Dosing Edibles: How Much is Enough? Our Tips to Stay Safe and Happy
It’s a thrilling time to be involved in the cannabis industry. So many new products, trends, and research arrive seemingly every day. If you’re a regular visitor toour dispensaries, you’re probably already aware that cannabis-infused foods and beverages are among the hottest and fastest-growing sectors of the cannabis world. From CBD-infused coffees to refreshing apple ciders to irresistible chocolates, caramels and more, there’s an incredible array of products to sample.
But with all this yumminess around, it raises a very important question: When dosing edibles, how much is enough?
We all know the phrase “too much of a good thing,” and it has never been more appropriate than when we discuss the effects of cannabis edibles. Because the cannabis in edibles takes much longer to take effect—and then that effect tends to increase over time—it’s important to be aware of your tolerances and exercise real care when dosing edibles. Let’s look at a few of the reasons why, and then share some guidelines to help you get to maximum benefit (and the minimum heartache) from cannabis-infused edibles.
Dosing Edibles: A Different Way to Ingest Cannabis
Unlike smoking, vaping, or even taking tinctures, the way the body accesses the cannabis in edibles is different than all the others. For a host of reasons, when we eat or drink cannabis, our bodies formulate a compound called11-hydroxy-THC.
As you might guess, the fact that it has “THC” in the name is a hint to its potency. The upshot is that we’ll tend to feel much higher than we would if we had smoked or vaped the same amount of cannabis.
Another factor to consider is the time-delay effect. Edibles typically take a long time to take effect; at the very least 20 minutes, but sometimes up to 3 hours depending on your physiology, what you’d eaten previously, and other factors. It’s not uncommon for folks who aren’t aware of this to ingest an edible, decide it’s “not working” after five or ten minutes, and then consume more…and more…and more. The results, as you might guess, are not pretty.
Dosing Edibles: How Much Is Enough?
So, knowing that edibles have a stronger effect than other forms of cannabis—and that they take much longer to come on—what are some best practices to ensure you get the effects you desire?
To help you make informed decisions, edibles are marked or measured in convenient and easy-to-understand servings: Ounces from a bottle of cooling mint tea, for instance, or squares from a luscious bar of chocolate. Each serving will contain a precisely measured dose of THC—theonly psychoactive cannabinoid, as you’re aware—measured in milligrams (mg).
How much THC is right for you? Again, that will depend on many factors. But we always return to the phrase “start low and go slow.” Start with the lowest measured dose. Wait at least an hour—preferably two—and then assess. You can always take another dose, or if you’re impatient, a hit from a vape pen.
But again, remember that edibles have powerful and long-lasting effects. We want to make sure you enjoy their benefits—and discreet convenience!—while making sure you don’t go overboard!
Lately, cannabis-infused sports creams and rubs — particularly CBD pain relief rubs — have been creating quite a buzz (not that kind of buzz!). This trend shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain and many are on the lookout for effective treatments.
Consider this. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health (NIH) published the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in the The Journal of Pain. The report offered some sobering data. More than 25 million American adults (11% of the population) reported experiencing pain every day -- yes, EVERY DAY -- over the last three months. Even more sobering, a staggering 17.6% of Americans, nearly 40 million people, suffer from severe pain.
Pain, unfortunately, is a part of way too many people’s lives. While there are plenty of remedies touting relief from pain -- including steroids, balms, lotions, and opioids -- many patients complain about the side effects.
Of course, opioids are just about the worst thing you can take for chronic pain. Opioids were created for short-term use as patients quickly develop a tolerance and can become addicted. Even over-the-counter drugs that seem benign, like Ibuprofen and Naproxen, can wreak havoc on your health if used regularly over a long period of time.
Thankfully, Mother Nature created cannabis, a plentiful herb with dozens of therapeutic ingredients and healing properties. A botanical-based treatment, CBD pain relief rubs used in conjunction with other safe treatments, like physical rehabilitation and self-care, can safely, effectively, and non-addictively produce lasting relief from chronic pain. CBD pain relief rubs are totally non-addictive, non-toxic, and have few to no side effects.
So let’s dive deeper into CBD pain relief rubs, specifically:
What Are CBD Pain Relief Rubs?
Do CBD Pain Rubs Really Work?
Do CBD Pain Rubs Get You High?
Is There Any Risk in Trying CBD Pain Relief Rubs?
CBD Pain Relief Rubs: What Does the Science Say?
Arthritis Pain
Chronic Pain
Multiple Sclerosis
How to Use CBD Pain Relief Rubs for Pain Management
What Are CBD Pain Relief Rubs?
