All Things CBD
What is CBD?
Over the past few years, there has been a ton of buzz about CBD. You may have a friend or family member who raves about it. Maybe you’ve seen the signs outside of health stores, smoke shops, pharmacies and herbal medicine stores. CBD is everywhere.
CBD is short for cannabidiol and comes from the cannabis plant. It provides phenomenal health and wellness benefits, while not causing euphoria like the high that you get from smoking or ingesting marijuana.
CBD is derived from hemp, a type of cannabis plant that is naturally low in THC. Hemp has been used for thousands of years to make medicine, paper, rope and building materials. The original copies of both the American Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were both written on hemp paper.
Although CBD was discovered nearly 80 years ago and has been legal for a few years, there are still a ton of questions and assumptions about this herbal substance.
We’re going to break down all that you need to know about CBD, its history, its uses, dosages and more!
History of CBD
In 1942, Roger Adams successfully isolated CBD. This was the first time in history that an entire cannabinoid was isolated. This research was inspired by Robert S. Cahn’s discovery of a partial cannabinoid two years earlier.
Shortly after the isolation of CBD, THC was also discovered. These early scientists had difficulty understanding which compound—CBD or THC—was responsible for the different effects that humans experience with cannabis consumption.
In the early 1960s, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam made some major breakthroughs in the study of cannabis compounds. He discovered that THC was responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis and ruled out CBD as a mind-altering substance.
This pointed scientists in the direction of understanding the benefits of CBD. The next two decades were packed with research that determined that CBD could be beneficial as an alternative to traditional medicine.
Some of the original CBD tests were run on people who suffered from seizures. In the 1980s, researchers noticed trends between CBD use and the frequency of seizures. CBD seemed to be eliminating or decreasing the frequency of seizures.
Despite these observations, CBD was not popularized at this time because cannabis was still veiled by a stigma. Cannabis was not yet socially acceptable in any form.
In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. This is when things really began to change. The stigmas slowly began to fade, but more questions began to arise.
The majority of Americans opposed the legalization of marijuana. Many jurisdictions lumped CBD with the generally illegal form of cannabis, marijuana. At this point, the idea that marijuana is a gateway drug was really pushed, which made it difficult for CBD to pierce the veil.
The early 2000s and 2010s came with more discoveries. More research was conducted and stories about the wonders of CBD only increased. Marijuana became legalized for medicinal use in most states. At this point, states began to legalize it for recreational use, as well.
As the marijuana acceptance continues to spread across the country, CBD is starting to shine. People are becoming more willing to learn about the benefits of CBD and how it varies from the THC heavy substances that are commonly used to get high.
Today, you can find CBD at smoke shops, health stores and pharmacies across the United States.
How Does CBD Work?
As you’ve likely gathered, different drugs affect the brain and body in different ways.
Think about a trip to the pharmacy. There is a drug for just about everything. Some drugs are designed to fight off intruders in your body, and some are designed to give your body a command.
CBD works as both. It gives commands and blocks signals.
If you have surgery and need a pain killer, you’re going to look for a medicine that was designed to tell your brain to stop the pain by blocking pain receptors. Antidepressants work a little bit differently. They tell your brain what hormones it needs to be making in order to restore balance.
Chemists design these drugs by looking at what compounds are necessary for each function.

They figure out what is missing or throwing off the normal process in order to engineer a substance that either puts things back in place or blocks processes, depending on what you’re trying to treat.
They do this by manipulating molecules to create compounds that your brain’s receptors can read.
CBD is a compound, but it is naturally occurring compound. It requires some extraction and other processes, but it doesn’t require manipulation.
Many people opt for CBD as a medicine since it is all natural rather than engineered or human-made.
The Endocannabinoid System
Your body naturally produces cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids. Receptors, known as CB1 and CB2, react with endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids from plants) like CBD. The reaction can be both direct and indirect. These receptors are part of the Endocannabinoid System (or ECS for short). The ECS is responsible for the regulation of the body’s mood, appetite, sleep and pain among many others.
