Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is the new rage among millennials and is gaining popularity with all generations, especially in states that have legalized recreational marijuana. In dozens of states, health food stores, pharmacies, and even supermarkets are carrying CBD products. CVS just announced this week that it will be carrying CBD creams, sprays and lotions in eight states. Marijuana contains both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD, and these compounds have different effects on our body and mind. POT AND TEENS – I’M A MOM AND A DOCTOR, HERE’S WHAT I TELL MY OWN TEENAGERS The well-known “high” from smoking or eating marijuana comes from THC. This is because THC is metabolized when it is exposed to heat and consumed by the body. CBD works differently. Cannabidiol is extracted from the flowers and buds of marijuana or hemp plants and can be eaten, inhaled and even applied to the skin. Unlike THC, it is not psychoactive, meaning that CBD does not alter a person's state of mind. However, CBD does produce significant changes in the body, and emerging research suggests that it has some medical benefits. The body and mind contain two cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. THC attaches to the CB1 receptors in the brain which effect coordination and movement, pain, mood, appetite and other functions. CBD was originally thought to attach to the CB2 receptors throughout the body, but evidence is suggesting that it doesn’t attach at all. Instead, it directs the body to use more of its own intrinsic cannabinoids. Although the evidence is clear that CBD has FDA-proven benefits for treating epileptic seizure disorders and can now be prescribed by a physician, the research is still sparse regarding many other touted health claims. One of the most common uses CBD is being sought for is as an anti-inflammation treatment. Small studies conducted on mice and rats did in fact show significant reduction in systemic inflammation. This gives hope to treating chronic inflammation and pain, especially arthritis and injuries. Other conditions caused by inflammation that are being looked at for CBD treatment are acne, type 1 diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease. There is additional evidence suggesting CBD may have anti-cancer properties, although the studies on this are finite. We are a long way from adding CBD to cancer regimens, but with nearly 2 million people in the United States being diagnosed with cancer every year, it is essential to continue researching any and all methods of treating this group of devastating diseases. Additionally, small studies have also suggested that CBD can help with anxiety, PTSD, depression and addiction. With all of these potential benefits, what could be wrong with using it? The problem is, we don’t know yet. Many small-scale studies show that adults tend to tolerate a wide range of doses with the most common side effects being fatigue and diarrhea. But there is still no data on long-term safety and no studies involving children. One of the biggest concerns I have regarding CBD and many other holistic remedies is that there are some disease processes that require science-driven treatment. I urge everyone to follow their medical doctors’ recommendations regarding treatment of ailments. Although CBD may be a promising supplement, it will not be the sole treatment for many conditions. In fact, CBD may interfere with and even hinder the effects of proven treatments, so it should only be used as a supplement to treatment under a doctor’s supervision. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Let’s remember that when cigarettes first emerged on the market people used them to treat lung conditions and encouraged smoking. And we can’t forget the crisis that the once-promised long-acting, “less-addicting” opioids produced. Although the limited and short-term data on CBD oil is promising, I reserve caution until the long-term data proves it is more than a fad. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY DR. NICOLE SAPHIER<doc-sep>I used to pop Aleve as if they were Tic Tacs. Three at a time, four at a time—whatever would get the job done. And if that meant taking 15 gel caps a day so be it. Liver be damned. You see, I experienced my first “episode” at 31. I was standing over the sink one fall morning and sneezed. Hard. Before I knew it, my lower back gave way. Then a tremendous pain engulfed my body. And get this: The episodes recurred whenever they felt like it—peskier than a hungry mosquito. Twice a year if I was lucky, more if I wasn’t. (Once, in Paris, I actually had to purchase a cane. The only consolation to that otherwise crippling experience was that it felt comically chic: I was hobbling in The City of Light, clad in Hermès scarves.) Aurora Elixirs But during a trip to Las Vegas in 2017, I discovered CBD—the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in Cannabis Sativa and hemp. I’d heard about it but I was skeptical. Could pain that had once rendered me dependent on a cane be helped by a single