Marijuana Science: WTF is CBD?

By Kevin Brown
The Guardsman

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an important compound unique to the marijuana plant that effectively treats diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy, heart attack, breast cancer, colon, prostate, stomach and brain cancers and leukemia.

Last issue I wrote about how the THC molecule found in marijuana binds to CB1 receptors, which stimulates our endocannabinoid system and helps the body stay healthy by regulating cell activity and destroying irregular cells before they become harmful.

CBD does not actually bind to receptors, but it helps the body stay healthy by slowing the deterioration of anandamide – the bodies own endocannabinod.

It also steers THC away from CB1 receptors, which limits its psychoactivity. Therefore, CBD reduces the disorientation, drowsiness, and accelerated heart rate caused by THC while still providing pain relief, anti-inflammatory qualities and cancer protection.

CBD and THC compete for molecular space within the cannabis plant, thus a strain high in CBD will have lower levels of THC and will not get you “high” no matter how much you smoke.

Federal prohibition forces marijuana growers to produce for the black market, which demands strains that are high in THC. But after voters approved Prop 215 – California’s medical marijuana initiative from 1996 – there was finally a medical market that enabled studies in CBD-rich strains.

Since then scientists are finally beginning to understand the value of cannabidiol, and strains with higher and higher levels are more popular than ever, with interest and demand growing exponentially.

This is a great example of the legitimacy of the medical marijuana movement. If cannabis activists just use medical provisions as an excuse for back-door recreational legalization, then there would be little interest in non-psychoactive strains. However, thanks to legislative medical protection, there is a CBD revolution underway.

Project CBD is a non-profit organization that monitors research and publicizes information about which dispensaries are carrying strains high in CBD.

Cannatonic and Harlequin are among the more popular and readily available strains, with CBD levels of 6% and 8% respectively. True Blueberry x OG Kush boasts a whopping 14% – the highest thus far.

These strains are essentially non-psychoactive as the high concentration of CBD forces THC levels to shrink to a negligible 2%-5% in most strains, while it takes closer to 10% to feel even the slightest buzz. Most commercial cannabis contains 15%-25% THC.

Cannabidiol could completely revolutionize health care for the entire world by providing the incredible cancer protection of THC without the psychoactive side-effects. This means there could perhaps be a daily CBD supplement that could be taken that would prevent cancer.

Since it is non-psychoactive it should absolutely not be a schedule 1 narcotic along with heroin and crack. It needs to be reclassified and studied so we can unlock countless more medical benefits.

Be sure to pick up the next issue where I will explain how marijuana can prevent Alzheimer’s disease. I hope you enjoyed the read and please puff, puff, pass it on…