CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring chemical compound that comes from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. But that's just the beginning. We cover a lot of topics in this section—many more than just "What Is CBD." From how CBD works in the body to the benefits of CBD to the types of CBD products—we have it covered. Simply click on the link to the left for the topic that interests you.

Feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable and supportive customer service team at any time with questions: team@moonmotherhemp.com or 303-442-2983.

Warmly,

Jessica Bates CCH (She/Her)

Founder & CEO

www.moonmotherhemp.com

Before we dive into the details of what CBD is and how it works, let's take a look at some definitions of key CBD terminology.

Cannabis has also had a rich history in the U.S. Since many products can be made from hemp, it was an important crop when the American colonies were being established. In fact, in 1619, Virginia passed a law requiring every farm to grow hemp. Hemp seeds could be exchanged as money. Eventually, other products like cotton began to replace hemp and it fell out of popularity.

By the 1930s, cannabis had grown in popularity as a drug. After Prohibition was repealed, lawmakers went after cannabis. By 1931, 29 states had outlawed cannabis. In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, which basically made the plant illegal. The first arrest for selling marijuana was a small-time dealer in Denver, CO.

In 1967, the U.S. Congress classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, which is the most restrictive classification of controlled substances, in the Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana arrests exploded to over 100,000 per year in California alone, which taxed their systems. Usage began decreasing due to this and the war on drugs efforts in the 80s and 90s.

California passed Proposition 215 in 1996 despite the federal ban to help with certain medical-related side effects. Other states began to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Other states followed suit, and today, 11 states have legalized recreational marijuana use and 33 states have legalized medical marijuana.

In the Farm Act of 2014, the U.S. Congress legally defined hemp as cannabis that has no more than 0.3% THC. The bill also created pilot programs to research hemp and its impact on America's economy, environment and health.

The 2018 Farm Bill, also known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was introduced and approved. This bill overturned the Controlled Substances Act of 1967 and legalized the cultivation of hemp.

Today, the cannabis industry is booming. The industry is expected to grow to 23 billion by 2021, which is a 21% growth rate per year.

CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring chemical compound that comes from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. There are at least 113 unique cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, of which CBD is the second most abundant. Cannabinoids have a 3-letter designation. Below is an image that shows the super cannabinoids and some of the ways in which they can help the human body. Read more about their health benefits.

This image shows just some of the more than 113 cannabinoids found in a hemp plant and what they can do for the body.

Cannabinoids can be either consumed (phytocannabinoids) or produced naturally by the body (endocannabinoid). THC, which provides a high effect, is another cannabinoid. CBD and THC are the cannabinoids that have been studied the most, but scientists are studying the other cannabinoids for their benefits.

Cannabinoids interact with the body's central regulatory system in many different ways. This system is known to manage homeostasis and affect bodily processes such as appetite, mood, memory, sleep, immune system functions and many others.

The Relationship Between Hemp and CBD

Oftentimes, the terms hemp and CBD are used interchangeably. However, they aren't the same thing.

• Hemp is a cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3 percent THC, which is the cannabinoid that produces a high effect. Hemp is used to make many products, including dietary supplements, clothing, rope, building materials and other products.
• CBD comes from the hemp plant. CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid compound found in the resinous flower and leaves of the cannabis plant.

CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) are two of the most prominent of at least 113 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.

Both cannabinoids work within the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS) to treat or address certain conditions. CBD and THC have many of the same medical benefits and can provide relief from several of the same conditions, such as pain, nausea, migraines and anxiety.

While CBD and THC have the same molecular structure, a slight difference in the way the atoms are arranged causes the biggest difference between CBD and THC, which is the psychoactive effect that they have on the body. In the U.S.:

• CBD is legally defined as having less than 0.3% THC and does not produce a high effect.
• THC comes from cannabis plants that test over 0.3% THC and does produce a high effect.

While CBD and THC can provide similar benefits, people may choose to take CBD because it doesn't have the high side effect.

