This post is only for informative purposes. It is not our intention to promote or recommend any type of products.
What is CBD?
CBD (short for cannabidiol) is a term we are all slowly becoming familiar with, but do we actually know what CBD is and why more people are keen to try it out?
The National Health Service (NHS) of the UK define CBD as “a chemical substance found in cannabis that has medical benefits”, it also claims that “It will not get you high, because it does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical in cannabis that makes you high.
While the UK has a very open vision about CBD, in Italy the scenario is slightly different. Use of cannabis for medicinal purposes was legalised since 2014, but there have been some missteps in the process. There is a lot of ambiguity on the Italian law regarding the sale and consumption of products made with CBD such as edibles, beauty products or even clothes, but sellers are backed by the EU laws.
Having said this, we were pleasantly surprised to have found two CBD shops in Pescara, CBD Dimension (@cbdimension) and Amsterdam Store (@cannabisstore_pescara). We had a chat with their owners, Lorenzo (CBDimension) and Massimiliano (Amsterdam Store) and asked why a small and traditional region like Abruzzo is talking about CBD and where they see this market going in the region.
For Lorenzo, the idea of opening a CBD store in Abruzzo came from his days working in Ibiza “I lived in Ibiza and used to work for a club where you could cosume cannabis products. In order to have access to the club you had to be registered.” He adds, “the products have to be consumed only at the club and if you didn’t consume it all you can leave it in some type of security locker whose keys were given to the person or group of people using it.”
The CBD as Tabu'
Nowadays there are still a lot of stigmas around cannabis and its derivatives, therefore is very important to be open to start the conversation and understand its uses and how it can improve your health. “Let me start with the premise that all these products are completely natural. All of them have beneficial properties and components, for instance, the cannabis seeds, which contain omega 3 and omega 6. The oil and crystal of cannabis are CBD extractions with a purity percentage of 99%.” Lorenzo adds.
CBDimenesion Store in Pescara - @cbdimension
As we stated before, it’s important to understand that CBD is not a drug. Massimiliano, the owner of Amsterdam Store pointed out that the lack of information is a challenge for his business. “However, we are conscious that this type of store is still a taboo especially in a small region as Abruzzo”.
Cannabis Store Amsterdam in Pescara - @cannabisstore_pescara
It certainly has a negative connotation because it is frequently associated with drugs. This doesn’t happen out of malice, it actually happens because of the lack of knowledge about the topic. In fact, we still operate in an environment where restrictions are strong.”
Some people believe that the main benefit of CBD related products is just relaxation or leisure, but there’s much more to it. “One of the products with many benefits is cannabis oil, which can be used to help with cancer treatments. Cannabis oil is considered to be anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory and it also helps to remove the effect of nausea, the lack of appetite and improves the blood flow.” affirms Massimiliano.
CBD‘s popularity is increasing rapidly, and it’s definitely reflected in some areas even like sports Massimiliano comments: “A curious fact, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has excluded the CBD from the list of doping substances, allowing to be used by athletes. Its use is mainly orientated to relax the muscles after intense activity”.
Pain reliever, reducing anxiety and alleviating cancer-related symptoms are only a few of the benefits attributed to CBD products. Are these actually backed by scientific research? What other benefits are there? Some people are afraid to give it a try because they believe it’s a drug, some others are just using it because it’s trendy and cool. There are a lot of questions around CBD but the truth is this magical substance it’s here to stay.
If you have any experience with CBD we want to hear more about it! Is it popular in the area where you live? Tell us more about it in the comments section bellow.