Hold onto your Bunsen burners, stoner babes. We’re about to get science-y!

You might already know that marijuana is a plant that naturally grows on planet Earth, with tons of medicinal properties (for health benefits) and recreational applications (for fun) too. The truth is, there’s a lot we still don’t know about cannabis, but lately, there’s been more research and knowledge coming out about the plant and all of its compounds.

First, let’s back it all the way up. The marijuana plant is made up of molecules that form compounds, the building blocks for all living things on our planet. The most famous molecule found in cannabis is THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol (check out this article from Herb.co to learn all about THC). THC is what produces the high you feel when you smoke.

Cannabidiol, on the other hand, which goes by the acronym CBD, is a cannabis compound that has major benefits, but doesn’t make you feel “stoned.” When choosing your favorite strain of marijuana, you can choose a strain that’s higher in CBD and lower in THC. Or, you can smoke, ingest, or use a topical CBD concentrate or CBD oil to get the magic of this compound without any of the high at all.

So, what are some of the benefits of CBD? Keep in mind that the following uses for CBD have undergone varying levels of testing (many by the US government, which is very exciting!) so some might not be 100% proven positive. But the more we learn about CBD, the more positive benefits reveal themselves.

CBD benefits include: Helping fight cancer, reducing seizures in patients with epilepsy, helping cure chronic pain, combatting inflammation, helping with depression and anxiety, reducing pain from menstrual cramps, relieving nausea and increasing appetite, as well as a variety of other medical uses to combat cigarette / alcohol addiction, acne, PTSD, insomnia and more. CBD can even counteract the psychoactive properties of THC, so it’s great to have on hand if you or a friend get too high and you want to come down quickly and easily.

Is it legal? The answer is, mostly yeah. Since CBD is part of the marijuana plant, it’s traditionally been tangled up in the same regulations. But in the last year or two, many states have legalized CBD extract (oil / powder that’s separated from the plant to form a concentrate) for medical use, all with the exception of Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, and West Virginia, as of August 2017 when this post was written. In any state where marijuana is legal, CBD is as well.

If you’re interested in trying CBD, you can purchase it in many smoke shops and health food stores if it’s legal in your state. We personally love Diamond CBD products, that you can easily shop & compare online. Be sure to do your research, and find the right product and application that’s right for you.

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Have you added CBD to your healthcare or beauty routine? Let us know below in the comments!

Disclaimer: CBD is not for use by or sale to persons under the age of 18. Consult a medical professional before trying any new dietary supplements. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products mentioned in this post are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Links in this post may generate income that supports HeyHelloHigh and our partners, but all opinions and endorsements are our own.