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There are over a hundred described cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, the most well known of which are THC and CBD. Another cannabinoid that is currently getting more attention for medicinal and health benefits is the cannabinoid CBN, or cannabinol. Reports have suggested that CBN may have beneficial properties including antibacterial or antifungal effects and can aid in the treatment of cancers, psoriasis, glaucoma, arthritis, ALS, and other diseases. However, the science behind these claims is currently in the elementary stages, and many more studies are needed before the actual effects of CBN on human health can be elucidated and proven. In this article, we will review some of the preliminary studies leading to these claims to highlight some of the areas in which researchers are currently exploring regarding the potential for CBN.

What is CBN?

CBN, or cannabinol, is not produced directly in the cannabis plant but is actually a derivative of the cannabinoid THC. As THC ages or is exposed to light is undergoes a chemical transition that leads to the formation of CBN. This means that cannabis which is stored for longer periods will have higher levels of CBN. The chemical structure of CBN varies, and there are 7 different subtypes. Chemical analysis of CBN have found it to be an agonist of the body’s CB-2 receptors, and thus is likely to have immunosuppressive properties without any psychoactive effects, similar to CBD. However, some studies have claimed it may work synergistically with THC to increase the euphoric highs and sedative effects from cannabis smoking, although this remains to be proven conclusively and no mechanistic explanation has yet been offered.

Health claims made for CBN

Increasingly, cannabis products are being made available that include CBN in addition to THC or CBD under the assumption that it has added benefits in the treatment of certain health conditions. However, unlike THC or CBD, no synthetic versions have been patented by pharmaceutical companies, indicating that the available science supporting these claims is lacking. As no synthetic versions are available for study, it is currently impossible to link any mechanistic or quantitative data to the perceived effects. The studies which have been done on CBN have shown some promise however in the following areas:

Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects – A 2009 study found that one of the products of the breakdown of CBN had “moderate antimicrobial activity” in regards to the bacteria Mycobacterium intracellulare which causes infections in immunosuppressed patients, such as those with AIDS. It also showed “good” Staphylococcus aureus activity (the cause of many upper respiratory and skin Staph infections). Lastly, it exhibited good antifungal activity against Candida albicans, a fungus that often affects cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and those on immunosuppressive drugs. At this time, no other studies have been completed to collaborate these claims.

Anticonvulsants effects – A 1973 study looked at the anticonvulsant effects of cannabinoids in seizures induced in rats through electroshocks. It was found that THC, CBD, and CBN all had anticonvulsant effects in the rats. The effects, however, were more pronounced with THC and CBD than with CBN. Further studies have shown cannabis to be an effective treatment for some types of seizures, however, no other studies are currently available on the role that CBN plays in regards to other cannabinoids in the plant.

Cancer – Very little information is currently available regarding the cancer-fighting properties of CBN, although in studies it has been indicated that it may assist in the cancer-fighting abilities of chemotherapy drugs such as Ara-C. A 1975 study found that mice treated with CBN had reduced tumor size and increased survival time over control in the treatment of a type of tumor known as Lewis Lung Adenocarcinoma. This effect has not yet been replicated in other types of cancer for CBN, and more studies are needed before any conclusions can be made. It may, however, be useful in the treatment of the symptoms associated with cancer treatment by acting as an appetite stimulant. A 2012 study in rats found that CBN “significantly” increased appetite and food consumption, while CBD reduced it.

ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease – ALS is a degenerative motor neuron disease for which there is usually no known cause, and currently no cure. A 2005 study using mice found that CBN administered subcutaneously was effective in delaying the onset of disease. However, no decrease in overall mortality rates was observed. No human trials have yet been published, according to our research.

Sleep-Aid – Claims have been made regarding the sleep-aiding properties of CBN, and now it is included in some cannabis edibles marketed as sleep aids. This is most likely based on the user-hypothesis that indica strains have a higher proportion of CBN (a theory which is largely unfounded). This theory was originally advanced by a 1973 study which concluded that CBN increased the effectiveness of THC in aiding in sleep. However, no subsequent studies have been done to collaborate this claim, and the original study was not well designed and has been largely questioned.

