Cannabidiol or “CBD” is one of the most popular supplements in the United States right now.
CBD oil is everywhere and is becoming the supplement of choice for professional and amateur surfers to aid in recovery from surfing sessions and physical training.
But what is CBD, is it legal, is it effective, and what sort of benefits can it provide for surfers?
Why is CBD Oil So Popular Right Now?
For a long time, hemp was placed in the same category as cannabis.
You needed to have a license to grow it, even though the buds didn’t contain much (if any) of the psychoactive THC.
That changed in 2018 when the Farm Bill came into effect.
The Farm Bill made helm legal on a federal level, opening the doors for growers across the United States.
Those growers are still forced to abide by strict laws concerning THC levels (all flowers and extracts must contain less than 0.3% THC), but they are allowed to produce CBD and other cannabinoids, as well as hemp flowers, stalks, and oil.
High-CBD and low-THC strains were already available, but once the Farm Bill passed, more of them hit the market, making it easier for growers and producers to create CBD products.
CBD products were available before the Farm Bill was signed, but the supply was limited and there was a lot of red tape preventing people from producing and using these products.
Once that changed, more people were able to experience this great compound for themselves and they instantly fell in love with it.
Since 2018, the hemp and CBD market has experienced exponential growth and it’s showing no signs of stopping.
Hemp-derived CBD is effective.
There are very few side effects.
And thanks to the Farm Bill and the people who jumped on the bandwagon, it’s more readily available than ever before.
What are the Benefits of CBD Oil For Surfers?
The jury is still out on whether CBD products can actually provide many of the benefits that have been claimed.
However, there is a lot of promising research being conducted that suggests it can help with all of the following:
- Chronic Pain
- Menstrual Pain
- Epilepsy
- Joint Problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
Many of the benefits seem to derive from CBD’s ability to reduce inflammation.
Not only is inflammation the cause of many chronic and life-threatening conditions, but it’s also associated with higher levels of pain and discomfort.
CBD is anti-inflammatory, and while it won’t provide the same instant and complete efficacy as drugs like ibuprofen, it does work, and more importantly, there are very few (if any) side effects.
Where surfers are concerned, the main benefit concerns CBD’s ability to reduce muscle soreness.
Surfers who use CBD every day report experiencing less muscle soreness, as well as mild pain relief for the treatment of foot pain and the management of chronic injuries.
And because it’s non-psychoactive, surfers don’t need to worry about hindering their strength, vision, or reaction time on the waves.
Will CBD Oil Make Me High?
CBD won’t make you high.
That’ll be great news for some of you and terrible news for others.
CBD is not a legal, cheap, and abundantly available cannabis alternative.
There are many different cannabinoids in cannabis buds and in the cannabis plant in general.
These compounds are responsible for most of the effects and benefits associated with the plant.
THC is the cannabinoid associated with feelings of euphoria, as well as strong painkilling properties.
CBD is another cannabinoid and while it doesn’t provide the same “high”, it does offer some potential benefits of its own.
If you smoke cannabis flowers, you’ll consume both of these cannabinoids and many others.
If you isolate them, as is the case with CBD oil, you’ll only get that one cannabinoid and whatever benefits it provides.
The Best CBD Oil and Other CBD Products
Hemp-derived CBD is available in a variety of different products.
The most basic is CBD oil, which is a high-quality extraction designed to provide the maximum effects of CBD in a small and easy-to-consume form.
You can drop them under your tongue or add them to food and drinks.
Some other ways to use CBD include:
- Hemp Flowers: Whole hemp flowers are often smoked to provide the benefits of CBD along with the plant’s terpenes, which are the compounds responsible for the taste and flavor of the buds and also provide some benefits and effects.
- Extracts and Kief: Solid extracts and kief can be smoked for maximum effect. There is also something known as “moon rocks”, which blend extracts and kief to create a potent CBD product.
- CBD Gummies: A popular CBD product often made with a few simple ingredients, including a gelling agent, flavorings, and sugar. They are tasty and convenient, but it’s not the most cost-effective way to get your daily dose of CBD.
- Other Edibles: In addition to gummies, CBD is also added to teas, chocolate, candy bars, and a host of other edibles. Always look at the actual CBD content when purchasing edibles.
There are a few basic considerations when it comes to purchasing CBD products.
The first is how they will be consumed.
If you buy a CBD product that needs to be smoked, you’ll be inhaling smoke that could increase your risk of cancer and other pulmonary conditions.
If you’re a former marijuana user looking for some relaxing benefits, it’s an effective method.
If you’re using CBD for its anti-inflammatory benefits, you may be offsetting those benefits.
The second consideration is whether you’re buying something that has been isolated to contain only CBD or something that contains a full spectrum of cannabinoids.
The latter is usually more effective as it is thought to provide something known as the “entourage effect”.
Simply put, it boils down to the belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and that the addition of trace cannabinoids and terpenes will bolster the effects of CBD.
You can experiment with different ingestion methods and CBD products to find the one that works best for you.