CBD, as well as other cannabinoids, work within the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a group of cannabinoid receptors located in the brain and throughout the central nervous system. This system plays a crucial role in many physiological processes including:

• Mood
• Energy level
• Intestinal fortitude
• Immune activity
• Blood pressure
• Bone density
• Glucose
• Metabolism
• Pain
• Stress
• Hunger
• And more

The ECS serves as a bridge between bacteria and the body itself, including the brain, relaying signals back and forth in a symbiotic, mutually beneficial relationship.
Animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, monkeys, dolphins, elephants and more, have an ECS that works similarly to humans.

How Does the Endocannabinoid System Work?

The endocannabinoid system is made up of 2 main components: cannabinoids and receptors.

Cannabinoids (Endocannabinoids and Phytocannabinoids)

A cannabinoid is a chemical compound found in cannabis. An endocannabinoid is an organic compound that your body produces, and a phytocannabinoid is a cannabinoid that comes from a plant. All of these cannabinoids interact with receptors in your body to produce varying reactions.

Endocannabinoids regulate the brain, endocrine and immune systems. They also play an essential role in maintaining your body's homeostasis, or internal regulatory balance, keeping your internal functions running along smoothly.

Receptors

Your body has receptors throughout that serve distinct functions in your health and wellbeing. These receptors are proteins that are embedded in cells' membranes. There are at least two types of receptors:

1. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and the nervous system.
2. CB2 receptors are mostly in the peripheral organs especially cells associated with the immune system.

Cannabinoids can bind to either receptor. For example, a cannabinoid might target CB1 receptors to regulate appetite or it may target a CB2 receptor to protect the kidneys. The results are dependent on the cannabinoid and where the receptor is located.

How Does CBD Interact with the ECS?

CBD and THC are phytocannabinoids, meaning cannabinoids that occur naturally in a cannabis plant. Phytocannabinoids are known to help boost the body's central regulatory system.

Nearly every organ in the body contains cannabinoid receptors. CBD and THC work like endocannabinoids to bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors like a lock and key, resulting in different effects on the body.

The ECS is a relatively new discovery, and we still have much to learn and discover.

What Is the Entourage Effect?

Terpenes are another player in the cannabinoid world. Terpenes are hydrocarbons produced in the sticky resin glands of cannabis that give the plant and its flowers their unique smell and flavors. Terpenes are also produced by countless other plant species, and they are prevalent in fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and other botanicals.

Phytocannabinoids, including CBD and THC, have synergistic effects with terpenes and all other minor cannabinoids, meaning that taken together, they work better than they do separately. The combination is greater than the sum of the parts. This is known as the entourage effect.

As we described in How Does CBD Work in the Body, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a group of cannabinoid receptors located throughout the body. This system plays an important role in many physiological processes. CBD and THC are just two of many endocannabinoids that bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors within the ECS, resulting in different effects on the body.

CBD may help with many different ailments such as:

Many animals also have an ECS and may benefit from the CBD for a variety of ailments.

These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

CBD oil is available in three types. You can choose between these different types based on your preference, unique biochemistry and desired results.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

Full spectrum CBD oil Includes all of the over 80 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the plant including CBD, THC, CBG, CBN and more. It also contains amino acids, vitamins, trace minerals, omegas and other phytonutrients. Full spectrum oil contains less than 0.3% THC.

If you compare an orange to a hemp plant, using a full spectrum CBD product would be like eating the entire orange to reap all of the benefits like vitamins A and C and fiber.

There is compelling evidence that CBD works best in combination with THC and the full spectrum of other cannabis components. When these plant components interact with each other and the body, they work in synergy to produce a greater, more balanced impact than the individual components alone. This is called the entourage effect.

Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

Broad spectrum CBD oil is similar to full spectrum oil in that it Includes minimal cannabinoids and typically excludes THC. This is a good option for those who want to completely avoid any THC.

Continuing with the analogy, using a broad spectrum product would be like drinking orange juice. In this case, you're getting vitamin C and other vitamins, but you're not getting other benefits from the orange such as fiber.

Isolate CBD Oil

CBD isolate oil is just as it sounds – it's CBD oil that has been isolated and purified of other cannabinoids, terpenes and oils. The colorless isolate doesn't contain the cannabinoids and terpenes that are found naturally in the plant. This is the purest form of CBD. It can still be effective for wellness despite being removed from the other plant parts.

