Ever since the 2018 federal farm bill legalized hemp (cannabis with less than 0.3 percent THC), non-euphoric yet widely medicinal CBD-rich cannabis products have flooded the market. CBD and more drug-like THC are the two best known and the most abundant cannabinoids in cannabis, yet 100 to 200 cannabinoids can exist in the plant.

Is CBD Legal?

The ever-evolving legality of cannabis products and specific cannabinoids continues to shift within the federal government as well as state by state.

Cannabidiol (CBD) supplements are obtainable in much of the US. A non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant, CBD is being studied for its effects on many health conditions. Each state has laws regarding CBD with varying degrees of restriction. Learn about CBD’s status in your state at www.CBDCentral.com.

However, it’s clear that Pandora’s cannabis box has opened, and our interest continues to develop in the diverse phytochemistry of cannabis strains and products as well as the various health benefits.

Current CBD Research

As our interest in medicinal cannabis grows, we are seeing an increasing spotlight on some of the other common cannabinoids. The research on non-THC cannabinoids is still highly preliminary and mostly consists of preclinical lab and animal studies.

CBD (cannabidiol) started the non-THC cannabis movement and remains a promising cannabinoid to relax and uplift without getting high, support folks with anxiety, indirectly support sleep, decrease inflammation, modulate immune function, and support neurological well-being.

Cannabinoids To Watch

Here are two emerging cannabinoids of note that do not contain the psychoactive euphoric effects of THC:

• CBDA (cannabidiolic acid)

  CBDA is the precursor to CBD that is found in raw and fresh cannabis flower buds. It’s transformed into CBD via heat/decarboxylation.

  However, it’s gaining attention for its own health benefits: It is anti-inflammatory and analgesic, and it binds to serotonin receptors 100 times more powerfully than CBD.

  Serotonin has mood-boosting and relaxant properties, but be careful to avoid high doses of CBDA and don’t use it alongside serotonin-enhancing medications like SSRIs until we better understand the effects and potential risks.

• CBG (cannabigerol)

  CBG (cannabigerol). We’re still learning about CBG’s benefits, which appear to include analgesic, muscle relaxant, and anti-inflammatory effects for pain; anticancer, antinausea, and appetite stimulation effects helpful for people with cancer; and antimicrobial and neuroprotective effects.

Cannabinoids and Mental Health

Mental health professionals who work with cannabinoids with their clients report impressive benefits, but that can vary by cannabinoid and by person. For example, Vicki Anderson, PsyD, a licensed psychologist in New Hampshire and a cannabis educator, often considers the following:

• CBD for anxiety support
• microdoses of CBDA for depression
• CBG for relaxant effects

Individuals may find that one works better for them than another, so taking time to explore your options and listen to your body can be helpful.

Choosing Your Cannabinoids

These are just a few of the potentially beneficial cannabinoids. If you hope to work with them, consider seeking strains specific in these constituents, which might be harder to find in general commerce.

Read labels carefully and consider asking suppliers for guidance, including for a Certificate of Analysis for the full cannabinoid profile of the product you hope to buy.

Products made with only isolated CBD are unlikely to provide the other cannabinoids, whereas full spectrum, whole plant, and crude hemp flowers are more likely to provide a greater array of cannabinoids as well as the “entourage effect.”

Cannabinoid Dosage

With cannabis, taking the minimum effective dose will often provide the most long-term benefit. With high doses, the body is likely to reduce cannabinoid receptors and have a decreased effect over time.

Cannabinoids in Home Remedies

You can purchase specific strains of hemp flowers from growers or dispensaries and then make your own remedies at home to emphasize the cannabinoids you want, at a reduced cost. The Wholistic Healing Guide to Cannabis by Tammi Sweet is an excellent resource. Research shows synergistic and entourage effects from the whole flower form.

Congressional passage of the Farm Bill in 2018 launched the hemp industry into hyperdrive, and with it the sale of CBD, a powerful cannabinoid that is found in both hemp and marijuana.

