Editor's note: This article has been reviewed and updated for accuracy in 2026. Hemp is one of the most popular plants across the globe, which is why it is loved by over 1 billion people. As recently as 2019 approximately 1:7 adults in the U.S use products containing CBD. This cannabis plant-derived, non-THC (meaning non-psychoactive) compounds has become the darling child of the legal hemp movement. After being discovered in the early 19th century, people began to use it for homeopathic and semi-recreational purposes. For example, legal cannabis strains, like those used for medical marijuana prescriptions, are bred to contain high levels of CBD as it's this compound that works in synergy with other cannabinoids like terpenes and flavonoids (see entourage effect) as well as THC to create a more full-body effect. However, now, with much advancement in medical research, and increasingly liberal state-level cannabis laws, the nation, and the world, are becoming more attuned to the more subtle, day-to-day benefits of CBD. Today, hemp is a major industry, one of the fastest growing within the legal cannabis vertical, primarily because it can sidestep so many state laws given that it doesn't contain THC, which means it can be sold and marketed without the heavy regulations associated with THC/psychoactive cannabis containing products. Still, as with many popularized acronyms, there is much mystery and confusion surrounding CBD. What is it, why do people love it and how is it used? In this article, we will guide you through the differences between the oils produced by the plant, including CBD, CBG, and CBN, not forgetting how hemp has a strong history of being used for treating b