Cannabidiol (CBD) has been praised for its therapeutic abilities. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, experiencing chronic pain, or are simply trying to ease inflammation, the amount of medical properties research has found within CBD is truly staggering. However, did you know, CBD actually works best when it’s consumed with other cannabinoids?   Cannabinoids - scientifically referred to as phytocannabinoids - are groups of closely related compounds that come from the cannabis plant, including CBD and THC. Most cannabinoids have been found to have medicinal properties, many of which are similar to one another.   For example, both CBD and THC have been found to ease chronic pain. Interestingly, they do so in different ways. THC binds itself to our CB1 receptors which, in turn, blocks pain receptors from entering the brain. Whereas CBD has a way of balancing out our endocannabinoid system which, in turn, eases pain receptors when there’s a large influx. ¹   As you can see, the combination of these two cannabinoids in and of themselves can do a whole lot for helping people with chronic pain. And this is only scratching the surface.   Throughout this article, we’re going to take a deeper look into why CBD is better with a little THC.   Misconceptions of THC Since CBD has found mainstream popularity, there’s been one major misconception when it comes to its relation with THC. It’s usually something along the lines of, “CBD is medicinal, THC is recreational.”   Part of this issue comes from cannabis farmers themselves. As the medicinal marijuana revolution was overtaking America, more and more growers were developing plants high in THC and low in CBD. This explains why nobody had even known what CBD was till ten years ago.   Project CBD, an organization founded in 2009, was well aware of this trend and believed it was discourteous towards medical cannabis patients. At that time, many were being told THC was the answer even though CBD had a long history of medicinal value. ² In fact, everyone was so set on THC that CBD was almost bred out of existence.   The thing is, there are two sides of the coin to this problem. On one hand, you have marijuana activists who praise THC’s psychoactivity and are pushing for cannabis with higher amounts of it. On the other, you have governmental institutions still pushing prohibition on the public, claiming cannabis to be a dangerous substance.   Both cases are only putting more spotlight on THC and completely ignoring all the other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. And, most importantly, both sides aren’t revealing how those cannabinoids can have superior medicinal value when combined.   Why CBD is Better With THC Science has already shown that when people consume whole-plant (sometimes referred to as full-spectrum) cannabis preparations, there’s an “entourage effect” that enhances the medicinal values of cannabis. This is because of the complex relationship between various cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.   A few studies that shine a light on this phenomenon include:   The California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco found that the combination of THC and CBD creates more potent anti-tumor effects after being tested on brain cancer and breast cancer patients. These patients were also tested with single compounds (CBD or THC alone) and found that the combination had more inhibiting abilities. ³   In a 2010 study, researchers looked into how cannabis can inhibit pain in cancer patients. It was found that when THC and CBD were combined, it caused more pain relief than THC in and of itself. ?   The Journal of Psychopharmacology found that CBD has the ability to inhibit THC-related paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment. ?   The science is quite clear, CBD works better when it’s mixed with THC. However, we understand those looking to medicate with cannabis aren’t always looking to get stoned. And with that said, we believe there is a sweet spot for everyone.   Trying CBD and THC: Trial and Error Plenty out there love the high that comes along with marijuana. And hearing news that CBD works better with THC may just be another reason to light up a joint and enjoy the psychoactivity.   However, we understand that not everyone enjoys the marijuana high. Furthermore, we’re well aware that many of you out there may feel paranoid upon smoking cannabis and have even avoided using CBD products containing just traces of THC.   Still, if you’re willing, we guarantee you can find the sweet spot when it comes to THC and CBD. All it’s going to take is a little experimentation.   As we tell everyone with CBD products, start small and work your way up. And when we say small, we mean very small. Maybe as little as 1mg of THC a day. Though this may cause minor psychoactivity, the medicinal benefits over time can be enormous.   In the words of Project CBD: “The successful use of cannabis as a medicine depends to a great extent on managing its psychoactive properties. The goal is to administer consistent, measurable doses of a CBD-rich cannabis remedy with as much THC as a person is comfortable with… Preclinical science lends credence to the notion that a small amount of THC can confer health benefits. Oral administration of a low dose of THC (1 mg/day) resulted in ‘significant inhibition of disease progression’ in an animal model of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), according to a 2005 report in Nature, which noted: ‘This effective dose is lower than the dose usually associated with psychotropic effects of THC.’” ?   At the end of the day, the real question is whether or not you even have legal access to THC. Unfortunately, it isn’t available everywhere and we’re not suggesting you break the law simply to give cannabis’s medicinal properties a try.   However, if you are lucky enough to live in a state that has legalized cannabis (or are able to obtain a legal medicinal cannabis card), we highly recommend you give THC and CBD a shot. Even if just for a short time.     Reference Sources ¹ Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience: Cannabinoids in health and disease ² PubMed: Cannabidiol--antiepileptic drug comparisons and interactions in experimentally induced seizures in rats. ³ Project CBD: Cannabis and CBD For Cancer ? Iowa Medical Marijuana: Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of THC:CBD Extract... ? Sage Journals: Journal of Psychopharmacology: Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicited paranoid symptoms... ? PubMed: Low dose oral cannabinoid therapy reduces progression of atherosclerosis in mice.

