse Reactions in Humans

CBD offers many health benefits — from pain and seizure control to improvement in sleep quality. However, CBD also has some side effects. These include dry mouth, dry eyes, bowel movement changes, fatigue, appetite changes, drowsiness, and irritability.

These are usually well-tolerated by many CBD users, and the side effects typically go away once you get used to CBD.

The higher the dose, the longer it stays in your system, and the higher the risk of developing side effects.

Dependence Potential and Abuse Potential

People new to CBD often ask, “Is CBD addictive?”

CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. This means it won’t get you high or produce mind-altering, intoxicating effects.

Several studies have shown that CBD has a low dependence potential and a low abuse potential. The World Health Organization also agrees that CBD exhibits low dependence and abuse risks. CBD appears to be safe for pets as well.

Because of these properties, CBD quickly became a staple in many people’s daily health regimen. We see CBD in different products — oils, tinctures, capsules, gummies, chocolates, and vapes. We even have CBD drink and beverages.

Therapeutic Applications and Extent of Therapeutic Use

CBD offers many therapeutic effects. It relieves pain and inflammation, and it also calms the nerves and improves symptoms of mental health problems. CBD also helps fight cancer cells and protects brain cells.

However, CBD and alcohol amplify each other’s effects, which is not good for the user’s health. CBD also interacts with some medications. This cannabinoid, for example, amplifies the effects of blood thinners.

These side effects can be prevented though. So, it’s important that you must always speak with your primary care physician first before using CBD, especially if you’re taking medications. Not only can your doctor help you come up with a good CBD plan but also help you find the best CBD dosage through a CBD dosage chart.

Mechanism of Action

There are many ways that CBD interacts with the body. The CBD mechanism of action includes activating the:

• Cannabinoid receptors, like CB1 and CB2
• Non-cannabinoid receptors like the serotonin, adenosine, vanilloid, nuclear, and orphan receptors

CBD’s activation of the non-cannabinoid receptors results in the modulation of many physiological responses. It helps decrease pain and controls our responses to stress, fear, anxiety, depression, sleep, and appetite. The activation of these receptors also helps fight cancer cells and improves motor function.

Through these effects, CBD protects many organs including our brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs, bones, immune system, and gastrointestinal system.

CBD also acts as an antioxidant that protects our cells. It’s also an antimicrobial agent that fights bacteria, viruses, fungus, and even parasites.

Final Thoughts

CBD offers many health benefits. It helps maintain a normal, healthy mind and body, and it also improves many symptoms caused by diseases, illnesses, and infections.

However, like other health supplements, CBD also has some side effects, which are usually well-tolerated by CBD users.

If you want to buy CBD oil in Canada, then visit our store, ICARIA. We are one of the most trusted producers of CBD oil, sourcing our CBD from organically-grown industrial hemp.

We value your health and safety, so we have our products tested by a certified third party. These tests not only check the potency of our products but their quality, purity, and safety as well.

Want to know more? Then send us a message. We’d love to talk with you about our premium-grade CBD oil products, including our CBD oil Canada reviews.