CBD for As and Bs: Students are turning to CBD for studying

In life, there are a lot of stressors, but for students, Dr. Lisa Gardner-Phillips said anxiety is something that is dealt with on a regular basis.

Gardner-Phillips, a board certified physician who quit her practice as an OB-GYN to pursue a hormones-only practice, said the use of CBD makes sense because human bodies have a system to receive it.

“It’s called an endocannabinoid,” she said.

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid extracted from a plant, former law enforcement officer Trey Phillips said.

“CBD extracted from industrial hemp is what was federally legalized with the Farm Bill of 2018, which President Trump signed back in December,” Phillips said.

According to the National Center for Health Research, prescription drugs like Adderall have gained popularity over the last 20 years, and the abuse of these drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – ADHD – is considered a dangerous issue.

Simon Essig Aberg, a medical researcher and contributing author for the National Center for Health Research, said every drug comes with risks.

“Adderall and other ADHD drugs have more risks than many other commonly used medications,” he said.

Gardner-Phillips said a patient once requested Adderall for an upcoming exam.

“Adderall alertness is like level twelve,” Gardner-Phillips said, “it shocks me that it’s still around.”

While abusing Adderall in college can have long-lasting and even fatal effects, Gardner-Phillips said the use of CBD provides a safe alternative for those needing a holistic remedy.

“The cool part about CBD is that it makes you alert and in touch on a normal level,” Gardner-Phillips said.

Tamra Mock, manager at the American Shaman of Lubbock, encourages the use of CBD instead of medications if possible.

“With any chemical that you put into your body, it does more damage than good at the end of the day,” Mock said.

Mock said CBD helps people relax and feel focused.

“It could be very beneficial in helping you study and prepare for tests or a quiz,” she said.

At night, CBD can help people quiet the mind, ease stress, unwind and help you get decent rest for the day ahead, Mock said.

Texas Tech University graduate student Camden Smith first heard about CBD and its benefits when she lived in Colorado.

After the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, she said there became more awareness about CBD and THC – tetrahydrocannabinol.

At first, Smith said she didn’t initially feel a difference when she started taking CBD; however, after a few months, she said she saw some major changes.

“All I knew was that I was taking it every day, and I noticed my sleeping got better,” Smith said. “I just felt like I was able to function a little bit better throughout the day.”

Since Smith takes CBD several times during the day, she said she thinks of it as a ritual and the physical act of taking it immediately calms her down as she referred to the use as a “cycle.”

“With better, longer sleep, lowered amounts of anxiety, lowered amounts of depression,” Smith said, “you’re going to be more motivated, more awake and more willing to learn.”

For more information on CBD or CBD products, visit https://cbdamericanshaman.com/.

Learn more about the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5485.