The cannabinoids that your body makes are called endogenous cannabinoids, and the ones that your body doesn’t make—like CBD—are called exogenous.
Endogenous cannabinoids are made as your body needs them. Primarily, CBD inhibits the enzyme responsible for breaking down these cannabinoids so your body continues to produce more. This leads to the health benefits people experience with CBD.
Some recent research has also shown that CBD can work directly with the CB1/CB2 receptors similar to how a key fits a lock.

Health Benefits of CBD
The reason CBD is so effective in treating health and wellness related issues is that the receptors that are affected by CBD control many of your body’s functions, including sleep patterns, mood, pain and memory.
Unlike many natural remedies, these functions have scientifically proven connections to the ECS and CBD. CBD has been proven to help with pain, inflammation, stress, anxiety and insomnia. There are many other benefits of CBD reported anecdotally that still need to be confirmed with more research.
CBD Oil for Pain and Inflammation
One of the primary reasons that people use CBD is for pain and inflammation. People with chronic pain in their back, hips, neck, shoulder and joints opt for CBD because it relieves the pain without imposing the side effects of other anti-inflammatories.
CBD doesn’t pose the risk damaging organs with long term use like aspirin and ibuprofen do.
CBD for Anxiety and Stress
Stress and anxiety are two very human emotions, but some struggle with them more than others. In order to maintain general wellness, keeping your stress and anxiety under wraps is very important.
CBD is a positive way to deal with these emotional issues. There are tons of prescription drugs that are designed to help with stress and anxiety, but it is sometimes difficult to wean yourself off of these drugs. They also usually have several unfavorable side effects.
CBD is natural and non-addictive and is generally viewed as a safer option than highly addictive pharmaceutical drugs.
Many people also use THC to deal with stress. Unfortunately, THC is not legal everywhere and has some side effects that may hinder productivity. Luckily, CBD has the similar soothing effects but is perfectly legal.
CBD for Sleep
Another major use for CBD is for sleep aid. People who have insomnia or have difficulty getting enough restful sleep turn to CBD.
Taking CBD will not “knock you out.” It more so targets the things that are keeping you awake. The things that most commonly keep people awake are stress, anxiety and pain.
CBD helps you relax by calming your mind and soothing any physical pain.
THC is also known for helping people sleep, but with CBD, you don’t feel the same grogginess the next day. CBD is actually known for making people feel well-rested and alert after a good night of sleep.
How to Use CBD Oil
There is no standard dosage when it comes to CBD because each and every person’s body is unique. Most people have to experiment a little bit before they find the dose of CBD that works for them.
We have two major tips for finding your ideal CBD dosage: start small and be consistent.
When you start with a smaller dosage, you will know if you need to increase it if you’re not feeling the effects that you were hoping for. However, it may take some time before your body is affected by the CBD. Stay consistent with the small dose before you adjust.
Unlike many modern drugs, it is very difficult—if not impossible—to overdose on CBD, so some experimenting is safe. At this time, there is no official research that says how much is too much.
That being said, you want to make sure that your CBD is pure grade if you plan to experiment. You can ensure the purity of your CBD by buying from a legitimate retailer that subjects their products to third-party lab testing.
Ways to Use CBD
There are different ways to use CBD based on personal preference. The most popular methods of CBD consumption are gummies, soft gels, tinctures and topicals. Lets take a look at each.
CBD Gummies
CBD Gummies are taken orally and are a very simple way to take CBD. CBD Gummies travel easy and they’re easy to know exactly how much CBD you are getting because there is a set amount in each gummy. A downside is that they take longer to feel the beneficial effects of CBD because they must be digested first.
CBD Soft Gels
CBD Softgels are taken orally and are good for beginners because there is a set amount of CBD in each softgel. The CBD contained in each softgel is generally more than what’s in a gummy so they are better used for issues that need larger doses of CBD.
