Weeding through marijuana: Experts, advocates talk cannabidiol (CBD)

Cannabidiol is a chemical compound in marijuana that helps deal with a variety of ailments such as pain, swelling, anxiety, and depression. Unlike its more famous chemical compound THC, cannabidiol doesn't give you the sensation of feeling high. For people skeptical of the ability of marijuana to help, they can hear stories like the one shared by Sage Pierson, who started taking a mix of cannabidiol to put in her tea every morning. This drastically reduced the swelling she had as a result of her arthritis, helping her live a normal life. While doctors and government officials debate the merits of CBD, it is not officially endorsed by the FDA, so you won't be able to buy it at a pharmacy near you.

Key Takeaways:

• Two components of the marijuana plant are THC (which causes a "high") and CBD(the medicinal component)
• You do not need to smoke marijuana to benefit from the medicinal CBD; treatment can be as simple as adding CBD infused honey to your daily coffee
• The FDA is slow to study and approve treatments using CBD, despite the immense benefit of the drug to humans and pets

"Whenever a medicated herb can provide relief to a medical condition or illness it should not only be allowed, it should be encouraged before taking (Food and Drug Administration)-approved drugs with their long list of toxic side effects."

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