gumdrop? It sounded like one for the birds. I was never a big pot smoker growing up, nor have I ever been one to follow health fads. (I drink matcha because I like it—not because I think it will add years to my life.) But when I started reading more about CBD’s benefits it all made sense to me. The enthusiastic pro-CBD proclamations from friends didn’t hurt either. Plus, the prospect of natural pain relief was enormously appealing. “CBD is extremely anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective. A normal person may use it to prevent conditions such as arthritis or even topically to prevent acne breakouts,” Dr. Shivani Amin, a physician and cannabis expert who is a member of the AMMPA (American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association), says. “I think CBD shows great promise for the future. It all boils down to educating the public about the correct usage and understanding the plant better.” Plus Products But be wary of the products you buy and do your research. Some cannabis products work while many don’t, mainly due to lack of regulatory testing from the powers that be and quality control within companies, which is apparently common in the cannabis industry. Your best bet to avoid buying bogus products is to purchase your goods in states where cannabis is legal—because certain systems, standards, and protocols have already been put in place (such as seed-to-sale tracking). So I went on a months-long mission to try various CBD edibles, tinctures, balms, and vapes. What I soon discovered was that cannabidiol is no lightning bolt cure. Think of it as taking maintenance meds: You have to consume it regularly—in a dose and delivery method that works for you—to notice the progressive increase of benefits. It also doesn’t leave you completely devoid of the misery of pain. Instead, CBD helps make pain infinitely more tolerable—downgrading it from ER-worthy agony to manageable discomfort. And dosing is crucial. “The most common symptoms I treat with CBD are inflammatory conditions and it is also often used for pain,” Dr. Amin says. “Dosing is patient dependent. I always start low and go slowly. I have found that 15mg of CBD is a good starting dose for most patients. You have to be careful after that and titrate each patient individually due to the chance of potentially increasing anxiety and depressive symptoms. I have found the most convenient way for most of my patients to consume CBD is through tincture form. But capsules and edibles are also great ways to consume CBD on a daily basis.” Luke Beard Another thing I learned: CBD becomes more effective when taken in conjunction with a low dose of THC (tetradhydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis). For those who worry about getting high, fear not. I was initially concerned about the possibility of diminished faculties. After all, many single-serving THC edibles start at 10mg—but it’s good to note that most people won’t need even half as much. So you can do as I do and cut THC chocolate squares or gummies as you see fit—and then “pair” them with a CBD edible or tincture. I’ve also started to microdose edibles that contain both CBD and THC. (I quarter or halve a Dixie Synergy Milk Chocolate 1:1 depending on how I feel.) “Skepticism comes from lack of understanding. I have treated many patients with chronic conditions with full spectrum CBD and attained great results,” Dr. Amin says. “I also believe the public needs to understand that CBD works in conjunction with THC. Usually this requires at least 3–5% THC to work for serious forms of pain and more chronic medical conditions. I have patients come in with chronic and severe pain expecting to have their pain alleviated with just CBD. Although CBD works well for pain, in many situations patients with severe pain need to have some THC. [The cannabinoids ] work synergistically to help ease severe pain.” Photo: Recess These days I’m a believer. It’s difficult to ignore the fact that Epidiolex—the CBD-based epilepsy medication—was approved by the F.D.A last year. Or that athletes are abandoning NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen) for greener alternatives. Then there are Alfie Dingley and Billie Caldwell in the UK: Their cases involving rare forms of epilepsy have prompted UK home secretary Sajid Javid to say that specialists will soon be able to prescribe cannabis-based medication. Beyond that, nearly 7% of Americans are already using CBD—and given the population, that’s a staggering number. Me? I haven’t taken an Aleve in more than a year. And no episodes either. Not after a particularly grim run or even a grueling Krav Maga session. Not even during a week-long fitness retreat. So here are a few of CBD favorites that have helped me deal with pain and soreness—plus a few THC–CBD combo products for those who are so inclined. Kiva Confections LORD JONES CBD GUMDROPS (20 MG PER PIECE) I’m a sucker for packaging. And so I was immediately drawn to Lord Jones’ gumdrops, which are infused with broad spectrum CBD (not to be confused with full spectrum and