CBD Oil Tinctures
CBD Oil tinctures are another popular way to take CBD. A tincture is taken sublingually. This means you put the liquid from the tincture under your tongue and hold it anywhere from 10-30 seconds before swallowing. The CBD Oil has more time time to be absorbed this way which gives a better effect.

CBD tinctures also have high bio-availability— the amount of CBD your body is able to use. When you take CBD orally some of the CBD is lost due to the first pass effect, but taken sublingually with a CBD oil tincture this effect is mitigated
A downside to CBD Oil tinctures is they usually come in a glass bottle which is breakable. For this reason they are not the best to use when traveling.
CBD Topicals
CBD salves are great way to offer support for healthy joints and skin. CBD Topicals are used to treat specific problem areas that have frequent pain, discomfort or irritation. Topicals can also be combined with other beneficial ingredients like CBD with essential oils for added benefits. CBD oil is frequently being added to massage oils for even greater skin care.
Suggested Doses of CBD Oil

Like we mentioned, there is no one-size-fits all for CBD. It comes down to what works for you. However, we have some suggestions for starting points for your experimentation.
Here is a breakdown of suggested dosages for Golden Legacy CBD products:
- CBD Softgels: 1 Softgel (25mg CBD)
- CBD Oil tincture: 1 dropper (1mL)(16mg or 33mg CBD depending on tincture)
- CBD Gummies: 1 Gummy (20mg CBD)
- CBD Topicals: as needed
All salves and creams can be used on an as-needed basis.
Most CBD products will list similar dosages on their packaging. Use this as a starting point, and pay close attention to your body’s reaction. Use this reaction to adjust the dosage as you go.
How Long Does it Take to Feel CBD Effects?
The fastest way to feel the effects of CBD is through inhalation (vaping) since the compounds skip the digestive process and go straight to your lungs. With inhalation, you’ll feel the effects in as little as 5 to 10 minutes.
Sublingual consumption, which is how you’d take an oil tincture, is the second fastest. It takes about 10 to 30 minutes.Topical application takes a little longer at 20-45 minutes.
The slowest consumption method is oral. When you take CBD via a softgel or gummy, it can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to really feel the effects.
How Long Does CBD Last?
Like we talked about before, every human body is unique. Each body will react differently to CBD, so there is not a single answer as to how long CBD lasts. The range is about 1 to 8 hours. There are several factors that contribute to this.
Aside from your individual metabolism and tolerance, other important factors include the quantity and quality of the CBD that you consume. Larger doses and products that are free of additives last longer.
The way you consume CBD also plays a huge role in how long it will last. Inhalation only lasts about 1 to 3 hours. Sublingual typically lasts around 2 to 4 hours, topical application lasts about 1 to 5 hours and oral consumption lasts 4 to 8 hours.
CBD Testing
Hemp is a bio-accumulator which means it’s like a sponge that soaks up all of the heavy metals, pesticides and toxins in the soil around it. Although this is amazing for the environment, it is not great for those who consume it.
Think of it this way: if you are buying meat to make a burger, you don’t want a cow that drinks gasoline and eats grass with metal shards for lunch. What goes into the cow is going to go into you.
CBD that comes from organic hemp is the only way to avoid consuming these toxins. The only way to know if the hemp is truly organic is with lab testing.
All legitimate CBD sellers will have third-party lab test results available for customers either on their sites or upon request. These results provide microbial and contaminant analyses.
A major concern among people who are interested in CBD is that they will fail a drug test if they use the product. The drug tests administered in most schools and workplaces are looking for THC, not CBD.
If you are interested in trying CBD but have this concern, make sure to use a broad spectrum product that contains no THC and has the test results to prove it.
CBD Questions for Beginners
Those new to CBD are often confused with so much misinformation surrounding CBD. This next section gives some straight answers about CBD for beginners.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. It’s one of over 100 different molecules, or cannabinoids, found in the cannabis plant. CBD has many beneficial healing properties associated with overall health and wellness, without producing an intoxicating “high”.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is a natural oil extracted from the flowers and leaves of the Cannabis plant. It is used for a variety of purposes, most commonly to assist those suffering from chronic pain, insomnia and mood disorders.
