The Science Behind CBD

Do you want to know more about CBD and what surrounds it in research? Learn more about the science behind CBD and its effects in this article.

CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from hemp or cannabis. The compound can be extracted and processed for nutritional supplements or medical purposes. Over several decades, there has been evidence linking CBD to a range of health benefits such as dealing with inflammation, pain, multiple sclerosis, mental state disorders, anorexia, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, etc. moreover, CBD feature a high safety profile. In the 2018 farm bill, hemp – cannabis and cannabis derivatives with fewer states than 0.3 percent THC level by dry weight – was lifted from the United States Controlled Substance Act. The same year, the FDA approved the CBD-based drug – epidolex – for treating epilepsy and related infections such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox Gastaut syndrome.

What Happened After Legalization of CBD By the Farm Bill?

These legal changes in the field of cannabis gave rise to increased public and clinical interest in the subject. Many clinical applications of CBD involve using it as an exogenous cannabinoid for various commercial applications ranging from medical, coffee, creams, and dietary supplement. Zenone et al. (2021) revealed that many products from CBD are purported to have health benefits such as alleviating anxiety, improving sleep, and mitigating inflammation. Apart from epidolex, other CBD product is produced by a lack of well-regulated clinical trials, low CBD bioavailability in the related products, long half-life, and high lipophilic compound of these product hinders the development of high-class compounds in the same field. Other medicinal experts are interested in using CBD for managing health, but there is no information about CBD's pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties.

Despite challenges revolving around CBD, further research on the subject matters reveals a wide range of therapeutic effects it has. These effects come as an individual compound or interaction with other drugs or compounds from cannabis. Lack of understanding of CBD and its mechanism doesn't limit its market from growing due to the legalization and discrimination controlled by a state's regulations. Cannabis markets include novel formulations, and recreational sales mean to take advantage of its biological effects.

In terms of the medical application of CBD, the medical researcher is finding it tough to differentiate it from its stereoisomer delta-9-THC. Maroon & Bost (2018) explained that CBD and delta-9-THC are the main notable active compounds in cannabis and contribute to beneficial and psychoactive effects in the body. Using and approving drugs made of CBD is challenging due to inconsistency when correlating every compound in the cannabinoids with pharmacodynamic effects. It's hard to approve it for recreational purposes due to the inconsistencies in the labeling accuracy of each cannabis product. This limits the development of CBD and its related compounds, although it has many medicinal effects.

Methods Used to Quantify CBD and THC

Quantifying CBD and delta-9-THC is crucial, especially when understanding the potential of a cannabis product. Additionally, the short half-life of metabolites formed from delta-9-THC and CBD needs additional evaluation to examine the level of toxicity in the two chemical compounds. These are the essential component used to determine the beneficial attributes and psychoactive of the two compounds.

One of the major compounds in cannabis is the metabolite formed within the body, 11-OH-delta-9-THC. The potency level of this compound doesn't lack in comparison to delta-9-THC. Moreover, other newly identified compounds have chemical compounds called delta-8-THC with the same effects as delta-9-THC. There are many methods of analytical isolation and identification of these compounds. It's estimated that they can achieve low mg/ml sensitivity among all the compounds. The knowledge of these chemical compounds and their metabolism is the main factor for developing botanical drugs for therapeutic benefits.

The Reality behind Cannabidiol's Medical Hype

CBD is partly legal and partly illegal, depending on the state. The FDA approved it as a medicinal remedy for dealing with people in children and the ability to deal with numerous health problems. Moreover, it is regarded as a nutraceutical or dietary supplement by many evangelists in wellness and health organizations. These statements are true depending on different clinical studies and research on CBD's effects and its medical properties. Learn more about what does cbd taste like?

What Do Studies Say About CBD?

CBD is becoming widespread use to all the claimed medicinal benefits and other effects it has on the human body. It is the second most active chemical compound found in cannabis. However, CBD and reported products are mostly harnessed from hemp, not cannabis or marijuana. That's because CBD from hemp is legal while from other sources is illegal in the United States of America or the United Kingdom. These two states are the largest producers of high-quality hemp. The hemp in these states is cultivated under strict governing rules to ensure the hemp harvested is safe and with no harmful substance. Although there is not much difference in appearance between the leaves, stems, and flowers of cannabis and hemp, the chemical composition is different. Corroon & Phillips (2018) found that hemp has the highest percentage occupied by CBD, while cannabis features the highest percentage occupied by THC. Hemp is preferred for the production of CBD since there will be minimal or no contamination from THC. Although some studies claim that there are traces of THC in CBD oil, they don't have psychoactive effects, and most oils are free of THC. Although CBD has numerous therapeutic benefits, most have limited research, while some are assumptions due to anecdotal data.

The Bottom Line

CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from hemp or cannabis. The compound can be extracted and processed for nutritional supplements or medical purposes. Over several decades, there has been evidence linking CBD to various health benefits such as dealing with inflammation, pain, multiple sclerosis, mental state disorders, anorexia, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, etc. CBD features a high safety profile. In 2018, the farm bill, hemp – cannabis and cannabis derivatives with less than 0.3 percent THC level by dry weight – was lifted from the United States Controlled Substance Act. CBD is becoming widespread use to all the claimed medicinal benefits and other effects it has on the human body. It is the second most active chemical compound found in cannabis. However, CBD and reported products are mostly harnessed from hemp, not cannabis or marijuana. That's because CBD from hemp is legal while from other sources is illegal in the United States of America or the United Kingdom.

References

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Bonn-Miller, Marcel O., Mallory JE Loflin, Brian F. Thomas, Jahan P. Marcu, Travis Hyke, And Ryan Vandrey. "Labeling Accuracy Of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online." Jama318, No. 17 (2017): 1708-1709.

CBD Or THC? Common Drug Tests Can't Tell The Difference. October 15, 2019.

Corroon, J., & Phillips, J. A. (2018). A Cross-Sectional Study Of Cannabidiol Users. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, 3(1), 152-161.

DA Approves The First Drug Comprised Of An Active Ingredient Derived From Marijuana To Treat Rare, Severe Forms Of Epilepsy. US Food And Drug Administration (FDA). June 25, 2018.

Maroon, J., & Bost, J. (2018). Review Of The Neurological Benefits Of Phytocannabinoids. Surgical Neurology International, 9.

Skelley JW, Deas CM, Curren Z, Ennis J. Use Of Cannabidiol In Anxiety And Anxiety-Related Disorders. Journal Of The American Pharmacist Association. 2019 December 19. PII: S1544-3191(19)30514-X. Doi: 10.1016/J.Japh.2019.11.008.

Zenone, M. A., Snyder, J., & Crooks, V. (2021). Selling Cannabidiol Products In Canada: A Framing Analysis Of Advertising Claims By Online Retailers. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1-10.