(Newswire.net — January 11, 2019) — Cannabis contains over 100 cannabinoids, the naturally-occurring chemical compounds that are responsible for both the psychoactive, recreational and non-euphoric, medical uses of the plant. Cannabidiol, often shortened to its initialism CBD, is the second most abundant cannabinoid in most cannabis strains. CBD is responsible for a plethora of health benefits in animals, including humans, dogs, cats, and many other creatures. Even though cannabis is currently illegal across most of the United States, cannabidiol extracts are allowed in a majority of states. Let’s dig into several ways that people consume cannabis’ very own CBD.

By Mouth

The oral consumption of cannabis won’t result in any effects unless it is either decarboxylated, a chemical process that is carried out in cannabis by heating it to a certain temperature, or mixed with fats. Cannabidiol is often infused into foods like cookies, brownies, chocolates, and other sweets. The compound doesn’t necessarily taste bad, so it doesn’t need to be disguised by sugar-rich goodies like those mentioned above, though these sweet treats are simply the norm for consuming the health-benefit-heavy cannabinoid.

Tinctures

Tinctures are nothing more than solutions of ethyl alcohol that are loaded with cannabinoids. In this form, only one or a few drops of cannabis tincture are required to feel the effects of CBD. Users simply drop small amounts of the tinctures under their tongue, where the mouth’s capillaries help users absorb CBD more quickly than when taken orally.

Flower

Cannabis has traditionally been consumed by smoking. People have either packed pipes full of crushed, dried cannabis flowers or rolled them into cigarettes. Though most people refer to cannabis flowers as buds or nugs, the proper name is flower. Low-THC, high-CBD cannabis strains can be smoked just as their recreational counterparts are, though dosing via smoking is much less precise than the above two methods.

Via Skin

Believe it or not, cannabidiol can be absorbed through the skin! Some CBD manufacturers are advanced enough to offer transdermal patches to their customers. Transdermal patches are small, plastic patches that hold a drug between the adhesive that holds those patches to the skin and the outer plastic itself. Remember that transdermal patches release cannabidiol very slowly, much more slowly than the above methods. Most manufacturers mix ethosomes with cannabidiol-containing topical applications, allowing CBD to more readily make its way through the skin. Cannabidiol is quickly growing in popularity. Some 20 years ago, only California was using cannabis legally, though most states have allowed the sale and use of CBD-only cannabis products to date. As demand for CBD increases, cbd manufacturing keeps getting better. What will the next big way of consuming CBD be?