A little history of CBD

While the FDA has not yet approved the addition of CBD to food products, some headway has been reached when they approved the use of a purified form of cannabidiol (CBD) to treat seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy in patients two years of age and older. It is important to note that this is not an approval of marijuana or any of its components but, this is the approval of CBD medication for a specific use and condition. Moreover, we must stress that this is a purified form of CBD which was produced in well controlled FDA approved laboratories and delivered to the patients in a reliable dosage through a reproducible route. 

While cannabis remains illegal, in eyes of the federal government, CBD use is growing by leaps and bounds with a projected twenty two billion dollar market by the year 2022. 

CBD is cannabidiol which is derived from the flower of cannabis. The only plant genus that contains a unique class of molecular compounds called phytochemicals. There's more than 8500 cannabinoids that have been identified but, the two most prevalent are tetrahydrocannabinol aka THC and cannabidiol which is CBD. THC psychoactive ingredient of cannabis is the component that gets you high while CBD is the anti-psychoactive ingredient meaning, it does not get you high. There are actually two types of cannabis plants, meaning there are two subspecies, one is marijuana which is rich in THC and thus has been cultivated for the high associated with its recreational use and then there is hemp which is low in THC. Hemp was historically cultivated for the industrial uses or its tough fibers.

Hemp was cultivated and processed hundreds of years ago when the United States was in its infancy.  George Washington made his fortune in the growing and selling of hemp. Hemp materials were not only used to manufacture rope but were used in clothing and paper as well.  The original Declaration of Independence was printed on paper made of hemp. In December of 2018, in part because a growing body of scientific evidence showing CBDs therapeutic attributes, the federal government legalized the growing and production of hemp. Although 33 states have legalized medical marijuana, including 10 states with legal recreational use, marijuana remains prohibited at the federal level.

Both hemp and marijuana contains CBD but it helps to know a little bit about the history of cannabis and the biology of its use. Cannabis is believed to have been used medicinally, for recreation and for spiritual reasons throughout much of humankind's history. The oldest known written record, regarding its use, comes from almost 5000 years ago in China. Ancient Greeks used it to dress wounds on horses and to apply to human nosebleeds. It was medicinally popular among Vikings and medieval Germans for relieving pain during childbirth and for toothaches. It has been noted that Queen Elizabeth used cannabis to relieve her menstrual cramps.

Only in recent decades have we come to understand how and why cannabis affects humans. The plant was largely excluded from scientific study, due to its widespread illegality, until the 1960s when an Israeli chemist named Rafael McCollum was able to obtain confiscated hashish from police for study. He elucidated the structure of THC and CBD and then in 1992 made an even more fundamental discovery in the existence of the endocannabinoid system (EC). So, the EC is the body's largest system of receptors and it's found throughout the brain, nervous system and organs. It has been described as the molecular bridge between the body and the mind. Scientists have come to believe the EC s is among the most important physiological systems involved in human health because it regulates both mood and homeostasis keeping internal systems balanced in the face of external stress and inflammation. He said that by using a plant that has been around for thousands of years, we discovered a new physiological system of immense importance. So, the implications of this discovery, including the burgeoning applications of CBD, are only beginning to take shape. Also, while experimenting with the EC’s McCullum uncovered naturally occurring neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids that are structurally nearly identical to the phyto-cannabinoids found in cannabis. CBD doesn't directly bind the cb1 or cb2 receptors but instead serves as a real take and break down inhibitor preventing the breakdown of naturally-occurring endocannabinoids in the body. This is essentially the same way that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work which prevent the re-uptake and breakdown of serotonin in the brain. If you're not familiar, these are the medications that are mainly used to treat anxiety and depression such as Paxil, Zoloft etc. So CBDs health impacts potentially will span the entire endocannabinoid system. In particular, researchers have found a CBD increases the levels of an amide and cannabinoid known as the Bliss molecule derived from the Sanskrit word Ananda, which means extreme happiness. 

Since it is still a new science, Products are being released without much regulatory oversight. There are several manufacturers that are marketing products that do not live up to their claims.  The public is just now beginning to realize the potential of CBD. To protect yourself, make sure that you are only purchasing pure CBD produced in a registered laboratory. Many call theirs full-spectrum or claim their product has an entourage effect.  Unfortunately, many of these products contain little to no real CBD and include fillers such as terpenes and flavanoids. Pure CBD is the most expensive product in the bottle so, some unscrupulous providers have found creative methods to increase their profit margins by offering a less than acceptable product.  Before you buy, educate yourself and read the label to make sure you are getting a pure CBD isolate.

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Have a great weekend…CBD Doctor