When we first opened Moss Crossing in late 2015, I had a basic and limited understanding of CBD and other minor cannabinoids. Since our mission was geared towards promoting wellness and using Cannabis for a healthy lifestyle, I studied the scientific and physiological properties of these cannabinoids, but had not yet had the opportunity to experience the effects of consumption. I was excited that the health benefits of CBD and other compounds of the plant were becoming more widely adopted by the mainstream. As I gained knowledge about how the endocannabinoid system works in our bodies, I could see this had great potential as a non-intoxicating alternative to THC. In recent years, hemp and CBD have been thrust into the limelight. Now there is an abundance of products and derivatives out there—even at the corner market—it’s enough to overwhelm anyone wanting to give CBD a try. This is my story of how I went from a non-CBD user to daily consumption. I hope it provides some clarity for those who are interested.
My personal “experiments” with THC have spanned well over 2 decades. We don’t need to delve too deep into that! Something I once only considered as a recreational substance, meant for concerts or lazy Sundays, has become a critical part of my well-being when it comes to anxiety, depression and sleep. I expected my foray into CBD to have equally impactful and satisfying results. Initially, however, it did not. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling or what I was supposed to feel when consuming CBD. Everyone around me seemed to be thrilled with how it was working for them. I tried to figure out if there was a specific THC to CBD ratio that was going to have the best results. I tried every different consumption method, from smoking flower, to vaping, edibles, even tinctures. For some reason, I felt nothing special, just half as high. I really wanted to get the benefits so I could spread the word and better recommend products. Trying to use a ratio of THC and CBD wasn’t a great long-term approach for me because for most of the working day, being half-high wasn’t a viable option.
I gave it up for a few years. I concluded that CBD works for some people and went back to good ol’ THC only in the evenings. As I continued hearing success stories through friends and customers—from pain relief, to mental well-being—I became determined to try again. I chose to take a tincture of CBD only (with trace THC) every morning for one month to see if there were any noticeable benefits. To my delight, after a few weeks, there it was. I had less anxiety, less stress, less depression. My aches and pains became less noticeable, and at times nonexistent. My mood was free of the little annoyances. My interactions with people felt more genuine. I tested further by dropping the daily CBD supplement and sure enough, I could feel my anxiety and irritability return. Although the benefits were not noticed after a single dose, continual CBD supplementation was subtly taking care of key triggers in the background that challenge my daily life.
The moral of this story is that I needed to continue experimenting until I found the right product and welcomed the mindset that a sustained daily supplement is what brings benefit to my life. Now that I’ve figured that out, I use a coconut oil based CBD tincture (Luminous Botanicals: Earth or Peak Extracts: ACDC Tincture) every morning and know that I’m going to have a better day.
If you’re in the same place as I was, come talk with one of our CBD Certified Budtenders at our Eugene Oregon dispensary. They’re extremely knowledgeable and can offer friendly guidance to help pinpoint what you’re looking for from CBD. Wishing you all happy findings in the 2020 New Year!
