CBD: What it Is, What It Does,
and From Whom to Purchase It
Also Reviewing CBDMall
LifeLaurels' Preferred Vendor for All Things CBD
Rating: 5 Laurels
I am a Chronic Pain Person. I choose NOT to use opiates as a part of my pain management strategy. Opiates have a slew of negative side effects, especially after long-term use. I prefer more natural remedies to help me manage my pain. For me, CBD is an essential part of pain management.
CBD is derived from Hemp, rather than marijuana. It is legal Federally, as well as in most States, thanks to the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Hemp Farming Bill) authorized the production of hemp and removed hemp and hemp seeds from the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) schedule of Controlled Substances. Thus, it is legal in states where traditional weed is not. Additionally, hemp contains all of the pain management benefits of marijuana, and is available in varieties that do not cause any psychoactive side effects. There are also varieties that will give you the buzz.
When CBD first became widely available, I was excited to try it. I experimented with various brands, and definitely found that some brands are more effective than others. I also found that prices varied widely, even for the exact same products. I continue to try new brands and new vendors, but I keep coming back to CBDMall. They carry the brands I like at the best prices I have found so far. Their Free Shipping threshold is low enough that I reach it without a problem when I place my monthly order. CBDMall also runs sales very frequently, which helps me save even more.
All About CBD
Types of CBD: Varieties and Delivery Mechanisms
CBD Product Types:
CBD Products come in all shapes and sizes. There are topical remedies (like creams and oils) that are meant to alleviate muscular and localized pain, similar to balms like IcyHot, Biofreeze and BenGay. Because my pain is more systemic, I rarely use these creams. However, I DID find that CBD Cream was excellent in relieving that localized pain I got after receiving my COVID vaccine.
CBD also comes in a variety of smokable and edible forms, as well as in sublingual tinctures. I have tried CBD Drops, Vape Pens, CBD Flower, Honey, Balms, and Gummies. My preferences run towards drops, vape pens, flower and gummies. I consume the gummies more frequently than other methods, even though the drops and smokables kick in faster. I tend to purchase CBD Gummies more frequently than any other form of CBD.
So you can get CBD oils, tinctures. balms, creams. and bath bombs/ You can get CBD infused drinks, including waters, energy drinks, and even coffee. You can get smokable CBD that looks a lot like "traditional weed." You can get chocolates, honeys, edibles, and gummies. You can get CBD vape pens and CBD capsules. You can even get CBD to treat your pets.
When it comes to delivery mechanisms, you have a variety of choices. Some kick in more quickly, like vape pens, tinctures, and flower. Others take time to be metabolized, including most edibles and drinks. You can combine products, so long as you keep your total dosage in mind. Most people experiment to determine the exact dosage they need to reach a desired effect.
I have many friends who have been able to replace traditional pharmaceuticals with CBD. These include folks treating anxiety, insomnia, GI issues, arthritis, and chronic pain.
CBD Active Ingredient Varieties:
"No-Buzz" CBD Varieties
CBD also varies in terms of active ingredients. You can buy cannabinoid-only CBD, or you can buy Full Spectrum CBD, which contains both cannabinoid and trace amounts of THC. Neither cannabinoid-only CBD nor Full Spectrum CBD get you high. cannabinoid-only CBD will not cause you to "test dirty" on a drug screening; Full Spectrum might. If you are concerned with "passing" a Drug Test, you may want to stick to the cannabinoid-only CBD. However, for pain management purposes, I find Full Spectrum CBD products to be more effective.
I use Full Spectrum CBD products on days I do NOT want any kind of buzz. And my preferred brand for Gummies is Yum Yum. I have tried many other brands, none of which have worked as well. I get symptom relief without the buzz, to some extent. When it comes to mitigating my issues, the Delta products do a better job. Some days, they are the ONLY thing that works. But on days I have to drive, and other times when a buzz is the last thing I want, no matter how mild, I stick with the full spectrum CBD products. I am partial to Yum Yum CBD Gummies - CBD Full Spectrum Peach Rings and Sour Gummy Bears. (Product Links can be found at the end of this article.)
CBD That Will Give You a "Buzz"
New to the market, and legal in most states, are CBD Varieties meant to give you a "buzz." This "high" can be similar to smoking Marijuana. And like with reefer, some strains are designed to give you a little energy with your high, while others are meant to relax you, and can be effective sleep aids. CBD Varieties meant to give you a buzz include Delta 8 CBD, Delta 10 CBD, HHC, and THC-O CBD.
