Cannabis 101

How To Spot Snake CBD Oil

Published

6 months ago

August 5, 2020

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol, which is often shorted and referred to as CBD, is a combination of over 100 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids that derive from the Cannabis sativa plant. It is extracted from marijuana or hemp and is revered for having perceived benefits in aiding with such ailments ranging from chronic pain to insomnia to anxiety. CBD differs from the well-known compound from the marijuana plant, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in that it doesn’t result in its users experiencing a high after consumption. THC is known for producing euphoric effects on the brain and body, however CBD differentiates from THC in that it doesn’t have the same effects.

Recently there has been an increase of CBD products making their way into markets, gaining more consumer interest. Based on findings of a study conducted by the University of California, San Diego, Google searches for “CBD” have increased well over 100% annually since 2017.

When thinking about CBD use and deciding if its right for you, it’s crucial to have an understanding of the differences between marijuana-derived CBD and hemp-derived CBD. The first thing to note is that by U.S. federal law, CBD products that are derived from hemp and contain no more than 0.3% THC are legal. Keep in mind that hemp contains trace amounts of THC but is grown for multiple uses. Hemp can be used in the production of paper and cloth products, and as an ingredient in food and beverage products.

The FDA’s approval of Epidiolex, a pharmaceutical-grade CBD product was perhaps the biggest win to date for CBD. Epidiolex is a medication prescribed to patients who suffer from two rare, severe forms of epilepsy to help reduce seizures. However there is not presently any robust scientific evidence supporting most of the health claims surrounding CBD use.

Below is a collection of some of the common uses people turn to CBD for:

Chronic Pain—Research around CBD’s potential benefits in relieving chronic pain has been increasing as of late. There are currently 27 countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom (but excluding the United States) that have rolled out Sativex, a cannabis-based pain reliever containing both THC and CBD. It should be noted that researchers are continuing to focus on understanding the effectiveness of CBD on its own as a means to ease nerve pain and discomfort.
Anxiety and Depression—Ongoing research has explored the benefits of CBD as a treatment for individuals who struggle with anxiety and depression. While more research is taking place to determine this, frequent users of CBD products are optimistic about the compound’s ability to decrease their emotional responses and relieve depression symptoms.
Sleep Issues—Studies and research around CBD and sleep suggests that users of the products are able to fall asleep faster, wake up less, and overall get a better night’s sleep. As with most CBD treatments, more research is still needed however, CBD products could be a great solution for those looking for sleep solutions.

What To Look For

It is important to make sure those shopping for CBD products do their due diligence and don’t take the process lightly. CBD’s increased popularity has bolstered it’s presence on social media and has been being endorsed by celebrities for it’s perceived benefits more and more. Even with these endorsements, it is paramount that buyers do their own research so they know what to look for when shopping for CBD products to best suit their needs.

There are some serious points to be aware of while shopping for products due to the lack of regulation and transparency in the market:

Labels on products can be misleading or inaccurate
Products may contain additives that could potentially alter mood
Metals, pesticides, bacteria, and solvents from cannabis plants can be present in your products
Many CBD products are still untested

Other concerns to consider:

Adverse Effects—In clinical trials, some of the patients who were treated with Epidiolex reported such side effects as drowsiness, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Liver damage was also a reported side effect in these trials, so it is recommended that using Epidolex monitor their liver function regularly.
Drug Interactions—CBD could potentially interfere with the effectiveness and metabolism of other commonly used drugs. For example, antibiotics and antifungal medications can affect CBD’s potency and should be considered if you plan to incorporate CBD into your wellness practice.
Quality Issues—Because of minimal regulations in the CBD market, it is crucial to note that the information on the product’s label may not always be accurate. As a responsible consumer of these products, it is important to be well versed in reading the Certificate of Analysis (COA) so you know what is actually in the product. More detail on COA’s is below.

Certificate of Analysis (COA)

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a laboratory provided document showing the number of various cannabinoids in a specific CBD product. Manufacturers of CBD are strongly encouraged to send every batch of every product they produce to a lab that will complete testing and verify the contents of their products. This ensures that buyers of tested and verified products are receiving what the product is advertising.

Something to keep in mind is that not all CBD production companies freely share their COAs. If a product you are considering is sold by a company that does not freely share their COAs, it is recommended to reach out to and request more information before making a purchase. If you are unable to successfully obtain the COAs from either the manufacturer’s website, customer service, or the product label itself, it is recommended not to purchase that specific product. Companies that product quality CBD products happily lab test their products and make their COAs easily accessible. This allows transparency for both the consumer and manufacturer, and reassurance that a production company is of the highest quality.

