Beginners

What Is CBD (Cannabidiol)? A Beginner's Guide

Start here if CBD is new to you.

The cbdin.bg editorsCompiled from the sources cited

We write about hemp and cannabinoids the way we would want it explained: no promises of treatment, and a reference behind every claim.

12 Mar 2026Updated 20 Aug 20268 min read

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of more than a hundred compounds the hemp plant produces. It is extracted from Cannabis sativa L. — hemp varieties grown for fibre and seed, low in THC.

How it differs from THC

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound that intoxicates. CBD does not — that is the central difference, and the reason products containing it are sold openly where the THC thresholds are met.

Both come from one plant, but from different varieties and in different amounts. The hemp behind CBD food and cosmetics in the EU is a certified low-THC variety. The difference in full: CBD vs THC.

CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential… To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.
World Health Organization, Cannabidiol critical review, 2018⁴

The forms it comes in

Form	How it is taken	When it suits
Oil with a dropper	Sublingually, under the tongue	When you want to vary the amount
Capsules	Swallowed with water	When you want no taste and no measuring
Edibles and drinks	Eaten	When format matters more than precision
Paste	With an applicator	The most concentrated, least processed form
Topicals and cosmetics	On the skin	For local application

What to look for on the label

CBD in milligrams for the whole bottle, not just a percentage.
Bottle volume — 1000mg in 10ml and 1000mg in 30ml are not the same thing.
Extract type: full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate.
A lab report (COA) for that specific batch.
THC content below the legal threshold.

A percentage on its own does not tell you how much you are taking. What matters is the milligrams in the serving you actually use.

Legal status in the EU

Hemp extracts containing cannabinoids are classified by the European Commission as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Placing them on the market as food requires authorisation, and the applications submitted are still under assessment.

Separately, CBD carries no authorised health claims under Regulation (EC) 1924/2006. An honest trader therefore describes composition and format rather than an effect on health — and you have grounds to distrust a shop that claims otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

Does CBD get you high?

No. Intoxication comes from THC. Products on the European market are made from certified hemp varieties low in THC.

What is the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil?

Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and contains virtually no cannabinoids — it is a source of fatty acids. CBD oil contains extract from the flower and leaf, in which the cannabidiol is measurable and stated in milligrams.

Continue reading

BeginnersHow to Read a CBD Lab Report (COA)

Sources & references

Every factual statement above rests on the documents listed. Check them yourself.

Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foodshttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32015R2283
Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claimshttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32006R1924
EU Novel Food Catalogue — Cannabinoidshttps://food.ec.europa.eu/food-feed-portal/screen/novel-food-catalogue/search
WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence — Cannabidiol critical review (2018)https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-CND-2018-CBD