What is CBD?
The Cannabis plant has been cultivated and used for its medicinal and industrial benefits dating back to ancient times. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are the 2 main species commonly known of the genus Cannabis but there also exists a third, lesser known species called Cannabis ruderalis. Ruderalis genetics are commonly crossed with indicas, sativas and hybrids to produce offspring low THC, high CBD strains, or other industrial hemp applications.
The Cannabis plant contains more than 80 different chemicals known as cannabinoids. CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most well-known cannabinoids found in cannabis products. The most abundant cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is well known for its psychoactive properties, whereas cannabidiol (CBD) is the second-most abundant and is nonpsychoactive. This means that CBD flower will never, no matter what, get a user “high.” It may make a user more relaxed, calmer or even a little sleepy, but they will never get “high.”
Today, CBD consumption is growing exponentially. In the last few years alone, US market sales have skyrocketed from $3 million in 2018 to projections of over $20 billion in 2024. That is over a 6,000% increase!
CBD vs THC
CBD and THC have the same chemical formula - 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. The two compounds also originate from the same precursor: cannabigerolic acid, which gives rise to THCA and CBDA.
The difference lies in the way the atoms are arranged. That gives CBD and THC different chemical properties, and they affect your body differently. This difference accounts for the major differences seen between the two compounds.
The History of CBD
Despite new strains being introduced daily, the history of cannabis, or the hemp plant, goes back many millenia. Originally evolved in Central Asia around 8000 BCE, particularly on the Indian subcontinent, hemp fiber was used to make clothing, paper, sails, and ropes. In addition, its seeds were used as food and the plant was consumed during religious practices and rituals.
Hemp was later introduced to Africa, Europe, and eventually the Americas. During the 1930’s, the plant was banned in the U.S.A. by Henry J. Aslinger, who was the Head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, for what many describe as “dubious” reasons - as the vast majority of scientists he surveyed claimed the drug was not dangerous. This led to increased interest in the plant and, in 1940, Harvard trained chemist Roger Adams successfully extracted CBD from cannabis.
Since then, CBD has continued to be studied for its effects on overall wellbeing. It is still being researched by top health agencies, thus no medical claim can be made around the plant at this time. However, this has not stopped it from growing in popularity. According to Dr. Tom Ingegno, an integrative health specialist and medical cannabis practitioner, “CBD’s mass marketing and widespread use seemed to coincide closely with the legalization movement and the rise of reliable studies in 2005”.
Today, with diverse research on the horizon and innovative products hitting the market everyday, the trajectory of CBD looks set to continue to grow into the future.
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