CBD (technically known as cannabidiol) is a natural substance that’s extracted from the hemp plant, which is related to, but different from the marijuana plant. CBD works with the human body's ECS (endocannabinoid system), which consists of receptors that work to regulate stress, sleep, pain, and everyday experience. While science doesn’t yet fully understand the ECS, experts believe that CBD works with these receptors to help your body return to its natural healthy rhythm, known as homeostasis.1
What does CBD feel like?
No "high", just relief
CBD does not produce mind altering effects or any “high”. Instead, people typically report feeling more relaxed, balanced, and at ease. One way to describe the feeling is like a glass of wine, but without the buzz. But unlike alcohol, CBD is not a sedative; instead it creates a sense of relaxation by counteracting the amount of stress-hormones, like cortisol, that our bodies create.2
How popular is CBD?
64 million Americans have used CBD
1 in 4 American adults have used CBD, over 9 million use it daily
2 out of 4 say it's "very or extremely effective", another 1 out of 4 say it's "moderately effective"
How is CBD used?
Real use cases
The eight use cases below show how actual people use CBD in their daily lives.
Why I Use CBD
I’ve had a certain level of anxiety since my teens. It flares up often now since I work in a high-stress environment and my normal social habits have been disrupted due to the pandemic.
How I Use It
1 dose of SoM in my morning yogurt or coffee. 1 dose in my tea at night. As needed during the day directly under my tongue.
My Results
I immediately feel this sort of calm spread over my entire body. It gives me an "I've got this" kind of feeling. Takes the anxious edge off throughout the day and helps me sleep better at night. A combination of SoM, better sleep habits and exercise has helped me take full control of my anxiety
Why I Use CBD
I have a very high-pressure work day. Many targets to reach and goals to achieve in a fast-paced environment. All the pressure building up can leave me feeling tense and irritable, making it hard to focus.
How I Use It
1-2 doses during the day, a couple times a week. I take it when I know I need a boost or start to feel overwhelmed.
My Results
I feel the tension in my jaw disappear, my chair feels like it's mangling my body less and it’s harder to make a fist. Makes it easier to navigate an hour or two of bulls**t. The state of calm it puts me in allows me to focus and makes it much easier to do my job.
Why I Use CBD
I’m a very stress-prone and high-strung person. I’ve gotta hit several deadlines each day, survive a number of meetings, while juggling my personal life-- a romantic relationship, children and very dear friendships. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed sometimes and be in a constant state of worry.
How I Use It
1 dose in my morning coffee, and as needed during the day when I need a pick-me-up
My Results
Basically, it helps me feel more like me. When something would happen that would normally bother me I would react in a way I would describe as ‘zen’. My outlook becomes more positive and I get into fewer conflicts. If I did not embrace meditation and CBD, I’m not sure where I’d be.
Why I Use CBD
After a long day of work, I usually find myself still on edge, looking for a way to transition out of “work-mode”. But generally, on most days l have a handful of personal chores and errands to do, so I still need to stay productive, just in a stress-free and positive kind of way.
How I Use It
1 dose of SoM after work under the tongue, 1 more dose in a glass of wine before bed.
My Results
Puts me in a good frame of mind - relaxed and starting to decompress while still being able to focus on keeping my personal life in order. Gets me out of this cycle of procrastination, stress, and feeling of a lack of progress, so that when I fully transition to relaxation mode, I can do so completely guilt-free.
Why I Use CBD
My mind loves to do this sneaky little thing where right as I'm about to fall asleep. BAM think about all the things you have to do this week, oh and don't forget that one time, you said that weird thing, ugh! There goes any chance of getting to sleep at a decent hour.
How I Use It
2 doses of SoM then a few breathing exercises- about 30 minutes before bed.
My Results
Completely stops my mind from racing and thinking about trivial things. No more thinking back on the awkward moments that happened that one week, no more stressing over the future late at night. Just a wave of calmness that washes over me, which lets me fall asleep nice and easy.