COAs can sometimes be difficult to understand and read. They are not always formatted in the same way and might not all look the same.

You will frequently see COAs that show results in one of the following ways:

Milligrams (mg) of CBD in the full product
Milligrams (mg) of CBD per gram (g)
Milligrams (mg) of CBD per milliliter (ml)

Please note that this example uses CBD but the same can be applied for other cannabinoids in the COA.

If the COA shows the like the first example result above, milligrams (mg) of CBD, in the full product, then you as the consumer don’t need to do any further calculations because this result shows the total amount of cannabinoids in the product. It is recommended though to review the product label to ensure it matches this number.

If your results read like the last two bullet points though, you will need to make some calculations. Keep in mind that a milliliter (ml) is a measurement of volume and grams (g) is a measurement of weight. While most Cannabis products will show size in ounces (oz) you can convert that number into milliliters by keeping in mind that 1oz will always equal 30ml. It is important to note that two 30ml tinctures will not weigh the same in grams, as the weight (g) is affected by each ingredient in the product’s formulation.

When deciding which company to purchase CBD products from it is crucial to understand COAs. Suggested as a general rule of thumb, it is probably best to avoid purchasing from a company that does not offer any of their lab results or COAs.

If you are considering buying A88CBD™ products and would like to see the COAs, please visit here!

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Cannabis News

Back to Basics: “What is CBD?”

Published

11 hours ago

January 23, 2021

Stacey Wellington

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the active compounds in hemp and marijuana. It is known for its ability to relieve pain and induce sleep, among many other things we’re going to discuss in this overview. You can consume CBD as an oil, vapor, pill, or edible. CBD oil is a pure extraction of this compound from the marijuana or hemp plant itself.

What are the benefits of CBD?

CBD oil can be ingested in order to manage pain to get surprisingly effective results. Chronic back pain, broken bones, headaches, and menstrual cramps all can be managed with CBD, along with plenty of other physical ailments. This is exactly what Active Relief (save 20% off with the code “FIRST100” ) strives to accomplish with their CBD lineup. In addition to the benefits above, CBD is a notoriously effective sleep aid as well, helping the anxious and insomniacs alike. Many people also report that CBD has significantly helped them with chronic depression and anxiety. In addition, CBD has been used by various rehabs and at home as a way of breaking addictions and coping with withdrawals. This easy to use, fast-acting oil can help with a wide variety of physical and mental ailments.

How is it extracted?

CBD extraction isn’t as simple as pressing rosin or wax, since the CBD must be separated from the THC in order to make CBD Oil. A popular operation in the field is to compress CO2 into a liquid form and combine it with the raw bud in something called a closed-loop extractor. In this process the CO2 strips away Cannabinoids which can be accessed when the CO2 is depressurized, leaving only the extract. This method is popular among dispensaries because it can process a huge amount of biomass with every extraction. Butane or propane can be used in a similar way with a greatly reduced cost, though this process requires more careful heating or cooling in order to separate the extract, and this can lead to chemical impurities if done improperly.

Why use CBD Oil?

CBD oil is the most pure, potent form of CBD. This means that it is effective and easy to dose, so you don’t have to worry about the variability that comes with an edible or cream. You only need one or two drops of CBD oil in order to benefit from its effects. CBD is a natural and non-addictive solution to pain, sleep, and recovery, and CBD oil is fast and easy, activating in the bloodstream rapidly after being dropped under the tongue. Lots of consumers prefer the oil as well because it gives them the option to add it to different drinks or foods, thus they are not limited to whatever edibles are available at their dispensary. In addition, CBD has much more relaxed laws surrounding it in most countries than THC does, so oil is a great solution for people who want the medical benefits but don’t have access to legal marijuana.

Patients who need the pain-relieving effects of marijuana throughout the day but want to avoid being high all the time find CBD to be a very convenient, middle-ground solution. It is not always a problem solver, but its ability to help with managing mental and physical problems that are otherwise overwhelming is undeniably impressive, and when you buy CBD oil you have plenty of options for how you use it.

Cannabis News

Social Equity Partners is Available For Arizona Applicants

Published

2 days ago

January 21, 2021

Daniel King

With the passage of prop 207, legal cannabis sales for recreational purposes become a new norm for Arizona residents. The legal cannabis market is a multi-billion dollar industry with a projected worth of $73 billion globally by 2027. That’s why it is important for local residents of Arizona to look for partnerships that benefit local communities within Arizona instead of foreign corporations.