Delta 8
Delta 8 was one of the first psychoactive varieties of CBD to reach the mass market. It offers a soothing, relaxing high. It is a milder high than you get from Delta 9. the compound in cannabis that gets you stoned. They say it it can improve your focus and sleep patterns, ease pain, reduce anxiety, boost your appetite, and relieve nausea and vomiting Smaller doses give almost no psychoactive effects, while larger doses get you higher.
Delta 8 is something I use a lot. I suffer from IBS, and on days I am having a bad flare-up, it is the ONLY thing that gets me through my day. I find it can alleviate the WORST of the flare up symptoms, allowing me to be somewhat productive. A friend who has Crohn's Disease says it works better for him that pricier prescription meds.
I have been an insomniac since I was a child. I do NOT like taking sleep aids, as although they may help one to fall asleep, it sure interrupts the quality. I also have fibromyalgia and CFS. Because of this, sleep does not "refresh me" the way it should, and sleep quality is especially important. Delta 8 helps me get better sleep. For me, it does NOT give me that "sleeping pill hangover" that over the counter sleep aids cause. I have heard others complain of a Delta * hangover, but all say it's not as bad as the one s they tend to get with ZZQuil or Unisom. I can definitively say the quality of my sleep has improved since I discovered Delta 8.
Being a chronic pain person, I have come to rely on CBD as an important part of mitigating the associated limitations. I do NOT drive buzzed in any way, shape, or form. So just like I won't drive after drinking a single glass of wine, I prefer NOT to drive after taking Delta 8. I stick with Full Spectrum CBD on days driving cannot be avoided, and I wait until I am off the road to take my Delta 8. But there are days when taking the Delta is the only thing that keeps me functioning at all, and without it, I'd spend the day suffering in a horizontal position. Better to make it an Uber Day than one that is totally non-productive.
BECAUSE I want the benefits of all of the cannabinoids, as well as the deltas, I buy a product that contains BOTH CBD and Delta 8. I have tried the gummies with ONLY Delta, and none of the CBD, and they do not work as well for me. I have tried various brands and dosages, and have found the brand that works best for me.
My product recommendation in this category is Chill Plus CBD & Delta-8 Extreme Tropical Mix Gummies - 1250X. There is a purchase link at the bottom of this post, as well as a recommendation for a Delta 8 only, no CBD gummy I like.
I also like the Chill Brand for vape pens and flower, both of which I use on days I need a little higher dosage, starting with something that will kick in a little faster. I find it takes about 15-20 minutes for a smokable to kick in, whereas it can take 30 minutes to an hour for an edible to take effect. If your edible isn't working fast enough, a small hit or two of a smokable can accelerate the metabolizing, and is a better idea than taking another higher strength gummy.
With any gummy, I recommend having some regular gummy candy on hand too, just in case you decide you just want to eat a few more gummies because they taste good, and you could use a snack. I keep a bag of Haribo Peach Rings around for this very purpose.
Delta 10
Delta 10 is the newer kid on the block. The more energetic one. Delta 10 is supposed to be energizing while it quells your anxieties. It is touted for reducing stress and tension. They say this cannabinoid can also have uplifting effects, as well as support creativity, productivity and alertness.
Delta 8 is a more potent compound than Delta 10. Because of this, its effects also last longer.
In terms of a buzz, Delta 10 is milder than Delta 8, in my experience. And I personally do not find it as effective for my needs. That may be because I haven't found the right brand/strength combination yet. I am still experimenting, so I'll add some links at the bottom, along with the others. Hyper is the best Delta 10 brand I've found so far.
THC-O
THC-O is the newest addition to the stable of legal, buzz-inducing products. And THC-O puts on no masks: it's ALL about the buzz! It is the most potent of buzz-inducing CBD compounds, and way stronger than Delta 8. Some users have described it as a shroom-like high. For me, it seemed a wee bit more buzz inducing, but nothing like the semi-hallucinogenic experience shrooms can induce. But it is comparable to the high you'd get from smoking an old-fashioned joint. Folks who use this cannabinoid medicinally say it can help to relieve pain, boost appetite, and reduce anxiety.