Glaucoma– CBN has been thought to aid in decreasing intraocular pressure in patients suffering from glaucoma, as was briefly mentioned in a 2007 review although no comprehensive studies have been undertaken.

Arthritis – CBD has been shown to reduce inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis through interaction with the CB-2 receptors in the peripheral nervous system. Similar action is suspected with CBN, and a 2016 review indicated that it has been shown to reduce symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. However, no controlled clinical trials have been completed to confirm or refute this claim.

Other findings regarding CBN

Bronchodilator effects – A study conducted in 1983 looked at the bronchodilator effects of different cannabinoids abundant in the cannabis plant. Bronchodilators are helpful in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory issues. It was concluded that THC is an effective bronchodilator, however, both CBD and CBN were not.

Testosterone Levels – It has been claimed that cannabis consumption reduces testosterone levels in men, and in a 1976 study involving extracted mice testicles it was found that CBN decreased plasma testosterone levels. However, this study has not been repeated in vivo nor in humans.

The evidence for the medicinal and health benefits of the cannabis is growing rapidly, and controlled clinical trials involving THC and CBD are leading to more widespread acceptance in the scientific community. At this time, however, the same cannot be said for cannabinol, or CBN. Although there are some preliminary studies that have introduced some room for optimism, none of the currently available science is strong enough to make conclusions for or against the compound’s effect on human health or in the treatment of any diseases.

Five years after Washington launched its pioneering legal marijuana market, officials are proposing an overhaul of the state’s industry rules, with plans for boosting minority ownership of cannabis businesses, paving the way for home deliveries of medical cannabis and letting the smallest growers increase the size of their operations to become more competitive.

Liquor and Cannabis Board Director Rick Garza detailed the proposals — part of what the board calls “Cannabis 2.0” — in an interview with The Associated Press. It’s an effort to picture what the legal marijuana market will look like over the next five years, after spending the past five years largely regulating by reaction as the difficulties of building an industry from infancy absorbed the agency’s attention.

“We’ve typically been so challenged with the issues of the day we haven’t been looking out long-term to determine what the future looks like,” Garza said.

The board has been freeing up its bandwidth by coordinating with other agencies to share the responsibility of regulating the market, such as having the Department of Ecology oversee the certification of marijuana testing labs and the Department of Financial Institutions examine the sometimes complicated ownership structures of licensed cannabis businesses.

One big-picture issue the board could rethink is whether to abandon the state’s seed-to-sale marijuana tracking program, which has long been beset by software issues, sometimes grinding business to a halt, in favor of a system where businesses report their transactions to the board and are then audited. Another is whether to prepare to allow marijuana exports, as Oregon did this year, in the event the federal government approves it.

For the next session of the Legislature, the board has proposed two bills. One would create what some critics describe as a long-overdue “social equity” program, encouraging greater ownership of marijuana businesses by minorities, women and military veterans. Part of the rationale of legalizing marijuana in Washington state in 2012 was to remedy the disproportionate effect the drug war has had on people of color, but minority ownership of cannabis businesses in the state remains paltry.

While Washington is not currently issuing any more marijuana licenses, 11 of the more than 500 retailers have surrendered their licenses, Garza said. Under the board’s proposal, those could be reissued, or, if cities or counties agree to increase the number of marijuana shops within their boundaries, new licenses could be granted — this time, to participants in the social equity program.

Businesses would be eligible if they are owned by a woman, minority or veteran, or if a majority of its ownership group are members of a “protected class” under state anti-discrimination law. Applicants would be barred from consideration if any owner already has a majority share of another cannabis retail license.

The legislation would also create a technical assistance program run by the Department of Commerce that would provide grants totaling at least $100,000 per year to help minority-, woman- or veteran-owned businesses navigate the licensing process, receive compliance and financial training, and buy equipment, software or facilities.

The Washington CannaBusiness Association, an industry group, said it agrees there is a need for a social equity program, and it’s been working on its own version.

“We think there’s an opportunity to go even beyond” what the board is proposing, said spokesman Aaron Pickus.

Another legislative proposal would allow struggling “tier one” producers — the smallest size, limited to 2,000 square feet (186 square meters) of plants — to sell medical-grade product directly to the state’s 36,000 registered marijuana patients. The patients have long complained that they have a hard time finding medical-grade cannabis, which must go through additional testing for pesticides and heavy metals, in retail stores, and Garza said the proposal could help the patients while giving the growers an incentive to offer more medically compliant product.

