what is CBD?
Hemp v. Marijuana
It is fairly common to believe that hemp and marijuana are two different species of plant.
In fact, they are not distinct species at all. They are simply two different names for two types of cannabis, a flowering plant belonging to the Cannabaceae family.
Science does not differentiate between hemp and marijuana. However, legally, there is a distinction. The legal difference between the two pertains to the concentration of Tetrahydracannabinol (THC) which is more prevalent in legally classified marijuana than in hemp. THC is the component primarily responsible for the psychoactive effect of marijuana, i.e. the "high". To be called hemp, the THC concentration must be less than .3% by dry volume of present cannabinoids. At such a low concentration, it is generally understood that hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids do not lead to any psychoactive effects.
Why .3%?
Interestingly, it appears to be arbitrary. In the 1979 book "The Species Problem in Cannabis: Science & Semantics", author Ernest Small broached the idea that distinguishing hemp from cannabis is exceedingly difficult as there is no actual taxonomical difference between the two. In offering a scientific and measureable solution, he proposed the .3% rule as a distinguishing factor, further citing in the book that the number is arbitrary. However, with the passage of the Agricultural Act of 2018, .3% THC content became the rule. The act further made the cultivation and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products legal at the federal level. While there are some specific state regulations around hemp-derived products, generally they are legal in all 50 states.
CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the two most prevalent derivative components of the cannabis plant. The other component, noted above, is Tetrahydracannabinol (THC). Hemp contains far higher concentrations of CBD than THC. This makes hemp-derived CBD far more efficient for extraction and far more inclusive of the additional beneficial cannabinoids.
Among the 100+ cannabinoids found in hemp, CBD and its precursor acid, CBDa are present in the highest concentrations. Without getting too deep into the "weeds", the cannabinoids present have their own distinct benefits to the human endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system helps the body maintain homeostasis, or balance. With studied impacts across a spectrum of health and wellness issues, CBD is quickly creating a name for itself as a beneficial health supplement with potential for advanced therapeutic applications. While currently not FDA approved as a dietary supplement, CBD has become widely available online and in tens of thousands of brick and mortar retail locations. With this surge, however, it can be noted that all CBD products are not the same and it is wise to put a little effort into learning the oil derivation, cultivation and processing methods. As CBD products are currently unregulated, quality among brands tends to vary. Knowing as much about your product as possible will help you make the best choice for you, and better the chances that the product you do choose is exactly what the manufacturer claims. This is why we put the effort into detailing everything about our plants, our farm, and our hand-crafted, small-batch process. Although we are of course biased, we feel that you will be hard pressed to find a better quality or more natural product on the market.
Many people support the use of CBD for various health-related issues from sleep quality to pain management. Additionally, there have been and will likely continue to be, studies examining potential medical uses for CBD. To date, the FDA has only approved 1 drug containing a purified form of CBD to treat two rare types of epilepsy. For proponents of a CBD regimen, among mutliple other applications, CBD can potentially offer benefits related to:
Acne Anorexia Anxiety
Chronic pain Depression Drug addiction/withdrawal
Epilepsy Glaucoma Hypertension
Insomnia Muscle spasms Parkinson's
Appetite regulation Gut/bowel regulation Arthritis
Cancer treatment support Skin health Inflammation
The Entourage Effect
Defined as the theory that all of the components in cannabis work together, and when taken together, produce a more beneficial effect than when taken alone. vtbio believes that the entourage effect holds merit. An early review of studies from 2011 in the British Journal of Pharmacology outlines the scientific bases behind the effect in cannabis. Noting the strongest synergies across psychopharmacological and dermatological applications, the review concludes significant promise for multiple applications and warrants further study. Being 2021 now, further study has progressed, and with the passage of the Agricultural Act of 2018, is gaining momentum.
vtbio embraces the concept of the entourage effect by simple dedication to our maintenance of all natural components of our harvest yields. We refuse to chemically alter, or in any way other than heat decarboxylation, alter, add or remove any natural components. Further, through personal and family use, recipe and proportional mixing, we have tested our CBD in various forms from isolate (CBD only), and full spectrum (all components), to CBDa only (prior to decarboxylation). In all cases, positive results were recognized. However, just as prevalent, results varied based on individual physiology, i.e. for some, CBDa is more effective than CBD, or full spectrum CBD offers more noticable benefits than isolate. It seems that like fingerprints, everyone is unique and that uniqueness has its own interactive qualities with CBD.
We recommend starting slow. Monitor how you feel. Monitor how you sleep. Describing the impact of CBD is difficult. Most commonly, we simply say that it makes everything just a little bit better. Minor aches and pains tend to fade, sleep is deeper, waking is easier, fatigue largely becomes a non-issue.