Wellness

Ultimate CBD Beginner’s Guide

CBD Basics

CBD vs. THC

Both CBD (short for Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are Cannabinoids – natural compounds found in hemp and cannabis plants.

What makes CBD and THC different are their effects on the body. More on that in a second. Let’s first talk about the differences between hemp, marijuana, and cannabis.

Hemp, Marijuana and Cannabis

In short, hemp and marijuana are two varieties of the same plant – cannabis. So just like oranges and lemons are both citrus plants, hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants.

Both hemp and marijuana plants produce CBD and THC but in very different amounts.

Hemp plants contain a lot of natural CBD but very little THC. Jupiter CBD Oil, for example, is made only from hemp plants and then filtered and lab tested to ensure it has only a very small amount of THC (less than 0.3%), making it legal nationwide.

Marijuana plants, on the other hand, contain high levels of THC and much less CBD. They are grown to make marijuana for recreational and medical use.

Different Effects

All right, let’s talk about how CBD and THC interact with the body.

CBD has a huge variety of positive effects, but it is always non-psychoactive. That means it doesn’t get you high. So while you enjoy CBD’s many benefits, your state of mind won’t be altered and you can keep a clear head.

THC, on the other hand, is best known for its psychoactive effects – in other words, it makes you high. That’s the reason THC is still more regulated than CBD.

How CBD Works

Cannabinoids Explained

Cannabinoids are natural compounds produced by plants and animals, including humans. Yup, your body is making cannabinoids all the time.

There are two types of cannabinoids:

Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids found in plants.

Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids naturally produced in our body.

The most well known cannabinoids are THC and CBD, but there are a lot of other ones. In hemp plants alone, scientists have discovered over 120 natural cannabinoids, all with their own effects and benefits.

CBD + CBG + CBC + CBN

We already talked about CBD above, so let’s take a look at a few of the other important cannabinoids found in raw hemp.

CBG (Cannabigerol) is a compound the hemp plant makes early in its growing cycle and later turns into CBD. The mature plant still contains small amounts of CBG. Early studies show potential for CBG to help with stress and overall wellness.

CBC (Cannabichromene) is another natural cannabinoid found in small amounts in the hemp plant. Just like CBD it is non-psychoactive. Early research hints at CBC’s potential for positive effects on better rest and relaxation.

CBN (Cannabinol) is naturally made by the hemp plant as it ages and is exposed to sunlight and air. CBN has been studied by scientists who are interested in its potential positive effects on sleep, energy, focus, and appetite.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

The Endocannabinoid System is a very important system in your body that regulates your daily experience.

Your body’s ECS is filled with tiny receptor that interact with cannabinoids to regulate your mood, energy, sleep, and much more. These receptors use cannabinoids made by your own body (Endocannabinoids) and those made by plants (Phytocannabinoids).

CBD and other cannabinoids help your ECS receptors function the way they are intended to, which then creates beneficial effects throughout your body.

Terpenes Explained

Terpenes are fragrant essential oils found in plants. They’re what give blueberries, lavender, and hemp their signature smell.

They are used in a wide variety of food and cosmetic products. They also have been used in aromatherapy by humans for millennia.

Amazingly, hemp has the highest concentration of terpenes found in any plant. Each hemp terpene has a unique scent and flavor – and all of them have positive effects on our bodies.

You may have noticed that Jupiter includes Organic Terpenes on the ingredients list. We carefully remove the fragile terpenes from raw hemp to preserve them and add them back in after Cannabinoids like CBD have been extracted.

That’s why Jupiter contains important hemp Terpenes like Humulene, Myrcene and β-Caryophyllene for a great smell and better results.

The Entourage Effect

Over 120 cannabinoids and 20 terpenes have so far been found in hemp plants.

The cool thing is that taking cannabinoids and terpenes together in their natural combination increases their individual benefits. This is what’s known as the Entourage Effect.

Because of this powerful effect, Jupiter CBD oil is carefully extracted to retain all natural cannabinoids and terpenes found in the raw hemp (while ensuring it never has more than 0.3% THC). Our goal is always to create a pure full spectrum hemp extract that’s the way nature intended it to be.

Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum

Hemp extract that contains all cannabinoids and terpenes, including THC, is called full spectrum hemp extract. Jupiter CBD Oil is a full spectrum product, for example.

Hemp extract that contains all cannabinoids and terpenes, but has no THC, is called broad spectrum hemp extract.

Both full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD products are required to contain less than 0.3% THC by law in the USA.

Getting Started With CBD

How to Choose a High-Quality Product

There are a lot of different CBD products out there. Some are great, many have questionable quality, and some are outright dishonest.

CBD oil is not a product where you should skimp on quality, but how do you pick?

Full transparency – we are a bit biased, of course, because we are constantly working on making Jupiter the highest-quality CBD oil you can buy. That’s because our products are used by our customers, our families, and ourselves. In short, a lot of people put their trust in us, so we have a huge incentive to get it right.

But that also means we know what to look for in a CBD product. So we recommend buying from a trusted brand that can guarantee the following to you:

● Made in the USA

● USDA Certified Organic

● Single Origin Farming

● Small Batch Production

● All-Natural

● Vegan and Non-GMO

● Independent lab tests (e.g. Jupiter is triple tested)

● Shows actual CBD content per serving and bottle

● Less than 0.3% THC

● Money-back guarantee

● Free shipping

● Free returns

● Helpful support

In short, be skeptical, trust your gut, and insist on excellent products and service. We would never claim that Jupiter makes the only high-quality CBD products out there. In fact, we’re friends with and respect the few other brands that get it right.

However, we do think that we are the CBD company with the most obsessive commitment to constantly improving our quality, products, and service.

Trust needs to be earned, so from seed to bottle to your door, we take our promise to you incredibly serious. 

CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures are also commonly called CBD oil. We call them drops. They are one of the easiest and most effective ways to take CBD.

Tinctures allow for CBD to be absorbed by the body in both the mouth and stomach for faster and better results. Taking CBD oil orally also gives you perfect control over the serving size.

CBD Topicals

CBD creams, lotions, and rubs are applied directly to the skin. The benefit is that you can use them exactly where you need them. However, CBD is much better absorbed by the mouth than by skin, so CBD topicals do not fully reach your bloodstream. In short, they are a little less effective than tinctures.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is a purified extract that only contains CBD and nothing else. While that sounds good at first, it means you won’t get the beneficial effects of the other natural cannabinoids and terpenes found in hemp.

These compounds work together naturally to create better results so we recommend to skip CBD isolate as it is less effective.

CBD Edibles

CBD edibles like gummies and capsules are easy to use and popular. You swallow them so these products are only absorbed in your stomach. That means that compared to CBD oil (which gets absorbed in your mouth and your stomach), edibles can be less effective.

Edibles are also slower to act, so it may take hours to feel a difference. They are not a bad option, just know that you could absorb less CBD compared to tinctures.

CBD Vapes

You may have noticed hemp seed oil being sold on Amazon and many stores. It’s often designed to look like CBD Oil (AKA Hemp Extract) but doesn’t actually contain any CBD or other cannabinoids.

Hemp Seed Oil

You may have noticed hemp seed oil being sold on Amazon and many stores. It’s often designed to look like CBD Oil (AKA Hemp Extract) but doesn’t actually contain any CBD or other cannabinoids.

In fact, as of the time of this writing you cannot buy real CBD oil on Amazon and most major retailers. So be careful what you shop for.

How Much CBD to Take

If you’re new to CBD and are trying Jupiter for the first time, we recommend to start with these three steps:

1) Buy Jupiter in our lightest strength.
2) Take half a dropper once a day for a week.
3) Don’t feel the effects yet? Take a full dropper once a day for a week.

It’s as simple as that. Most people should feel the effects after a week or two. Give your body some time to adjust and feel free to reach out to us for support.

Check out our short tutorial here.

When to Take CBD

We often get asked what the ideal time to take CBD is. The truth is that there’s no time of day that’s perfect for everybody. People take CBD in the morning, in the evening, and also before or after workouts.

