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Cannabis edibles are a rapidly growing segment of the industry. Each year, more people get on the edibles bandwagon after recognizing the medical and recreational benefits they provide. For those who dislike smoking or vaping cannabis, edibles are the answer to their consumption dilemma. But while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid most often used and promoted in the edibles brands commonly found in dispensaries, cannabidiol (CBD) edibles are beginning to enter the spotlight and gain popularity with cannabis enthusiasts.

While the well-known euphoric high of THC is widely known and appreciated, the multiple benefits of CBD have been slower to garner attention from the general public and get the appreciation they deserve.

The reason for this is easy to understand. THC holds a huge attraction for its psychoactive properties, while the profound but subtle benefits of CBD are sometimes more difficult to recognize. Since CBD doesn’t get you high in the sense that THC does, some cannabis enthusiasts are slow to understand its healing properties—but they are many.

Why Cook with CBD?

Sweets and desserts still dominate the cannabis edibles market, but the popularity of savory items and main-course dishes is growing at a steady pace. There is clinical evidence that CBD has healing properties and applications for both human mental and physical health. Smoking high CBD strains and cooking with CBD oil have benefits for a number of ailments. These benefits include:

  • Anxiety Reduction: Tests with both humans and animals indicate CBD is effective at reducing anxiety. One 2011 simulated public-speaking study was conducted on 24 humans who had social anxiety issues for which they had never received treatment. One segment of the test group received placebos and the other CBD one and a half hours prior to testing. Compared to the placebo group, the CBD group demonstrated less anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in speech patterns, as well as less anxiety in anticipation of giving their speeches. There are also indications that CBD has therapeutic applications for obsessive-compulsive behavior and post-traumatic stress syndrome.
  • Pain Relief: In addition to mountains of anecdotal accounts of CBD decreasing pain among humans, there are scientific indications that CBD and other cannabis compounds inhibit neuronal transmission in pain pathways. The results of one 2012 study were published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. The test concluded that CBD provided significant relief for rodents with chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Other studies indicate that CBD may be useful in treating neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.
  • Inflammation Reduction: In addition to the pain and inflammation study cited above, evidence indicates that CBD and other cannabis compounds can reduce inflammation and pain associated with it by effectively suppressing inflammatory responses in the human endocannabinoid system. One study examines its potential and effective uses as a drug for inflammation.
  • Nausea Reduction: Anyone who enjoys smoking cannabis is familiar with the appetite stimulation that occurs after using it. The all-too-familiar “munchies” that result have made numerous cannabis enthusiasts go off their diets to satiate their food cravings. At least one published scientific study supports what cannabis lovers have known for as long as they’ve enjoyed the plant: Cannabinoids—specifically CBD—can stimulate appetite and reduce nausea. The CBD applications for those suffering from nausea—a well-known negative side effect of chemotherapy—could provide relief for thousands of patients who suffer from cancer.
  • Seizure Prevention: The cannabinoid benefits for reduction of seizures has received considerable media exposure and has been detailed in various documentaries like the “Weed” series on CNN by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. High-CBD strains, like Charlotte’s Web from Colorado, have provided critical relief for children afflicted with chronic seizures.
  • Cardiovascular Health: Published studies indicate that CBD provides vascular protection from the high blood-glucose levels of type 2 diabetes on animal test subjects. The results of one study, published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, conclude that in addition to providing protection against vascular damage resulting from high glucose levels, CBD has other vascular benefits as well.
  • Cancer Inhibitor: Several studies reveal that CBD inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells—as well as provide other anti-cancer benefits. One study indicates that CBD may be particularly effective in the treatment of breast cancer. The potential of CBD treatment for cancer patients could help thousands of people afflicted with this often-fatal disease.

CBD for Canines?

In addition to the benefits for humans of cooking with CBD, there are now CBD products on the market to improve the quality of life for man’s best friend. Let’s face it, our dogs are more than just pets, they’re a part of our families, so their well-being is very important to us. The companionship and unconditional love dogs provide every day earns them a special place in our hearts. The bond we have with “man’s best friend” is a very real and valued thing.

There is evidence that CBD provides canines with relief for many of the things that afflict humans, including phobias, stress, anxiety, and inflammation and pain relief. Just like you’ll enjoy the benefits and flavors of masterfully prepared CBD dishes, your dog will love to chow down on CBD dog treats. Visit Paw Treats to learn more.

CBD: The Next Big Thing in Edibles

Clearly, cooking with CBD has multiple potential benefits. The many compelling reasons for including CBD oil on the ingredients list of cannabinoid desserts and savory dishes promise to bring the practice into the mainstream. Although CBD is a cannabinoid-like THC, there is less of a public stigma about it due to its lack of psychoactive effects.

Using CBD oil in cooking opens a new door in the cannabis market. CBD oil, specifically oil produced from distillate extraction methods, is extremely pure, ensuring high concentrations of this beneficial cannabinoid. Distilled concentrates remove the terpenes from the oil, so not only is it potent, it’s tasteless as well, which will appeal to those who do not appreciate the taste of cannabis in edibles. With an increasing number of chefs getting involved with cannabis cooking, the future of CBD in mainstream dishes is promising, to say the least.

CBD Cookbooks

Now you can bring the benefits of CBD into your home kitchen thanks to an increasing number of cookbooks specifically about cooking with CBD. Gaining access to CBD is easier than with THC due to fewer restrictions regarding its distribution. The relaxing properties of CBD provide a different type of cannabis experience than THC, with myriad health benefits to boot.

Publishers and chefs already recognize the appeal of CBD as a cooking ingredient, and an increasing number of cookbooks with recipes high in CBD are hitting the market. A few of the better ones include Herb, Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis by Melissa Parks and Laurie Wolf, The Official High Times Cannabis Cookbook by Elise McDonough, and The Vegan Cannabis Cookbook: Vegan Recipes for Delicious Marijuana-Infused Edibles by Eva Hammond. These cookbooks contain CBD recipes that promise to tickle your taste buds and promote good health. You can learn more about them here.

Cannabinoid cooking is here to stay. If you’re adventurous with cannabis in the kitchen, you may want to consider expanding your cooking efforts beyond recipes high in THC. The emerging awareness of CBD in culinary circles will put you on the cutting edge of this exciting new niche in the world of cannabis edibles.

Cannabis University

Are you interested in learning more about CBD and cannabis? Do you want to start a new career in the ever so exciting and booming cannabis industry? Sign up today to get started at the most recognized cannabis college, CTU. Learn how to cook with cannabis today.

There are over 300,000 jobs in the cannabis industry. CTU trained me for one of them!

marijuana extraction course - Johanna Rose
Makes $24.50 @ THC +

Karen Getchell, expert cannabis writer
Karen Getchell

Karen gained expertise in developing training programs and technical documentation as a Senior Editor at Cisco Systems. She began her journey in cannabis as a patient, searching for a way to heal herself. When she perfected a method for making cannabis oil, other patients began to seek her out. An early adopter of CBD medicine, she started her CBD-infused-products business in 2014. Over the last two decades, Karen has taught hundreds of patients and caregivers how to select strains, infuse oils, and extract cannabinoids.

When she isn’t teaching cannabis cooking classes, Karen works as a cannabis business consultant, writes for online cannabis publications like Cannabis Training University, Leafly, and Weedmaps, and runs a CBD-infused-product business.

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