You’ve probably heard people talking about CBD pain relief rubs and maybe thought, “What the heck is a CBD pain relief rub?” Great question! A CBD pain relief rub is the same thing as a CBD pain relief lotion or cream.
CBD pain relief rubs are made by infusing high-CBD cannabis flower in an oil to extract the active compounds, including CBD and other terpenes. This oil is then mixed with any number of herbs that are therapeutic and work together well with CBD.
Are CBD Pain Rubs Safe?
Yes, absolutely -- unless you acquire some random junk off the Internet from an unvetted source. Then, just like anything else, who knows what you’re getting. But CBD and the potpourri of therapeutic herbs most often blended with CBD are totally safe.
Do CBD Pain Rubs Really Work?
Full disclosure: We don’t yet have a lot of research on the efficacy of CBD pain relief rubs. Of course, nor do we have much research on the efficacy of popular pain relief rubs like Bengay, Icy Hot, Tiger Balm, or any other popular brand. But, here’s the thing: they either work for you or not. It’s really that simple. If for some reason it doesn’t work, no biggie! Stop using it -- or try another formulation. Bottom line is that because they’re safe, you really only risk it not working for you as you’d like.
Thanks to the increase in popularity of CBD pain relief rubs, there’s more research happening on CBD pain relief rubs than probably any other topical remedy. Soon, science will catch up with CBD’s popularity. Until then, the science of CBD and cannabis, in general, is patchy.
According to one study published by the Journal of Pain Research suggested many topical cannabinoid treatments reduced pain in animals suffering from neuropathic pain or inflammation. Likewise, other research suggests THC and CBD-infused topical rubs can relieve pain not only for arthritis or muscle soreness but conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS).
Perhaps most importantly, the effectiveness of CBD pain relief rubs for a variety of pain conditions is totally scientifically plausible. CBD is known for being an anti-inflammatory agent; this has been proven again and again. We just need to have more studies to validate anecdotal evidence and scientific plausibility.
So, we’re pretty darn sure this stuff works. Just ask any of the many thousands of users of CBD pain relief rubs. But, what we really need from research is to determine what compounds work best together with CBD. Also, how much active CBD in each rub is going to be most effective. You don’t want too much or too little. Potentially, some rubs may work great because they contain the perfect amount (that’s so far undetermined) of CBD, while other ones that have too much or too little may be less effective.
Do CBD Pain Rubs Get You High?
No, CBD pain rubs absolutely do not get you high. First off, unlike THC, CBD is not intoxicating. However, even if you used a CBD pain rub with THC, it still won’t get you high. Rubs are topical. Unlike transdermal administration methods (like transdermal patches), topicals only penetrate your top layer of skin rather than passing through the skin and penetrating your bloodstream.
Is There Any Risk in Trying CBD Pain Relief Rubs?
There’s no risk to trying a CBD pain relief rub as long as you get it from a quality source like Clear Choice. Ultimately, the worst that could happen when trying a CBD pain relief rub is that it may not work for you as well as you’d like. Everyone is different. We all have different physiologies, and what works for others may not work for you. In addition, if it doesn’t work for you, it may just be that the particular blend you’re using isn’t effective for you, but another brand may work much better for you.
What Does the Science Say About CBD for Pain Relief?
Cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, literally thousands of years. The therapeutic benefits of cannabis were first reported in Chinese pharmacopeia as far back as 2600 BC. Since then, numerous studies have demonstrated how CBD (and THC) produce significant healing effects for pain, including general chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and pain related to chemotherapy and MS.
Here’s what some of the research says (keep in mind this is far from an exhaustive list):
Arthritis Pain
The European Journal of Pain published a study to determine whether topical CBD could help patients living with arthritis relieve their pain. Over four days, the scientists applied a topical gel to arthritis-afflicted lab rats. The researchers found topical CBD significantly reduced the lab rats’ pain and inflammation with absolutely no side-effects.
This was a lab study on animal models which can be predictive of the effects in humans, but researchers need to conduct further clinical studies to be conclusive in their findings.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incredibly debilitating autoimmune disease that wreaks havoc on the nerves and brains of those who live with it. One of the most common symptoms of MS is muscle spasms.
According to a seminal report put forth by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Health and Medicine Division, CBD oil could reduce muscle spasticity in MS patients. The report stated, “In adults with multiple sclerosis (MS)-related spasticity, short-term use of oral cannabinoids improves patient-reported spasticity symptoms.”