isolate). It’s mighty convenient for frequent travelers like me who may want to take CBD while out and about: Just drop the (chichi) box in your purse—as opposed to worrying about leakage from a bottle of tincture. It also helps that they’re delicious—a little overly sweet but that’s hardly a crime. The downside? It’s pricey. Purchased online a nine-gumdrop box will set you back $45. In a shop like Clover Grocery in New York, it costs $50. Lord Jones POT D’HUILE CBD-INFUSED OLIVE OIL (1MG OF CBD PER 1ML OF OIL) For home cooks like me, I recommend CBD extra virgin olive oil because of its versatility. You can drizzle it on everything from salads to pizza and even brambleberry ice cream. I even make a miso-honey glaze while using a little bit of the stuff. In particular, I’m a big fan of Pot d’Huile, which was founded by San Francisco-based Yannick Crespo. It’s stellar. For one thing, it tastes exactly the way good EVOO should—with none of that “green” marijuana aftertaste. It also doesn’t remind me of Bertolli—not that there’s anything wrong with it. But you know, delicious EVOO is nothing like Bertolli. Crespo attributes Pot d’Huile’s non-compromising flavor with the ethanol extraction process that the company uses, which is slightly more expensive—in addition to using locally-sourced oil from Northern California. The flavor is so good that Pot d'Huile regularly hosts pop-up dinners with chefs who are so into it. (And if you ever find yourself in a city where they’re hosting, it’d be a shame to skip out.) But beyond all that, Pot d’Huile makes dosing easy: It’s 1mg of CBD per 1ml of olive oil. So all you’ll really need to incorporate CBD EVOO into your meals are measuring spoons. And yes, they do have THC olive oils as well—at $50 for 100ml. In the future, the company also has plans on creating a THC–CBD oil. Easy peasy. Jamie Evans POTLI CBD HONEY (LESS THAN 10 MG OF CBD PER 1 TBSP) If you’re the kind of person who eats, drinks, and cooks with honey, then this is the CBD product for you. Put it on ricotta toast with some figs. Make a salad dressing or sauce with it. Use it to sweeten your tea. Dump spoonfuls of it on your breakfast yogurt or oatmeal—then top the whole thing off with berries. Hell, you can even eat it right out of the jar. Anything goes, really. Just make sure you’re minding your dosage. Monica Lo KIVA DARK CHOCOLATE CBD + THC BAR (5MG THC AND 5MG CBD PER SERVING) I’m ordinarily not a chocolate or sweets person. But when it comes to edibles, this delivery method works best for me when I’m traveling and away from my kitchen. Kiva’s products are what I carry whenever work (or pleasure) takes me on extended trips. The ginger dark chocolate and espresso dark chocolate are my favorites. They’ve got just enough THC and CBD to help ward off jet lag and fatigue. I also take them when I’m extra sore from running or Krav Maga. (It really does wonders for pain and inflammation.) But it’d be a disservice if I only mentioned Kiva’s chocolates. The company also offers Camino gummies, of which the sparkling pear and wild berry, are superb. The THC-only Terra Bites chocolate-covered blueberries are a gift from the gods—they work, they fit nicely in my purse, and they’re delicious. Also: a single dose (5mg) is low enough so that when paired with a CBD-only confection, such as Lord Jones’ gumdrops, there’s not really a high. You only get a pleasant mellowness that radiates throughout your body, which is almost akin to a mild boozy buzz—in a happy and good way. (In budtender lingo, it’s called a body high.) Kiva Confections AURORA CBD SPARKLING DRINK (15MG PER BOTTLE) I’m not big on CBD drinks. But I can appreciate that others are. And in the cannabis world, CBD and THC drinks abound: There’s CBD Living Water, Recess, Vybes, Lagunitas HiFi Hops, Somatik Cold Brew, Kikoko Tea, and more. But Aurora Elixirs is what I was drawn to. It’s marketed as a mixer for when you want to make cocktails. I, however, think it’s perfectly fine on its own. Pop it in the fridge to cool and drink it whenever you need it. No complicated recipe or garnish required. Aurora Elixirs VALHALLA CONFECTIONS TROPICAL TWIST CBD–THC GUMMIES (5MG THC AND 10MG CBD PER SERVING) One major factor I considered when narrowing down this roundup is flavor. It comes in second to dosage—because nobody wants to consume anything that tastes remotely medicinal. Valhalla’s Tropical Twist is both tasty and dosed conveniently: Each gummy contains just enough THC and CBD to ease pain and promote recovery. And because it packs flat, it’s easy to stash and carry around. (I actually put a whole package in my laptop sleeve for accessibility when I’m on the go.) Valhalla PLUS CBD RELIEF PINEAPPLE AND COCONUT GUMMIES (<0.1MG THC AND 5MG CBD PER SERVING) This is what you’ll want (or need) if you’re looking for a “light” reprieve from discomfort. Or if you’re trying a THC:CBD edible for the first time—without any of the unpleasant side effects. Or if you’re taking CBD on a daily basis as maintenance. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Plus’ pineapple and coconut gummies will do you no harm. It’s a safe bet for beginners. Plus Products SOMATIK SPARKS CHOCOLATE-COVERED GOJI BERRIES (1MG THC AND 2MG CBD PER BERRY) If you really want something that’s ultra-low dose, these goji berries are the way to go. At 1mg THC and 2mg CBD per piece, there’s no going wrong. And it’s even more delicious than Plus Products’ pineapple and coconut gummies. Beware though: They’re beyond tasty so it’s very easy to forget that they actually contain cannabis. The organic goji berries are sourced from Tibet via Imlak’esh Organics and the chocolate complements them perfectly. I could eat three handfuls. But, of course, I won’t. Somatik<doc-sep>