If you’re new to CBD, try taking it in the evening at first, for example an hour or two before bed. Once you’re used to it, feel free to experiment with different times of day.

Hey, you made it all the way to the end, congrats. Thanks for reading!

A Short History of CBD

CBD in Ancient Times

The cannabis plant has been used by humans for most of our species’ history. The earliest record found so far actually dates back to ancient China, around 6000 B.C.

Much more evidence about the use of cannabis for health and wellness started appearing later, dating back to around 2,800 B.C. Around this time early scholars started experimenting with the plant and its benefits. Many scholars in Asia, for example, described the potential healing properties of the hemp plant in their writings.

In India, hemp became revered as a sacred plant thousands of years ago. Archeologists also discovered the remains of cannabis plants and seeds in ancient Greek and Egyptian tombs. Around A.D. 77, the ancient Romans began using hemp extensively and the plant started spreading West.

In the 1600s and 1700s, the hemp plant became very popular in the new American colonies and started to become an important economic good. The plant became so vital that the government of Virginia even created laws to mandate the cultivation of hemp by all farmers.

CBD in Modern Times

As opioids were invented in the 1800s and 1900s, the use of hemp as medicine declined. Synthetic chemicals started to become popular, moving natural compounds to the background.

In the 1930s, New York’s mayor Fiorello La Guardia lobbied for research into marijuana and it’s possible health effects, despite strong political opposition.

Experiments and studies with cannabis started in the 1500s but CBD (Cannabidiol) itself wasn’t discovered until 1940 by chemist Roger Adams. Adams was the first scientist to isolate this natural compound which allowed him to identify it.

In 1963, Israeli researcher Raphael Mechoulam explored the structure of CBD and was able to synthesize THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. Mechoulam later became known as the grandfather of medical marijuana and became one of the world’s leading experts on CBD.

The recreational use of marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s and widespread popularity of the plant caused further studies into medicinal marijuana use. However, marijuana’s negative public image at the time and political pressure held back larger studies into potential benefits.

In 1970, the possession of cannabis was banned by the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. This, unfortunately, also applied to non-psychoactive industrial hemp plants and therefore CBD. It would take decades for these laws to be updated.

In the 1990s public opinion was slowly shifting and in 1996, the state of California legalized the use of cannabis for treatment of certain medical conditions, ignoring a federal ban. Since then THC and CBD have gained immense popularity.

The 2018 Farm Bill

In late 2018, after decades of public support and lobbying, Congress passed the so-called Farm Bill. This legislation allows the growing, transport, and sale of hemp, including across state lines. It also allows the sale and use of hemp products like CBD oil nationwide, as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC.

In short, the Farm Bill amended the outdated “Agricultural Marketing Act” from the 1940s and extended the legal definition of the word “hemp” to include hemp-derived products, including cannabinoids like CBD. This paved the way for legal consumption of hemp products like CBD in the U.S. The hemp industry is now fully legal, regulated, tax-paying, and hemp prohibition in the U.S. has ended.

The path is clear for legal scientific research into the many potential benefits of CBD – and for you as a consumer to make your own choices.

CBD Glossary

Agricultural Hemp

Hemp plants are a variety of the cannabis plant, but contain less than 0.3% THC after being dried. They are legal in the United States and grown for industrial and dietary supplement use.

Bioavailability

This refers to the amount of a compounds, for example CBD, your body can actually absorb and put into the bloodstream. CBD tinctures, for example, have a very high bioavailability – so you get more bang for your buck.

Broad Spectrum

Hemp extract that contains all cannabinoids and terpenes, but has no THC, is called broad spectrum hemp extract.

Cannabidiol (CBD)

CBD is a non-psychoactive, natural compound found in the leaves and flowers of hemp plants. These compounds are called Cannabinoids. THC and CBD are the most well-known Cannabinoids.

Cannabis

Cannabis is also called Cannabis Sativa L. It’s a plan with two popular varieties – marijuana and hemp. The difference between these two varieties are the amounts of THC and CBD they produce.