Reputed to contain healing properties that reduce stress, alleviate pain, and provide a good night’s sleep, tens of thousands of products have appeared online and in stores, making outrageous and illegal claims.

Here’s what you need to know to make a wise purchase.

Issues Around Hemp and CBD

First, the politics.

Why Does The FDA Consider CBD a Drug?

There’s a political power struggle brewing over CBD between pharma and everyone else with a vested interest. The FDA believes that since they approved the drug Epidiolex—which contains CBD in an isolate form—the law requires all CBD to be categorized as a drug.

Why Aren't CBD Supplements Regulated?

If an ingredient first becomes an approved drug, it can never be a dietary supplement.

The dietary supplement industry and hemp industries disagree. A lack of clarity is what enabled the sale of subpar products.

How to Avoid Bogus CBD

Do your research. Only buy from a trusted source.

• Pay Attention to Branding

  • Certificate of Analysis

    Visit the company’s website and look for a Certificate of Analysis (COA). The COA, while not foolproof, demonstrates transparency. Hemp cleans the soil, absorbing heavy metals and pesticides. A COA provides test results for both, and confirms ingredient identity.

  • CBD vs. Hemp Oil

    Be aware that the terminology is changing rapidly. Quality companies are moving away from labeling their products as CBD, in exchange for these terms:

    • hemp oil concentrate

    • full-spectrum hemp (a hemp extract with less than 0.3 percent THC)

    • broad-spectrum hemp (all THC has been removed through processing)

  • Avoid Hemp Seed Oil

    Don’t buy products labeled as hemp seed oil. The cannabinoids you seek are only in the plant, not the seeds. Many of the hemp products marketed as CBD are derived from hemp seed oil.

• Read the Label Carefully

  • Avoid Disease Claims

    Do not buy a product that claims to treat, cure, or mitigate disease. It’s illegal to say those things. If it seems too good to be true, it is.

  • Look for Contact Info

    Read the label. It needs a lot number and company contact information. There must be someone you can call with a question, report an adverse reaction, or contact in the event of a recall.

  • Check the Dosage

    The label should include a recommended dose. Many products don’t.

  • Spot Fraud and Deceit

    If the label says it’s been approved by the FDA, walk away. The FDA doesn’t approve dietary supplements.

• Use a Trusted Source

  • Avoid Online Retailers

    Don’t buy CBD on Amazon, the largest of all gas stations. We’ve tested their products: They aren’t what you want.

  • Consult a Dispensary

    Do seek guidance from practitioners trained to prescribe medical marijuana when available. Many dispensaries carry quality CBD products derived from hemp.

  • Always Check with Your Doctor

    Remember, if you are seeking treatment for serious health issues, consult with your personal physician.

More Information

You can track these issues on Organic & Natural’s Facebook page.

Excerpted with permission from Road to Ananda: Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System, Hemp Phytocannabinoids/CBD and Your Health by Carl Germano, CNS, CDN ($21.65, Healthy Living Publishing, 2018)

The presence of endocannabinoids in our bodies is abundant. Researchers find more endocannabinoid receptors than the neurotransmitter receptors of serotonin and dopamine. In total, the number of endocannabinoid receptors in the body is believed to be greater than all other neurotransmitter receptors combined.

Receptors are proteins that act as doorways on the surface of cells for messengers to deliver information into the cell. They act as the cell’s eyes and ears for what is happening in the body. Every cell in every organ has specialized receptors to react to signaling throughout the body. Compounds that have the ability to sit at the doorway to deliver messages into the cell are called ligands. Ligands you may be familiar with are neurotransmitters and hormones that bind to receptors to initiate certain and specific activities.

Endocannabinoid receptors, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), live on the surface of cells and act as the binding sites for the endocannabinoids we produce in the body (anandamide, 2-AG). They are also influenced directly and indirectly by many plant cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) we consume. 

