CBD Is Budding In Popularity. But What Is The Cannabis Extract, Exactly?

"As more states across the U.S. legalize medical or recreational marijuana, another aspect of cannabis is budding in popularity: CBD."

"It's popping up everywhere — in beverages, cosmetics and even pet food. But what exactly is it?"

"Dr. Jeff Chen (@drjeffchen), director of the Cannabis Research Initiative at UCLA, explains that CBD, or cannabidiol, is simply a part of the cannabis plant."

"'CBD is cannabidiol, not to be confused with cannabinoid. So a cannabinoid is a family of compounds that are unique to the cannabis plant,' he tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson. So THC, which is responsible for the psychoactivity of cannabis, that's a cannabinoid. CBD is also a cannabinoid."

"'They both are part of the cannabinoid family, and they both tend to be the most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.'"