Cannabidiol, which is more commonly referred to as CBD, is a 100 percent natural compound found in the cannabis plant - or more specifically, in hemp, which is part of the cannabis family. CBD is one of over a hundred phytocannabinoids found in cannabis plants. Phytocannabinoids interact with the human body through the endocannabinoid system which is made up of receptors and enzymes which work to breakdown chemical compounds. Consequently, this can affect a number of processes in the body, affecting us both mentally and physically.
Another cannabinoid, which was perhaps the most famously associated with cannabis for many years, is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is heavily prevalent in marijuana, which is also a part of the cannabis family. This phytocannabinoid has a psychoactive element and this is what is responsible for the ‘high’ associated with taking marijuana. Hemp (from which CBD products are derived) has a significantly lower THC content and a high will never be felt from using pure CBD products.
The legal requirement across the EU and the US is for CBD based products to have a THC content of less than 0.2%. However, some people, and in particular athletes, prefer to go THC-free.
When CBD is extracted in a way that maintains the composition of all the naturally occurring compounds, including a very small amount of THC. When all the natural components are kept together, scientists have found that CBD is more effective.1 This is known as the entourage effect. However, including THC is not always ideal, particularly when it comes to sports as THC flags up on drug testing for athletes. For this reason, Reakiro are launching a new range called ‘Smart Restart’ containing zero THC, perfect for athletes.