You're probably hearing a whole lot about cannabis and marijuana products because they become legal in more and more states. Two natural compounds are receiving probably the most attention: CBD and THC.

Cannabis is a place that produces a heavy substance saturated in compounds called cannabinoids. There are more than 100 of these chemicals in cannabis cbd benefits. They cause drug-like reactions in your body.

Chemical Structure

CBD and THC have the same chemical formula -- 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. The difference lies in what sort of atoms are arranged. That offers CBD and THC different chemical properties, and they affect the body differently.

Both CBD and THC assist receptors that release neurotransmitters in your brain. They could affect things like pain, mood, sleep, and memory.

How CBD and THC Affect the Body

THC is the key psychoactive compound in marijuana. It's why is people feel "high."

We have two forms of cannabinoid receptors inside our bodies. THC binds with receptors -- mostly in the brain -- that control pain, mood, and other feelings. That's why THC will make you feel euphoric and give you that so-called high.

CBD doesn't cause that high. Instead, it's thought to utilize other elements within the body associated with feelings of well-being.

Medical Benefits

People take CBD products to simply help with from arthritis and Crohn's disease to diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Some say it can help with anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. So far, there's little evidence that CBD helps with any one of these.

CBD is a hot topic for researchers. The National Institutes of Health clinical trials database shows more than 160 trials involving CBD which can be either active or recruiting.

What's Legal?

Laws are changing constantly on cannabis. Many states allow medical marijuana, containing THC, for many uses, but it's still illegal under federal law. Some states have made recreational marijuana with THC legal for personal use. But it's also illegal under U.S. law.

Included in the Farm Bill in December 2018, Congress legalized hemp. But you will find still rules about where and how you can sell products that have CBD. You can't sell some across state lines, for example. All CBD goods are illegal if they're sold with the promise of medical benefits.