How CBD affects the endocannabinoid system.

CBD is becoming a commonly used term, and that’s a good thing! And while people may be familiar with the effects CBD, the science of how CBD interacts with the human body is a much more complex topic that many don’t understand.

Part of that is because the amount of research on CBD and the human body is very preliminary. Although a search on PubMed for the term “cannabinoid” yields 21,250 hits (and that may seem like a lot), scientists are calling for more extensive, wider-range, large-scale studies. One of the biggest barriers to research in the U.S. is the FDA’s classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance, deeming it to have no medicinal value. This makes access to this plant for a federally approved study very difficult.

Regardless of these issues, the international scientific community has made significant discoveries with respect to the human body and how it interacts with cannabis. One of the most important discoveries came to light in the 90s- the existence of a physiological system present in humans (and mammals) called the endocannabinoid system. From now on we will refer to it as the EC system, just to shorten it.

The EC system is a network of receptors located throughout the body that respond to cannabinoids. The human body produces cannabinoids, which are referred to as endocannabinoids. This system also responds to cannabinoids from cannabis and other plants, like THC and CBD. The primary purpose of the EC system is to achieve homeostasis, or a balance, of the body and its various systems.

The two primary receptors in this system (that have been discovered so far) are CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are mostly found in the brain and nervous system, while CB2 is more present in the immune system. Both receptors are present at intersections of the body’s systems, which may point to how CBD and THC can have so many different effects on the body. THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, binds to CB1 receptors, and is that is the mechanism through which a user gets the “high” feeling from cannabis.

So, how does CBD work with these receptors? It’s a bit more nuanced than the direct way THC connects to CB1 receptors. CBD actually does not bind to either receptor. CBD prevents the activation of the CB1 and CB2 receptors by other cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. That is why CBD can help mitigate the effects of THC on the body.

At this point, you might be thinking, “well ok, CBD can stop someone from getting too high, but how does it cause all the benefits associated with CBD?” The presence of CBD in the body stops the breakdown of endocannabinoids (these are the cannabinoids the body naturally produces, remember?), which help the EC system work to achieve homeostasis. CBD also binds to other receptors in the body, ones that are associated with anxiety, depression, appetite, sleep, pain perception, nausea, and anti-inflammation. Either by enhancing or decreasing the way those receptors are activated, CBD works to have a positive effect on those receptors, and in turn, our physiological well-being.

This is a very brief and broad explanation about how CBD works within the human body. If you’re interested in learning more, please visit some of the links below. There is a lot to learn!

An Introduction to the Endocannabinoid System

How CBD Works

The Endocannabinoid System and Pharmacotherapy

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

Beginner’s Guide to the Endocannabinoid System

What is the difference between Full Spectrum vs CBD Isolate?

The market is flooded with CBD companies right now. There are so many companies these days selling CBD in all different kinds of forms-oils, tinctures, salves and balms, edibles, and crystals or powders.

It’s always important to be an educated consumer, and in an unregulated market like the CBD industry, that’s even more important. Since there are no guidelines and regulations with respect to the production and labeling of CBD products, it falls on us as a company to be as transparent as possible to build trust with our customers. That being said, customers should also take the time to learn the basics about CBD.

That starts with knowing your terms, and some of the most important terms to understand are full-spectrum and isolate.

If you remember in our last post, we explained that hemp and marijuana are full of chemicals called cannabinoids, the most plentiful of which are THC, tetrahyrocannabinol, and CBD, cannabidiol.

When a CBD product is referred to as full-spectrum, it means that it includes all the other cannabinoids found in the source plant. So, the extraction process used on hemp or marijuana pulls the CBD from the plant, and also the other cannabinoids found in it. CBD isolate is pretty much what the term indicates- just CBD, purified and separated from any other cannabinoids found in the source plant.

Is there a difference between the two? Wouldn’t CBD isolate be better, since you could get more of the cannabinoid that shows such medicinal promise? Although it may seem counterintuitive, research so far indicates that full-spectrum CBD is more effective than isolate.