Why I Use CBD
My sleep is kind of unpredictable, with weeks at a time filled with great sleep and others riddled with random 3 am wakeups or a serious case of overactive bedtime brain. Sometimes I find that my sleep issues correlate with my overall level of stress, but sometimes it just feels random.
How I Use It
2 doses of SoM in my chamomile tea an hour before bed.
My Results
Generally excellent sleep with my new pre-bedtime routine. Taking CBD with my tea plus some time away from any screen before bed has given me much better rest. I now usually wake up feeling great, which has really had a positive effect on my everyday life.
Why I Use CBD
I have had chronic pain for years from a severe car accident. The pain is manageable at times without any intervention, but it does tend to flare up occasionally. When it does it becomes really hard to focus and to get on with my day when it’s constantly there nagging.
How I Use It
1 dose of SoM in the morning, on the tougher days 1-2 more doses throughout the day.
My Results
It relaxes my body and eases the tension, bringing the pain and the stress induced from the pain to a much more manageable level. Having a natural product I can take to help manage my pain has been huge. I’ve found it helps most when combined with other pain remedies like light exercise, stretching, massaging and heating pads.
Why I Use CBD
I’m an avid runner, usually logging between 6-8 miles a day. All those miles logged puts a lot of stress on my legs and I’m constantly battling runner’s knee and tendinitis throughout the year.
How I Use It
2 dose of SoM in my post-run protein shake.
My Results
The morning after I run, my legs are certainly still sore but less so than before. I wake up feeling more refreshed. I feel like I slept better - more soundly, less waking during the night, so my body has had more time to recover. I also find I feel less creakiness in my knees while going about my day. Overall it just makes me more eager to train, and feeling better while doing so.
What do I need to know?
Common questions
Pure CBD is incredibly nontoxic. While we wouldn’t recommend trying this, a 2011 study showed even 1,500mg (90 doses of SoM) per day of CBD are well-tolerated by the body.3However, CBD needs to be pure to be safe, and given the lack of regulation, there are impure CBDs on the market, that contain heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful agents. This has been especially true for CBD sold at gas stations. Be sure to look for independent lab certifications for purity, like this one for SoM, to ensure that you’re getting exactly what’s advertised. Speaking for ourselves, we wouldn’t try a CBD without seeing a lab certification first.
CBD comes from the hemp plant, which is closely related to marijuana, but is technically a different type of plant. While both plants contain THC and CBD, the marijuana plant contains primarily THC, whereas the hemp plant contains primarily CBD and no more than 0.03% THC by law. Due to the way THC interacts with your body’s receptors, THC makes you feel high, whereas CBD does not.4 Because of this, many people prefer CBD over THC because they can gain similar health benefits of THC, without the intoxication. CBD is felt more in the body, and is linked to subtle feelings of well-being, sleep, and relief.
CBD has only been federally legal since 2018, so clinical studies and science is still catching up. While more research needs to be done, there are many positive signs that CBD can help people feel better. Because CBD affects the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate a wide range of the body’s processes, CBD’s benefits can be equally wide-ranging. Studies have shown promising results in impacting stress, sleep, and pain. We've included further reading linked below.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile”.5Additionally, the report concluded that “no public health problems have been associated with the use of pure CBD”.6Side effects with CBD are rare, but when they do occur, they may include diarrhea, appetite changes, and fatigue.7That said, you do need to be careful about taking CBD with other medications, particularly any medications with grapefruit warnings, as they can cause issues when taken with CBD.8If you’re taking medications, it’s essential you talk to your doctor before trying CBD.
Generally, yes. However, we’d recommend you first try CBD outside of a work setting so you can see how you feel, and then judge for yourself. In addition, we’d recommend avoiding driving or using heavy machinery until you know how CBD affects you. That said, it’s common for people to use CBD while working, as it helps them remain calm and focused, with a popular use-case being people putting CBD in their morning coffee. We frequently hear that people feel their mind is scattered at work, as they’re inundated with messages, different apps, tasks, etc, and CBD helps them calmly focus and concentrate on one task at a time.
