What is CBD?

It is probable no surprise you have heard of cannabis, but do you know about CBD? The cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, CBD, is what you are seeing in today's headlines.

Although cannabis has been around for centuries, it wasn't until the 1940's that we see the first medicinal study with single cannabinoids, Loewe’s Studies. In short, this study found cannabinoids exhibiting structure - activity relationships (SAR), CBD lacked psychotropic activity, and in high doses CBD actually prolonged sleep. More studies were conducted in the 1960’s – 70’s in response to the recreational use of cannabis, unfortunately there was not any interest in the therapeutic properties of cannabinoids instead, focusing on the psychoactive properties.

President Nixon further suppressed cannabis, declaring a War against drug abuse and placing Cannabis in the most restrictive Category 1 class, meaning no use in medicinal practice. Reagan administration followed with extensive anti-drug campaigns persisting well into the 2000’s, “just say no” & “Stop the madness”.

In an attempt to prove cannabis' damaging effects, the Reagan Administration actually discovered the Endocannabinoid system and shortly thereafter phytocannabinoids were discovered. It is with these discoveries, we are able to shift today's attitude towards cannabis, redefining cannabis as medicinal. The most recent impact was the 2018 Farm Bill, legalizing hemp and hemp derived products. With new found legalization, Hemp derived CBD is beginning to pave it's way into our everyday lives.

Hemp and Marijuana both come from the same plant family, cannabis. Within cannabis are two classifications; Indica and Sativa. Hemp is strictly derived from the Sativa family.

Hemp features skinny leaves that are concentrated towards the top of the plant, which grow tall and skinny having few branches beneath its upper portion. Marijuana plants are known to be dense, with broad leaves, appearing much more short and bushy in stature.

Cannabinoids can be found in both Sativa and Indica, the most dominant being Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). THC levels play a crucial role in differentiation, as Hemp contains very low concentrates of THC, less then 0.3%, and Marijuana upwards of 15-30%.

Cannabinoids are compounds found within plants, most famously Cannabis, that help supplement the human bodies naturally occurring endocannabinoids. There are currently 100+ identified cannabinoids, known to synthesize with the human body through receptors. These receptors are responsible for regulating the Endocannabinoid system. There are three main types of Cannabinoids; Phytocannabinoids, Endocannabinoids, and Synthetic cannabinoids.

• Phytocannabinoids Phyto, meaning plant, are compounds found within the cannabis plant such as; THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, CBC, and 95+ others. Phytocannabinoids can be further classified as Psychoactive and Non-Psychoactive, below are some of the most studied psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabinoids;
  • Psychoactive – Mind altering
    • Cannabinol CBN
    • Cannabinodiol CBDL
    • Delta -9- tetrahydrocannabinol THC
  • Non-psychoactive
    • Cannabigerol CBG
    • Cannabichromenes CBC
    • Cannabidiol CBD
• Endocannabinoids Endo, meaning within, are naturally occuring cannabinoids within the human body. One of the most commonly known is Anandamide (AEA), nicknamed the “bliss molecule”. These compounds play a crucial role in regulating our physiology, mood, and everyday experiences.
• Synthetic cannabinoids are developed within laboratories, mimicking the same properties as phytocannabinoids, but having the ability to be up to 600 times stronger then naturally occurring phytocannabinoids.

CB1 & CB2 receptors

The human body, and all mammals actually, are known to have at least two cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are predominately found in our brain and nervous system, as well as lungs, liver and kidneys. CB2 receptors are predominately found within our immune system, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract. CB2 receptors bind best with CBD allowing regulation of appetite, and immune system functions such as inflammation and pain management. An easy way to understand this is to think of cannabinoids and receptors like a lock and key. When you feed your body CBD (key), it circulates through in search of receptors (locks) to bind to. Once the CBD (key) binds to your bodies receptors (lock), it will unlock messages that are then sent throughout your body to help regulate overall health and well-being. This network is known as your Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

Endocannabinoid System

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is one of the body’s largest neurotransmitter networks working to achieve homeostasis, or balance, to keep us healthy. Our ECS is composed of three distinct components; Cannabinoids (keys), Receptors (lock), and Regulatory Enzymes to control and process the cannabinoids. Cannabinoids naturally look for receptors to unlock within your brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. Synthesizing cannabinoids with our ECS creates balance and regulation of our bodily functions. Our ECS is known to regulate our physiological processes effecting our everyday experiences, like our mood, energy levels, immune activity, and how we experience pain, stress, hunger, sleep, and overall mental clarity. It is important for our overall health and well being that our ECS remains balanced and nourished.