The tier-one growers could sell to patients onsite, with other growers at indoor farmers-market-style locations, or by delivery, Garza said. Local jurisdictions would have to approve, and to avoid competition with other licensed retailers, the growers or farmers markets would have to be at least 3 miles (4.8 km) away from established retailers.

Any proposal to allow delivery or sales by small growers is certain to be controversial, as other retailers might object to additional competition. Garza said the board will consider industry feedback.

“There’s going to be real concerns by retailers out there,” he said. “If we’re going to do that, we’ve got to be cautious.”

Even more significantly for the smallest growers, the board wants to allow them to expand, first to 5,000 square feet (465 square meters) and then possibly to 8,000 square feet (743 square meters). Those producers have long complained the tier-one licenses, designed to ensure craft growers have a place in the market, are so restrictive that they can’t succeed. Though they must make similar investments in security, insurance and product tracking as the largest growers, they are allowed to grow and sell only tiny fraction of what the largest growers produce.

Paige Berger, CEO of Hygge Farms in Onalaska, said she’s excited about the board’s proposal. She initially obtained a tier-one license because she didn’t have enough money to invest in a larger operation. Now, she said, she’s hamstrung by her limited size: She can only produce enough marijuana to have product in 10 licensed cannabis shops.

“I can’t get out there and expand my brand to what I think it could do,” Berger said.

Country music star Willie Nelson is expanding his line of hemp products to cater to pets with a new line of specialized CBD products for dogs, cats and horses. 

The longtime pot advocate already has a cannabis company that sells many different products from pre-rolled joints to edibles, but now Nelson and his wife Annie are releasing a range tailored specifically for pets. 

Willie’s Rescue, which debuted this weekend in Las Vegas, features a line-up of hemp products for internal and external use in dogs, cats, and horses designed to “positively impact the lives of companion animals,” according to Vice President of Brands at GCH, which owns Nelson’s company.

“As longtime animal advocates and pet owners, our family believes that the hemp plant has benefited our own animals. We want you and your best friends to experience the potential benefits of hemp. That’s why we created Willie’s Rescue and are donating a portion of each sale to help find loving homes for animals in need,” Willie and Annie said in a statement.

The company also added that veteran experts in pet care worked on the development of the products, expected to be launched in early 2020. Cannabis oils are used to treat stress, nausea, and anxiety in dogs, although there is some disagreement among veterinarians whether it’s safe for our furry friends.

In spite of this, Willie’s Rescue noted that pet and animal CBD products are a rapidly growing industry predicted to reach a value of $125 million by 2022. A portion of the sales of Willie’s Rescue products will be donated to animal welfare organizations in the country.

Aside from Willie’s Reserve – Nelson’s cannabis business, the Texas music legend owns a brand of hemp CBD products – Willie’s Remedy. The company introduced a CBD-infused whole-bean coffee earlier this year, followed by a hemp oil tincture and is slated to release other products in the coming months. 

“Hemp production in America was stifled for so long, but it could now make all the difference for small independent farmers. Hemp isn’t just good for our farmers and our economy, it’s good for our soil, our environment – and our health,” Nelson said when the brand was launched, highlighting once again the singer’s unwavering support for American farmers and preserving nature.

The Israeli government has reportedly issued seven new medical cannabis cultivation licences in a move that will triple the country’s annual production capacity.

Brlev Agricultural Crops, Elpis Flora, Medical Cannabis Growing, Natali Buskila, Rami Sela, S. Sydan and Shavit Agro are the seven firms given the green light to commence cultivation. They will be able to supply pharmacies across the country by the end of 2019, according to local reports.

The Israeli medicinal cannabis industry will be overhauled on Sunday, when new regulations come into effect. The idea is to stop marijuana produces selling direct to patients, requiring them to supply pharmacies that serve as middlemen instead.

Next month, Israeli marijuana producers must sell 10% of their output through the pharmacies. This figure has to increase by 10% each month and by January 2020 all cannabis must meet GMP standards and go through the official supply channels.