Chronic pain
The same report published by the prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Health and Medicine Division, concluded:
“In adults with chronic pain, patients who were treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.”
Their findings were supported by a study from the Journal of Experimental Medicine, which also concluded patients were highly unlikely to develop a tolerance to CBD and would not have to continually increase their dose to achieve the same results.
How to Use CBD Pain Relief Rubs for Pain Management
As you likely know, chronic pain can be incredibly debilitating. While there may be all sorts of pain-relieving remedies, including everything from steroids to pills and opioids, most treatments come with a lot of undesirable side effects. The great thing about CBD pain relief rubs is that they can be highly effective, yet for the vast majority of people, they aren’t accompanied by any side effects. And of course, unlike opioids, topicals like CBD pain relief rubs aren’t addictive.
CBD Pain Relief Rubs: Recommended Regimen
To achieve the best results using CBD pain relief rubs, it’s essential that you establish a routine. That means that you’ll want to apply your CBD pain relief rubs to your affected areas on a consistent basis -- even when you’re not feeling pain. You should be using CBD pain relief rubs for both acute flare-ups and as a preventative measure between pain episodes.
Do CBD Pain Relief Rubs and Topicals Treat Chronic Pain Better Than Other Cannabis Products or Administration Methods?
There’s no “best” type of product or best intake method, generally speaking. But there is a “best” product type for you. The best product is what works well for you and aligns with your objectives. Likewise, the optimal dose is the lowest dose you can administer that provides the most relief with the fewest side effects.
The reason CBD pain relief rubs have become so popular is that they are easy to use, they’re fast, they allow you to address your pain areas directly, they’re non-intoxicating, and they have virtually no side-effects.
For these reasons, many patients who are new to cannabis like to start with CBD pain relief rubs over other forms. If you can achieve the results you’re looking for without having to take capsules or vape flower, there’s no reason not to stick with CBD pain relief rubs.
However, if you’re achieving modest results, but feel you need greater relief, you can always incrementally add capsules, tinctures, flower (with or without THC), or other forms until you achieve your desired results. For example, you could add 10 mg CBD or 5 mg THC capsules to your daily regimen. If that doesn’t work, you can continue bumping the dosage by 10 mg of CBD or 5 mg of THC until you achieve the desired results.
Many patients find that using a CBD topical with tinctures or capsules dramatically improves their results. Combining methods can also be especially useful if you’re dealing with a painful acute flare-up. And remember: one of the advantages of CBD pain relief rubs is that unlike opioids or other pain relief drugs, you can’t overdose on it, nor is it addictive or habit-forming.
Final Considerations and Advice
CBD pain relief rubs are an incredibly safe and effective way to treat pain. As you begin your pain treatment regimen, here are some closing words of advice:
Learn as much as you can about CBD so you are an informed consumer.
Talk to your doctor before treatment, ideally one who is familiar with alternative and holistic medicine.
Always obtain lab-tested CBD from reliable and trustworthy sources like licensed dispensaries. Many internet sources are notoriously unreliable and should generally be avoided.
Start your regimen with the lowest doses possible. If you find you’re not achieving the relief you desire, consider adding (rather than replacing) another cannabis medicine to your treatment. You can add a tincture, capsules, or flower. Use whatever you’re most comfortable with.
Clear Choice proudly carries a wide selection of CBD products for pain relief, including CBD pain relief rubs, tinctures, capsules, flower, and more. For our current inventory, visit Clear Choice’s Tacoma Menu or Bremerton Menu.
Can CBD Edibles Get You High?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is increasingly recognized as a powerful and safe medicine for an astonishingly wide variety of conditions. Everything from IBS and epilepsy to muscle soreness and anxiety.
Some people, however, are reluctant to use CBD as a medicine – the intoxicating and psychoactive effects of cannabis may impair their ability to function in daily life.
This confusion is understandable, as cannabis contains a complex cocktail of biochemically active compounds. Can CBD edibles get you high? Yes, and no, depending on its chemical makeup. Fortunately, each compound has its own unique properties and by isolating CBD, patients can get more of the medical benefits they want with less of the cognitive impairment they don’t.
Unique Compounds Create Unique Effects
Cannabinoids are the class of chemical that is most responsible for the many effects of cannabis. They bind to endocannabinoid receptors in the body. These receptors come in a couple different variations. Some of these variations, like the CB1 receptor, are mostly located in the the brain. Others, like the CB2 receptor, are located more in the body around the immune system.
