Industrial Hemp Derived CBD vs Medicinal Grade Cannabis Derived CBD; What’s the Difference?
With the legalization of cannabis growing across the country and more states becoming legal cannabis states, people are getting more into the idea of using cannabis as medicine. The property being sought after is CBD, the cannabinoid otherwise known as Cannabidiol. Currently, people are recognizing the benefits that CBD offers with anti inflammatory, a general pain reliever, an anti cancer and many other fantastic medicinal properties. As news of the benefits CBD offers spreads to illegal states, companies are finding ways tiptoe around the legalities of shipping by creating synthetic hemp derived CBD that can be purchased online, and even in some local markets.
So what is the difference between the CBD that you can order on Amazon and the CBD that you could get at your local Cannabis shop in a legal state?
The laws of biochemistry remain the same whether the CBD molecule is sourced from an industrial grade hemp plant or medicinal grade cannabis plant. It’s safe to say that the human body does not know the difference between hemp derived CBD and cannabis derived CBD. However, there are potentially 113 cannabinoids that are not found in industrial hemp derived CBD, so you could be missing out on a lot more than you think. The synergy between these cannabinoids and CBD makes all the difference in the world. The interactive relationship between cannabinoids has become known as the “entourage effect.” A neurologist named Ethan Russo has been doing various studies on cannabis compounds and in one study, titled “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects,” he talks about how different cannabis compounds influence each other. Even small amounts of terpenes (fragrant oils that give cannabis its smell and taste) can cause different effects.
Cannabis terpenes have been fascinating to scientists, experts, and consumers in this space, and for good reason. Terpenes present in high caliber cannabis such as amyrin, squalene, phytol, and humelene have been shown to interact with cannabinoid receptors and physiologic systems including immune, nervous, and the gastrointestinal systems. The terpene myrcene has even been shown to help increase the permeability of the blood brain barrier, increasing the speed that the THC compound can cross the blood barrier. That is one reason it’s recommended to eat a mango 15 minutes before smoking cannabis, since this fruit is rich in myrcene and allows for the onset of high to start sooner after inhalation. These findings alone provide a solid hypothesis that true Cannabis derived products will be more effective and potent!
By Educator – Dillon Buckingham