Producers and patients have lambasted the change, as it will mean prices must increase to ensure the pharmacies earn a health margin. Yet the government has added a sweetener by promising to prioritise medical cannabis export licences for the producers that fall in line quickest with the new regulations.

It claims the new supply chain will ensure higher standards of safety and quality, and it knows how desperate producers are to commence exports.

Yet patients fear supply shortages, as growers are forced to adhere to stricter standards in a short period of time, causing a logjam in the production process. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has convened an emergency meeting to discuss the matter next week, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also be involved.

Rivlin decided to act after watching videos featuring impassioned pleas from parents struggling to obtain the CBD oil needed to treat their children’s conditions.

Moshe Bar Siman Tov, director general at the Israeli Ministry of Health, said that supply shortages will soon be a thing of the past as more producers come on stream.

For growing cannabis, indoor operations have become the norm. They’re discreet and owners can precisely control the climate – and their product. When strains have different THC contents and a quality product is the top priority, these indoor operations provide business owners the control they need to develop the exact product their customers want.

However, these facilities also come with extra costs. Space is limited, climate control equipment requires maintenance, and indoor lighting uses a lot of power. Different strategies and technologies can be employed to create a more efficient and sustainable grow operation. The upfront costs may be higher, but if you are willing to let technology take the wheel, the long-term benefits can outweigh the costs.

Vertical growing by Ideal Harvest

Vertical Growing

An easy way to make your grow operation more efficient is to expand up, rather than out. Vertical growing is a popular trend in the cannabis industry that allows for a more environmentally and financially sustainable operation.

“I believe the future of this industry will soon be transitioning to incorporate vertical growing to help maximize square footage while decreasing your carbon footprint,” said Mike Caine, master grower for Ideal Harvest and a past Cannabis Cup Winner. He should know too, as Ideal Harvest is one of the leading vertical grow consultants and providers in the industry.

The benefits, as highlighted by Ideal Harvest CEO Sheryl Mizicko, are many. From an energy standpoint, vertical growing allows you to use one light for two canopies, rather than just one. It also allows for less energy-intensive bulbs, replacing 1000W bulbs with 615-630W options. It also reduces water usage by using drip irrigation and water reclamation strategies.

Additionally, there is a convenience of access; vertical canopies can be serviced and maintained without having to reach into or over the canopy. This helps mitigate pests (mites, mold, bacteria) by reducing human-introduced elements. Prevention on the front end means less need for pesticides later on.

Apart from environmental benefits, vertical canopies can help the operation and business as a whole run more efficiently. With vertical, one person can service the same area in one-half day that it takes two people to do in an entire day. Additionally, fewer pesticides and organic indoor growing help create a better end product, meaning a more satisfied customer.

Automation

“Cannabis, as any other plant, needs a certain temperature, humidity level, and radiation level in order to grow in the most productive way.” This is according to Pieter Kwakernaak, General Manager of Hoogendoorn America, a leader in cannabis and horticulture automation.

Climate control is a major key to indoor cannabis growth. Like any plant, cannabis has specific needs that will determine the highest-quality harvest. “Where are they growing best in outside conditions?” Kwakernaak posed. “India or Jamaica, where it’s very high temperatures. That means in a growing environment, in a greenhouse or in an enclosed room, we mimic the same temperatures where the plant really thrives.”

The best way to achieve this balanced climate control is via automation; a system that monitors and adjusts based on the plant’s needs. In Hoogendoorn’s case, “We do a combination of temperature, humidity, and controlling the light levels,” Kwakernaak explained. “So, on the one hand, that means on a very bright, sunny summer day, we black out the greenhouse in order to mimic shorter days, so that the cannabis can start flowering. On the other hand, we’re also keeping in account that we control the humidity levels because you want to prevent mold in the flowers.”

It’s a delicate process, but one that will likely make or break your grow operation. “I would say the climate, the exact growing climate, is key to success or failure,” Kwakernaak claimed. “If you don’t have the right climate, with too high humidity levels, with too big temperature and humidity swings, then it’s a recipe for disaster, because then the plants are susceptible to diseases. They don’t grow well … It is all about balance … Your relative humidity has to be in balance with CO2, temperature, and radiation. Those four factors all play together in having the ideal climate for the plant.”

