Do you really think there’s that much difference in quality between all these different CBD oil brands/products?

Absolutely. There are many steps in the process of making CBD products, and it’s imperative that each step be done with the utmost care. This requires spending a good bit of money, and some companies cut corners. That’s why some CBD products are no more effective than olive oil – because they may not even contain any CBD. Others may be inflammatory due to contamination by mold or other toxins. It’s best to use a CBD whose third-party testing results are on the company’s website to ensure you’re getting the amount of CBD they advertise and none of the things you don’t want.

What’s the number one most important thing I should look for when trying to find a good CBD oil for my pain?

The most important thing to look for is the quality of the CBD oil and that it actually contains the amount of CBD you desire per dose. This information can be found via the third-party lab reports that each CBD company should have available on their website. The reports should show how much CBD (and any other cannabinoids present) are in the oil and whether there are any solvents or toxins present.

I’ve never used CBD oil for pain. Is there a specific dosage or milligram amount I should start out with?

This is best figured out by working with a cannabis/CBD expert. Many physicians are available for these types of consultations. The phrase “start low and go slow” is generally used when discussing CBD dosing, but working with a professional is the safest way to enact this trial process.

I take prescription medication. Should I really be concerned about taking CBD oil along with my med(s)?

Yes. CBD can interact with medications just like any other medication can. If you’re thinking that it’s less likely to interact because it’s all-natural, you should be aware that there are a number of medications that can’t be taken with grapefruit because even some natural substances can affect the metabolism of medications. This is why it’s always important to see your healthcare provider when starting a new medication, even CBD.

Do I really have to hold the oil under my tongue for 60+ seconds? Can’t I just squirt it in and swallow?

You can, but the bioavailability may be increased and/or sped up if you allow it to sit under the tongue. This is because the oil enters the bloodstream directly once absorbed through the sublingual (under the tongue) tissue, which avoids it having to go through digestion before it can be metabolized and start affecting the body.

My doctor told me he/she didn’t know enough about CBD to recommend it for my pain.

It’s always best to have a medical professional guide your usage of any medication, including CBD. Since CBD isn’t yet taught in medical schools, there are many doctors who are hesitant to recommend it. However, there are a number of qualified doctors who act as CBD consultants that can work in concert with your provider on finding a CBD regimen that works for you.

How many times a day should I take a dose?

This varies based on the amount of your initial dose, the condition you’re treating, and how your body metabolizes the CBD. This is why it is best to work with a medical professional specializing in CBD treatment to optimize your dosing schedule.

Do I have to worry about any side effects when taking CBD oil? Should I take it with food?

The most common side effects of CBD are nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, and fatigue/dizziness. These are rare but possible and are more likely at higher doses. Taking CBD with food doesn’t actually minimize the side effects, it can enhance bioavailability and the concentration of the CBD.

What is CBD oil produced from?

CBD oil extract should be extracted from the leaves, stalks, and flowers of hemp. It should not be made from the stems or seeds.

Is CBD oil legal?

This is still a murky subject. In November 2018, President Trump approved updates to the U.S. Farm Bill. Among other things, these updates legalized the production of hemp as a commercial crop. It also removed CBD from the DEA’s list of Schedule 1 illicit substances.

Under these new laws, CBD products made from hemp are readily accessible in all 50 states. In the past, many assumed that CBD oil products from top brands were legal simply because they didn’t contain the psychoactive properties of THC. While the THC content of hemp does not exceed 0.3%, this is not the reason for legality.

In fact, legal cases regarding CBD have been taken all the way to the U.S. Court of Appeals in recent years. Hemp Industries Assoc. v. DEA, decided in April 2018, determined that Section 7606 of the U.S. Farm Bill preempts the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This decision implied that in the event of a contradiction between the CSA and the Farm Bill, the Farm Bill wins out.

Of course, now that CBD is no longer listed as a Controlled Substance, the determination of this case is irrelevant. All in all, the Farm Bill allows for the legal cultivation of industrial hemp, which is a source of CBD.

What about CBD from marijuana?

As we’ve discussed, CBD can also come from the marijuana plant. Therefore, whether or not CBD oil for pain is legal can be a question of which “version” of the cannabis plant it was sourced from. If it was sourced from industrial hemp, (which contains less than 0.3% THC), and the hemp was cultivated legally under regulations of the Farm Bill, then it is available in all 50 states.

