4 Myths About CBD
- Dr. Ethan Russo, a prominent scientist studying the therapeutic effects of cannabis, debunks several myths surrounding cannabidiol (CBD)
Previously unknown and ignored, now popular and celebrated – CBD, or the cannabis component called cannabidiol, is rising daily in the cannabinoid charts due to its continuously expanding range of therapeutic effects.
However, as its popularity grows, so do the false myths about its effects and applications. Earlier this year, Dr. Ethan Russo, a certified neurologist, psychopharmacology scientist and former senior advisory consultant at GW Pharmaceuticals, published a report in the scientific journal Cell Press, in which he attempts to debunk 4 most common myths surrounding the cannabinoid CBD.
1. CBD is non-psychoactive
While in most articles (including ours) CBD is discussed as a "non-psychoactive" or "non-psychotropic" sibling of psychoactive THC, Russo raises a finger and points out the fundamental flaws in this claim.
„The statement that CBD does not affect the psyche compared to THC is very inaccurate. CBD has beneficial effects on anxiety, schizophrenia (More in the article "Does Cannabis Really Cause Schizophrenia?"), addiction and possibly even depression," Russo explains. „More precisely, we should call CBD a 'non-intoxicating' cannabinoid, as it is not associated with a feeling of intoxication, compulsive use, desire to reuse, and so on.
2. CBD has sedative effects
Earlier scientific reports discuss CBD as a potentially effective remedy for insomnia. However, Ethan Russo mentions an important point: „In lower doses, CBD clearly promotes alertness and overall vigilance. Furthermore, some studies have shown CBD's ability to suppress the sedating effect of THC and thus slow down falling asleep. Moreover, concurrent use of CBD and THC reduces the feeling of cannabis hangover (More in the article "Cannabis Hangover"), which occurs especially when consuming potent cannabis products with low CBD content."
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