What's all the fuss about CBD?

Cannabidiol Molecular Structure

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 6 months or so, you have probably heard the term "CBD" or seen something about CBD on your Facebook Newsfeed, Twitter or Instagram. Whether you are a cannabis enthusiast or just getting a glimpse into the power of the CBD, this BLOG post category "Green is Good" will dive into ALL things Cannabis, Green Beauty and more!

What is CBD?

CBD or Cannabidiol is one of over 100 phytocannabinoids (meaning from a plant) found in Cannabis Sativa and it communicates with our body's endogenous (meaning internal) Endocannabinoid System....Did you catch that?? I said....our body has it's own Endocannabinoid System of signals and receptors! (MIND BLOWING, right? More on that in another post) CBD has no intoxicating effect and it works directly where it is needed most in the body. It has a WIDE range of therapeutic benefits for a range of conditions including: antiemetic, anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, anxiolytic/anti-depressant, anti-tumoral/anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory [According to a 2013 review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, studies have found CBD to possess those medical properties].

So, are Hemp and Marijuana the same?

Hemp and Marijuana are both different "phenotypes" of the Cannabis Sativa "species" of plant. Hemp is bred to have less than 0.3% THC and high concentrations of CBD whereas Marijuana is bred to have high concentrations of THC and very low to zero CBD. Generally, Hemp is found to grow in long, fibrous stalks with the leaves nearer the top of the stalk and Marijuana will have shorter, flowering stalks.

Hemp vs. Marijuana

Hemp History:

Did you know that the first reported use of hemp medicinally can be traced back to 2737 BC? Cannabis was first brought to the New World by Christopher Columbus and was first cultivated here by Spanish Conquistadors to grow hemp for ropes and sails of the Spanish Fleet but not for human consumption. They most likely were not aware of the medicinal uses for cannabis at that time. Mexico's expert doctors, Curanderos, found it useful for a wide range of ailments. George Washington and our Founding Fathers grew cannabis; the Declaration of Independence was drafted on Hemp paper and it is rumored that Betsy Ross' first American Flag was woven from Hemp fiber! Early American settlers used hemp fiber for covers for wagons and clothing and at one point were required by law to grow it! By the 1800's, cannabis was officially listed in the United States Pharmacopeia and prescribed by many American physicians as medicine.

Industrial Hemp farmer, date unknown

The many uses of Hemp:

The hemp plant is one of the most versatile plants on Earth! This magical renewal resource grows extremely fast, is resistant to plant disease, requires little weeding and water, can be grown in almost any climate and actually enriches the soil it is grown in as it is a bio-accumulator(more on this in another blog post about the importance of knowing where your hemp is being sourced from for products). Hemp can be a food source, be used in skincare formulations and other beauty products, hemp paper, create fabric from hemp fiber, hemp rope, clean fuel, plastic alternatives and even building material! Hemp Fiber is stronger and softer than cotton and it will never mildew!

Hemp Hemp HOORAY!!

The latest and GREATEST, Farm Bill of 2018 (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018) was signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2018, and has paved the way for the legalization of Hemp as it "descheduled some cannabis products from the Controlled Substance Act" for the first time. This bill further defines HEMP as "NOT marijuana". Statistics from the CBD Industry Expert Report published by the Brightfield Group and from The CBD Report 2018 published by The Hemp Business Journal stated a Projected CBD Revenue for 2018: $591 Million, for 2020: $2.1 Billion and 2022: $22 Billion, led by hemp food, body care and CBD-based products. This data demonstrates that the hemp industry is growing quickly at a 22%, 5-year CAGR (compound annual growth rate) and is being led by food and body care products. This type of growth for a renewal resource is ASTOUNDING, don't you think? Are you ready to jump on "The Green Wave" yet??

Coming up next...We will dive into the Endocannabinoid System and how it works with CBD! Stay tuned! For more information on CBD and Color Up Therapeutics CBD products, please visit, www.ColorUpTherapeutics.com or reach out to me as I am the Georgia Territory Manager for Color Up Therapeutics and local distributor.