HEMP BASICS
FOR EVERY CLINICIAN

Total cannabidiol (CBD) sales in the US skyrocketed from 108 million dollars in 2014 to a projected 1.8 billion dollars in 2022, according to Statista Research Service. Due to increased education and research data on the benefits of hemp, the scope of including its use in clinical settings is increasing. Traditionally, hemp research has focused on pain and stress-related issues, but ongoing clinical studies are addressing women’s health, sleep, skincare, and cognitive health.

Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana

Educating patients on the difference between hemp and marijuana is important since its use is still relatively novel for many people. Hemp and marijuana come from the same cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa; however, hemp is defined as the cannabis plant that contains 0.3% or less tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by dry weight, and marijuana is the term used for plants containing greater than 0.3% THC. THC is the compound delivering the psychotropic effects of “getting high,” while cannabinoids are the main non-psychoactive ingredients in cannabis found to yield health benefits because of their action in the endocannabinoid system.

Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signaling system that supports vital functions, keeping physiological regulation pathways in the body balanced. Endocannabinoids are molecules made by the body that are similar to cannabinoids.

The two key endocannabinoids that the body produces on an as-needed basis include anandamide (AEA) and 2- arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG). While research has linked the ECS to numerous processes, experts have yet to determine all of its potential functions. According to researchers, “It is critical to keep in mind that the study of the endocannabinoid system should be region- and condition specific, along with the consideration of other neurotransmission systems.”

The ECS is made up of two different kinds of receptors, CB1 and CB2, which are expressed in the brain and immune system, respectively. They act as messengers, giving different directions for what the body should do. BCB1 receptors are found throughout the body, but mostly in the brain and spinal cord. There are CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus, involved in appetite regulation and the amygdala, which plays a role in memory and emotional processing. CB2 receptors are found throughout the central nervous system; they are especially concentrated in immune cells. When CB2 receptors are activated, they work to support healthy inflammatory pathways.

Overall, the ECS is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, the process of optimizing a normal balance in the body and its systems; hemp compounds found in full-spectrum hemp oil are active at the ECS receptors and support the ECS in maintaining homeostasis.

Hemp Purity

According to a 2017 JAMA study, 70% of CBD products did not meet label claims, and the FDA claims an even greater 91% of hemp-derived products either did not meet label claims or were adulterated. At Biotics Research, we pride ourselves in third-party testing each of our hemp products twice, to doubly verify purity and high quality.