Don’t use CBD if you need to pass a drug test, as the tiny amounts of THC can potentially still trigger a false positive, not to mention some drug tests can’t differentiate between CBD and THC.9You should also not use CBD if you have liver disease, as CBD oil may also increase liver enzymes. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, CBD should also be avoided, as risks to a baby’s development are still poorly understood. If you’re on any medications, it’s essential you talk to your doctor before trying CBD, as drug interactions can cause issues, especially if your medications have grapefruit warnings.8 Finally, we’d recommend you avoid driving or using heavy machinery when first trying CBD or using a new brand, until you become accustomed to the feeling and know what to expect.
From the experts
“The reason it is so promising is that it has a unique combination of safety and effectiveness across a very broad range of conditions.”
“Shown promise as a treatment for both depression and anxiety, leading many who live with these disorders to become interested in this natural approach.”
CBD does not appear to have addiction-related effects. According to a 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) report on CBD, “evidence from well-controlled human experimental research indicates that CBD is not associated with abuse potential.”10, 4Additionally, we’ve never heard of any issues with habit formation or addiction when it comes to CBD.
No. Hemp oil (also known as hemp seed oil) is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant, instead of from the plant itself. There is no CBD in hemp oil. While hemp oil is packed with healthy fats and has moisturizing benefits, it does not have the same benefits as CBD. Hemp oil is also regulated differently than CBD. For these reasons, you’ll often see hemp oil sold online for much lower prices than CBD.
No, CBD is not marijuana, nor does it contain marijuana.4 CBD is derived from the hemp plant, which is related to the marijuana plant, but is a different plant altogether.
No, generally CBD will not get you high.4 Pure full-spectrum CBD oil, created from the hemp plant, is naturally extremely low in THC (less than 0.3% to be exact). Therefore, it would take far more than the recommended dose to create any “high” feeling.
Intoxication is different from your mood, or the way that you feel. For example, you can feel relaxed after a day at the beach, but it doesn’t mean that you’re intoxicated. CBD’s effects are similar, CBD doesn't produce mind-altering effects, or any change in sensory perception, but instead puts the body in a calmer and more relaxed state.
This depends on what form you’ve taken your CBD in (oil vs. edible vs. smoking) and how much you’ve taken.11 With SoM, which is an oil, effects can generally be felt within 20 min, and will last around 2-8 hours (depending on the number of doses you take). Edibles, such as gummies, take 1-2 hours to kick in, but effects can last longer. Smoking or vaping has an almost immediate onset, but effects are the shortest. We chose an oil for SoM because it's far healthier than smoking, has a quicker onset, more is absorbed into your system than edibles, can easily be mixed into foods and drinks, and offers the highest potency per dollar spent.
Technically yes, though a very small amount. SoM CBD oil is "full-spectrum" meaning it has trace amounts of THC. However, SoM is carefully tested to ensure it contains under the legal limit of 0.3% THC by weight, and will not result in a ‘high’ feeling unless you consume a very large amount.
Yes, the 2018 Farm Bill made CBD federally legal. However, state law can contradict federal law, and as of late 2019, there are three states where CBD is still technically illegal by state law: Idaho, Nebraska, and South Dakota. While there are nuances in the specifics of the laws, CBD is effectively legal in the other 47 states.11
SoM CBD is an oil that comes in a dropper bottle. Simply place a few drops of oil under your tongue using the dropper, hold for 30 seconds, and then swallow. For further instructions, see this page.
Choosing how much CBD oil you should take will require some experimentation. Start with 1 dose of SoM (1 dose = 0.25ml oil = 16.7mg CBD ) for your first few times and slowly raise it over time until you feel positive benefits. Additionally, you can use our online dosage calculator to find the ideal dose for your experience level and weight, and start with that dose.
