Frequently Asked Questions About CBD

What Is CBD & What Does It Stand For?

CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol, one of the many active compounds—known as cannabinoids—found in the two types of cannabis sativa plants (hemp and marijuana).

How Does CBD Work?

CBD works with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help it work more effectively. CBD seems to amplify the effects of anandamide, one of the body’s naturally occurring cannabinoids that binds directly with CB1 and CB2 receptors and helps regulate pain and appetite, reduce anxiety, and more.

Learn more about the endocannabinoid system in this guide.

Is CBD Natural?

Yes, CBD is natural. It is found in hemp, a hardy plant grown in many different parts of the world for both industrial and medicinal purposes.

However, certain types of CBD require some processing to create. Full spectrum CBD is the most natural option of all CBD types because it requires the least amount of processing before it’s made available to you. Full spectrum CBD contains everything in the hemp plant, including all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and fatty acids.

Broad spectrum CBD and CBD isolate are still natural, but there’s more processing involved in making these products. Broad spectrum CBD is like full spectrum CBD in that it contains all the terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids, but the THC is taken out during the production process.

CBD isolate requires the most processing of all CBD products because it strips out everything, including the THC, terpenes, and flavonoids, leaving just CBD in its purest form behind.

How Does CBD Make You Feel?

Like many aspects of CBD, how CBD feels varies from person to person. Some people describe CBD as having a calming effect while others say it helps them feel less sore after a workout.

Read more about how CBD makes our customers feel on our blog.

Will CBD Get You High?

No, CBD won’t get you high. Hemp-derived CBD only contains trace amounts of THC, the compound found in marijuana that creates that well-known “high” feeling.

Will CBD Show Up On a Drug Test?

Hemp-derived CBD won’t cause you to fail a drug test for the same reason it won’t get you high—it doesn’t contain enough THC. That said, CBD taken from marijuana plants do contain varying amounts of THC, so it’s possible you could fail a drug test if you take it.

It’s important to that you can further protect yourself against a failed drug test by only buying CBD that comes with a Certificate of Analysis (COA). A COA shows that these products have been tested by a third-party lab for the amount of all ingredients inside, including THC. Certain CBD brands have sold products with more THC than advertised.

Can You Get Addicted to CBD?

No, you won’t get addicted to CBD.

Can You Overdose on CBD?

No, there’s no evidence that you can overdose on CBD. The World Health Organization even says that CBD is “generally tolerated with a good safety profile.”

Is CBD Safe for Pets?

Yes, CBD is a safe option for dogs and cats. Our furry friends have the same endocannabinoid system and CB receptors as we do, meaning they can get the same health and wellness benefits from CBD.

Is CBD Legal in the United States?

Technically, yes. CBD is legal or decriminalized in most of the U.S. as long as the amount of THC in it is less than 0.3%.

You can learn all about the legality of CBD here.

What’s the Best Way to Take CBD?

Taking CBD is a personal decision and the best way to take it depends on your goals, tastes, and preferences. You have several options when it comes to taking CBD, including CBD tinctures, capsules, edibles, and topicals.

Tinctures are one of the most popular ways to take CBD because you put the oil under your tongue, making it fast and efficient to take. CBD capsules and edibles are also easy to take, but they have to go through the digestive process. The upside? The effects last longer.

CBD topicals are a little different since you apply them to the skin rather than ingesting them. The difference is that topicals provide targeted relief—like for knee or elbow pain—that works quickly and lasts for hours.

CBD Oil vs. Hemp Oil: Are They the Same?

CBD oil and hemp oil are not the same thing. Hemp oil products are often marketed as CBD, but there are distinct differences between the two. Hemp oil is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant, while CBD is taken from the whole plant like the leaves, flower, stems, and stalks.

What’s the Difference Between Full Spectrum CBD & CBD Isolate?

Both full spectrum CBD and CBD isolate contain CBD, but there are major differences. Full spectrum CBD contains all of the naturally occurring compounds found in the hemp plant, including the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids. It’s believed that keeping all of these components together creates what is known as the “entourage effect.”

CBD isolate, on the other hand, is CBD and only CBD. All of the extras are stripped out during the production process.

What Is the Entourage Effect?