Using an isolate CBD product would be like taking an isolated vitamin C supplement such as a pill or chewable. In this case, you're only getting vitamin C and no other benefits from the orange.

CBD products come in several different forms, and not all CBD products are equal. Each type of CBD product has a different bioavailability, meaning the percentage of product that enters the body. To get a 100% bioavailability, you'd have to inject CBD intravenously. Since this isn't a viable option, the forms that CBD takes have less than 100% bioavailability. Some of the CBD becomes unavailable for a variety of reasons, including being broken down before it enters the bloodstream. Each method of CBD oil has a range of bioavailability.

Everyone processes CBD differently, so it may take some experimentation to find the ideal form for you.

Ways to Take CBD

What's the Right Dose for Me?

Dosing is very specific; there isn't a particular ratio or dose that fits everyone. Your ideal serving size depends on many factors including:

• Size
• Weight
• Physiological considerations
• Age
• Health
• Metabolism
• Circulation
• Mode of administration
• Desired goals

A common adult dose can range between 10-50 mg of extracted hemp oil per day, but again, the right dosage depends on many factors. Every CBD product should have the mg dosage listed on the label.

How Do I Know What's in a Product?

A CBD company should provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which is a report stating the results of certain tests on the product, such as the exact amount of CBD and THC per unit, heavy metal testing and more. The testing should be done by an independent lab.

At Moon Mother Hemp, we use a third-party lab to test all of our products. While there aren't any requirements for a COA, but we believe so strongly in the quality of our products that we run a full panel to look at:

1. Cannabinoid content
2. Microbials
3. Pesticides
4. Fungicides
5. Heavy metals
6. Solvents

If you'd like to see a COA, just go to a product page to access the most recent COA. All of our products pages have COAs. Our blog post will guide you through the process of accessing COAs.

Just like with any other type of supplement, CBD oil and other CBD products have a window of time during which they provide maximum benefits. As time goes on, the quality degrades. In general, the shelf life of CBD oil and other CBD products is around two years.

If you still have CBD oil left for more than two years or if you don't take care of it properly, the cannabinoids can break down and compromise the CBD oil's potency. At this point, the CBD oil will be expired, and it won't be able to deliver the full effects that CBD can provide.

Of course, a product's longevity depends on certain factors such as how you use it and where you store it.

How Do You Use CBD Products?

One factor in determining how long your CBD products will last is how you use them.

1. If you use your products regularly, you'll likely finish them up well before the average shelf life of two years. If this is the case, then you shouldn't have to worry too much about how you store your products. However, to optimize your product, we recommend that you follow our storage guidelines.
2. If you don't use your products regularly, then they'll be around longer, so you'll definitely want to follow our storage guidelines.

Storage Guidelines for CBD Oil and Other CBD Products

Here are some ways that you can make your CBD oil and products last longer.

Follow the Instructions

Follow the instructions that are included on your CBD product, in the box or on our website. They'll describe the best way to take care of your CBD product.

Keep Your CBD Oil Away from the Sunlight

Sun is the most damaging element to CBD. The sun breaks down the cannabinoids and terpenes in the CBD oil, which causes the oil's potency to diminish. Keep your CBD oil out of the sun and heat. Also, look at the CBD oil's packaging before you make a purchase. It should come in a dark-colored tincture with protective packaging to minimize sunlight exposure.

It's not necessary to store CBD oil in a refrigerator, but you can do it. We recommend storing your CBD oil in a cool, dry place such as a drawer, pantry or cupboard.

Minimize Exposure to Oxygen

Oxygen can degrade CBD oil, so minimize exposing it to the air. Make sure you close and seal it properly each time you use it.

Our USDA-certified organic hemp is grown on our family-run farm near Boulder, Colorado. We believe in sustainable, biodynamic and environmentally responsible farming practices, so you can trust that our hemp is grown with care and intention. We oversee every step of the process, from planting the seeds to harvesting and creating our products. And because we believe so strongly in transparency and high-quality products, we provide Certificates of Analysis (COAs) on our website for each product batch so you can see exactly what's in our products.

Please explore our products in our online shop or visit our store in Boulder, Colorado. Feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable and supportive customer service team at any time with questions at team@moonmotherhemp.com or 303-442-2983. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order.