What does CBD stand for? On oils, gummies and lotions, it stands for cannabidiol, one of more than a hundred natural compounds found in cannabis plants, including hemp. Unlike its better known cousin THC, it does not cause the high that people link with marijuana.
The letters have a few other lives too. City planners use CBD for the central business district, and in a hospital report it often means the common bile duct. Nearby words usually make the sense obvious.
Quick facts
Stands for
CannabidiolSay the word
KAN-uh-buh-DYE-olType
Initialism, said C B DFound in
Hemp and other cannabis plantsOther meanings
Central business district, common bile ductNot to be confused with
THC, the compound that causes a high
What does CBD stand for in CBD oil?
The short form is not built from three separate words. Its letters are picked out of one long chemical name: Cannabidiol. The ending diol is a chemistry term for a molecule with two alcohol groups, and the front of the word points to the cannabis plant.
So the CBD oil full form is cannabidiol oil: the compound mixed into a carrier oil, such as one pressed from seeds or coconuts. Chemists often shorten long compound names this way, which is why you see THC for tetrahydrocannabinol as well.
Because the letters come from one word, CBD is technically an abbreviation said as letters, an initialism. Those labels are sorted out on our acronym vs abbreviation page.
CBD vs THC
Both come from the same family of plants, but they act differently in the body.
| CBD | THC | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cannabidiol | Tetrahydrocannabinol |
| Causes a high | No | Yes |
| Main plant source in stores | Hemp | Marijuana |
| Shows up on drug tests | Pure CBD usually is not what tests look for, but products may contain traces of THC | Yes, this is what most tests look for |
Read more on the THC page. Both plants make both compounds; marijuana simply tends to carry more THC and hemp more CBD.
What does CBD stand for in hemp?
Hemp is a type of cannabis grown for fiber, seeds and compounds like cannabidiol. Under federal law, hemp is cannabis with no more than 0.3 percent of the main form of THC by dry weight. That legal line is why most CBD products on store shelves say they are made from hemp.
State rules on these products vary, and federal law treats food, supplements and medicines differently. The FDA has approved one prescription medicine made with purified CBD for certain rare seizure disorders, but it has not approved most over the counter CBD products for treating any condition.
CBD in medical terms and other fields
On a chart or scan report, CBD often has nothing to do with plants.
| Field | CBD means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Common bile duct | "The ultrasound showed a normal CBD." |
| Neurology | Corticobasal degeneration | "Symptoms suggest CBD or a related condition." |
| Cities and real estate | Central business district | "The office tower sits in the CBD." |
| Products and labels | Cannabidiol | "Contains 10 mg CBD per serving." |
In an imaging report: "CBD measures 4 mm." This describes the size of the tube that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. A doctor reads it in context with the rest of the report.
Reading a CBD label
Shoppers often meet these phrases next to the letters:
- Full spectrum: contains other plant compounds too, which may include small amounts of THC.
- Broad spectrum: contains other compounds but aims to remove THC.
- Isolate: CBD by itself, with other compounds removed.
- mg per serving: how much cannabidiol is in one dose. See the mg page for that unit.
Labels are not always accurate, so many buyers look for a lab report that lists what the product contains.
Saying and writing CBD
Speak it as three letters, "C B D," and print it as three capitals without dots. The full word cannabidiol is lowercase unless it starts a sentence. Use "a CBD gummy," since C is said with a consonant sound.
- "The lotion lists CBD as its main ingredient."
- "Is this CBD oil made from hemp?"
- "Traffic is heavy in the CBD at rush hour."
Other everyday letters from labels and signs are gathered in our famous acronyms collection.
Questions people ask
What is CBD stand for, in simple words?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, a natural compound from cannabis plants such as hemp. It is sold in oils, creams and edibles.
Does CBD get you high?
CBD on its own does not cause a high. Some products contain small amounts of THC, which can have effects in large doses and may show up on a drug test.
What does CBD stand for in medical terms?
Doctors often use CBD for the common bile duct. In neurology it can also mean corticobasal degeneration, a rare brain condition. The rest of the note makes the meaning clear.
Is CBD the same as hemp oil?
Not always. Hemp seed oil is pressed from seeds and usually has little or no CBD. CBD oil is made from parts of the plant that contain the compound, so check the label.
What does CBD stand for in weed?
It means the same thing, cannabidiol. Marijuana plants contain CBD as well as THC, though most are bred to be high in THC.
How do you pronounce cannabidiol?
Most Americans say KAN-uh-buh-DYE-ol. In daily talk, people simply say C B D.