However, if it was sourced from actual marijuana (i.e. cannabis that contains a higher THC content), then it is illegal in some states. Most of the best CBD oils for pain that you find in dispensaries in states like Colorado, California, and Washington (as well as other states where weed is legal) will have been extracted from marijuana plants — not industrial hemp plants. Unfortunately, this means these products are not allowed to be sold online and shipped across state lines to “non-legal” states.

However, like we just mentioned CBD oil for pain management that has been sourced from industrial hemp grown under the farm bill is, in fact, available nationwide. The best CBD oil brands that we cover here on this site claim to extract their concentrates from U.S.-based industrial hemp supplies.

The important thing is that you have to be careful when selecting CBD oils. Since the cannabis industry is not FDA-regulated, there have been dozens of companies selling low-quality products with unreliable content labeling.

Do you need a doctors recommendation to purchase CBD oil?

If you are purchasing CBD that has been extracted from hemp, you do not need a doctors recommendation to purchase.

How does CBD work in the body?

CBD works by activating receptors and neurotransmitters through a network of cannabinoids called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Unlike THC, which binds directly to CB-1 receptors located in the brain, CBD works in the body by manipulating receptors throughout organ tissues, the immune system, the pain response system, the hormonal system, and other whole-body regulatory systems. CBD receptors have been found in virtually every cell and tissue type in the body. For this reason, CBD is believed to work on many aspects of human health and behavior – from the subcellular level to the whole-body level and beyond.

CBD is therapeutic in that it manipulates body systems at the cellular level and returns afflicted organ systems, tissue systems, and even chemical systems in the central nervous system back to a state of health and homeostasis. This is why it has been capable of treating conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as chronic physical ailments such as pain, inflammation, arthritis, and more.

What does CBD help with?

Aside from two rare forms of epilepsy, the FDA does not recognize the medical use of CBD for any medical condition. That said, numerous reports have shown that the compound may have beneficial effects on a variety of conditions and ailments. Many have claimed that CBD oil helps them with the challenges of:

Alzheimer’s disease

Anorexia

Anxiety

Arthritis

Asthma

Chronic pain

Depression

Epilepsy (seizures)

Inflammation from various conditions

Insomnia

Multiple Sclerosis

Nausea (emesis)

Obesity

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

How do I use CBD oil for pain?

Be advised that there is no single right or wrong way to go about it. Many people end up using higher-strength products for pain than they do for things like anxiety, stress, or depression. The majority of today’s best CBD oil manufacturers offer tinctures in three different “potencies.” These are usually in 100, 300, or 600 mg options. A lot of people start on a low dose with a 300 mg option, and work their way up from there. It is important to consult with the brand you are purchasing from before consumption.

The key is to effectively gauge exactly how much CBD oil it takes to start managing your pain. If you start off right away with a maximum dose of a 600 mg tincture, you will have no idea how much of the product it actually took to treat your condition. You’ll also not know how much you wasted, which is important because you don’t want to exceed dosage and end up developing a tolerance to the active cannabinoids.

If your intention is to help treat chronic pain, start out with a lower dose and proceed from there. If you notice effective results, you can downsize the dose or likewise up the dose until positive results are achieved. The key is to only increase your dosage in small increments so that you are able to pinpoint exactly how much CBD oil it takes to treat your condition. Be advised, though, that you should not exceed the recommended daily doses that are listed on the bottle. Also, consult with a physician if you plan on taking CBD with other medication.

Are there other options if you can’t use CBD oil for pain?

Some people either can’t use CBD oil for pain (i.e. they may not want to hold the oil under their tongue before swallowing) or they simply haven’t found it to be effective. Fortunately, there are other options like topical CBD creams.

CBD topicals are one of the most popular choices for arthritis and other forms of localized pain and inflammation. Since the skin acts as a semi-permeable membrane, rubbing CBD-infused creams onto an affected area can be effective in terms of both pain and inflammation reduction.

Likewise, CBD gummies and other CBD edibles are a great option that people prefer over CBD oils for a variety of reasons (one of which is simply because they taste a lot better!). Lastly, vaping CBD oil with a vape pen has been another effective method of using cannabidiol as a pain relief therapy for some users.