Each cannabinoid has the same general structure but a slightly different shape and slightly different chemical properties.
These differences give each cannabinoid different preferences for what receptors they bind and the effect they have once they bind them. Some cannabinoids will bind a receptor and trigger neural activation. Others bind a different receptor that turns off inflammation pathways. There is a very, very wide variety in how each of the cannabinoids acts on different receptors.
THC vs. CBD
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC is the most well-known and researched of the cannabinoids and gives rise to the psychoactive high. It mostly binds to the CB1 receptors in the brain, hence the mental high.
CBD, however, mostly acts on CB2 receptors in the body, which is where all the medicinal action happens. In fact, some of the pathways activated by CBD actively turn off the pathways that are activated by THC. They have an inverse relationship.
The more CBD in your bud, the less psychoactive the strain will be. CBD on it’s own will NOT get you high.
For more info, check out the CBD Project, a tremendous resource on this remarkable cannabinoid.
Edibles vs. Smoking
There is a considerable difference between smoking flower and an edible a medical patient will want to take into account. The flower is the whole cocktail, containing all the different compounds in a particular strain. Even in high CBD strains there is often still THC as well as terpenes and other compounds that influence the overall effect, and there’s no control or guarantees there.
Some people consider this to be optimal, as these other compounds often have synergistic relationships, making it more potent and beneficial than an isolated compound. Can CBD edibles get you high? It all depends on if THC is included in the edible.
Others, however, may find that they only want pure CBD, and this is really where edibles are a fantastic way to medicate. Most edibles on the market today contain known dosages, say 20mg of THC or 10mg of CBD, for example.
This allows the patient to know exactly what they are getting, and make an informed choice.
CBD Edibles: The Non-Psychoactive Way to Medicate
Because CBD is not psychoactive like THC, pure CBD edibles are an ideal option for medical patients who want the medicine and not the high. For those that do want some of the other benefits of cannabis, there are many options available.
Come in and ask one of our knowledgeable budtenders to see what options are best for you!
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CBD Effects: What You Need to Know
If you follow the fast-paced developments of the cannabis world, you’ve likely heard a bit about CBD. It stands for “cannabidiol,” and along with THC (or “tetrahydrocannabinol”), it’s one of the most important active compounds—“cannabinoids”—in marijuana.
The loosening of cannabis prohibition has sparked a wave of research, and we’re steadily gaining a more scientific understanding of what many of us intuitively understand: cannabis is a powerful and medically useful plant.
While a full and complete understanding is still years away, CBD’s medical potential has already been demonstrated and is likely to grow. While you don’t need to understand how CBD works to enjoy its benefits, it’s useful to know just a bit about CBD effects and the science behind this fascinating and effective plant-based medicine.
CBD Effects: Cannabis Without the High
Unlike THC, CBD is completely non-psychoactive, and in fact, it behaves as a buffer to reduce or balance THC’s psychoactivity, a useful sort of “safety valve” for those who may have imbibed too much.
Beyond this important trait, CBD exhibits a variety of very beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic—pain-relieving—and anti-anxiety properties. It’s effective at treating some notoriously difficult to manage conditions such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, and because it’s non-psychoactive, it’s especially suited for treating children or other populations who shouldn’t be exposed to psychoactivity.
How to Select High-CBD Strains and Products
Because the cannabis plant contains such a large number of cannabinoids (over 100 at last count), the best way to think about the amounts of CBD—or any cannabinoid—in a particular variety or strain of cannabis is to express it as a ratio compared with other cannabinoids, particularly THC.
For instance, a cannabis product—say, a tincture—may have two times the CBD as THC, often expressed as “2:1 CBD to THC.” A low ratio like this will likely be quite psychoactive, and possibly not what you’re seeking as an anti-inflammatory, for instance.
A ratio more on the order of “18:1 CBD to THC,” on the other hand, will exhibit little psychoactivity and strong therapeutic effect.
Sometimes these numbers are expressed as percentages; if you’re in doubt about what a particular label means, we urge you to speak with a knowledgeable budtender who can help guide the selection process.
New Ways to Enjoy the Benefits of Cannabis
Because CBD is non-psychoactive, it’s well-suited to products designed for an active lifestyle. Beverages and edibles, for instance, don’t require you to pull over to use specialized equipment.
As the cannabis-consuming public expresses greater interest in and knowledge about this exciting “second cannabinoid” to THC, we’re working hard to make more high-CBD cannabis strains and products available. Be sure to check back with us regularly, as new items reach our shelves on a weekly basis. And most of all, we’d love to hear what benefits you’re experiencing from CBD, and learn about what sort of products you’d like to see more of.
