Nicole del Cardayre | Staff Writer | America used to shun marijuana, but now a component of the plant is becoming more widely used in the medicinal world. CBD, extracted as an oil, is made from high-CBD and low-THC hemp concentration. THC is the acronym for Tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound in weed that makes you high. Hemp is a part of the Cannabis sativa plant and is specifically grown for the industrial uses of its derived products. The reason why CBD can be used as a major medical product legally is because the THC, the component which causes a user to get a “high” feeling, is mostly extracted and it is no longer considered to be an “illegal drug.” CBD oil, also known as hemp oil, is considered to be non-psychoactive because hemp oil only contains trace amounts of THC. According to Dr. Josh Axe, who specializes in natural medicine and clinical nutrition, CBD oil has been found to be an anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, antioxidant, antiemetic, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic agent, and is therefore a potential medicine for the treatment of neuroinflammation, epilepsy, oxidative injury, vomiting and nausea, anxiety and schizophrenia. “CBD is one of over 60 compounds found in cannabis that belong to a class of ingredients called cannabinoids, all cannabinoids act as ligands, meaning they dock onto the binding site of a protein and have the ability to modulate a receptor’s behavior,” Axe said. According to Medical Marijuana Inc., in the late 1980s, scientists found that CBD interacts with the body through the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS). The endogenous cannabinoid system regulates the body’s general state of balance, homeostasis, and other functions such as sleep, mood, hormone regulation, appetite, immune response, and pain. CBD is one of 85 cannabinoids and it is the second most popular cannabinoid in marijuana after THC. “I use CBD oil after really intense workouts or baseball games because it makes me more relaxed and I always have a good night of sleep when I take it. CBD oil always relieves any tension I have and overall de-stresses my body,” said Jake Robinson, a junior. According to Medical Marijuana Inc., people use over-the-counter or prescription drugs to relieve pain or stiffness, this includes chronic pain. However, CBD oil has become more popular in recent years to relieve these symptoms and more doctors are beginning to advocate for its use. “The medical world is realizing that CBD’s list of medical benefits are continuing to grow,” Axe said. According to a study that was published in the journal of Experimental Medicine, CBD oil drastically reduced chronic inflammation and pain in some mice and rats. “I would be open to the idea of trying CBD oil. I have friends that have used it and they said it helped with relaxing their muscles and overall body. I guess I could say sometimes before bed, my body has some tension and if CBD oil has the possibility of easing it, then I’m not opposed,” James Houston, a senior, said. CBD oil also has been proven to help people quit smoking cigarettes. In a pilot study posted on Addictive Behaviors, scientists found that smokers who used an inhaler that contained CBD in the end smoked fewer cigarettes and did not have any additional cravings for nicotine. According to study that was posted on Neurotherapeutics journal, CBD is considered to be a promising substance for people who have struggled with opioid abuse. “I would recommend it to people who need a source of relaxment and can’t obtain it from anything else. CBD oil is a good alternative to over-the-counter or prescription drugs, and I see it more as a natural and herbal remedy which in the long run is probably better for your health,” said Robinson. All this being said, CBD can have side effects. According to a study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Commonly reported side effects are tiredness, diarrhea, and changes of appetite and weight.” Aside from this, a primary symptom CBD is used to treat is clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders. A review from Neurotherapeutics found that CBD may help reduce anxiety behaviors and overall anxiety felt by anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Medical Marijuana Inc. advises patients with chronic anxiety to avoid marijuana because of THC’s ability to trigger or amplify anxiety and paranoia in some people, which is where CBD comes in.