CBD (cannabidiol) derived from hemp is a non-psychoactive compound that can attach to multiple receptors in the human body to help with the healthy function of many bodily processes, including blood sugar metabolism. Our body has its own endocannabinoid system that produces some of what it needs to regulate various systems within our body, but evidently -- due perhaps to the high stresses of modern life, dietary deficiencies, and the legal prohibitions on outside sources of cannabinoids -- we can benefit from more CBD.
Ironically, cannabis preparations were in widespread use in many patent medicines in the early 20th century here, but the prohibition against cannabis (classifying both hemp and marijuana as Schedule 1 Controlled Substances)has caused the world leadership in the exciting development of cannabinoid-based medicines to bypass the USA and go instead to Israel.
Once again, the USA (aka "the Land of the Free") is losing out on the development of a cutting edge medical products because of its Drug Enforcement Administration's myopic view that any unusual herb with any hint of psychoactivity should be banned, which makes further research nearly impossible.
Israel evidently takes a more mature view of the potential of this cannabinoid family with a long history of safe human use -- as this article shows.
Once again, our country's DEA is causing us to miss opportunities and offshore jobs in its fanatical opposition to any natural plant like kratom -- or plant compound like CBD -- which might take business away from the FDA-regulated liquor and pharmaceutical industries, which are major causes of death & disability in this country.
Our citizens are turning increasingly to dietary supplements in their dissatisfaction with the high prices and low efficacy of many pharmaceutical products. Meanwhile, our country seems to be awash in opioids, legal and illicit, but the DEA is spending its energies harassing herbal products which have never been shown to cause any deaths.
There is great potential in plant compounds like CBD to help the millions of Americans with diabetes. Perhaps Congress should ask the DEA to reassess their enforcement priorities -- maybe they could focus more on the deadly drugs and less on the ones that are harmless when used responsibly.