As you start exploring the cannabidiol (CBD) industry, you’re going to notice the term “Lab Results” be thrown around quite a bit. These are detailed analyses of third-party test results for CBD products and are vital to deciphering a reputable CBD company from the one you shouldn’t trust.   To put it simply, lab results (sometimes referred to as Certificates of Analysis) inform you of what’s in and what isn’t in your hemp-extracted CBD.   If you ever plan to purchase CBD, it’s important to understand how to read these results. This article will inform you of all the basics when it comes to lab testings and give you a comprehension of why they’re vital to this industry.   The Importance of CBD Lab Results There’s no denying CBD has captured the eyes of mainstream media. More and more people are becoming interested in this natural medicine and, with that, more are giving it a try for themselves. However, most don’t realize the CBD industry is still very unregulated.   Currently, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only approves of one CBD pharmaceutical, known as Epidiolex. Every other product available on the market has not been approved nor regulated by the FDA. ¹   Still, due to the peek of interest, thousands of brands have flooded the market. Many of which don’t care for the consumer and are only in it to make a quick buck. In turn, this has also flooded the market with a number of poor-quality and sometimes dangerous products.   The good news is companies leading this industry are keen to this fraud. And they’re taking it under their own wing to make sure you’re aware of what’s in your CBD.   How Do Companies Rest the Quality Their CBD? Through lab reports, they offer you the knowledge of what’s inside your CBD. Everything from cannabinoid content to whether or not it contains any contaminants, such as heavy metals or pesticides.   Still, even with these lab results at your disposal, it can be difficult to understand the text. That’s why we’ve developed the following guide to help you equip yourself with everything you need to know when reading CBD lab results.   The Different Composition of CBD It’s fairly well-known that CBD comes from the cannabis Sativa plant known as hemp. However, what’s less discussed are the different compositions of CBD that can be extracted from hemp. ²   Currently, there are two important differences you should be aware of:   Full-Spectrum CBD - CBD that contains all the cannabinoids, terpenes, amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, fatty acids, and other compounds from the hemp-plant it was extracted from. Sometimes referred to as whole-plant CBD, whole-flower CBD, and CBD extract.   CBD Isolate - By processing the CBD further, laboratories are able to produce a crystalline substance that’s the purest form of CBD (usually, around 95%+ pure). Products labeled CBD isolate will only contain CBD and other additives added later in the process. These products also tend to be 100% THC free.   It’s important to note that no two hemp plants will grow the same. Therefore, their contents will slightly differ in terms of cannabinoids and terpenes.   By learning to read lab results, you’ll be able to pick apart these slight differences. In turn, this can benefit you as you’ll be able to look for cannabinoids and terpenes that can cater to your needs.   How to Read CBD Lab Results When a CBD company runs their product through a lab test, there are a number of different screenings that can be given. Admittedly, since CBD companies aren’t inclined to run through any of these screenings, they may pick and choose in accordance with their preferences.   The following are the most common screenings you’ll find within a CBD lab result:   Cannabinoid Profile A cannabinoid is a molecule derived from the cannabis plant. As of now, scientists have discovered over 100 cannabinoids. The two most famous are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Still, all cannabinoids do have therapeutic properties in humans.   A cannabinoid profile measures out how much of each cannabinoid can be found within the CBD product. In order to understand these various cannabinoids, it helps to do extra research on their therapeutic properties.   From cannabinoid content levels, you’ll be able to find: Potency - how much concentration of each cannabinoid is within the product (often measured as a percent of weight or mg/mL).   Non-Decarboxylated Raw Material - how much of a presence of acid forms to non-acid cannabinoid forms.   Spectrum - how much of each cannabinoid is within a product.   