Can Cannabis Cure Insomnia & Sleep Deprivation?
There’s not much better than a great night’s sleep. There’ nothing much worse than tossing and turning, counting sheep, and laying awake until the sun comes up.
The importance of sleep can’t be understated. It helps your body process memories from the day, protects your immune system, and restores the body. Lack of sleep can literally drive you crazy.
Fortunately, cannabis can be a powerful sleep aid. It’s no surprise that one of the top self-reported reasons for using cannabis is because it can help you sleep.
Why can cannabis help you sleep?
The endocannabinoid system — the body’s own cannabinoid system — is one of the body’s most important physiological systems. It’s involved in virtually every aspect of one’s physical and emotional health. So it should be no surprise, that the endocannabinoid mediates most the body’s rhythmic processes and can exert powerful influence over sleep.
How can cannabis help?
Cannabis can be helpful in a number of ways, from making it easier to fall asleep to helping you stay asleep once you've fallen asleep:
Cannabis may make falling asleep easier
Most sleep medications only have a nominal effect on the time it takes you to fall asleep. An National Institutes of Health study found that popular sleep medications accelerate sleep by a mere 12.8 minutes. Studies, on the other hand, have shown that a moderate amount of THC can help the insomnia-prone fall asleep up to an hour faster.
Cannabis may help you sleep more soundly during the night
Studies have demonstrated that cannabis can also help you sleep better at night, staying asleep longer without interruption. However, consume too much cannabis and you might feel drowsy the next day — a sort of cannabis “hangover.”
Cannabis may help you breathe better
Remarkably, 9% of women and 17% of men have what’s termed “sleep apnea” — problems breathing when they sleep. A 2013 study by researchers at the University of Illinois published a study in the Frontiers in Psychology journal that provides evidence THC may open breathing pathways, thus making breathing easier.
CBD may help you sleep better (or keep you awake)
Anecdotally, through patients and clinicians, we hear CBD or strains rich in CBD work great for sleep. However, studies have demonstrated contradictory findings. Some studies have shown CBD can be a “wake-inducing” agent, meaning it would keep you alert and awake. Other studies suggest patients experience more restful sleep when administering CBD an hour or two before bed.
The reason for the disparity may likely be dose-dependent. Most drugs exert biphasic (or multiphasic) effects, meaning low and high doses affect people differently. CBD may be a wake inducing agent at lower doses and sleep inducing at slightly higher doses. For patients, finding the right dose can take a bit of trial and error.
It’s also possible that environment influences the effects of CBD. One animal study tested this hypothesis by administering CBD to rats with the lights on and the lights off. Interestingly, when the lights were on, CBD promoted wakefulness with the lights on and sleep with the lights off. The findings led researchers to conclude CBD may be helpful to treat patients suffering from somnolence (excessive daytime sleepiness).
Indica-dominant strains are generally better for sleep than sativa-dominant strains
Sativa-dominant strains are more likely to produce a stimulating head high, while indica-dominant strains are known for producing more sedative effects. Why? Most people think it has to do with THC. People incorrectly believe indica-dominant strains have more THC, so they are more sedative. This is actually incorrect. There are low THC indica-dominant strains, and high THC sativa-dominant strains (check out Durban Poison).
The reason indica-dominant strains produce a greater sedative effect is that they contain higher levels of a terpene called “myrcene.” Myrcene influences the permeability of cell membranes, and in fact, helps THC cross the blood-brain barrier more easily. Sativa-dominant strains have less than .5% myrcene, while indica-dominant strains often have between 1 and 3%.
Some popular indica-dominant strains for sleep are Granddaddy Purple, Bubba Kush, Northern Lights, Blue Cheese, Afghan Kush.
CBN may prove to be the ultimate insomnia-fighting cannabinoid
Everyone knows THC. More and more people are becoming familiar with CBD. But, CBN, another cannabinoid is generating interest for its potential as a sleep-inducing agent. Some are calling CBN, “the cannabinoid that helps you sleep.” While research is still lacking, many people report positive outcomes with CBN-rich strains. However, many strains are not particularly rich in CBN, as THC produces CBN when it degrades (after being exposed to light and oxygen — a process called oxidation. Over time, CBN levels in stored cannabis flower will increase. And, the poorer the storage method, the better — at least if you’re looking to increase CBN content.
