Cannabidiol (CBD)

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the major non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid in Cannabis sativa and the main compound in hemp extracts.

CBD is made by the plant as cannabidiolic acid and converts to CBD with heat. Unlike THC, it does not produce a high because it interacts only weakly with the CB1 receptor; instead it appears to act through several other targets and to influence the endocannabinoid system indirectly. It is the compound reported on the first line of most hemp certificates of analysis, given as a percentage or in milligrams.

One purified form of CBD is an FDA-approved prescription drug for certain rare seizure disorders; that approval does not extend to hemp-derived CBD sold at retail, which the FDA does not permit to be marketed as a drug or dietary supplement. CBD has been studied for a range of conditions, but outside the approved use most human evidence is early or limited. Pet owners see CBD marketed for animals as well; veterinary research is still young, and a veterinarian is the right person to consult about any animal's care.