Referring back to the terms mentioned above, you can expect: Full-spectrum products to contain a variety of different cannabinoids with CBD being of the dominant cannabinoid.   Broad-spectrum products to contain a variety of different cannabinoid, but withholding THC - the cannabinoid that causes psychoactivity.   Isolate-based product - Containing only CBD and a bit of CBDV - the cannabinoid molecule CBD initially begins as.   Some products may label themselves as full or broad-spectrum, yet, only contain CBD isolate. This is usually because the hemp extract was tested rather than what was put into the final product.   Terpene Profile Terpenes are aromatic oils that are found in cannabis and come with their own set of therapeutic benefits. They can interact with certain cannabinoids and, in effect, produce further health benefits. For this reason, it also helps to do a bit of research on terpenes themselves.   All full and broad-spectrum CBD products will contain a terpene profile, even if the lab results don’t list them. When CBD is isolated, it is removed from its terpene profile.   However, you’ll sometimes run into CBD isolate products where terpenes were added in afterward. These products are sometimes referred to as “terpsolates”.   Heavy Metal Screening Hemp has the ability to soak up whatever’s in the soil around it. ³ Due to this behavior, the plant’s extract may have dangerous heavy metal contamination. For this reason, lab results should report whether or not their CBD product contains heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead.   Microbiology Screening Some companies test to make sure their CBD is free of microbes, such as yeast, molds, E-coli, and salmonella.   Mycotoxin Screening Some companies test to make sure their CBD is free of toxic substances such as fungus.   Pesticide Screening It’s important to make sure the hemp your CBD was extracted from was grown organically. An organic farm WILL NOT use pesticides as a means of yielding in more crops. Some companies test to make sure their CBD is free of pesticides and grown only through organic methods in clean soil.   Solvent Residue Screening A common way to extract CBD is through various solvents. Unfortunately, these solvents sometimes leave behind a chemical residue which can be dangerous if consumed. Some companies test to make sure their CBD is free of this solvent residue.   CBD has the potential to help a lot of people. It’s unfortunate the government hasn’t completely woken up to this and, in turn, leaves the industry completely unregulated. Still, we’re lucky enough to have entrepreneurs take the responsibility into their own hands.   By using a third-party lab test (or certificate of analysis), we as the consumer are given the chance to know just what our CBD contains. If you’re new to this industry, it’s important to understand the value of this knowledge.   By having a comprehension of what’s in the cannabidiol itself, we are given the right to decide which companies will continue to prosper.     Reference Sources ¹ FDA: FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD) ² Harvard Medical School: Cannabidiol (CBD) - what we know and what we don’t ³ Springer 3 Biotech: Comparative assessment for hyperaccumulatory and phytoremediation capability of three wild weeds

For many of us, the legalization of cannabis in most states, such as Canada was great news. What brought even greater news was the permission to carry CBD and its products along in our travel; we no longer have to set them aside as we pack. Whether for relief from chronic pain, inflammation, or even acne, you can never go wrong with CBD Oil. When traveling to new destinations where your skin will be subjected to varying weather conditions, carrying CBD becomes a necessity.  However, there are some basics we need to keep in mind as we embrace this added advantage. Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind as you travel with CBD.   Have ample information and facts It is better to be safe than sorry. When traveling with CBD, be sure to do plenty of research concerning the laws and regulations of the state you plan to tour. It will help you evade moments of embarrassment at the airport that may even lead to arrests. Although it is legal to travel with CBD derived from hemp, different states have varying policies concerning its usage. Therefore, research on the rules of the state you are leaving and those of your destination.   