THC=O is sold in fewer shops than other varietals of CBD. My preferred vendor only carries one brand, and my back up vendor doesn't sell THC-O at all yet. I did try some from a third vendor, but that product was so ineffective, I wouldn't buy O from that vendor ever again.
When I take THC-O, it is usually in conjunction with some Delta 8 or Full Spectrum CBD, as I seek medicinal qualities the O just lacks. But I can say eating an O gummy before streaming the newest Spiderman Movie was a good choice.
HHC CBD
New to the CBD Market is a product called HHC. HHC, or hexahydrocannabinol, is a psychoactive cannabinoid that can be processed from compounds found in legal hemp plants. HHC's effects are very similar to those of THC. Some HHC users describe its effects as more relaxing than stimulating, similar to delta 8
I am not reviewing any products in this category. I have bot tried HHC yet, not do I plan to. It is the least potent of the bunch, offering the high without the medicinal benefits I seek. Unless I learn something new that changes my mind, I'll stick to the other varieties of CBD.
Why I Like CBDMall
Like I said earlier, CBDMall has the BEST prices on GOOD CBD products that I have found, as well as a reasonable threshold for Free Shipping. (They offer free, standard 2-day shipping within the United States for orders over $75.) Because I live in Florida, where they are located, I often receive my order the next day. They package your order well. I stopped ordering Gummies from Amazon, as you often receive one, melted together gummy by the time your Prime Order arrives. I have NEVER received melted gummies from CBDMall.
CBDMall offers excellent Customer Service. I DID have an issue with one of my orders, due to a manufacturer changing the product without warning. I was able to satisfactorily resolve my issue, after a few e-mails back and forth.
LifeLaurels thinks Customer Service is one of the MOST IMPORTANT considerations when recommending ANY VENDOR. When Customer Service is poor, I tend to "vote with my feet." Therefore, having good customer service and timely resolution to issues is a critical part of receiving a 5 Laurels Rating.
CBDMall offers a Rewards Program, as well as discounted prices on products for repeat customers. ALWAYS log in BEFORE adding products to your cart to see if you will get a discounted price. Watch for sale codes that will reduce your price even further.
CBDMall Coupon Link:
Use this Referral Link to save $20 on your First Order at CBDMall: http://i.refs.cc/P9JpihfP?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo5Mjg2NDgwMDl9
Product Links:
(NOTE: These are NOT affiliate links; to get the $20 coupon, you need to click through the affiliate link above and create an account FIRST. Then come back to this page and click through these links, and add the product to your cart. If you do not create your account first, you will NOT get the $20 coupon. My Backup Vendor also carries most of the same brands, and also has good sales. I often price out an order with both vendors before finalizing a cart. Link and coupon for back-up vendor is under the product links.)
Full Spectrum CBD
Delta 8
My preferred brand, strength, and flavor. Available in other strengths and flavors too. This has BOTH Delta 8 and CBD in each gummy. Rated 5 Laurels
Delta 8 ONLY. Decent brand, and gives you the Delta 8 effects well, but none of the CBD benefits. Recommend if you DO NOT want or need the CBD enhancements. Only 4 Laurels for these, as I have a brand (above) that I think is better.
Delta 10
Delta 10 with a touch of Delta 8. They also make vapes.
THC-O
Back-Up CBD Products Vendor
DiamondCBD
DiamondCBD used to be my preferred vendor, until CBDMall came along. CBDMall had a better sale price on what I needed that particular day, as well as a lower Free Shipping threshold. So DiamondCBD became my secondary vendor. They are also a Florida vendor. Like CBDMall, they have a rewards program. I almost always receive my order the next day when I order from Diamond CBD.
DiamondCBD also offers excellent customer service. They carry both the Chill Brand, as well as Yum Yum. They carry Delta products, CBD only products, and Full Spectrum CBD products. They have a wider variety of products and edibles than does CBDMall, at present.
Clicking through my referral link will give you a $20 Gift Card and a 65% off coupon on your first order. You need to click through the link and create an account BEFORE filling your cart to get the credit.
Again, price your order out at both places and chose to order from whomever gives you a better deal. They both offer excellent products at good prices.
Again, price your order out at both places and chose to order from whomever gives you a better deal. They both offer excellent products at good prices.
1 comment:
Thanks for the info. It's sufficiently detailed for me to share it with my niece who has some huge problems with pain and the scrips she is using have profound side effects.
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