One notable study regarding this came from the Lautenberg Center for General Tumor Immunology in Jerusalem. The study examined the effectiveness of isolated CBD versus full-spectrum CBD extract. It concluded that CBD isolate yields a bell-curve of effectiveness (it becomes less effective after a certain point) while full-spectrum CBD continued to be effective in providing pain relief with an increase in dosage. All of the tests performed for this study indicate that CBD isolate is only effective at a certain dose, while full-spectrum CBD continues to provide relief as the dosage goes up. The study found even more interesting results; basically that full-spectrum CBD extract has qualities that can aid in pain relief that aren’t found in common anti-inflammatory drugs. You can read more about the study, its methods, and results here.

Using a full-spectrum CBD extract allows for what scientists refer to as the “entourage effect”. It basically states that CBD works more effectively in the presence of the many other cannabinoids found in cannabis. And that’s why we elect to only use full-spectrum CBD oil for our products!

Further Reading:

Overcoming the Bell-Shaped Dose-Response of Cannabidiol

Potential Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid- terpenoid Entourage Effects

Terpenes and the Entourage Effect

Synthetic vs. Whole-plant CBD

Read here for the latest research and news on Cannabidiol (CBD).

We at Delta Botanicals strongly believe in the importance of educating the public about Cannabidiol, CBD. In fact, it’s a central part of our company mission.

When people learn about CBD and experience its effects, they become ambassadors of CBD, sharing what they’ve learned and felt with their friends and family. Then those people educate themselves and in turn, also become supporters. It’s through education that we will be able to turn CBD into a household term, one as common as aspirin.

Our goal in this blog is to provide you, our valued customer, with educational material and the latest news about Cannabidiol. That will include scientific research and developments, updates on the domestic hemp agricultural movement, legislation regarding CBD and cannabis, and any new and noteworthy information we think would benefit your understanding of our product and the growing cannabis industry in the U.S.

Over the next few weeks, we will be tackling topics such as

• What is the difference between marijuana and hemp?
• What symptoms has CBD shown alleviate?
• What is the difference between full-spectrum CBD and isolate?

While we are not permitted by the FDA to make claims as to what our full-spectrum, O-THC, CBD oil can do, we will point you to 3^rd party articles and research illustrating the potential Cannabidiol has to make a significant impact on your personal health and wellness.

The differences between marijuana and hemp and how CBD is present in both.

To say that there is some confusion surrounding hemp, marijuana, and CBD is a complete understatement! This confusion is made even worse because of legislation in the U.S. regarding hemp, marijuana, and CBD.

So let’s try to simplify it. Hemp and marijuana both belong to the class (genus) of plants known as Cannabis. They are actually the same species, Cannabis Sativa. They are the same plant, except that they have been bred differently, so they have different qualities.

Confusing? Let’s look at another example. Take another plant species, Brassica oleracea. This is the scientific name for broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and collards. Those vegetables are totally different, but they’re the same plant. This is the relationship between hemp and marijuana. In the same way that you’re not going to call a broccoli cauliflower, you can’t (or shouldn’t) refer to hemp as marijuana and vice versa.

Now, keep in mind that sometimes people interchange cannabis and marijuana, and at other times use cannabis as an umbrella term when discussing both hemp and marijuana. For the purposes of this post, cannabis will refer to both hemp and marijuana.

So what is the difference between hemp and marijuana? Marijuana is bred to have high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is the cannabinoid (a chemical found in cannabis) that is most associated with the psychoactive effects of smoking or ingesting marijuana- the “high” feeling. Hemp has very small, basically negligible amount of THC. You couldn’t get high from it no matter how much of it you smoked.

Industrial hemp is a term used to describe hemp that has less than 0.3% THC. In the U.S., industrial hemp is legal to import, purchase, and consume in various forms. Some states now have hemp pilot programs as part of the Farm Bill of 2014. You can visit the Hemp Industries Association for more information.

While marijuana is typically used for its medicinal/recreational purposes, hemp has many more uses. It can be used for food, construction material, paper production, clothing fiber, and fuel. It can also be used medicinally. 

This is where CBD, cannabidiol, comes into play. CBD is a cannabinoid, just like THC, and it can be found in both marijuana and hemp. CBD can be extracted from both plants, and the differences in the quality of CBD will come from the method of extraction, and the production standards of the company performing the extraction. And of course, there is the issue of legality depending on the plant from which it is derived.

Our next post will talk about extraction methods of CBD and its different forms.

Further Reading:

The Differences Between Hemp and Cannabis

What are Cannabinoids?

Hemp vs. Marijuana