CANNABIDIOL
noun, kan-eh-buh-die-el
This compound, known as CBD, is
derived from the cannabis plant.
CBD has been shown to help shield
the body from oxidative stress
(which can cause cell damage and
disease). Anecdotally, some claim
it’s anti-inflammatory and can help
relieve anxiety and pain. But CBD
is not regulated by the FDA, except
for one prescription medication to
treat severe childhood epilepsy,
says Dustin Lee, an assistant pro-
fessor in psychiatry and behav-
ioral sciences at Johns Hopkins
University. “Most of the research
is preclinical. We need controlled
studies before we can advise the
public on how CBD can be used
efficaciously.”
PSYCHOACTIVE
adj, sigh-ko-ak-tiv
When a CBD product contains more
than .3 percent of THC (delta-9-tet-
rahydrocannabinol), it is considered
mind-altering. Seeing “psychoac-
tive” (or “THC”) on a label means
you might get high. Be careful of
how much you’re ingesting.
HEMP
noun, hemp
Refers to a strain of the Cannabis sa-
tiva plant and the fibers it contains,
which were originally used to make
fabrics. Hemp is now bred with high-
er amounts of CBD and is legal in
more states than marijuana. Slightly
confusing fact: CBD derived from
hemp and marijuana is identical. Un-
less the product contains THC, it is
not psychoactive.
TERPENES
noun, tur-peens
These compounds give canna-
bis plants their flavor and aroma.
Two common ones? “Limonene
has an uplifting, citrus flavor, and
myrcene is mind-relaxing and has
a clove-y scent,” says Grant Rogers,
a brand manager at Extract Labs, a
hemp-derived CBD company based
in Colorado. Think of it like the sub-
tleties of wine, adds Sally Nichols,
the president of Bloom Farms CBD,
a California-based CBD compa-
ny. Still, Lee urges consumers to
take the mood-altering claims with
a grain of salt. “The research we
have with terpenes, and most of
CBD, does not match the marketing
claims,” says Lee, citing the lack of
well-controlled studies.
FULL SPECTRUM
adj, ful spek-trem
Refers to a CBD product that contains
all elements of the cannabis plant,
including up to .3 percent THC.
M
O
D
E
R
N
W
E
L
L
N
E
S
S
ORGANIC
adj, or-gan-ik
It’s crucial to look for organic cer-
tifications in hemp-derived CBD
because hemp absorbs everything
in its surrounding soil (including
heavy metals or pesticides). “All the
sources in your product should have
organic certifications on the label or
website,” says Nichols. “You can also
look for ‘organically grown.’”
CERTIFICATE OF
ANALYSIS (COA)
noun, sir-tiff-ik-et uf an-al-uh-
suss
Any reputable CBD product should
have one done by a third-party lab.
Find the batch number on your
product (usually on the bottom
or side), and check the brand’s
site for its COA report. Ensure the
level of THC is under .3 percent.
(Concentrations vary, but most
readings hover between .05 and
.11, well below .3 percent.) Heavy
metals, pesticides, and microbials
should also be included; look for
“ND” (“not detected”).
BROAD
SPECTRUM
adj, brod spek-trem
This CBD product contains every
element of the cannabis plant (all
terpenes and all cannabinoids) ex-
cept THC.
BIOAVAILABILITY
noun, by-oh-ah-vale-ah-bill-
ah-tee
How fast CBD enters the blood-
stream to take effect. Smoking and
vaping are the most immediate be-
cause the CBD goes into your lungs,
says Rogers. Holding a tincture un-
der the tongue for absorption takes
about 10 minutes. A soft gel cap-
sule or gummy ingested orally can
take up to several hours because it
has to work through your digestive
system; your response time can
be lengthened by how much food
you’ve eaten.
2
$
2
BILLION
THE FDA IS LOOKING INTO ESTABLISHING GUIDANCE ON THE SAFETY AND/OR
84 ALLURE SEPTEMBER 2019 EFFICACY OF CBD PRODUCTS AND PLANS TO PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION.
SPECIAL THANKS TO MARGARET HANEY, A PROFESSOR OF NEUROBIOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER, AND JUNE CHIN, AN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND AUTHOR OF
CANNABIS AND CBD FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
A
n
e
s
t
i
m
a
t
e
d
v
a
lu
e
of
theCBDindust
ry
w
it
h
in
t
h
e
n
e
x
t
t
h
r
e
e
y
e
a
r
s