March 8, 2019 4 min read This story appears in the May 2019 issue of Green Entrepreneur. Subscribe » Over the past 20 years, a simple narrative has emerged about cannabis: CBD is the medicine in medical marijuana, now available in 34 states, and THC is the intoxicant in adult-use marijuana that’s legal in 10 states. Two different compounds; two different markets. That narrative, along with the groundswell of belief in the curative properties of CBD (cannabidiol) as it’s being added to every sort of food, beverage, cream, potion, and lotion, drove more than $600 million in sales in 2018. And according to an analysis by the Brightfield Group, the CBD market is projected to grow to $22 billion by 2022 -- a number fueled by the recent federal legalization of hemp, from which cannabinoid can be derived. Reinforcing the cannabis duality, under the new law all things CBD must essentially be free of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol); hemp cannot exceed 0.3 percent of the psychoactive compound. Related: Another Study Finds Lowered Opioid Use Where Medical Marijuana Is Legal But new research is throwing a giant curveball at all this. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the study analyzed data from more than 3,300 medical marijuana patients who used an app called Releaf to track how various products -- flower, tinctures, edibles, etc. -- affected their symptoms. Over 21 months, every time subjects consumed a product, they recorded the ratio of THC to CBD listed on the label, and the relief in their symptoms, which ranged from anxiety and depression to chronic pain and seizures. The researchers found that among nearly 20,000 sessions recorded by patients, the average improvement of symptoms was 3.5 points on an 11-point scale that went from zero (not detectable) to 10 (severe). But the zinger was this: The higher the THC level, the more relief the patients got -- which was not true of CBD. “In our study, CBD appeared to have little effect at all,” says coauthor Jacob Miguel Vigil, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of New Mexico. “But THC generated measurable improvements.” Sarah See Stith, Ph.D., another coauthor and assistant professor in the department of economics at the university, suggests the results could be due to the fact that the app measures immediate symptom relief, while CBD has a more subtle, long-term effect. Or, perhaps, the THC needs a threshold amount of CBD to have a benefit. “We just don’t know, but when you compare flower and concentrates, the THC is what jumps out as having an effect,” she says. “And that goes against the common dogma.” Related: This Booming California Cannabis Brand Is Growing Fast by Offering Gig Workers Good Jobs The study also challenges the wisdom of isolating CBD, an already booming industry anticipating runaway growth since the legalization of hemp. Patients reported the best results from smoking or vaping dried whole flower (usually the least expensive cannabis product available). “Reformulation makes business sense,” says Franco Brockelman, cofounder and CEO of Releaf, “but if you think about nature and plants, there is a lot of inherent natural design in cannabis, and it’s a bit of hubris to think at this point you can improve on that by dissecting it. There is a lot to be said for whole-plant medicine and using it that way.” Related: Despite Being Illegal Under Federal Law, Cannabis Has Grown Into a $9 Billion Industry In States Where It Is Legal. Brockelman got the idea for the app in 2014 when his mother agreed to explore legal medical marijuana after many years of failed conventional treatments for her psoriatic arthritis. She’d never smoked or been a drinker and received a Massachusetts medical marijuana card that allowed her access to a dispensary. But there was no guidance for selecting an effective product, which made the whole process daunting. Brockelman decided to create a company that would assist people like his mother. He realized, he says, that “if we could provide patients with a good journal, they could help themselves, and we could look at that aggregate data to help dispensaries to know more about their products.” Releaf has made its data available in anonymous form to the University of New Mexico researchers for ongoing studies. Vigil argues that the findings they’ve already published make a compelling case for federally legalizing THC.