You may not have heard of CBD before, but you’ve likely seen a few related products in stores of late. Now that the 2018 Farm Bill has passed in favor of cannabinoids, we are learning more about its associated health benefits. As a result, its popularity is exploding in the United States. For those who enjoy the ritual of smoking, it can also be an enjoyable alternative to tobacco. However, particularly for those who are unfamiliar, safety concerns might be present regarding the usage of CBD products, especially considering what we now know about the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. If you’re on the fence about giving CBD a try, let’s go over some of the major differences between CBD and tobacco.
What is CBD?
If you’ve never tried it, you might be weary of what CBD is or how it might affect you. CBD (or cannabidiol,) is a cannabinoid: a molecule that comes from the cannabis plant. One major difference between CBD and marijuana is that the former doesn’t contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis that produces the “high” associated with smoking it.
If you don’t want to smoke your CBD, there are plenty of other options like salves, oils, and pure CBD gummies. CBD gummies and other products with lab-tested purity can be good for newcomers, since you know exactly how much you’re taking and can dose accordingly. If you’ve never used them before, it’s always best to start with one. You can always take another or increase your dose later as you start to appreciate what effects it has on your body and mood.
What are the health effects?
While many medical studies are still ongoing, CBD has already demonstrated positive effects for many conditions. The FDA even recently approved its first CBD-based medication, Epidiolex, which treats certain rare seizure-inducing disorders. CBD users reported that it has improved their quality of life by reducing symptoms of anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia and more. Some studies have even shown that CBD has promise in treating skin conditions like chronic acne. While research into using CBD as a treatment for various issues is ongoing, all the early signs point to it having incredible potential with minimal side effects.
We are now aware of many negative health effects associated with tobacco consumption, including cancer, decreased lung function and, more recently, vaping illness. The latter dispells the myth that vaping tobacco is safer than directly smoking a cigarette. CBD has also been studied as a potential treatment for tobacco addiction, with promising results.
Is CBD better for you than tobacco?
Ultimately, there has decades of research proving the harmful effects tobacco can have on the body and the mind. But while CBD is relatively new to the market, the early research indicates that rather than being harmful, it may actually be beneficial for allieviating a variety of problems and conditions. Over the next few years, we will likely see a lot of progress made in medical research and with a better understanding of its effects and uses, more people will be able to discover the benefits and pleasure of using CBD.
While you should always be thorough in investigating any product before you add it to your wellness routine, there’s plenty of evidence to support the idea that CBD is a safer alternative to tobacco for those who enjoy smoking. Alternatively, for those who prefer not to smoke, there are plenty of CBD products like gummies, tinctures, and lotions that are widely available to try. The habit of using tobacco can be a difficult one to break, but if you are serious about taking care of your health, it might be time to consider switching to a different type of product to consume, for when you need a break.
