Blame it on Nancy “Just Say No” Reagan or McGruff the Crime Dog, but many of us have been conditioned to think negatively or maybe just giggle when we hear someone talking about CBD (Cannabidiol) for our pets.

But giving CBD to your dog or cat (or to yourself) is actually a responsible thing to do, and could help alleviate and even prevent many health issues.

As I’ve written in this space previously, we’ve been trying different options to help our little brown dog, Stuey, deal with long car rides. He pants, shakes, and barely holds himself together until he’s released from the Subaru. But, perhaps because of my own ideas about CBD, I have limited the amount I’ve given him.

Unlike the psychoactive part of cannabis (THC), to which people can develop a tolerance, we actually don’t build up a need for more CBD, and the reverse is possibly true (meaning your pet might end up needing less as time goes on.)

Many of our customers are singing the praises of daily doses of CBD, whether in the form of treats, drops, capsules, or honey, all of which we carry. Yes, it’s great for anxiety, but it’s also been shown to be wildly effective at controlling seizures and epilepsy, preventing heart disease, relieving pain, and reducing inflammation.

Our advice is to start with a low dose and gradually increase the amount (we can help you determine what dosage is right for your pet’s weight.) But be consistent. And try to ignore your friends who might start calling your pups Cheech and Chong.