Hemp extracts represent a highly concentrated source of phytocannabinoids. Hemp’s most popular and dominant phytocannabinoid is called cannabidiol or CBD. However, CBD is only one of 100-plus phytocannabinoids present in hemp that are equally important or more effective than CBD in addressing certain conditions. Most notably, the phytocannabinoids CBG (cannabigerol), CBC (cannabichromene), CBN (cannabinol), and BCP (beta caryophyllene) are but a few that are equally important.

CB1 Receptors

CB1 receptors are abundant in the brain, especially in the cerebellum, basal ganglia, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and spinal cord regions. They play significant roles in regulating pain signaling, memory processing, movement, motor control, and many other neurological functions. In addition to their concentration in the brain, CB1 receptors reside in the cardiovascular system, digestive tract, heart, liver, lungs, and immune system as well as other parts of the body. Their presence in these regions expands their activity to include functional roles in bone, heart, liver, and immune modulation.

CB2 Receptors

CB2 receptors are predominant in the brain and immune system, but are present throughout the entire body. Researchers have found an abundant amount of CB2 receptors scattered throughout the brain along with its CB1 counterpart. In addition, CB2 receptors are present in our bones, as well as peripheral organs such as the spleen, liver, and pancreas. As situated in these organ systems, CB2 receptors have many roles, including immune modulation, bone mass enhancement, brain protection, pain and inflammation control, liver support, and healthy stress response.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be a disabling impairment. Presently available medications to treat it are often ineffective or a cause of considerable side effects.

A significant body of research points to the role of the human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the anxiety, fear, and intrusive repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are common in OCD. Some patients have shown improvements in OCD symptoms after receiving cannabinoids, and a new review of studies suggests that the ECS may be a target for new treatments of OCD.

Serotinin reuptake inhibitors are the only medications approved by the FDA for OCD treatment. They usually provide only limited relief; some patients find them ineffective.

CBD’s Potential in Treatment of OCD

The authors of the 2019 review see potential in cannabidiol (CBD) for relief of OCD symptoms.

“CBD has garnered increasing interest as a potential treatment for a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, including anxiety,” the authors wrote. “CBD has been shown to reduce experimentally induced anxiety and enhance the extinction of fear memories in healthy adults.” They also stated that CBD has been shown to reverse some of the negative effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), “including paranoia and memory impairment.”

Much more research is needed, and much is ongoing. The authors concluded that “further exploration of this topic will determine whether cannabinoids pass the most important test: Helping more patients with OCD to achieve wellness.”

*Cannabidiol (CBD) supplements are obtainable in much of the US. A nonpsychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant, CBD is being studied for its effects on many health conditions. Each state has laws regarding CBD with varying degrees of restriction. Learn about CBD’s status in your state at www.CBDCentral.com.

With the farm bill now in action, the benefits of CBD are quickly being revealed to the public. As a result, the demand for CBD products is growing and will keep growing as more people are beginning to realize that the hype is real.

Now, you might be wondering, is all CBD the same? Is there a difference between a local dispensary CBD product and an award-winning CBD product?

As the CBD market continues to expand and more products are introduced, it’s crucial that you find a trusted provider for high-quality CBD oil.

The quality of CBD products depends greatly on the purity of the ingredients and formulation methods. Unlike the pharmaceutical industry, the CBD industry is not heavily regulated. This lack of regulation has given rise to an army of companies offering all types of low-quality products.

Just seeing the letters ‘CBD’ on a package is not enough. It’s important to know where these products are coming from, who is making them, and what they are actually infused with.

Key Differences to Look for When Purchasing a CBD Product

1. Is the Product Lab-Tested?

   The first and most important thing to look for when purchasing any CBD product is if the product has been tested by a third-party laboratory. If it has been tested, then lab reports for that product should be available to the public somewhere on the company’s website.

   If lab reports are non-existent, you’re looking at a major RED FLAG! Without a lab report, there is no way of confirming what’s in that product or if it’s safe to use.

2. Show Me the THC Content

   THC is now legal in several states; however, it is still illegal in most of them. For a CBD product to maintain its legality, it needs to contain a certain amount of THC. The maximum amount of THC allowed is 0.3% or less. This amount is generally considered to be safe, and shouldn’t inflict the intoxicating effects associated with THC.