Cannabinoid

Natural compounds found in hemp plants. THC and CBD are the two most popular Cannabinoids, but at least 120 others have so far been discovered – all with their specific uses and potential benefits.

CBC

CBC (Cannabichromene) is another natural cannabinoid found in small amounts in the hemp plant. Just like CBD it is non-psychoactive. Early research hints at CBC’s potential for positive effects on mood, rest, and relaxation.

CBG

CBG (Cannabigerol) is a compound the hemp plant makes early in its growing cycle and later turns into CBD. The mature plant still contains small amounts of CBG. Early studies show potential for CBG to help with feeling stressed.

CBN

CBN (Cannabinol) is naturally made by the hemp plant as it ages and is exposed to sunlight and air. CBN has been studied by scientists who are interested in its potential positive effects on sleep, energy, cognition, focus, and appetite.

CB1 and CB2

These are receptors found in our central nervous system (i.e. the brain and spine). They interact with Cannabinoids made by our own bodies but also with those from plants.

Certificate of Analysis (COA)

This is an official lab report that verifies the purity and quality of hemp products. Our COA contains a wide variety of tests and verifications, including checks for purity, potency, pesticides, solvents, heavy metals, bacteria, and more.

CO2 Extraction

A popular, safe, and environmentally friendly method of extracting CBD and other Cannabinoids from the hemp plant. CO2 (carbon dioxide) is pressurized into a liquid and later turns back into gas, leaving no solvent residues or other harmful substances.

Endocannabinoid

Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids naturally produced in our body.

Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

The Endocannabinoid System is a very important system in your body that regulates your daily experience. Your body’s ECS is filled with tiny receptor that interact with cannabinoids to regulate your mood, energy, metabolism, sleep, and much more. These receptors use cannabinoids made by your own body (Endocannabinoids) and those made by plants (Phytocannabinoids).

Entourage Effect

Taking cannabinoids and terpenes together in their natural combination increases their individual benefits. They work together to create better effects.

Full Spectrum

Hemp extract that contains all cannabinoids and terpenes, including THC, is called full spectrum hemp extract.

Hemp

Hemp is a special variety of the cannabis plant, grown for its low THC content. Any cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% THC after being dried is called industrial hemp.

Hemp Oil, Hempseed Oil

This is not true Hemp Extract (also known as ECR Hemp Extract). Instead, hemp oil is made from the seed of hemp plants. It contains only trace amounts of cannabinoids like CBD and therefore doesn’t have the powerful effects of our full spectrum hemp extract. Hemp oil is used mostly in food but is sometimes marketed to look very similar to real Hemp Extract.

Isolate, CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is a purified extract that only contains CBD and no other cannabinoids or terpenes. While that sounds good at first, it means you won’t get the beneficial effects of the other natural cannabinoids and terpenes found in hemp.

Marijuana

Hemp and marijuana are two varieties of the same plant – cannabis. Unlike hemp, marijuana plants contain high levels of THC and much less CBD.

Phytocannabinoid

Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids found in plants like hemp and marijuana.

Sublingual

This is the ideal way to consume CBD tinctures. You take the CBD oil by mouth, hold it under the tongue for one minute, then swallow. This method increases absorption.

Terpenes

These are natural essential oils found in all plants. Terpenes are what make fruits, vegetables, and other plants taste and smell the way they do. They are also very beneficial in hemp, adding to the overall benefits of the cannabinoids in hemp extract.

THC

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is a Cannabinoids, a natural compounds found in hemp and cannabis plants. THC is best known for its psychoactive effects. In short, it makes you high.

Tincture

A tincture is a popular term for oil based hemp extracts that are taken by mouth. Jupiter CBD Drops, for example, are a CBD tincture.

Medical Disclaimer

This guide is not intended to provide medical advice. Please note that these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Consult your healthcare provider if you have a medical condition and if you’re nursing, pregnant or taking medication. A doctor’s advice should be sought before using CBD oil or any other dietary supplement.