Energy

Growing cannabis is energy-intensive. According to MarketWatch, cannabis indoor grow operations account for one percent of electricity consumption in the U.S., approximately 40.3 million kWh per year. To power the lights and climate control systems, these facilities need a lot of power. “They use a lot of energy in a small footprint,” explained John Ryan, head of the financing division at Baker Energy Team. It was cannabis’ energy needs that made it perfect for Baker.

“We focus on the high energy users,” Ryan explained. “We have the ability to go in there and save them at least 10 percent on their current rate … It’s been in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 percent.” Baker works with their partners to develop alternate energy solutions, whether that be solar or wind power, cogeneration, or the development of micro-grids. “What we do is go in and customize the system to the customer’s needs,” Ryan continued. “We’re not out there with a truck full of solar panels … unless you need them. Ultimately, we’ll look at the project … As a rule of thumb, one megawatt of power needs five acres of land. Sometimes you just don’t have that amount of land to do a solar farm, so what we could do is, we’ll come in and do cogeneration and then utilize the rooftops for as much solar as we can.”

In a time when huge companies like Budweiser and a number of automobile makers are shifting their focus toward sustainability, namely cleaner energy, cannabis has the unique opportunity, as a young industry, to brand itself as sustainable. Utilizing alternative energy solutions won’t just benefit the bottom line, but could make cannabis companies champions of sustainability.

Cooling Systems

It’s already been established that a successful grow operations needs rigorous climate control equipment. But how can that equipment be more sustainable? Industrial chillers play a major role in temperature regulation for indoor operations. “The need for temperature control can cross your day in so many ways,” explained Philip Preston, president of PolyScience, manufacturer of liquid temperature control solutions. “It’s an extremely broad range of applications.”

However, these chillers can have an adverse effect on the environment, using valuable energy resources and releasing greenhouse gases in the process. For this reason, PolyScience developed their latest DuraChill line of chilling technology. The new series uses a natural and nontoxic refrigerant-grade propane which can regulate the temperature of your operation, without emitting ozone-depleting greenhouse gases.

The equipment chosen to run a grow operation will ultimately determine the sustainability of said facility – and the owner’s bottom line.

When you first step into the world of cannabinoids and CBD, it can be overwhelming trying to understand the types of CBD products available and how to use them. You’ve likely heard some of the natural balancing benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) and have made the decision to incorporate the supplement into your wellness routine, but perhaps you don’t know exactly how to use CBD oil.

Unlike medical marijuana, hemp CBD oil products are available throughout the United States without a prescription. Hemp-derived products like CBD oil are now legal under federal law, which allows people across the country to take CBD oil and experience its natural benefits. Because of the growing demand for CBD, there are now a wide variety of CBD products to choose from, such as liquids, tinctures, chews, capsules, and topicals. This gives you more choices and an opportunity to find a way to use CBD oil that aligns with your needs and lifestyle.

If you like the idea of using CBD oil, but don’t know how to start, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered! Here are seven different ways to use CBD oil.

1. Swallow and Ingest CBD Oil

Perhaps the most common way to use CBD is simply to swallow pure CBD oil. When you ingest CBD oil, it passes through the digestive system and is metabolized by the liver, eventually delivering its active compounds to your bloodstream.

Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s Real Scientific Hemp OilTM (RSHOTM) is pure CBD hemp oil packaged in an easy-to-use oral applicator. Simply squeeze your dosage of CBD oil onto a finger or spoon and place it on your tongue before swallowing. RSHOTM comes in three label varieties – Green, Blue, and Gold, giving you the choice between our non-decarboxylated, decarboxylated, and filtered options.

Looking for the highest concentration of CBD? Our 3g oral applicator of RSHOTM Gold Label contains an impressive 720mg of CBD. Or, choose to use our RSHO™ Maximum Strength CBD oil, which blends our RSHO™ Green Label and RSHO™ Gold Label varieties for an incredible 4,500 mg of CBD in every 10-gram oral applicator, or 225 mg of CBD per half gram serving.

If you value convenience, you may prefer getting your daily dose of CBD oil with easy-to-swallow CBD oil capsules, which can be quickly washed down with a swig of water. When you take CBD oil capsules, you don’t have to worry about measuring out how much CBD oil to take each day.