   When shopping for CBD products, this should be clearly indicated in the label. If you can’t find the THC content, drop it.

3. What Ingredients Are Used in the Product?

   The next thing on the list are the ingredients. When buying CBD products, always make sure the ingredients are listed on the label. If they are not listed at all, you are looking at another red flag. If they are, but look oddly complicated, a quick Google search can help clarify what they are and if they have any adverse side effects that might compromise the purity of the product.

4. Company Reputation and Review

   Is the company reputable? A great way to verify the purity and legitimacy of a product or brand is by checking out what other people are saying about it. People are quick to leave negative reviews if their experience is less than satisfying. When searching for reviews, pay attention to what people have to say, it might provide useful insights into how others felt about that particular product and could reveal potential side-effects that you’d rather avoid.

   By quickly evaluating a brand’s reputation and review tabs, you can filter out bad products from high-quality best-sellers.

A vital part of human biology, this system was not named until 1992.

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. 

What is the Endocannabinoid System? 

About 30 years ago, cannabis research led to the discovery of the human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a molecular signaling system that works to ensure homeostasis—or equilibrium—within our bodies, especially during times of stress. This was when researchers first discovered receptors for THC—a psychoactive cannabinoid from marijuana—and then, shortly afterward, the body’s own endogenous cannabinoids.   

What are Endogenous Cannabinoids? Can You be Deficient in Them?

The body makes its own cannabinoid-like substances, called endogenous cannabinoids or endocannabinoids, as well as enzymes that that can produce and degrade them. These chemical compounds are a type of neurotransmitter—part of the body’s chemical messenging system. There’s 2-AG, which has been called the “workhorse” of the endocannabinoid system. When the body’s ECS works to inhibit 2-AG degradation, pain and anxiety are reduced. 

Another endogenous cannabinoid is called anandamide (AEA), named after the Sanskrit word “ananda,” which means bliss. AEA is a stress-responsive endocannabinoid. Both 2-AG and AEA are derivatives of arachidonic acid, which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. If your body is lacking in omega-3 essential fatty acids, it can’t make sufficient endogenous cannabinoids. Some people may have genetic issues that interfere with their ability to make enough endocannabinoids. Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD) is thought to be present in fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine conditions. Omega 3s also help grow and repair CB1 receptors in the brain. 

What are CB1 and CB2 Receptors? 

The body’s endogenous cannabinoids interact with receptors, of which there are two established subtypes: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are found in the brain’s amygdala, basal ganglia, and hippocampus—areas of the brain that, among other attributes, are related to anxiety and fear. CB2 receptors are most abundant in immune cells. Numerous studies have shown that mice absent CB2 receptors have issues with inflammation. Both CB1 and CB2 receptors interact with both endogenous and exogenous (external) cannabinoids.

What is Cannabidiol?

Both marijuana and agricultural hemp belong to the Cannabis sativaL plant species. Marijuana is rich in a cannabinoid called THC, which induces a euphoric “high.” Hemp contains so little THC it could never produce such an effect. Its primary cannabinoid is cannabidiol, or CBD. 

THC is an agonist of our body’s CB1 receptors, which means it initiates a physiological response in the brain when combined with the receptor. CBD operates differently by blocking the breakdown of anandamide, which increases the presence of that endocannabinoid at receptor sites. CB2 agonists have pain-relieving and tissue-protective effects.

Hemp CBD has taken over the shelves in many health food stores across the nation. While hemp CBD has become one of the most popular supplements today, there is still much confusion around the subject matter. Words like “whole plant”, “full spectrum”, and “hemp extract”, appear on the labels, but what do they all mean?

Learn more as we join PlusCBD Oil™ and dive into the full spectrum in this short, animated video.

Hemp-derived CBD has gathered the attention of people from all walks of life.

Join the PlusCBD Oil™ team as we learn more about the reception of Hemp CBD in the marketplace from the Kanter family and team of Cambridge Naturals.