The “entourage effect” is a phenomenon associated with full spectrum CBD where all compounds in the cannabis plant—including cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, vitamins, and fatty acids—work together in the endocannabinoid system to amplify the health and wellness benefits.

Learn more about the entourage effect in this guide.

What Are Terpenes?

Terpenes are compounds found in plants—including cannabis plants—that are thought to provide a variety of wellness benefits that boost the overall effectiveness of cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

Terpenes are one of the main components in full spectrum CBD that helps create the “entourage effect.” You can learn more about terpenes in our in-depth guide.

How Long Does CBD Last?

The effects of CBD can last anywhere from two to six hours, depending on how you take it. Vaping is the fastest-acting method of taking CBD, but the effects only last two to three hours.

Taking CBD sublingually with a tincture is another fast-acting way to take CBD, but the effects last much longer (usually about five hours). CBD topicals and edibles are the slowest to take effect, but last the longest (about six hours).

How Much CBD Should You Take?

CBD dosages vary from person to person. The starter-level products from Frontier Jackson range anywhere from 10 mg to 25 mg of CBD per serving. Your best bet is to start with a low amount of CBD, and then slowly increase the dosage until you feel the desired effects.

What’s the Preferred Way to Take CBD?

There is no one-size-fits-all way to take CBD because people have different reasons and goals for taking CBD. However, CBD tinctures are the most popular option with Frontier Jackson customers because they’re easy to use and are fast absorbing. Co-founder Brian King prefers tinctures because they’re easy to take sublingually (under the tongue).

What’s the Difference Between CBD & THC?

Both CBD and THC are cannabinoids that come from cannabis sativa plants. They’re chemically similar, but they don’t have the same effects on the body. THC binds directly with CB1 receptors, creating that euphoric feeling associated with marijuana. CBD doesn’t have the same psychoactive effects.

Does CBD Make You Drowsy?

The short answer is CBD doesn’t have the same psychoactive effects of THC, so it shouldn’t make you drowsy or sleepy—just possibly more relaxed.

The long answer is it’s a bit more complicated than that. Some people say that CBD makes them feel more relaxed, while others say it gives them energy. There is no one definitive answer either way, but one study on the sleep pattern effects of CBD on rats found that the time of day had an impact. Researchers found that giving the rats CBD at night made them more tired, while giving it earlier in the day increased their wakefulness.

CBD might also help with insomnia related to anxiety or depression because studies have shown that it doesn’t hinder the sleep-wake cycle like some depression or anxiety medications.

Does CBD Help with Stress?

Some studies show that CBD can help alleviate anxiety, which is sometimes (though not always) a byproduct of stress. CBD is also shown to help our bodies manage serotonin levels, which has appeared to assist alleviate issues with anxiety.

Learn more about how CBD helps with anxiety and stress here.

Does CBD Help with Pain?

We all deal with pain and inflammation from time to time, no matter if we’re 22 or 82. We often rely on NSAIDS and other pain medications to help reduce the pain, but an increasing number of scientific studies show that CBD can be one of the best alternatives to NSAIDS and other pain relievers.

Read more about how CBD can help alleviate pain here.

Can You Cook with CBD?

Absolutely! CBD can be a wonderful addition to any number of recipes or drinks (we’ve even heard of cocktails made with CBD).

Not sure where to start? We compiled a whole bunch of recipes to help you incorporate CBD into your next meal.

Should I Buy CBD Online or in a Store?

You can now buy CBD (almost) everywhere—even gas stations are selling it. However, your best bet is to buy CBD directly from the company that produces it (like Frontier Jackson). The reason is that third-party retailers don’t always understand the products they sell or what’s inside them.

But don’t buy CBD from any company without first seeing its certificate of analysis (COA). This document proves that the CBD product you’re buying has gone through third-party lab testing to provide an accurate understanding of what’s inside the product. You can learn all about CBD lab testing here.

Does CBD Oil Need to Be Refrigerated?

CBD oil doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but it can help prolong the shelf life by removing it from light and heat. Refrigeration can sometimes make CBD oil thicker, so you should run the bottle under warm water before using. Make sure the lid is sealed on tight, so moisture doesn’t get inside the bottle. This can shorten the lifespan of your CBD.

Also, look for CBD products housed in UV-blocking bottles. These bottles provide an extra layer of protection, so your CBD stays fresh for as long as possible.