2. Hold CBD Oil Under Your Tongue

Another popular method for taking CBD oil is to apply and hold it under the tongue so that the mucus membranes in the mouth can absorb CBD and the other active compounds found in CBD oil. This method of taking CBD oil offers faster delivery, because the CBD and hemp oil’s other natural constituents get to bypass the digestive system and metabolization by the liver. To take CBD oil tinctures, simply add your serving under your tongue for 60-90 seconds to allow the natural chemicals to be absorbed.

CBD Oil Drops like Dixie Botanicals® 1oz. Dew Drops tinctures and RSHOTM 1 oz. tinctures are popular choices for those new to using CBD oil. RSHOTM MCT oil liquids – particularly our Blue and Gold Label Liquids — are also top choices and lend themselves to this method of using CBD oil.

3. Vape CBD Oil

Over the past 12-18 months, vaping CBD has grown in popularity among health-conscious consumers. Vaping offers a lung-friendly method for inhaling CBD oil, allowing CBD and other trace cannabinoids to be absorbed through the lung’s large absorptive surface area before they’re diffused into the bloodstream.

When you’re first beginning to use CBD oil by vaping, it’s best to start simple. A CBD vaporizer pen is easy to use. All you need to do is charge the battery, thread the pre-packaged cartridge of CBD oil onto the pen, push a button to turn it on, and inhale using the mouthpiece. Regular users sometimes upgrade to desktop vaporizers to enjoy CBD from the comfort of their home.

Our Dixie Botanicals® CBD Vape Cartridge is a pre-filled vape cartridge containing 250 mg of CBD made from our CBD distillate and featuring botanical terpenes for a light, slightly sweet citrus and pine taste. This high-quality vape cartridge features universal 510 threading, so it’s compatible with any 510-threaded vape battery. We’ve made it easy by bundling the Dixie Botanicals® CBD Vape Cartridge with some high-quality vape batteries, providing you with everything to get started vaping CBD oil.

If you already own a vape pen and prefer to fill your own vaporizer, Dixie Botanicals® CBD Vape Liquid comes in three delicious flavors: Sour Watermelon, Blackberry Lemonade, and Vanilla Caramel. These CBD Vape Liquids come packaged with a simple to use dropper top that makes filling your vape pen easy. Want to learn more about vaping CBD? Visit our Vaping 101 page.

4. Chew and Swallow CBD Oil Edibles

There’s likely not a more enjoyable way to get your daily CBD than by chewing and swallowing a CBD edible. CBD edibles are food products that have been infused with CBD. After taking the CBD edible, it is digested by the liver and the CBD is delivered to your bloodstream where the compounds can begin promoting balance.

Our Dixie Botanicals® Kicks are all-natural energy chews that combine 5 mg CBD with B vitamins and either caffeine or vitamin D3. Available in chocolate, mango citrus, and sour apple flavors, Kicks contain all-natural ingredients that provide energy and help you be alert and at your balanced best. Pop in a chew to help you wake in the morning or as a pick-me-up in the afternoon for an all-natural energy boost while getting CBD.

Also from Dixie Botanicals® are CBD Gummies in tasty flavors like watermelon and mango. These CBD gummies are made using CBD isolate to remove any concern over THC. Each gummy provides 10 mg of CBD, and their soft texture and pleasing flavor means getting your daily CBD can be a delightful treat.

5. Mix CBD Oil With Your Favorite Food or Drink

Looking for a seamless method for adding CBD into your daily life? Try blending CBD oil into your favorite foods or drinks. Adding CBD to your already-prepared healthy foods is not just an easy way to use CBD oil, but it may also improve how well the CBD is absorbed. Fatty acids found in foods can serve as carriers for cannabinoids like CBD, allowing them to move through the body for faster processing.

Add Green, Blue, or Gold Label RSHOTM MCT Liquids to foods and beverages like:

• Smoothies
• Acai bowls
• Coffee
• Salads
• Oatmeal
• Ice cream
• Curries

Almost any food or beverage can become your own personalized CBD edible with CBD liquids and tinctures from Medical Marijuana, Inc. Want to avoid THC in your DIY CBD edible? Try our CBD Isolate or RSHO-X™ CBD liquid. 

