Research into cannabis has yielded some extraordinary findings over recent decades, which is helping to make the plant better and more beneficial for the public health. While, for some, the psychoactive properties of cannabis – which come from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – sum up everything that the herb is about, the development of non-psychoactive products has been absolutely essential to the recent cannabis boom.
Furthermore, the undeniable benefits of non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD has put the onus on lawmakers in countries all over the world to change the laws and make medical cannabis available to those who need it. But how did it get started? Let’s look in-depth at the advancements in cannabis science and explore how these have redefined the industry.
The early years
American researchers in Illinois were the first to seriously study cannabidiol (CBD), publishing an article in 1940 about the isolation of the cannabinoid. This was built upon by Raphael Mechoulam and his colleagues in the 1960s, as they isolated and defined the structures of both CBD and THC in 1963 and 1964 respectively. Isolating psychoactive THC was a significant step, as it has helped to clarify why cannabis causes mind-altering effects. Research continued to uncover more benefits of CBD, THC and other cannabinoids, but a new era was ushered in during the 1990s as the endocannabinoid system and endocannabinoids were found for the first time.
Finally, after millennia of knowing intuitively that cannabis had therapeutic benefits, we had a scientific blueprint as to why, and we quickly discovered more about the interactions cannabinoids make with receptors and enzymes and perhaps even other biological systems.
Recreational and medicinal industries boom
The isolation of THC also helped to spark growth in the recreational cannabis industry. Once growers knew for certain which compound produced psychoactive effects and therefore a “high,” they could begin to crossbreed in order to increase the potency of THC and the intensity of a strain – enter super-strength cannabis like OG Kush.
In more recent years, cannabis cultivators have attempted to do the same, but with CBD, as a market has arisen for non-psychoactive cannabis medicine. Hemp strains rich in CBD and other cannabis strains that contain just traces of THC have become quite profitable for companies. These strains are rarely made for smoking, as they are pretty much always consumed by patients (and even children and seniors) who need safe ways to medicate.
Instead, CBD-rich cannabis is typically used to make oils and vape juices. The former can be taken under the tongue, with this sublingual absorption providing an impressive speed of delivery, without any side effects. Non-smokers may be hesitant to vape, although the most comprehensive long-term study yet on the health risks of vaping have found that it is still 95 percent safer than smoking.
Indeed, the introduction of vaping to the tobacco and cannabis markets is brilliant news for those trying to kick a harmful smoking habit. While cannabis smoking is not addictive to the extent that tobacco smoking is, it still exposes the lungs to nasty chemicals; also, the free radicals in the smoke contribute to aging.
The rise of hemp-based cannabis
As researchers started to get a clearer idea of what causes various cannabis effects, the market for non-psychoactive CBD started to become more establish, with hemp-derived products receiving political preference. The Agricultural Act of 2014 essentially carved out a market for CBD, by permitting products made from hemp (such as CBD e-liquid and vape oil), with the caveat of a 0.3 percent cap on THC. The legislation does not reference CBD, and therefore companies began to manufacture potent CBD products which could be used as an alternative treatment for multiple conditions.
The hemp-based CBD market has continued to flourish, growing from a mere $49 billion in 2014 to $190 billion in 2017. That number is expected to triple by 2022, according to statistics from New Frontier Data.
Technological advancements have improved the quality of hemp-based CBD products, with the supercritical CO2 extraction method keeping CBD oil pure and free from heavy metals and toxins. Unfortunately, the hemp plant picks up these unhelpful chemicals while growing because it is a bio-accumulator. In large quantities, these could pose a health risk, and lots of plant matter is often necessary to produce enough extract for one bottle of oil.
Supercritical CO2 extraction ensures that even the strongest products that are made with a lot of raw plant material are perfectly safe for consumption.
CBD and other cannabinoids help the skin?
Without finding out about the endocannabinoid system, it’s highly unlikely that we would have had the foresight to start applying cannabinoids to the skin with salves, creams and other topicals. However, this all changed when researchers noticed that cannabinoid receptors – and in particular CB2 receptors which influence inflammation – are expressed in the skin.
With several skin disorders caused by inflammation and immune system irregularities, this new science has given medicine researchers a wealth of new treatment ideas for the likes of psoriasis, eczema and acne. With these skin conditions extraordinarily prevalent and difficult to manage with existing treatments, any help in this area is incredibly welcome.
Mixing and matching cannabinoids and terpenes
CBD concentrates are often made from isolated CBD – these products are incredibly pure, can administer potent doses, and deliver rapid, sustained relief. However, as isolates, the benefits of other cannabis compounds are typically lost, which somewhat limits the therapeutic value of the CBD and the product generally.
However, fresh research and technological progress helping companies to manufacture CBD concentrates that can treat certain ailments by adding in therapeutic terpenes. For example, an anti-anxiety concentrate could contain beta-caryophyllene in addition to CBD. Moreover, in recent times we have seen CBD and cannabis vape pens designed to help with specific conditions.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this article has given you food for thought on how cannabis has grown as a medicine thanks to science and technological developments. And moving forward, it’s inevitable that tech will continue to shape the industry, with nanotechnology on the horizon.
