We all know about the beloved active chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC. It’s an amazing painkiller and appetite stimulant that can encourage a feeling of calm in those who partake. It can also give you a sense of euphoria, sedation and drowsiness in the form of that familiar psychoactive high.
However, cannabis with high THC content isn’t the only cannabinoid patients and consumers are looking for in their plant.
Of the two most popular and well-known cannabinoids found in marijuana, aside from THC, cannabidiol, or CBD, is the other. While CBD does not offer any psychoactive effects, what it does do is provide pain relief, plus relief from inflammation, seizures and anxiety. In other words, while CBD offers an array of medicinal benefits, it doesn’t get you high the way that THC would. Notable strains that are known for being high in CBD include ACDC, Harlequin and Sour Tsunami.
As high-CBD strains become increasingly popular among people who don’t want to feel stoned but who do want to enjoy the array of medicinal benefits cannabis can offer, now is a great time to diversify your grow operation and your income with such strains. The following outlines five reasons why growing strains bred for their CBD content is a must as legalization spreads across the world.
1. CBD Made From Hemp Can Be Sold Anywhere — Sort Of
First, to clarify: According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the federal government has ruled that CBD products made from industrial hemp are legal, as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC.
So, that tincture of CBD sold at your local grocery store is not derived from cannabis sativa, but from hemp. Sure, hemp may not be the plant you’ve always dreamed of growing. However, diversifying what you grow will give you multiple streams of income.
While it’s true that only CBD extracted from hemp can be legally sold outside a dispensary (and is subject to various state legislation), there is still value in growing CBD from cannabis. Indeed, more patients are looking for CBD-dominant strains to ingest.
Generally, CBD derived from cannabis versus hemp will have more medicinal benefits than hemp-derived CBD. Hemp, of course, is an industrial plant, while cannabis is a medical plant that has a wider range of cannabinoids, including a higher percentage of THC, making it superior to its hemp rival.
Because interest in CBD is on the uptick and really quite new, there isn’t a go-to brand that everyone looks for — yet. Could you be that brand?
2. CBD Won’t Get You High
A lot of people want psychoactivity, or a head high, when they ingest flower. But not everyone in need of cannabis wants to feel stoned. For people who desire a clear head, CBD-dominant strains are the obvious choice.
Strains high in CBD can be a great choice when faced with a busy workday. It’s also a natural choice for the more senior consumer who is still hesitant to consume cannabis because of the stigma attached. Regardless of the reason why patients don’t want to get high, CBD can provide much-needed medical relief without the impairment caused by the headspace change of THC.
3. CBD Has Many Medicinal Benefits
CBD has countless medicinal benefits, which is why many medical patients are seeking CBD-dominant plants over high-THC strains and pharmaceuticals. The following are a few of the major health advantages of consuming CBD:
- CBD is a potent antioxidant that has significant antiepileptic healing properties. The US National Institutes of Health released a review that describes CBD as a powerful neuroprotective antioxidant that also displays antiepileptic properties and can help reduce the amount and severity of seizures in patients who live with epilepsy.
- CBD helps reduce inflammation, which makes it an effective medication for pain management. This is a game changer for those afflicted with chronic pain, because unlike prescription meds and opiates, CBD doesn’t come with a litany of side effects or the danger of addiction.
- CBD helps reduce anxiety. Those with post-traumatic stress disorder and general anxiety disorders can see an improved quality of life with their use of CBD, which also increases pleasure and blocks memory processes, thus reducing the incidents of flashbacks.
- CBD inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- CBD helps in the reduction, occurrence and onset of Type 1 diabetes, according to The Diabetes Council.
- CBD helps with focus. Those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder find CBD as helpful as pharmaceuticals.
- CBD is an appetite suppressant, which is great for those seeking weight management or if you’re concerned about the munchies.
This is the chemical formula of cannabidiol, better known as CBD.
4. CBD Is Rising In Popularity And In Sales
As already mentioned, CBD is gaining in popularity as cannabis education evolves and legalization spreads. Certainly, CBD sales have tripled in the last three years, and that’s very promising for the huge growth the cannabis industry will see by 2020, with sales projected in the region of $24 billion.
According to some reputable business journals and data-driven cannabis companies, the total market size of the legal marijuana industry is growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 16 percent. This marks a prime time to start investing in as many facets of the cannabis industry as your business plan can tackle. So, with the increasing popularity in CBD, it would be foolish to ignore the potential sales of high-CBD strains.
5. CBD Is Great For THC Tolerance Breaks
A tolerance break, or T break, is when a patient or consumer takes a break from THC to lower their tolerance to the plant’s psychoactive properties. While microdosing is also a solution to lowering THC tolerance, some users might lack the self-control or willpower to lessen their dosage. Aside from lack of willpower, patients might not want to lower their dose for fear of their depression or chronic body pain making an unwelcome comeback.
Fortunately, CBD strains are a great alternative to tolerance breaks. Users can get many of the mood enhancing and physical benefits they normally associate with THC while reducing their THC tolerance. Be sure to tell your patients to do their research, though. CBD doesn’t alleviate the same ailments that THC does, and different ratios offer different healing properties. For example, a 1:1 CBD/THC tincture is more psychoactive than a 4:1, and pure CBD tinctures won’t help with neuropathy like a 1:1 would.
Lastly, if the person taking a tolerance break also struggles with an oral fixation, then a CBD joint will get them through their hiatus. They can either mix a CBD strain in with their favorite high-THC strain, or go cold turkey and smoke all the CBD their lungs can take. Dabbers can also dab CBD live resin and crystalline, and vaporizer fans can enjoy the perks of CBD as well.
While you continue to arm yourself with the knowledge of cannabinoids, their various outcomes, and the strains to grow to appease recreational and medical customers alike, know that the power to grow successfully and become a budding ganjapreneur is in your hands.