Is CBD Legal?
Yes! Due to the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, Hemp is now viewed federally as an agricultural product and no longer as a controlled substance like marijuana, which continues to be categorized as a schedule 1 drug. Under federal law, it’s now legal to manufacture, sell, possess, use and transport CBD products across all 50 states. States are responsible for developing their own regulatory frameworks, overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
To be legally considered CBD it must contain no more than 0.3 percent THC.
What are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are active chemical compounds present in the Cannabis plant that produce the health benefits associated with CBD. There are two types of cannabinoids; those found in plants (Phyto-cannabinoids) and those naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the human body (Endocannabinoids). Cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to promote balance or homeostasis.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD works via interaction with receptors (CB1 & CB2) found in the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS). These receptors regulate neuro-hormones in the body that play an active role in physiological processes including mood, memory, pain sensations and appetite.
What is the Difference Between CBD and Hemp?
Hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant, but completely absent of intoxicating compounds. CBD is a molecular compound extracted from hemp. Golden Legacy’s CBD is extracted from a proprietary strain of hemp known as PCR Hemp, or Phyto-cannabinoid-rich hemp. This proprietary strain is far richer in CBD, other cannabinoids (not THC), and terpenes than the basic hemp extract used by most CBD producers.
Is CBD Safe?
Yes. There are no known incidences of illness or side effects of the consumption of high-quality CBD oil products.
Golden Legacy products undergo rigorous testing to guarantee they’re free of any harmful contaminants and THC free.
What is the Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana?
Hemp and marijuana are different species of the cannabis plant. Marijuana contains the cannabinoid THC, which causes the high associated with marijuana. Hemp contains 0.3% or less THC and does not cause a high. Golden Legacy products undergo a patented process that removes all traces of THC from the final product.
Do Your Products Contain THC?
No. All Golden Legacy products show no detectable THC on their lab reports. We use patented technology to remove any residual THC.
What is CBD Used for?
Many people use CBD to support the body’s natural systems. Cannabinoids are an integral part of the human body’s ability to regulate and balance a wide variety of physiological systems such as mood, appetite, sleep, immune health and anxiety, stress. CBD is also used for combating inflammation and maintaining well-functioning joints.
Why Choose CBD Over Medical Marijuana?
Marijuana contains THC, which is the cannabinoid that causes the high feeling. This psychoactive high can cause impairment while working or driving and may cause you to fail a drug test if required for employment. CBD does not cause a high. It can be used while working, driving or undertaking any other activity.
Will I Feel Any Effects Using CBD?
Some of the effects reported by CBD users include improved mood, decreased pain, better quality sleep, increased attention and decreased stress. Every person is different however, so each person’s results may vary.
Can You Overdose on CBD? How much should I take?
There is no record of anyone ever overdosing on CBD. CBD is non-toxic with no harmful side effects. Extremely large amounts of CBD may cause drowsiness. Check out our CBD Dosage Guide
Will CBD Get me High?
No. Unlike marijuana and THC, CBD is non-psychotropic and will not cause a high.
Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?
It is highly unlikely use of our products will produce a positive result for THC consumption based on our testing conducted using industry-standard testing methods. However, Golden Legacy cannot 100% guarantee this and advises consumers to consider there is a risk, however slight.
Can CBD be Taken With Other Medications?
Yes, but we always recommend consulting with your doctor prior to taking CBD to be aware of any potential issues.
How Long Does It Take to Feel the Benefits of CBD?
It depends. (I hate that answer too!). Each person’s biochemistry, body mass, etc. is different, so personal results will vary. In general, tinctures and topical creams will be felt sooner because they don’t need to pass through the body’s digestive tract. Edibles and soft gels will generally take longer as they must be digested first. Most of the effects of CBD are subtle and take some time to be detectable — usually half an hour or more.