The CBD industry will see tremendous growth during the present decade and is likely to very quickly become a multi-billion-dollar industry. Part of that growth will hinge on diversification and further research and development, not just of CBD, but other cannabinoids as well.
The cannabis plant contains about 120 cannabinoids, which are a group of similar compounds derived from cannabis or hemp. THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, is one such cannabinoid, but the bulk of cannabinoids do not have any psychoactive effect. CBD is perhaps the most widely recognized of the cannabinoid family and delivers a non-psychoactive alternative to THC with many of the same therapeutic benefits. Already commonly found on retail shelves throughout the country, CBD is widely available and has already emerged as the single cannabinoid with the most useful benefits. Although the FDA has not yet issued complete guidance on its therapeutic use, a growing body of research exists that points to its benefits.
Further research, approval and FDA guidelines will reinforce its commercial status, as well as its usefulness as a mainstream therapeutic treatment for a range of specific maladies. Further research may point to uses not just for CBD, but also for the other minor cannabinoids and terpenes as well. That research will ultimately provide a better range of potential treatments which can more specifically cater to a range of very specific needs.
CBG (cannabigerol) and CBN (cannabinol) in particular are already starting to see some research. CBG, like CBD, is not psychoactive, and although not readily commercially available as of yet, and there has been significantly less research on CBG than has been on CBD, although there is growing interest in exploring CBG’s potential clinical use. Some researchers have suggested a potential use for CBG in regulating blood pressure and pain, and an animal study has shown it to be useful in inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s. One drawback is that the cannabis plant has substantially less CBG than CBD, which makes it a rarer and potentially more expensive substance to extract, and without proof that it offers something that CBD does not, its commercialization as an isolate would not provide much benefit. It is however, not yet ready for commercialization, and more studies need to be done before it can be determined whether CBG offers any benefits that cannot be found in CBD.
CBN, another minor cannabinoid, is said to be useful in treating sleep disorder. Unlike CBD and CBG, CBN is mildly psychoactive and therefore less likely to be approved by the FDA for commercial use as an isolated cannabinoid. However, it may have a use as a sedative and effective treatment for insomnia or anxiety.
Full spectrum CBD may present a better option than isolating each cannabinoid individually. Full spectrum CBD actually contains not just CBD, but an array of other cannabinoids as well, including CBDv and CBG. Some advocates do prefer a full spectrum CBD product as being more effective at treating ailments. CBD isolates on the other hand, contains only the single CBD ingredient. One advantage of full spectrum CBD that is often discussed is the so-called “entourage effect,” which deliver a more powerful treatment than other cannabinoids working in isolation. As such, full spectrum CBD may be more useful in treating more serious medical conditions and mental health issues, with the therapeutic effect usually being longer lasting than an isolate. Full spectrum CBD still must adhere to the legal definition, which means it must contain no more than 0.3 percent of THC, and is therefore not psychoactive. Also, full spectrum CBD may include terpenes, a natural aromatic element contained in natural cannabis or hemp, and which give cannabis its distinctive earthy smell. Terpenes (which are not included in isolates but are usually part of full spectrum CBD offerings) may also work synergistically with cannabinoids to enhance the therapeutic benefit. Full spectrum CBD typically does not have any major side effects, although it has been reported that some tiredness, changes in weight and appetite may result. Full spectrum CBD is sometimes confused with broad spectrum CBD, and they are very similar, with one exception. Full spectrum is the extract of the whole hemp plant, and it includes all of the cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as 0.3 percent or less THC. Broad spectrum contains the same cannabinoids and terpenes, but does not include the THC. Both are legal under the FDA’s guidelines, and neither are psychoactive, and broad spectrum may be a better option for the small number of people who may be hyper-sensitive to THC, traveling to other countries where THC is illegal even in small quantities, or just prefer not to take it.
Continued research will bring out an even greater body of information to support specific uses of CBD in all its forms.
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