What Does CBD Stand For?

Posted on by TJ
CBD products laid out on a table. Text reads "What Does CBD Stand For?"

Key Takeaways

  1. CBD is the shortened version of the word Canna-Bi-Diol (emphasis ours).
  2. We shorten most cannabinoids in the same way as CBD.
  3. If you see an “A” or “V” at the end of CBD, know that we’re referring to a different cannabinoid.

Table of contents

Every industry suffers from “the jargon” problem. Experts in a field start using shorthand, which can be hard to read or approach, especially for newbies who are interested in learning more about the topic. The hemp industry is no different. We use so many three-letter abbreviations you’d think we were government workers. In this post, we’re going to answer a question that we get from time to time: What does CBD stand for?

We’ll also dive a little deeper and tell you about some of the other abbreviations used in our industry.

What does CBD stand for?

CBD is the shortened version of the word cannabidiol. We pull them directly from the word as shown here: Canna-Bi-Diol.

Chemist Roger Adams coined the name cannabidiol in the 1940s after isolating the compound from wild roadside hemp. We’re unsure of how he came to name the different cannabinoids that he discovered thereafter, but here we are.

What is CBD?

CBD is one of the 100+ cannabinoids or chemical compounds produced by mature hemp plants. Cannabinoids, like CBD and the more well-known THC, interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system.

Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t make users feel intoxicated in any way. According to a 2017 memo from the World Health Organization, CBD exhibits “…no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…” meaning that you can’t abuse or become addicted to it.

How Does CBD Work?

CBD interacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors and signals that manages vital functions like,

  • Sleep quality and quantity
  • Mood and emotional regulation
  • Stress and response
  • Appetite and metabolism
  • Memory and learning
  • Inflammation and immune response

We believe that CBD works as a facilitator in our ECS, meaning that it encourages our body to use beneficial endogenous (of the body) cannabinoids. For lack of a better description, CBD acts as a traffic cop in our body and helps us maintain balance.

What Are The Benefits Of CBD?

Some FDA studies, animal studies, and self-reported research in humans suggest that CBD may help with:

  1. Seizure management – Of all the potential benefits of CBD, seizure management is the most documented. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved cannabidiol-derived Epidiolex to treat the rare seizure disorders Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
  2. Pain relief – Many people use CBD for its pain-relieving properties. It may help manage chronic pain by influencing endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation, and interacting with neurotransmitters. One animal study from the European Journal of Pain suggests that CBD may help lower pain caused by arthritis when applied topically.3
  3. Heart health – CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may contribute to improved heart health. Some studies have shown that CBD can lower high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease.1
  4. Addiction – According to self-reported research in humans, CBD may lower cravings for tobacco and opioids under the right conditions. Animal studies suggest that it may also help reduce cravings for other addictive substances like alcohol and stimulants.4
  5. Anxiety – CBD has shown promise in treating anxiety, likely through its ability to interact with serotonin receptors.2 This makes it a natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, which can have adverse side effects.

Variations of CBD

The story doesn’t stop with CBD. There are some variations that are worth covering in this article, so let’s get into them.

What Does CBDa Stand For?

The letters CBDa are an abbreviation of cannabidiolic acid, Canna-Bi-Diolic Acid, the acidic precursor molecule of CBD. 

We find cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) in raw, unprocessed forms of hemp. In this form, it presents fewer benefits to humans. To activate CBDa and turn it into CBD, we must subject the molecule to heat in a process called decarboxylation.

As of this writing, we know less about CBDa than we do about CBD. Some early studies indicate that CBDa may also be helpful in addressing inflammation and seizures.

What Does CBDv Stand For?

CBDv stands for cannabidivarin and is the decarboxylated form of cannabidivarinic acid (CBDva).

Cannabidivarin is non-intoxicating and has been shown to have a weak affinity for both CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBDv is also the chemical precursor of THCv.

As of this writing, there is interest in using CBDv in studies to treat nausea, gastrointestinal issues, and seizures.

Bonus: What’s a CoA?

CoA is an acronym for Certificate of Analysis. A CoA is a document provided by third-party laboratories that certify the ingredients used, potency, and purity of a product.

In the hemp industry, we use CoAs to verify the cannabinoid content in our products. We also use further testing to ensure that no harmful substances like metals or solvents make it into your product.

Before buying any CBD product, you should be sure to look for or ask to see some testing paperwork. Because there are few federal regulations in our industry, it’s up to the consumer to do their homework. Reputable vendors will happily provide you with one. Like Sunset Lake, you can see all of our testing paperwork right here.

Wrapup: What Does CBD Stand For?

This post only covered a small portion of the hemp industry jargon used today, but we hope that you’ve found it helpful.

If you have any questions about anything here or about a product you’ve been looking at, please get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to help.

Sources

  1. Jadoon, Khalid A et al. “A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study.” JCI insight vol. 2,12 e93760. 15 Jun. 2017, doi:10.1172/jci.insight.93760
  2. De Gregorio, Danilo et al. “Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain.” Pain vol. 160,1 (2019): 136-150. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
  3. Hammell, D C et al. “Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.” European journal of pain (London, England) vol. 20,6 (2016): 936-48. doi:10.1002/ejp.818
  4. Prud’homme, Mélissa et al. “Cannabidiol as an Intervention for Addictive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.” Substance abuse : research and treatment vol. 9 33-8. 21 May. 2015, doi:10.4137/SART.S25081

Update note: This article was originally published on February 28th 2021, and was updated by the original author on August 30th, 2024

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