CBD Health

The War on Drugs was an exercise in futility that only served to deepen the inequalities that exist in American society. It has overwhelmingly failed to reduce drug distribution and consumption.

In the US, despite similar rates of consumption and sales across racial and ethnic lines, African Americans are 4x more likely to be arrested for a cannabis offense.

A 2020 Times Union Review article revealed that, of cannabis-related arrests in Albany, New York, 97% percent of those arrested or ticketed were Black. This means that historical injustice is still rife.

If the legal cannabis industry is to achieve all that it was intended to achieve, BIPOC communities must be prioritized and this can only be done though representative leadership.

In other words, legalization in and of itself is not paramount to social justice.

Michelle Alexander in The New Jim Crow illustrates how black and brown communities have paid the highest price for the War on Drugs. This includes enduring massive arrests, jail terms, and hefty fines. As much as cannabis is now “legal” in several states, the BIPOC community is still negatively affected.

How so?

A cannabis-related offence on one’s record means:

• Limited eligibility for public housing
• Limited access to student financial aid
• Limited access to employment opportunities
• Negative effects on child custody determinations
• Negative effects on immigration status

In short, a cannabis-related offence could completely lock one out of any career or personal advancement opportunities. Unfortunately, this includes accessing the legal cannabis industry.

Additionally, a biased media who convey a message of criminality in relation to cannabis use haunts the BIPOC community. Hence, even when an injustice has been meted out it is made to appear as if it was “rightfully deserved.”

When it comes to females in the cannabis industry, the story of being locked out of leadership roles is all too familiar. The exact statistics on female executives in the industry is unclear, but some sources show that it is wanting with a mere 17% representation.

The factors mentioned above spell out one thing: the need for female and BIPOC leaders in the cannabis industry to tackle these historic injustices.

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Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and hemp oil are often used interchangeably, whether in conversations or product descriptions. However, these two are anything but the same and shouldn’t be confused.

To put it simply, CBD oil is an extract developed from the flowers and leaves of a hemp plant, where CBD and other cannabinoids are located.

On the other hand, hemp oil (sometimes referred to as hemp seed oil) is created through hemp seeds which contain no CBD. Hemp oil is still beneficial as it includes nutritional benefits.

As you shop for CBD, it’s important to know what you’re buying. Unfortunately, a lot of companies may advertise hemp oil as CBD oil.

Some of the following terms may be used when describing hemp rather than CBD oil:

• Hemp oil
• Hemp seed oil
• Cannabis seed oil
• Cannabis sativa seed oil

If you’re on the lookout for CBD oil, keep an eye out for ingredients such as “cannabidiol” or “CBD.” With that said, it’s still in your best interest to always look up the Certificate of Analysis located via QR code or on a company’s web site, which should list cannabinoids present.

Since these two types of oils are different, they also come with a list of different potential benefits.

To give you an idea of how hemp oil can benefit you, research has found its potential benefits to include:

• Nutrition – Hemp seeds have a high content of essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), along with other beneficial minerals.[1]
• Skin Conditions – Due to hemp seed’s omega-6 and omega-3 content, hemp oil has been found to help with certain skin symptoms, such as dryness and itchiness.[2]

On the other hand, the potential medical benefits CBD oil include:

• Mental Health Conditions – In a research paper of numerous different studies, it was found that CBD had a significant impact on people with conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder (PD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD).[3]
• Pain – Due to CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, it’s shown promise in helping ease symptoms of arthritis in pre-clinical models [4]
• Sleep – One study has found that CBD may promote deeper REM sleep. Many have also self-reported that CBD has helped with their insomnia and allowed them to rework their sleep schedule.[5]

It’s important to note that there may be overlap between benefits obtained from hemp and CBD oil and we need greater understanding to better understand those differences.

As you shop for CBD or hemp oil, it’s important to consider these differences between the two products. Before you buy, consider if you are interested in CBD alone or in trying hemp oil.

References

1. Hazekamp A, et al. 3.24 – Chemistry of Cannabis, Eds: Hung-Wen (Ben) Liu, Lew Mander, In: Comprehensive Natural Products II, Elsevier, 2010, pg. 1033-1084.
2. Callaway J. Efficacy of dietary hempseed oil in patients with atopic dermatitis.
   J Dermatology Treatment. 2005;16(2):87-94.
3. Blessing EM. Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics. 2015;12(4):825-836.
4. Nagarkatti P. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future Medicinal Chemistry. 2009;1(7):1333-1349.
5. Babson KA. Cannabis, cannabinoids, and sleep: A review of the literature. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2017;19(4):23.

