cbd news

Cannabidiol (CBD) feels inherently green. For one, federally legal CBD is derived from hemp, which has various ecological benefits and applications. The reality is that a CBD product isn’t environmentally friendly in and of itself, as the process of production comes with an ecological price.

There are ways to reduce this cost to a minimum, especially as it relates to the big picture. Let’s track the CBD supply chain from its green agricultural roots to its branches into the consumer market.

Green Farming

Of course, all CBD originates in the fields, so eco practices should start there. Luckily, hemp already has a head start in that regard.

Hemp is famous for its low water “intake,” requiring 50% less water than cotton. And hemp’s waste stream can be channelled quite productively into different commodities. It also has a cleansing effect on the soil.

Hemp has all the makings to be an all-around green crop, as long as farmers don’t do anything to compromise that, such as using plastic mulch instead of a biodegradable equivalent.

Green Extraction

CO₂ CBD extraction is currently the most eco-friendly method. It makes for pure, solventless, residue-free extraction.

Moreover, when CO₂ is harnessed in a closed-loop extraction system, which recaptures solvents and recycles them, it makes for the ultimate green extraction method.

Green Distribution

Of course, the packaging and distribution side of things plays a huge part in any business and impacts eco-friendliness.

Companies should consider packages they use, if they’re recyclable and/or reusable, if they make the best use of space, and if there are any programs that can incentivize customers to send them back.

Bottom Line: Win-Win

While eco-friendliness may sometimes seem reserved only for companies that have already taken care of their financial worries and have the bandwidth to take on environmental ones, this isn’t true.

While sustainability and energy efficiency practices may require some initial capital, they largely pay for themselves in the long run because, as their titles suggest, they are sustainable and efficient by default.

But even if business and energy efficiency seems a distant and borderline abstract of a concept, think about this: 70% of Millennials are willing to pay more for products using sustainable practices, and, for 83% of them, a product’s environmental and social impact factors in the purchasing process.

CBD has all the green cards, now it’s only a matter of playing them right.

Image Credit: Gerd Altmann

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/sustainability-energy-apple-globe-3300898/

The cannabis-derived compound CBD is not a narcotic drug because “it does not appear to have any psychotropic effect or any harmful effect on human health”, the EU’s highest court has ruled.

The decision by the court of justice of the European Union deals a severe blow to efforts by some EU countries to limit the sale of CBD, while simultaneously giving the CBD industry a boost. Many products are currently sold in the EU in a legal grey area.

The ruling was made in relation to the prosecution in France of KanaVape, a company that exports CBD oil made from whole hemp plants.

Under French law, only the fibre and seeds of hemp – a variety of the cannabis plant containing less than 0.2% of the psychoactive cannabinoid THC – may be put to commercial use, not the flower.

The court ruled that the French ban on the marketing of hemp-derived CBD products contradicted EU law on the free movement of goods.

“The national court must assess available scientific data in order to make sure that the real risk to public health alleged does not appear to be based on purely hypothetical considerations,” the court wrote.

“A decision to prohibit the marketing of CBD, which indeed constitutes the most restrictive obstacle to trade in products lawfully manufactured and marketed in other [EU] member states, can be adopted only if that risk appears sufficiently established.”

It noted that two key UN conventions classifying illegal drug do not specifically mention CBD, although they mention “cannabis extracts”.

The ruling also highlighted that France had not banned synthetic CBD, which has the same properties but is not produced using the entire cannabis plant.

Antonin Cohen, who faced the charges along with his fellow KanaVape co-founder Sébastien Béguerie, said the lack of clear regulations on CBD prevented safe market development.

“It is fundamental to develop strict quality standards in the interests of consumers in order to avoid the circulation of dangerous products,” he said. “My goal is to improve access to the benefits of plants, in a legal and secure environment.”

Robert Jappie, a partner at the law firm Ince, said the ruling was “a big win” for the CBD industry.

“By confirming that there was no scientific evidence to suggest that CBD has a harmful effect on the human body, the court has made it very difficult for the European commission to pursue their proposed classification of CBD as a narcotic,” he said.

The World Health Organization says CBD is “generally well tolerated with a good safety profile” and that there is no evidence “of any public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD”.

In recent years there has been a marked growth in the use of CBD oils, tinctures, creams and other products by people seeking to relieve stress and anxiety and to reduce inflammation. A study in the European Journal of Pain suggests that skin-applied CBD can help lower arthritic pain, but there is a lack of clinical evidence for its overall efficacy, and concern over the unregulated nature of the CBD market.

Epidyolex, a CBD-based drug known as Epidiolex in the US, has been approved by US and European health authorities to treat two rare and severe types of childhood epilepsy – the only such drug to receive the status so far.

Original Article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/19/cbd-is-not-a-narcotic-says-eu-court-french-ban

Image Credit: Monicore

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(Desert Hot Springs, California, USA) – Royal Emerald Pharmaceuticals (REP) is poised to receive the first-of-its-kind federal (DEA) license to research, develop and manufacture medicines derived from THC and CBD. Royal Emerald’s mission is to be leaders in the pharmaceutical field by creating non-addictive medicines for veterans, law enforcement and first responders suffering from ailments, such as, PTSD, pain, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, opiate addiction and other ailments. 

“Our veterans and first responders have paid a tremendous price sacrificing for the betterment of our communities. I am dedicated to repaying their efforts with the best-in-class medicines to benefit society’s heroes,” said Royal Emerald’s CEO Mark Crozier. 

“’Safe, effective, and non-addictive medicines,’ is the motto that drives our research. We are currently researching new and safer Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Botanical Raw Materials (BRMs) that will form the basis of our medicines. Our company seeks only the most current, innovative, and industry-accepted research to ensure our position as a leader in this fast-paced and ever-changing market,” Crozier said. 

REP will provide state-of-the-art medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients derived from THC and CBD to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registrants and government agencies. The company is a private corporation with a federal government license pending approval. Once granted, REP will be the “first in the nation” to receive this federal approval.

“We adhere to the highest standards and quality measures in our labs to ensure that our products exceed consumer expectations. We guarantee superior quality medicines by complying with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our scientists and team of experts are experienced in drug research and development, ensuring our products are consistent, pure and safe for consumers,” he added. 

Crozier, along with most of the management team, are veterans and retired first responders who understand the everyday struggles these targeted groups face in their line of work. Crozier started REP in 2017 to combat the medical issues our veterans and first responders face during and after their service.