6. Rub CBD Oil On Your Skin

Ingesting and inhaling aren’t the only ways to use CBD oil. You can also apply some CBD products directly onto the skin. The CBD and other active ingredients found in topical CBD creams and salves are absorbed into the skin so that they can interact with cells near the surface without entering the bloodstream. Instead, the balancing properties of CBD oil topicals offer more focused nourishment and natural relief. CBD hemp oil contains CBD and many fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients that play a vital role in the health of your skin. 

Our CBD hemp oil salves from RSHOTM and Dixie Botanicals® are designed to nourish and hydrate troubled areas. Try HempMeds®’s Hydrating & Soothing Body Lotion for spa-like relief and to restore youthfulness to your skin. Or check out more of our topical CBD products.

7. Use CBD Oil to Wash and Condition Your Hair

Use hemp CBD oil shampoos and conditioners to naturally clean and strengthen the health of your hair and scalp. These innovative CBD hair products feature a blend of our Hemp CBD ComplexTM and steam-distilled botanicals. Hemp-derived CBD oil contains a list of essential nutrients that nourish and protect your hair from damage caused by free radicals and environmental exposure.

Add HempMeds®’s Hydrating & Purifying Hemp Shampoo and Nourishing Hemp Conditioner to your shower and use them several times a week to cleanse and repair the moisture and restore the shine to your hair. 

Want Multiple CBD Options?

If many of these options for using CBD are appealing, CBD isolate may be an ideal choice. At 99% purity, CBD isolate is the most potent CBD product available on the market. It’s taste free, allowing you to experience CBD isolate effects using a variety of different methods of consumption. Offering versatility for those who want to benefit from CBD, CBD isolate can be used orally, vaporized, or used to craft your own CBD oils or CBD edibles.

Ideal for creating personalized CBD supplements, our RSHOTM 1g CBD Isolate powder contains 990mg CBD.

Get Started with CBD

If you’re still unsure which way of using CBD is best for your lifestyle, health needs, and financial considerations, try our CBD Hemp Oil Product Recommendation Tool. Already know which CBD hemp oil is for you? Visit our online store to get started using CBD today. If you’ve figured out how you want to use CBD oil but aren’t sure how much you need to use each day check out our CBD oil serving guide.

When it comes to medicines and drugs, one fundamental truth is that everybody is unique. Each individual experience different effects, and reacts differently based on many factors, including biology, life history, mental state, mood, and even transient factors such as how much food or sleep you have had recently. As such, some people may experience anxiety or paranoia when smoking weed, while others find it relaxes and relieves such conditions. In this article, we will try to elucidate why these differences occur and discuss some ways to decrease the possibility of paranoia from cannabis consumption.

How Does Cannabis Affect the Brain?

The cannabinoids in cannabis, such as THC and CBD, affect receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. The central nervous system is highly responsive to triggers of the CB-1 receptors by both endogenous cannabinoids and exogenous ones such as THC. When consuming THC, a wide range of psychoactive effects are experienced depending on the individual and the strain of cannabis ingested. Effects can range from euphoria, bliss, and relaxation to anxiety, paranoia, and depression. For the most part, users report enjoyable experiences, and except in the case of over-consumption, negative experiences are rare.

In those cases where negative emotions are experienced, they are usually short-lived and non-life threatening, however uncomfortable at the time. Often, such negative experiences are put down to set and setting, meaning that the user was already in a negative state of mind due to personal issues or environment, and smoking weed exacerbates these feelings. But more recent studies have looked at the biological effects of cannabis on paranoia, and are beginning to theorize on the mechanisms in which weed can cause paranoia.

Paranoia in Weed Users

The symptoms of overconsumption include anxiety, paranoia, tachycardia, sweating, confusion, disorientation, and nervousness. However, these effects are not life-threatening and tend to subside after a few hours, depending on the route of administration and amount of cannabis consumed. In Emergency Rooms, patients admitted due to an overdose of cannabis are just given medications to treat nausea and anxiety, given a place to relax, monitored, and then released, usually with little to no long-term effects. Other than cases of overconsumption, the long-term use of marijuana is generally well tolerated. There are instances in which long-term cannabis use has been associated with psychosis, however, such cases appear to be treatable. While there seems to be some consensus that cannabis use can reveal latent psychotic disorders, the scientific community is still unable to prove with certainty that a specific type of psychosis associated with cannabis use exists.  