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CBD crystals sure sound exquisite. And even though they have nothing to do with jewel-type crystals, they are one of the purest forms of CBD you can buy.

Appearance

CBD crystals come in the form of powder.

Creation Process

CBD crystals are basically the next natural step in the purification evolution of CBD isolate.

After extracting CBD from source material and obtaining a CBD isolate, an extra step of purification is performed. This aims to purge all other plant material, including terpenes. Some companies do this by way of chromatography and others via winterization. Perhaps the general rule of thumb is the latter, since it’s precisely that extra step of winterization that CBD crystals are most likely named after, being that this process is also known as fractionate crystallization.

The result is 99% CBD purity.

Quality

CBD crystals are also completely devoid of odor and taste.

Modes of Intake

A lack of taste and odor provides versatility.

Cooking

You can infuse your coconut or olive oil with CBD crystals and then add the mixture to anything you like. Just keep in mind CBD’s boiling point if you’re going to heat it: 160-180 Celsius or 320-356 Fahrenheit.

DIY Tincture

On the “oily” note, you can also dissolve CBD crystals into medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil, for example, the gold standard for carrier oils, and use it as a tincture.

Topicals

You can also mix CBD crystals into your existing creams, simple as that.

Sublingual 

You can also put CBD crystals under your tongue and wait for the mucus membrane to soak it up and transmit it to your blood stream. This is generally the easiest and most effective mode of intake from a bioavailability standpoint.

Drinking

Simply dissolve CBD crystals into a drink. Just keep in mind CBD doesn’t mix with water all that well, so you should probably go for fatty, creamier beverages like milk, and make sure nothing is left on the bottom of the glass.

Dabbing/Vaping

You can dab CBD crystals like you would wax or any other similar extract. Just place it on a hot surface so that it starts melting, and then vape or dab it, using the necessary equipment.

What CBD crystals may lack in terpenes and other cannabinoids and respectively the entourage effect that occurs between them, they make up in purity, versatility, and user-friendliness.

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Few chronic issues can be as debilitating as back pain. While opioids, invasive surgeries, and other treatments are certainly an option, preliminary research indicates cannabidiol (CBD) may represent another solution.

CBD is anecdotally known for its pain-relieving properties. In fact, many healthcare providers indeed recommend this cannabinoid for different types of pain.

But back pain is a tricky thing to manage. There can be multiple underlying symptoms responsible for chronic back pain, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, chronic spinal pain, or fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

In 2016 review, researchers looked at four separate studies that evaluated 159 patients with rheumatic disease-related pain and sleeplessness; the conditions treated included RA, FMS, and non-cancerous spine pain.[1] These studies measured symptoms before and after use of cannabinoid-based treatments.

Different cannabinoid products were evaluated, including synthetic pharmaceutical products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD. Herbal cannabis derivatives were not used.

Results from three out of four studies indicated that cannabinoids was effective in reducing pain levels. However, since these treatments also contained THC, it is difficult to conclude the specific contributions of CBD. This is often the case in the literature.

A study published this year conducted a review and highlighted case reports to further shed light on how a CBD topical may address pain.[2] Two patients used the same CBD cream (400mg per two oz) – one was a 40-year-old man with intense low back pain due to a compression fracture in his spine and one was a 61-year-old female with several conditions causing back pain.

The first patient felt relief from pain for 10 hours following topical application of CBD; in fact, after four weeks of treatment, his pain subsided. The second patient achieved pain relief as well for seven to eight hours following treatment.

While these findings are promising, they are not conclusive. Data on CBD alone for pain are sorely needed so patients and physicians can better understand how it can be used safely and the best method of use.

That being said, people should talk to their doctor if they are interested in trying CBD for pain, as it may provide much needed relief.

References

1. Fitzcharles M-A et al. Efficacy, tolerability and safety of cannabinoids in chronic pain associated with rheumatic diseases (fibromyalgia syndrome, back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis). Der Schmerz. 2016;30(1):47-61.
2. Eskander JP, et al. Cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment of acute and chronic back pain: A case series and literature review. J Opioid Manag. 2020;16(3):215-218.

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CBDfx launches CBD Pet Treats that support canine calmness, mobility and joint comfort.

Los Angeles, CA (December 17, 2020): Leading CBD products company, CBDfx, is expanding its wildly popular, vegan CBD pet line with the addition of all-natural, crunchy Pet Treats targeted at two of the most common canine ailments: anxiety and joint pain.