Scientist continue to study cannabinoids and our receptors, however receptors within the human body are as unique as fingerprints. CB1 and CB2 receptors are known to vary drastically, from location to density within our body. This variance, known as Receptor Expressions, has made it difficult to study Cannabis medically as two people can have drastically different experiences consuming the same exact cannabis. With that said, CBD has been one of the most studied cannabinoids, below are some observed benefits;

• Boost Immune System
• Relieves Anxiety
• Regulates Appetite
  • Relieves Nausea
• Optimizes Brain Health
• Reduce Seizures and Muscle Spasms
• Analgesic
• Anti – inflammatory
• Promotes bone growth
• Regulates and Improves Quality of Sleep
• Clinical trials.gov - Stay up to date with the latest studies that are being conducted with CBD, also known as cannabidiol. Do note, it is always important to understand these three questions when reviewing clinical trials;
  1. What was the mode of delivery? How did the users consume CBD? Sublingually, Vape, Smoke, Ingestion, topical, etc.
  2. Was the CBD plant derived or synthetic?
  3. What was the CBD and THC content?

Terpenes, or terpenoids, are the aromatic compounds found within the oils of all plants, framing their smell and taste. Terpenes have been used for centuries to create perfumes, essential oils, spices, and aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is one of the oldest known practices utilizing Terpenes for overall health and well being. Terpenes are known to have their own effects on the body, acting as antidepressants, regulating emotions and pleasure experiences. Most recent research indicates that cannabinoids and Terpenes actually work synergistically creating the Entourage Effect. The entourage effect magnifies the therapeutic benefits of the plant’s individual components, meaning terpenes and cannabinoids work better together then individually. Thus the entourage effect can only be achieved with whole plant extracts, not isolates. There are over 200+ known Terpenes within Cannabis, each having their own therapeutic attributes.

As with any change of lifestyle and/or diet, you should always consult with your physician first. We are not doctors, and are only able to provide information that is available to the general public. World Health Organization has completed a Critical Review Report around CBD concluding that in Humans, CBD is not addictive and was reported as generally safe and well tolerated by humans.

So how much CBD should one consume? Remember, everybody is different, our receptors are as unique as our fingerprints, so always do what works best for you. It may be best to start your CBD routine in the afternoon to understand how your body will metabolize and respond to CBD, starting slow adjusting dosage as you feel necessary. Each serving is 1ml, making each bottle about a 30-day supply. Users are recommended to take 1-2 servings orally per day, dripping the CBD Oil under the bottom of your tongue and let sit for about 30 seconds before swallowing. If you prefer, you can also add a serving to your coffee, tea, or smoothie.

How much CBD is in each drop? 

Below are a few different resources available to better understand the legalities around Hemp and hemp derived products within your region.

• 2018 Farm Bill  legalized hemp to become a mainstream agricultural product, explicitly allowing hemp-derived CBD products to be transferred across state lines. These changes were followed by removal of hemp-derived CBD oil from the federal Controlled Substance Act, decriminalizing hemp across all 50 states at the federal level.
• State by state legislature View Hemp programs by state to better understand legalities in your area.
• US Hemp Certified Authority is an industry initiative helping to raise standards within the hemp industry so that consumers may have confidence in their Hemp products. Listed first on their list of Certified companies is our manufacture partner, Balanced Health Botanicals.

Our mission is to provide premium CBD oil, extracted from hemp. We utilize C02 extractions, which is known to be one of the cleanest methods. CO2 not only provides the best results for your health but also leaves behind the least impact on our environment. C02 extractions involve filtering the plants through a series of chambers that control temperature and pressure. When different temperatures and units of pressure are applied to the hemp plant, the system is able to isolate cannabinoids at a 90% efficiency. Once extracted, we must remove unwanted phytochemicals from the cannabinoids, this is known as chromatography. The next step of the process is called decarboxylation. Decarboxylation involves heating the cannabinoids to a form allowing them to immediately interact with the endocannabinoid system making the compound more usable throughout the body. When the extracted oil is decarboxylated it is converted from CBDA to CBD, thus removing the acid form so it’s readily bio available. Once decarboxylated, the CBD oil is ready for consumption.

We recommend speaking with your physician further about this topic, as most drug test are screening for THC, not CBD. World Health Organization has concluded that CBD does not metabolize into THC within the human body after consumption. Additionally, high dosages of CBD do not cause THC-like effects, ie mind altering, impairments, increased heart rate, dry mouth etc. All Organix Supply Co. products fall within the legal limit of less than 3% THC.

• Third party testing? Yes! We test each and every batch of product, click here to see your results.
• Does CBD oil expire? CBD oil is best when used within one year from manufactured date. Each product is labeled with an expiration date on the bottom of the bottle, generally it is best to stick to this date.
• Storing your CBD. You should always store your CBD products in a cool, dark, dry place. Keeping out of direct sunlight to prolong the shelf life.

Want to read more? Check out our Education page to read the most up to date news, articles, journals, studies, and blogs dedicated to Cannabis, Cannabinoids, Endocannabinoid System, and your rights.