By JUDD MATSUNAGA, Esq.
In my article on depression, “When the Golden Years Are Blue” (Feb. 18, 2023), we discussed three “self-help” tips and a fourth tip to go see a doctor if depression persists. If you do, make sure to ask your doctor about CBD. Cannabidiol, or CBD, has become incredibly popular in recent years as an alternative medicine because of its ability to ease pain and cause relaxation.
Some research suggests that CBD can also help with depression and anxiety. And since hemp-derived CBD is legal in all 50 states (see below), more people are becoming educated about it. Many patients are interested in finding more organic remedies, so it’s understandable that interest in CBD is rising. Still, there is much stigma about the compound. This article is my version of a “CBD for Dummies” guide intended to remove this stigma.
WHAT IS CBD?
CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a natural substance found in cannabis, also known as marijuana, and also in hemp plants. CBD is an oil extracted from either marijuana or hemp plants. And while hemp and marijuana both come from the same plant species, called cannabis, they are not the same.
Hemp plants are a different cultivar than the marijuana plant, which means that although they’re the same species, the plants grow differently and have different properties. Marijuana is the intoxicating cousin of hemp, and has much higher percentages of THC, the compound responsible…