Social Equity Partners’ mission is to assist Arizona residents who were convicted of non-violent cannabis felonies to apply for adult-use marijuana dispensary and cultivation establishment licenses through the program offered by Social Equity Partners. Their goal is to offer Arizona residents with cannabis convictions extensive support in receiving a license and establishing a cannabis business through the Social Equity Program. The founder Thomas Lopez was convicted in 2001 by the State of Arizona with a felony for marijuana possession. He understands the obstacles of what it takes to have personal and professional growth after a criminal conviction which is why he founded Social Equity Partners.

Under the ELEVATE brand label, one of the services that Social Equity Partners offers is access to their fully conceptualized dispensary. ELEVATE is a boutique dispensary with the aim to modernize and deliver the highest-quality marijuana products, with locations planned for Sunnyslope, Glendale and Tempe. ELEVATE aims to serve the local communities of Arizona as a small independent business that keeps money in the community instead of generating profits for foreign corporations while forgetting about the concerns of the local citizens.

Applicants will receive assistance with developing a broad web presence, social media campaigns, and professional branding once accepted into partnering with Social Equity Partners. They will also have access to their pool of local investors who are local community members looking to provide capital for starting dispensaries that benefit local residents instead of funneling money into corporations.

Social Equity Partners will be there to offer assistance during the application process for Arizona residents who are applying with felony cannabis convictions by helping them complete the application, create a compelling business plan, and verify financial requirements. The goal for Social Equity Partners is to ensure that all funding remains local and stays in the community. With this partnership, they believe that applicants have a chance to positively impact their neighborhoods and take part in reinvigorating local economies with locally-based investors’ support.

With a partnership like Social Equity Partners, applicants will have access to full support from land-use lawyers, Realtors, and permitting specialists to help with identifying a site for your cannabis business. Their real estate brokers and lawyers understand the legal requirements for zoning laws for spaces all over Arizona and will help assist partners with finding the right property for their needs. Their partnership increases the likelihood of eligibility for the Social Equity Ownership Program with their proven funding and business plans already in place.

Cannabis News

CBD Trends for 2021: Information You Must Have

Published

4 days ago

January 19, 2021

Jordan Webber

CBD is the non-psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that serves to treat various physical and mental health problems and does not generate addiction nor dependency at all. This ingredient has become highly popular globally because it collaborates in the relief of diverse conditions of physical and mental health. CBD is constantly evolving to offer solutions that improve people’s quality of life. The CBD trends for 2021 are hopeful, as this ingredient will continue to generate benefits for many. Everything you need to know about the trends of CBD for 2021 is below.

Home-grown CBD

Due to the general confinement of Covid-2019, many more people will choose to grow CBD in their home gardens. People want to be self-sufficient because the pandemic is not over yet. Therefore, urban garden sales are predicted to grow throughout 2021.

Dental Hygiene

Several international companies are manufacturing dental hygiene products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes. The components of CBD would serve to improve oral conditions, preventing cavities and gingivitis. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can also help as an antibiotic for a toothache.

A new drink

CBD seeks to succeed in the beverage industry in 2021. Several drink manufacturing companies are teaming up with those that cultivated cannabis to create drinks based on an infusion of CBD along with other popular drink flavors. This would be an excellent alternative for those who want to drink something more natural. More and more people are rejecting alcohol, artificial juices, and soft drinks. The CBD industry wants to satisfy those needs, offering a totally natural product.

CBD Mattresses

The CBD industry is increasingly creative and offers solutions for every aspect of daily life. CBD is known to be very effective in relieving insomnia and promoting deep sleep. For this reason, several companies are hoping to launch mattresses and covers based on an infusion of CBD.

A better legal structure

One of the big problems with CBD is that it is not fully legally regulated. For this reason, several companies make claims about the CBD without having a true foundation of facts to prove their claims.

The FDA is going to better regulate CBD during 2021 and that will positively impact the quality of products based on that ingredient.

Highest quality standards

Currently, the quality standard for growing CBD is high. Unfortunately, there is a lot of contaminated land and that affects the quality of CBD negatively. Therefore, many brands must meet the current requirements or they will not be able to continue working. Brands like WillowCBD offer high-quality CBD products for many levels of consumers.

Positive awareness

Until a few years ago people had negative connotations and thoughts about marijuana. Thanks to the spread of the benefits of CBD, people have completely changed their opinion on this substance. Everyone knows that CBD has no hallucinogenic effects. In addition, people know that this ingredient can improve the quality of life in several ways. Fortunately, this positive trend will continue throughout 2021.

Conclusion

The new CBD trends for 2021 look to generate healthy expectations throughout the world. Everyone hopes to improve their quality of life and many people are hopeful that CBD will provide relief to many of their problems. It is advisable to be well informed based on reputable sources.