With the very recent presidential signing of the Farm Bill, industrial hemp is now legal for all uses in the United States. According to Market Watch, this legalization “could loosen laws around the popular hemp extract CBD […]. Industrial hemp has made investors and executives swoon because of the potential multibillion-dollar market” for CBD, which is popping up more and more in beverages, pet snacks, and a plethora of health products.
What this means
The farm bill is a sprawling piece of legislation that sets U.S. government agricultural and food policy for the country and is renewed roughly every five years. This version of the bill places industrial hemp — which is defined as a cannabis plant with under 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — under the supervision of the Agriculture Department and removes CBD from the purview of the Controlled Substances Act, which covers marijuana. The law also “explicitly” preserved the Food and Drug Administration’s authority to regulate products containing cannabis, or cannabis-derived compounds. The overall effect is not assured because, like cannabis — which is illegal under U.S. federal law although some states have allowed medical or recreational use — states will continue to be able to enact laws related to CBD and industrial hemp, allowing for a potential patchwork of legislation across the country. Other questions remain in terms of how exactly the Agriculture Department will regulate the plant (marketwatch).
What is CBD?
With progress in motion, let’s take a look at what CBD has to offer your current and future customers.
One of the 100+ cannabinoids found in cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) is not only therapeutic, but also non-psychoactive. This means that, unlike THC, it does not produce the ‘high’ associated with cannabis use (canabomedicalclinic).
What can CBD Oil do?
Among the many benefits, CBD oil can:
1. Ease anxiety
While it is most commonly used to treat physiological symptoms, there is a growing body of research that indicates CBD can also be used in therapy for mental health conditions, including anxiety. In one study, the University of Sao Paulo found that CBD considerably lessens subjective anxiety, leading investigators to conclude “these results suggest that CBD reduces anxiety in [social anxiety disorder] and that is related to its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas” (canabomedicalclinic).
2. Pain Relief
The most popular benefit of CBD oil is its pain-relieving effects. It is believed that CBD interacts with receptors in the brain and immune system to diminish inflammation and lessen pain. Not only can CBD help those suffering from conditions such as arthritis, this phytocannabinoid can do so without causing adverse side effects.
3. Ward off seizures
Seizures occur when there is a dramatic fluctuation of electrical activity in the brain. CBD has shown its anti-seizure agency, but science has only recently confirmed this link. In fact, “a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine explored the effect of CBD medication on young adults with Dravet syndrome, a rare type of epilepsy with seizures that are often induced by fever.” The people who received CBD reported their seizure frequency dropped by a median of 38.9 %.
4. Fight cancer
While research continues, CBD might be valuable in the treatment of cancer in a variety of ways. CBD, along with several other compounds found in cannabis have an antitumor effect and has the potential to amplify the death of tumor cells in both leukemia and colon cancer. The majority of CBD and cancer studies are pre-clinical, so they are not conducted on human or even mammalian test subjects, and while the findings are promising, they must not be taken as proof that CBD can cure cancer.
5. Lower the risk of diabetes
Though not usually in the spotlight, CBD oil has the ability to lower the risk of developing diabetes. Neuropharmacology published a study in which researchers explored the effect(s) of CBD on non-obese diabetes-prone female mice. 32% of the mice that received the CBD were diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 100% of the group that did not receive CBD (canabomedicalclinic).
In what forms can CBD be taken?
- Tinctures or CBD drops
- Encapsulated CBD oil
- CBD-infused chewing gum
- Dissolvable powders
- CBD-infused edibles—gummies or brownies, for example
- Topical patches
There is a lot to soak in. And you may have many questions about manufacturing this herbal supplement. The good thing is that we have all the answers. If you are interested in learning more about CBD supplements, please call Makers Nutrition at 1-844-625-3771 to speak with one of our experts.
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