What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is found alongside more than 80 active cannabinoids (chemical compounds) in the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD is also in industrial hemp. With roots traced to 2700 B.C., CBD has been used for medicinal and natural remedy purposes for centuries. This is because of how the plant interacts with the endocannabinoid system—a modulatory system that balances the body during stress.

Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the other primary and most known cannabinoid in cannabis—CBD doesn’t alter your mind or cause a psychoactive reaction. In other words, using CBD won’t get you high.

Ok, so what is hemp?

You’ve probably heard the terms cannabis, marijuana, and hemp all tossed around in relation to CBD. The plant Cannabis sativa has two primary species, hemp and marijuana. Both contain CBD, but there’s a much higher percentage in hemp, which also has very low (less than 0.3%) levels of THC compared to marijuana.

When people talk about hemp oil, they’re referring to oil extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant. There are no cannabinoids—CBD or THC—in hemp oil. This ingredient is packed with healthy fats and often appears in beauty products for its moisturizing benefits.