Generally, yes. The larger the dose, the longer the CBD will stay in your system, and the longer you’ll feel the effects. People also report feeling different effects depending on the dose they take. For example, some people will take a smaller dose for their work day, and then a larger dose to help them sleep at night. One thing to know, is that even exceedingly large doses of CBD are nontoxic and relatively safe for the body. While we wouldn’t recommend trying this, a 2011 study showed even 1,500mg (90 doses of SoM) per day of CBD are well-tolerated by the body.3Generally speaking, we’d recommend starting with one dose, or 16.7mg. To find your ideal starting dose based on experience level and body weight, use our online dosing calculator. Just know that everyone’s biochemistry is different, and therefore everyone will respond slightly differently to CBD. We’d recommend finding your starting dose with our dosage calculator, seeing how you feel, and then if needed, increasing your dosage by 5mg at a time until you get your desired results.
CBD is by far more effective when ingested (i.e., putting the oil under your tongue, mixing it in a drink, etc). This is simply because CBD has to enter your system to be effective, and when it’s rubbed on your skin, far less CBD actually enters your system. If you want to maximize effectiveness, it’s best to hold the oil under your tongue for 30 seconds (known as taking CBD “sublingually”), because the skin under your tongue is incredibly thin, which allows more of the CBD to enter your system at a faster rate. This means that you’ll feel greater effects, with faster onset. That said, mixing your CBD in a drink works well too, you may just want to take 20% or so more to get similar effects.
The placebo effect could certainly be part of people’s experience with CBD, and frankly, likely is a factor. We’d actually argue this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because what matters is that you feel better. That said, placebo-controlled clinical trials have shown that CBD has real effects. And because CBD affects the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate a wide range of body processes, it logically follows that CBD would also have a wide range of effects on the body. In addition, of the 64 million people that have tried CBD in the US, 1 out of 4 say CBD is “moderately effective” and 2 out of 4 say that it is “very or extremely effective.”11
Possibly. CBD oil showing up on a drug test depends on how much, and what type of CBD, you ingest.9SoM CBD oil is "full-spectrum" meaning it contains trace amounts of THC (under 0.3% by weight, by law). So technically, while unlikely, if you took enough SoM CBD it's possible that it could show up in a drug test.
An alternative is to go with one of our competitors that offers a "broad-spectrum" CBD oil, which means that it is THC-free. However, this still poses a risk as some drug tests cannot differentiate between CBD and THC.
Therefore, if your job depends on passing a drug test, we'd recommend not trying CBD.
CBD oil is in your system anywhere from 2 days to 1 week. However, it is possible that for some, CBD could stay in their system for much longer. Many factors play into how long CBD oil will stay in your system including height, weight, exercise level, and water consumption to name a few.
It certainly can be. Some people have used CBD as a healthier alternative to their nightly drink, forming a new habit that’s allowed them to unwind after a long day. However, CBD has no mind-altering effects, so if you’re looking for a buzz or the feeling of being drunk, CBD isn’t the solution. But if you’re just looking for something to help you relax, CBD can be a great alternative to alcohol, and can be mixed into any drink.
No, CBD doesn’t work for everyone. Some studies have suggested that roughly 20% of Americans may have a genetic mutation that makes them naturally produce more endocannabinoids, which may render CBD less effective. This would also explain why 1 in 4 people say that CBD is less than “moderately effective” for them.13In addition, CBD itself isn’t a cure-all. Like anything in life, healthy habits like eating well and exercise are essential to feeling better. Because CBD doesn’t work for everyone, SoM offers a 90 day refund policy for any reason. Regardless of the brand you choose, we’d suggest choosing a CBD company that offers a money-back guarantee so that you can try CBD for yourself, and get your money back if it doesn’t work.
This is something we occasionally hear, and the logic makes sense. People (including us) state that CBD helps with stress, sleep, and pain, which don’t really seem related, therefore how is CBD affecting all these different things? The answer lies in that CBD affects the body’s endocannabinoid system, which has been linked to stress, sleep, and inflammatory response (which affects pain), in addition to a host of other body processes.14 Therefore, these different effects are more closely related than one might initially think, and make it more understandable how CBD has such wide-ranging benefits. While the research hasn’t yet caught up, results so far have been promising in supporting these benefits.
Still more questions?
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