The pet cannabidiol (CBD) industry is seeing significant growth, with an expected market valuation of over $1.7B by 2025, according to the Brightfield Group. Pet ownership is also increasing, with more than half of US households having a pet dog or cat, and 64% of CBD consumers are buying pet CBD to reduce levels of anxiety or stress for their pets.

“Pet owners are seeking more natural remedies to keep their furry family members calm in stressful moments and improve their overall quality of life,” said Jameson Rodgers, Co-Founder. “CBDfx is committed to creating high-quality, safe and effective CBD products, and those standards extend to all of our pet products, first with our CBD Pet Tinctures and now our Pet Treats. Our best friends deserve the same relief that their owners have found with our products.”

The new line of CBDfx Pet Treats features two all-natural, vegan variations: Joint & Mobility and Stress & Anxiety.

• Joint & Mobility: A combination of Turmeric, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid to help ease pain, reduce inflammation and repair cartilage.

• Stress & Anxiety: A mix of anxiety-busting botanical extracts like Chamomile, Passion Flower, and Valerian Root with L-Tryptophan and GABA to help calm even the most stressed pooch.

These crunchy, soy-free treats are naturally flavored with sweet potato and loaded with antioxidant powerhouse superfoods — blueberry, spinach and parsley — along with 450mg of broad spectrum CBD (15mg of CBD in each treat). Both treats are vegan, made with non-GMO hemp extract, batch certified for guaranteed purity, and packaged in resealable 30 count bags that follow CBDfx’s standard approach to transparency with a QR code linking to the corresponding lab report.

CBDfx Pet Treats are the company’s second pet product, joining the line of vegan CBD Pet Tinctures launched earlier this fall. Available in three concentrations, CBDfx Pet Tinctures are made to the same exacting standards as their human tinctures, but with all-natural bacon flavor for tail-wagging approval. Learn more about CBDfx and shop all CBDfx Pet Treats and Pet Tinctures at www.cbdfx.com.

 

About CBDfx: CBDfx is a Southern California-based company founded on providing high quality, organically sourced hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) wellness products to customers in a wide variety of formats; from tinctures to topicals, and gummies to capsules. Founded in 2014 with a mission to push quality to the forefront of the CBD industry, CBDfx continues to provide some of the finest, purest, and most effective CBD products in the world. CBDfx products are sold in more than 32,000 points of distribution in 21 countries, and online through the company’s website at www.CBDfx.com.

A report by Brightfield Group found that cannabis use increased to 44% during the pandemic in November, up from 34% in March. Gen Z saw the most significant change at 52% with Millennials not far behind at 49%; Baby Boomers saw the lowest change at 25%. Still, no matter the generation, all segments increased usage.[1]

The report also found that, of heavy cannabis users (5+ days per week), 52% further increased their usage; 87% of these users noted that cannabis has helped them deal with stress from the pandemic. Not to mention, some users found cannabis helpful in fighting boredom during lockdowns.

About 37% of users are smoking and/or vaping cannabis, with about 35% using edibles more often. Only 21% find themselves using other products, such as tinctures and creams. It’s worth noting that the majority of those smoking and/or vaping are Gen Z and Millennials.

Another Brightfield Group report evaluated how people were purchasing cannabidiol (CBD). With social distancing and an overall effort to avoid in-store purchases, it comes as no surprise that online sales skyrocketed. With that, there has been greater popularity in curbside pickups and deliveries.[2]

Throughout the first quarter of 2020, about 23% of CBD consumers purchased products online. However, that number more than doubled to 47% by Q2 and Q3. Still, specialty retailers also saw an increase in sales throughout the first, second, and third quarters. Generally speaking, there’s simply been even more interest in CBD products.

Most notably, 2020 saw a number of new CBD users enter the marketplace. In Q1, 12% had been using the cannabinoid for three months or less; by Q3, that number rose to 14%. While these aren’t anything comparable to 2019 statistics, it shows that CBD is continuing to garner interest. It’s worth mentioning that most of these new users were purchasing CBD edibles and tinctures.

It’s also interesting to note that beauty and skincare product usage also increased from 18% in Q1 to 33% in Q3; in fact, their usage surpassed theapeutic topical use in Q3.

2020 has been one of the most difficult years in modern history. Yet, cannabis and CBD use and sales have prevailed and even surpassed expectations, likely attributable to its anxiolytic and sleep-inducing benefits. While the upward trend we’re seeing may not be as notable in 2021, it will definitely continue, proving that the industry is certainly booming and will be for some time.

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References

1. Brightfield Group. “Changes in Cannabis Consumer Behavior Due to COVID-19.” November 2020.
2. Brightfield Group. “Buying CBD During a Pandemic: Channel and Consumer Trends.” November 2020.