It is an undeniable fact that cannabidiol is revolutionizing the medical world. For too many years, the demonization of cannabis prevented much of the world's laboratories and research centers from objectively investigating the potential of cannabis' active ingredients for medicinal purposes.
Fortunately, this is changing as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of hemp (CBD) oils for medical research. More and more evidence is available and misconceptions about hemp products are disappearing. The generational and established social phobia of cannabis is slowly dying as year after year authorities around the world recognize how much less problematic cannabis is compared to many (if not most) over the counter drugs and alcohol.
Although it is still legal in all countries of the world, we can ask ourselves, if this compound is so wonderful, why is it illegal?
The reason is simple. The old and very outdated cannabis laws were drafted and proposed with the idea that the plant as a whole – and its derivatives – is psychoactive and can be abused recreationally.
Since hemp (CBD) oils are an extract from the cannabis plant, they automatically fall under the list of controlled substances. This leads to many myths about cannabidiol itself, as cannabis, hemp and marijuana are not the same.
Here we look at some of the most common myths and facts you need to know to be well informed about what's what.
CANNABIDIOL (CBD) IS A CANNABINOID - FACT!
CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of approximately 60 different molecules found in cannabis. The human body has a system of neuroreceptors called the endocannabinoid system, where cannabidiol interacts to modulate and regulate activities around CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Cannabinoid receptors are everywhere in our body, from head to toe. Cannabidiol, directly and indirectly, regulates the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters, ion channels, and even non-cannabinoid receptors.
CANNABIDIOL HAS A NARCOTIC EFFECT - MYTH!
Cannabidiol is non-psychoactive . The Food and Drug Administration, despite only recently allowing clinical trials, still classifies hemp (CBD) oil as a dietary supplement. In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabidiol has antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects and relieves general stress.
Individuals who use marijuana recreationally prefer low amounts of cannabidiol precisely because it significantly reduces the narcotic effect.
CANNABIDIOL IS EXTRACTED FROM THE MARIJUANA PLANT - MYTH!
Plain and simple, the confusion comes from the taxonomic nomenclature of the plant itself. Even botanists and ethnobotanists have yet to agree on this classification. Also, this is where jargon comes into play.
The simple explanation (or attempt at one) is that cannabis is the actual scientific name of the genus, which contains three different species – Cannabis sativa , Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis .
"Marijuana" and "weed" are slang terms for strains of cannabis that contain high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol and are favored for their euphoric and psychoactive qualities. They are usually looked after for this purpose and therefore their cannabidiol content is very low.
Industrial hemp is the name of a variety of cannabis that is preferred for its ability to produce fiber, seeds and hemp oil. Generally, cannabis is considered hemp if its tetrahydrocannabinol content is lower than 0.3%. This type of cannabis usually has a much higher cannabidiol content.
In recent years, due in large part to the growing popularity of cannabidiol, breeders have created specific cannabidiol producing strains. While hemp can do this job beautifully, certain recreational strains are capable of producing much larger female flowers. By selectively removing tetrahydrocannabinol from certain species and increasing cannabidiol, these new species are able to produce a much larger amount of raw materials with the same footprint. In general, this hemp is not a good source of fiber, but it does provide high amounts of cannabidiol for its weight - no tetrahydrocannabinol.
THERE IS A LEGAL LIMIT ON THE RECOMMENDED DOSAGE - TRUE!
Because it is a health supplement, cannabidiol manufacturers are not allowed to recommend that consumers use more than 160mg of cannabidiol per day. Thus, the product will only be used as a supplement. Only doctors have the right to recommend higher doses, along with a prescription for cannabidiol. So if you wish to use cannabidiol as more than a dietary supplement, it is advisable to seek the advice of a medical professional.
ALL HEMP (CBD) OILS ARE THE SAME - MYTH!
Nothing could be further from the truth. First of all, the production of hemp oil requires the best quality raw material - female cannabis flowers, or buds - but in huge quantities. This presents a problem as supply often does not match demand.
Illegal and unregulated cultivation methods include very strong petrochemical fertilizers, bloom enhancers and pesticides. The result is far from a natural product that will eventually contaminate the oil. Therefore, only organic and naturally grown cannabis should be used.
Second, the extraction method it matters. There are several methods, but as hemp oils enter the human body, we must consider the fact that most of these methods use toxic solvents that are very difficult to purify.
CO2 extraction is a completely clean and environmentally friendly method that is guaranteed to leave no pesticides behind. In most cases, the equipment costs are too high and you will need a highly skilled operator to operate the system properly.
Some manufacturers favor quantity while others focus on quality.
Cannabidiol can also be obtained in its pure crystalline form. In theory, it is clean and unpolluted. But cannabinoids are known to be most effective when they are in total. This is called the entourage effect. The therapeutic effect of an oil is holistic, not the sum of its individual parts. Most of the other extraction methods destroy the terpenes and flavonoids.
Although cannabidiol is the main ingredient, the terpenes and flavonoids also play an important role in the overall therapeutic impact of hemp oils – certainly not just in terms of taste and aroma.
CANNABIDIOL IS THE SUBJECT OF CLINICAL RESEARCH - FACT!
For a long time, cannabis research was conducted either in secret, funded by the US government for a clear propaganda purpose, or by a small number of oddball pioneers who somehow managed to slip through the red tape.
Examples like dr. Raphael McCullum in israel dr. Manuel Guzman in Spain and even the activist group NORML in the US – for starters – have begun serious analytical research.
For decades, the research was inaccessible to the majority of specialists. Only in recent years, due to unprecedented social response and legal reforms, has it become possible to offer it to academics and research centers without fear of reprisals from ethics committees and even legal measures.
The amount of published work on cannabidiol research is unprecedented, and there is no doubt that large investments are being made in this area.
Only recently, World Health Organization and the Olympic Committee's World Anti-Doping Agency have revised their stance on cannabidiol, claiming it is perfectly safe and even recommending that lawmakers around the world change their views on this promising molecule.