The High-CBD Cannabis Comeback

From Suzy Q to Harlequin, cannabis marketed as high in CBD is one of the fastest growing segments on dispensary shelves. After years of underground marijuana breeding that pushed the THC levels very high and knocked the CBD levels down low, CBD is finally making a comeback.

Many people new to cannabis are starting with CBD hemp extracts because it doesn’t get them high. But for the old smokers who have been lighting up for a few decades now, weed with more CBD is a perfect antidote to the super potent pot out there.

For many people, the typical arc of their cannabis use starts with experimentation in high school, moderate use through their twenties, and then dwindling use in adulthood. But now, as the Baby Boomers are hitting their retirement years, they’ve been coming back to cannabis in a big way - and this time it’s for the health benefits.

However, with THC levels now coming in as high as 30% of the plant’s weight, this ain’t papa and mama’s grass.

The cannabis plant can only produce a finite amount of cannabinoids. Increasing the THC levels means decreasing the levels of the other cannabinoids present, including CBD. Currently, much of the cannabis being sold in recreational shops only contains a low percentage of CBD compared to THC . But for people returning to cannabis for the health effects, they want to harness the full power of the “entourage effect.”

The Entourage Effect

The entourage effect is a scientific term coined by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, the scientist known as the father of the endocannabinoid system. This term describes what occur in the body when someone ingests a full-spectrum cannabis extract containing all of the cannabinoids and terpenes. He discovered that all of those molecules working together for good does better than single compounds alone.

Mechoulam has stated that he wishes all modern cannabis for human use contained at least 1% CBD. That’s because, as one scientific paper put it, CBD is the yin to THC’s yang. Modern breeders are not only working to get a little more CBD into all recreational cannabis, but they’ve also been creating specific cultivars of cannabis with higher levels of CBD than THC.

Unfortunately, marijuana is still illegal in some states. And even in places where it is legal, not everyone enjoys the psychoactive effects of THC. That’s why hemp extracts containing CBD have been growing so much in popularity.

Full-spectrum hemp extracts do contain minor amounts of THC. However, federal law stipulates that these amounts cannot exceed 0.3% by dry weight. This limit allows hemp extracts to be sold legally nationwide and also prevents most users from getting high.

Vaping CBD

For those who want to protect their lungs from incinerated plant matter, CBD vape juice is a fantastic alternative. Users are able to vape their cannabinoids and terpenes, and Bluebird’s vape juice comes completely free of THC. It’s easy on the lungs and still harnesses all the power of CBD.

From the early days of widespread cannabis smoking, we’ve come a long way in utilizing cannabinoids for our health.