CBD basics
What CBD is, where it comes from and how it works in the body.
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabis compound that does not cause a high. What it is and is not, its legal status in Australia and what the evidence shows.
How CBD works
CBD does not switch on cannabinoid receptors the way THC does. What is known about how it acts, what is unclear, and how the body handles it.
CBD vs THC
CBD and THC come from the same plant, but THC causes a high and CBD does not. How they differ in effects, risks, evidence, driving and drug testing.
Does CBD get you high?
No. Pure CBD does not cause a high, even at very large doses. But it can make you sleepy, and some CBD products contain enough THC to matter.
The cannabis plant
Hemp and marijuana are the same species, Cannabis sativa, bred for different uses. Where the plant makes CBD and what sativa and indica really mean.
Other cannabinoids
CBG, CBN, CBC and CBDA are minor cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. What each one is and how little human research exists behind the claims made for them.
Terpenes
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its smell. Claims that they shape or boost the effects of CBD rest on laboratory work, not human trials.
The entourage effect
The entourage effect is the idea that whole-plant extracts work better than pure CBD. It is plausible, but controlled human trials have not confirmed it.
History of CBD
CBD was isolated in 1940, its structure was found in 1963, and it was first approved as an epilepsy medicine (in the US) in 2018. Key dates, with sources.
CBD myths
Fifteen common claims about CBD checked against the evidence, from "proven for pain" and "no side effects" to "it turns into THC in your stomach".