However, since the advent of synthetic cannabinoids the prevalence of paranoia, hallucination s, and other negative psychoactive reactions have been increasingly reported in both scientific studies and calls to poison control centers. Some researchers have put this down to the lack of so called “entourage compounds” present in the cannabis plant, but not in synthetic versions of cannabinoids used in clinical trials. It is theorized, although not proven, that the terpenes and CBD in cannabis help to regulate the high from THC, and when removed, lead to stronger psychoactive effects which can be uncomfortable for users. Several studies using synthetic THC such as Nabilone or Dronabinol have shown pronounced negative psychoactive effects that are not normally associated with the use of whole-plant cannabis.

In areas where weed is illegal, particularly in the UK, synthetic cannabinoids such as ‘Spice’ or ‘K2’ is a growing black market industry. As of 2016, there are around 140 synthetic cannabinoids on the market. These synthetic cannabinoids differ from weed. The THC found naturally in weed is known as a partial agonist of the CB-1 receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. Synthetic THC, on the other hand, has been shown to act as a non-selective, full agonist of the same receptors, making the substances between 2-100 times stronger than the natural version and longer-lasting. According to a 2015 review, case reports involving synthetic cannabis overdoses include symptoms such as alterations in mood, perception, tachycardia, seizures, kidney failure, and cardiac arrest. In another review of Emergency Room visits in the US, it was found that 59.3% of patients admitted due to overdose of synthetic THC had serious medical outcomes. A 2016 study concluded that synthetic cannabinoids had “significantly pronounced neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity compared with marijuana. With the rise of such synthetic cannabinoids, researchers are now beginning to understand the mechanisms through which THC can cause negative psychotic reactions such as anxiety and paranoia in the human brain.

A Study on Weed and Paranoia

Although many studies have encountered patients experiencing negative psychoactive effects such as paranoia, only one study has thus far focused on this reaction. The 2015 study, published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin, used 121 volunteers with previous histories of paranoia. In the placebo-controlled clinical trial, participants were injected with either pure THC (Dronabinol) or saline and given a self-assessment test to rate their levels of paranoia. The study found that THC “significantly increased levels of paranoia” in the subjects receiving the treatment over the control group. Although brain scans were not used in this study, the author’s hypothesized that the mechanism of action was due to “an anomalous internal state,” including changes in “sensory intensity, distorted sensory experience, sensory flooding, thought echo, and hallucinations.” So, although this study does lay the groundwork for an increased mechanistic understanding of how THC can cause paranoia, it is by no means conclusive and should be reiterated that it used synthetic THC and participants who were already predisposed to such mental states. Further studies using fMRI and other diagnostic techniques are needed to better understand the relationship between THC and anxiety or paranoia.

Tips to reduce paranoia

If you are a first-time weed user and are concerned about the risks of paranoia or anxiety then there are some things you can do to mitigate the risk and increase the likelihood of a pleasant and pleasurable experience. The first would be to relax and stop worrying, the incidence of negative reactions to weed are rare, and worrying about such effects could be a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

We recommend the following tips:

• Start slow. Try smoking or vaping just a little bit and see how you react, if you like it, take more. Avoid edibles or tinctures your first time as it is harder to titrate the dose and the effects are more long-lasting.
• Set and Setting. Try weed when you are in a good mental state, a comfortable and safe setting, and amongst people you are comfortable with. Intentionally designing your first experience to reduce any sources of stress or worry can ensure that it is a pleasant one.
• The Strain Matters. Different strains have different cannabinoid percentages and terpene profiles. As such, each strain will affect you differently. Ask your budtender for a strain with a mellow high and lower THC content. Remember that you want to look at the moods of the strain, not indica or sativa, as the effects associated with those terms are not based on science at all.
• Try a strain high in CBD. CBD primarily affects the CB-2 Receptors in the periphery of the nervous system and is thought to help mitigate the psychoactive effects of THC. It may also reduce anxiety, and improve sleep or relaxation.