If you are traveling by car, bringing your CBD shouldn't be much of a problem. However, this does not eliminate the need to carry out research. Remember that as a foreigner, you are prone to attract attention as you cross borders. Hence, to ensure you do not land on the wrong side of the local rules, be well versed with their policies on CBD.   Examples of countries where you can travel with CBD freely include; Argentina, Canada, Russia, Portugal, Iceland, and Croatia, to mention a few. However, different regulations apply from one state to another, for example, on the source of CBD as well as the amount of THC in the products allowed.   Carry the COA of the product you intend to carry A certificate of analysis is a description document issued by an inspection firm as a confirmation of a product's quality or purity. This is most effective in determining the product's compliance with the specific rules in a country. Some suppliers may label a product THC-free only for you to learn of its presence at the airport.    Therefore, the COA will act as a guide and add more confidence to you that you are in line with the laws and regulations of the state. Request for the COA from the manufacturers. Having the COA with you saves you the trouble of too many explanations at the airport on the product you are carrying. In other words, it acts as evidence of the product's legality. As long as the product contains less than 0.3% THC, as evident from the COA, then you are safe.   Why are states strict about the percentage of THC in CBD? The most dominant derivatives of marijuana and hemp plants are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The difference between these two products lies in the way they react with your body. While THC has psychoactive effects, CBD provides a calming effect. There are numerous new CBD strains to choose from and reap the maximum benefits of CBD. Also, CBD displays no signs of dependency on the user; it is not addictive. Thus, products containing more than 0.3% THC are prone to confiscation as they are considered illegal by the federal laws of most states.   Package the CBD product properly A common mistake many travelers make is traveling with CBD hidden. This raises eyebrows as to why you are hiding it. Whenever possible, package the product in its original container, which should be clearly labeled. With your container clearly labeled, then you don't have to explain the product you are carrying. Secondly, do not pack it at suspicious points in your backpack or suitcase. Pack it in a way that it is easily accessible, just like the other lotions and liquids you own.   Even when carrying approved medication such as Epidiolex, which generally contains CBD oil, ensure you bring the doctor's prescription. Never make assumptions because a small mistake may end up landing you on the wrong side of the law.   The TSA's carry –on liquid rules apply when carrying CBD Whereas CBD is available in forms such as creams, capsules, pills, and edibles, it is most often in the form of oils and tinctures. When in liquid form, infusing it is by using a dropper under the tongue. The Transportation Security Administration falls under the Homeland Security Department. This is the body that subjects liquids to scrutiny during flights. Thus, the 3-1-1 rule applies even to CBD. This means that you get to carry containers of liquids weighing 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less for every item. This should be in a quart-sized bag. E-liquid in its cartridge is also subject to this rule. Although there are exceptions for liquids such as infant and child nourishments and medications, they do not apply to CBD.   The sniffer dogs are likely to detect your CBD     In addition to roles such as detecting explosives and wildlife scats, these sniffer dogs help officials in detecting drugs. They identify the presence of drugs by sniffing caryophyllene oxide. This is usually a byproduct of drying cannabis. Also, hemp produces caryophyllene. Besides, small traces of THC in CBD may cause its detection. This is why storing your CBD product in an easily accessible place is vital. Also, knowing that they may sniff it saves you from nervousness that may result if you were not prepared.   With the tips above, you will make it through screening. As you travel with CBD, ensure you do not vape during the flight as this is prohibited. However, you may consider options such as gummies or even drops when calming those nerves during flight. On the other hand, if unsure about the regulations, you may opt to place your order at your destination. There are plenty of reputable places you can purchase your CBD products of choice.