Sure, but researchers also warn that since it’s largely derived from a substance that has been classified as a Schedule 1 drug, there hasn’t been a whole lot of research done on it. In Colorado, for example, a law passed in 2018 made it perfectly legal to add any and all parts of the hemp plant to food. Go to California or Maine, and they have laws that are more in line with the FDA’s stance on the whole thing. If the product does get into the bloodstream—if it’s transdermal rather than truly topical—it could potentially reach the brain, possibly producing psychoactive effects if it contains THC. First off, we don’t know much about the correct dose of CBD needed for a pain-relieving effect.

The doses in the rat studies that were effective were pretty large (for a rat, obviously). And the human participants in the Phase 2 clinical trial we mentioned received 250 mg of synthetic CBD topically per day—as much as many consumer topical CBD products contain in a single jar. In fact, the most compelling research they found for using cannabinoids for pain came from a large review and meta-analysis published in JAMA in 2015. For the study, researchers looked at results from 79 previous studies of cannabinoids and various medical conditions, including chronic pain. However, of those studies, only four involved CBD (without THC)—none of which were looking at pain.

CBD topical treatments make up another huge part of the industry. Bath bombs, lotions, and balms are supposed to soothe muscles and promote an anti-inflammatory response. New companies are coming out with new products constantly, so you’ll have plenty of room to play.

Not only might it make them feel better, but it also might help them keep weight on. It hasn’t been associated with weight gain in users who fall into the "normal" or "overweight" categories, so it’s entirely possible this is one more in the win category for CBD.

Unlike the more well-known cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD does not produce a high. Oil tinctures and capsules seem to be two of the more popular ways to consume CBD, but the list of products available is long. Some companies like Strava are infusing their coffee beans with CBD, finding that adding it can minimize jitters associated with the caffeine, as well as increase focus.

Around 60 percent of prescription medications rely on a specific group of liver enzymes to work. These are the same enzymes that break down CBD, and basically, combining CBD with hemp seed oil these medications can magnify the effects. According to Harvard Health, CBD is a component of medical marijuana, but it comes directly from the hemp plant, not the marijuana plant. The World Health Organization has found no proof that it causes addiction, dependence, or public health problems, and that sounds great, right?

CBD can react with blood thinners, and someone taking both could develop a hemorrhage. CBD and some prescription anxiety drugs can interact to have a sedative effect, and sometimes, they can even become toxic or interfere with respiratory processes. The more CBD in your bloodstream, the more likely an interaction is. According to The Huffington Post, medical researchers have found a huge problem with CBD oil.

So although we might assume that CBD is doing something to help address pain—according to the studies involving the whole cannabis plant—we don’t have great evidence to prove it. Why does the body have receptors for compounds in cannabis? Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are similar enough to compounds that your body naturally makes, called endocannabinoids, that they can interact with this system. Cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD, is a cannabinoid, a type of compound found in cannabis (marijuana).