With so many questions about cannabis—Where is it legal? Can I take it across district or state lines?—it’s no wonder so many of us are confused about CBD, one of the plant’s major compounds (and one with a great many purported medicinal effects). If you’re left wondering, “Are CBD products legal in Washington, D.C.?” today’s post is for you. We’ll explain exactly what CBD is, where it’s legal, and where to buy it in the District of Columbia.
What is CBD?
Let’s begin with the basics. The cannabis plant contains hundreds of natural compounds and continued research on the plants is unlocking the science behind the plant’s benefits. Among the most studied compounds in cannabis are cannabinoids, which can be described as the plant’s major “active ingredients.”
Cannabinoids include THC—the compound most directly responsible for cannabis’ distinctive “high”—and CBD. Both of them deliver a wide range of useful medical effects. For instance, THC has been shown to reduce several types of pain. CBD, in addition to helping treat certain seizures, has shown promise in reducing anxiety and stress. Unlike THC, CBD’s psychoactive effects are very minimal. At most, some people experience a gentle cerebral “buzz.”
Due to its lack of intoxicating effects, CBD bought outside a legally licensed dispensary is typically derived not from the cannabis plant, but from it’s cousin, wild hemp.
Because CBD’s psychoactivity is so mild, high-CBD cannabis products are a great choice to use with microdosing. Researchers have begun to demonstrate that CBD works particularly well in concert with THC, a phenomenon often called the entourage effect.