Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid, so are THC, CBN and 110 other compounds naturally found in the cannabis plant. CBD doesn’t get you high, but it has a whole host of benefits, most of which relate to inflammation or oxidation. CBD can be found in both marijuana and hemp, but usually, it’s made from hemp (cannabis bred for high CBD and low THC).

No. CBD is a type of molecule known as a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids can also be found in other plants like flax and coneflower (echinacea) for example. Similar to how vitamin C is the same whether you get it from an orange or broccoli, once a molecule is isolated and concentrated, its source doesn’t matter. It’s important to point out that hemp and marijuana are, scientifically speaking, the same plant: Cannabis Sativa. The terms “Hemp” and “Marijuana” are merely designations given by regulators to identify Cannabis Sativa plants that have been bred differently. “Hemp” is used when the plant has been bred to contains less than 0.3% THC and “Marijuana” is used when it contains more than 0.3% THC. This misnomer that the CBD source affects its potency probably originated with the idea that a small amount of THC helps “activate” the effects of CBD. While this too is inaccurate, it is well known that CBD in conjunction with THC alters its normal effects on the body, producing a more noticeable effect. But, when the CBD molecule is isolated, its source is irrelevant.

CBD and THC have the EXACT same chemical makeup: 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. The only difference between the two is the location of a single hydrogen atom. The effect this tiny change has on how CBD interacts with the body is profound. CBD produces a sense of painlessness and mood elevation without the high. Instead of landing in one or both of our cannabinoid receptors like THC, CBD actually works with the serotonergic system to keep your own naturally produced cannabinoids working for longer period of time, resulting in lower stress levels, lower pain perception, and more.

Under the tongue is a great place for cannabinoids to get to your bloodstream. But, they first have to absorb through the mucosal membrane. Oils (whether from a dropper, a spray, or on dissolvable strip) have trouble getting through because they're not water-soluble. They tend to pool up and sit there until some of it gets swallowed (see the question about edibles). So no, sublinguals have vastly different absorption rates and, therefore, bioavailability or uptake.

It’s difficult to keep oil-based liquids under your tongue long enough for them to be absorbed. Much of it ends up getting swallowed, turning them into inefficient edibles which are inconsistently metabolized by the body. High quality sublingual tablets dissolve in under a minute, quickly absorbing through your mucosal membrane. And they can taste better than oils.

Due to the superior uptake (bioavailability) of sublingual tablets, perceivable effects should be felt within 10 to 15 minutes. These effects are not generally felt as a traditional “high” feeling commonly associated with cannabis products, but rather felt as a gradual and constant sense of calm, focus, energy, or relief.

This is an important discussion because there is a lot of confusion and some misleading messaging going on out there. First, neither one is better per se. It’s all about what you’re after. Full spectrum simply means that all of the existing cannabinoids, terpenes, and perhaps other plant components like waxes, proteins, and even chlorophyll found in hemp oil are retained in the product. The combination of the different ingredients may be what you’re after as there are benefits of the minor ingredients. Just know that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to know how much of each component you’re getting in each dose. Isolate means that the amounts of cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN) noted on each of label is the actual amount of those cannabinoids in the product. In many cases, brands will say "10mg" and that's simply the amount of the aggregate of all their ingredients in the oil. So, the specific cannabinoid amount is less. 10mg of full spectrum oil on a label means it has a subset of CBD (not 10mg of CBD) and a subset of other ingredients. The amounts of each ingredient is unknown and will vary from batch to batch. So: 10mg of “Full Spectrum Hemp Oil” is a mix of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other parts of the plant. So, you are getting more than CBD yet not 10mg of CBD. 10mg of CBD Isolate is 10mg of CBD. We chose the precision of isolate to eliminate the variability that comes with full spectrum. At times, you might see "full spectrum" attached to just one cannabinoid as in "Full Specturm CBD." As we’ve said, full spectrum refers to a combination of ingredients — not just one cannabinoid. So, “Full Spectrum CBD” is a misnomer as it suggests a wide range of several things (full spectrum) while being only one thing (CBD).