CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is one of over one hundred cannabinoids found in the cannabis family of plants. It is one of the two best-known cannabinoids, the other being THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

That’s the most important distinction – although CBD comes from cannabis, it is not marijuana. It has none of the intoxicating effects of cannabis – THC is primarily responsible for that.

CBD is non-psychoactive, which means it doesn’t have a strong effect on the cognitive function of the brain. It interacts with the receptors in the brain’s cannabinoid system, which is responsible for assimilating cannabinoids into the brain. Different substances interact with the system in different ways.