Clearly, cannabis can be an effective sleep aid. However, cannabis (and all sleep medications) should be only be used as a temporary fix. It's important to also integrate lifestyle changes including more exercise (which helps boost vital cannabinoids in the body), better diet, relaxation techniques, meditation, and other effective methods that don’t pose any risks long-term. Likewise, everyone's body reacts differently to various cannabis strains. So keep in mind, it may take a bit of trial and error to find the strain that works the best.
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What Are the 5 Best Cannabinoids (And, Why)?
Cannabis has nearly 500 natural components including flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are unique to cannabis (and the endocannabinoid system). Cannabinoids are of particular interest to scientists because many can work independently or synergistically (called the “entourage effect”) to produce therapeutic effects. However, most cannabinoids are not well understood.
The most studied cannabinoids are THC and CBD, which are also the most prominent cannabinoids in the plant. Just one cannabinoid — THC — produces both therapeutic and psychotropic effects (meaning it can “heal” you and get you “high”).
Although research will continue to shed light on the therapeutic value of cannabinoids, from a clinical perspective, the following five are some of the most interesting:
THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol): THC, of course, is known for producing the high associated with cannabis, but is also therapeutically versatile. Clinical studies confirm THC plays a powerful role in help managing pain (particularly neuropathic pain) as well as symptoms commonly accompanying cancer and HIV/AIDS. Accumulating evidence suggests in low doses, THC is a neuroprotectant and has demonstrated promise as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Studies also suggest that THC plays a key role in promoting extinction of traumatic memories making it particularly useful in the treatment of PTSD.
Cannabidiol (CBD): In the eyes of many, the second most prominent cannabinoid in cannabis — CBD — has emerged as a “wonder compound.” Not only does CBD provide a broad spectrum of therapeutic versatility, unlike THC, it doesn’t produce significant psychotropic effects (aka “a high”).
Accumulating research suggests CBD may be a powerful anti-anxiety agent and potentially a fast-acting mood-boosting antidepressant. Moreover, it appears to interact synergistically with THC by amplifying therapeutic effects, while counteracting potential adverse effects. Studies also suggest CBD is an anti-inflammatory and anti-psychotic drug.
But, wait — there’s more! Not to sound like a pitchman for an ginsu knives infomercial, but CBD is proving to be an amazing compound! In fact, it’s in the drug development process to approved as a treatment for epilepsy and Dravet syndrome (under the brand Epidiolex), and a mounting body of studies suggest it’s effective at treating a wide spectrum of anxiety-related disorders, chronic pain, psychosis, and even diabetes.
Perplexingly, many breeders have crossed plants to increase THC levels at the expense of CBD. This is unfortunate, because the two act like a Yin and Yang. Fortunately, consumers have are getting more savvy and starting realize CBD is a remarkable cannabinoid that they want in their cannabis. And, now we’re seeing high-CBD strains like AC/DC, Harlequin and Cannatonic increase in popularity.
Cannabichromene (CBC): Everyone has heard of THC, while more and more people are discovering CBD. However, CBC, is lesser known, with some people suggesting it may be the next “big thing.” Like CBD, it is non-psychoactive, and evidence suggests it produces some powerful therapeutic effects including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-depressant features. Research suggests that while effective on its own, it works it's real magic in concert with other cannabinoids like THC, CBD and CBG.
Cannabinol (CBN): CBN, recognized for its sedative properties, is emerging as the cannabinoid that to treat insomnia and sleep issues. With early research suggesting it may promote bone growth, it may also prove effective as a treatment for osteoporosis or to aid recovery from broken bones.
However, you won’t find too many strains that are high in CBN at your dispensary, because CBN increases as the flower is exposed to light. So if you’ve got some flower hanging around that hasn’t been stored very well, it may very well have high CBN content.
Cannabigerol (CBG): CBG is another minor cannabinoid that is generating a lot of interest, although research is still in its infancy. CBG seems to share some similarities with CBD in that it may temper some of the potentially adverse effects of THC (like paranoia) and it seems to work synergistically other cannabinoids. Also, as a GABA inhibitor, it could reduce stress and anxiety. Interestingly, industrial hemp strains are richer in CBG than medicinal strains. However, breeders are starting to create strains with higher CBG content.
Research on some of the other cannabinoids like THCa, THCv, CBDa, and CBDv, are demonstrating promise as potential therapeutic agents. But, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Cannabis is a complex plant with over 100 identified cannabinoids, most of which we’ve not studied rigorously. As research in the cannabis field continues to blossom, it will be exciting to learn how all these other cannabinoids work and how they could be beneficial.