Since CBD products came on the market years ago, they have become a juggernaut in the natural health field—especially as research has continued to emerge on their role in addressing anxiety, pain and several other conditions in both humans and pets. As time has progressed the CBD category has evolved into a spectrum of cannabis extracts that each have been researched for addressing particular aspects of health. The options have become extensive enough that remembering which cannabinoids address which issues can get confusing.

Cannabinoids are a unique class of compounds in cannabis plants that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (CBD is just one of many cannabinoids that interact with this system). The endocannabinoid system regulates many bodily functions, such as pain sensitivity, sleep, mental clarity, appetite, etc. While the Delta-9-THC cannabinoid is most well-known for creating the “high” effect that people often associate with cannabis, most other cannabinoids (such as CBD, CBDa, CBG, and CBN) do not have psychoactive effects. Still, all of them have unique therapeutic uses. They are further influenced by terpenes that come along with the extraction process of cannabis compounds.

CBD (cannabidiol) is created from the heating of CBD-a found in cannabis plants. Although CBD was originally thought to interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body's endocannabinoid system, further research has shown it seems to more influence the body by modulating several non-cannabinoid receptors and ion channels that are responsible for transmitting messages to the brain. Research continues to come out on the use of CBD for pain, anxiety, depression, sleep/insomnia, PTSD, neurological issues, nausea, and more.

CBD-a (cannabidiolic acid) in raw (unheated/unprocessed) cannabis plants is structurally similar to CBD but doesn’t bind to many of the same receptors that CBD does. However, it does interact with the nervous system and emerging studies are showing it may enhance serotonin production to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, nausea, fatigue, ADHD and possibly even inhibit some types of cancer cells.

CBG (cannabigerol) is in higher amounts in specially bred cannabis plants and is a precursor to several other cannabinoids. Emerging research shows it may help with eye pressure (glaucoma). It could also assist with sleep and anxiety and be a brain/nerve cell stimulant for neurological issues like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and dementia.

CBN (cannabinol) is found in mature cannabis plants and forms from the oxygenation (via heat or light) of THC. It’s highly sedative, with some studies showing CBN having a comparable dose effect to the prescription sedative diazepam. CBN may help with sleep, insomnia, and muscle spasms.

Delta-8-THC is a cannabinoid compound derived from CBD that is somewhat similar to Delta-9-THC but with less euphoric effects (though still noticeable, so it’s not advisable to drive after consuming it). It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and nausea while gently elevating mood.

Delta-9-THC has a euphoric effect traditionally associated with cannabis. Legally, non-prescription cannabis extracts can contain 0.3 percent or less Delta-9-THC. However, some products have enough extract in them that even at 0.3 percent, the resulting THC level can be similar to dispensary items. Products with therapeutic doses of THC can help with stress, anxiety, nausea, and mood. It’s advised not to operate a vehicle after ingesting high-THC products. 

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in the cannabis plant and several other plants. These compounds are responsible for many of the “secondary” effects of CBD and other cannabinoids. They help “direct” the path of how particular cannabis extracts will affect an individual. Because the specific terpene profile of a product helps amplify the properties of cannabinoids in that product, it often makes quite a difference in the effectiveness between products. The most abundant terpenes in cannabis are carophyllene (often helping with anxiety and pain), humulene (which has antibacterial properties), limonene (mood enhancement), linalool (relaxing and sedative), myrcene (antiseptic), and pinene (anti-inflammatory).  You can find the specific terpenes in a cannabis product's Certificate of Analysis.

As far as what forms cannabis products come in, the sky is the limit. There is a wide array of liquid droppers, capsules, vape pens, smokeable flower, edibles, topical balms/oils, and lotions on the market with any number of cannabinoid combinations. These may be “isolates” (only one cannabinoid form), “broad-spectrum” (many cannabinoid forms but no terpenes), or “full-spectrum” (many cannabinoid forms plus terpenes). Most people prefer full-spectrum cannabis products because the “entourage effect” of both the cannabinoids and terpenes combined often boosts the overall product effectiveness.

It’s easy to see from all these factors that there is a wide variance in the types of cannabis products available to choose from. Still, another dimension to be considered is the quality of a brand’s overall extraction process and how the cannabis is grown. The highest quality cannabis products always have testing done on each batch to ensure they are free of pesticide residues, and they are especially regarded as superior if they have organic certification.

They should also state the method used to extract the active compounds out of the cannabis plant. Many methods can be used, but CO2 extraction is one of the best, especially Sub-Critical CO2 Extraction which preserves the widest spectrum of delicate terpenes and cannabinoids. However, Super-Critical CO2 Extraction is also popular since even though it doesn’t extract as many of the non-cannabinoid compounds out of the plant, it does a very efficient and clean job of extracting the most important cannabinoid elements (because both methods utilize CO2, which is a gas when uncompressed at room temperature, there is no residue left in the finished product). Other methods of note are lipid extraction, which utilizes oils to pull the lipid-soluble compounds out of the plant, and Ethanol Extraction, which pulls the alcohol-soluble compounds out. These extraction methods are less utilized in the industry. Still, they do draw out unique cannabis compounds that might not be as concentrated in CO2 extraction, and sometimes different extraction methods are combined in phases to create a broader spectrum overall extract. However, cheaper products on the market utilize hexane as a solvent extraction method that can leave toxic residues in the finished product. This is considered an inferior extraction method that should be avoided. 

Given all these many factors, it’s plain to see that there is a huge difference in what one might find at a gas station or vape shop versus at a health store that has carefully curated its cannabis product selection. When choosing a cannabis product, it’s important to consider all these factors because the overall quality of a formula will affect how well a cannabis product could work for the individual.

Brian Mobley owns The Golden Almond Health Store at 339 Racetrack Road, NW, Ste. 3, in Fort Walton Beach, FL. In addition to a wide selection of healthy food and supplements, his store features a vast selection of high-quality cannabis products. For more information, including store hours, call 850-863-5811 or visit GoldenAlmond.com.

GOLDEN ALMOND HEALTH FOOD STORE - 339 Racetrack Rd NW 3 , Fort Walton Beach, FL

The Golden Almond has been providing organic foods (including vegan, paleo, and gluten-free options), nutritional supplements, homeopathic, herbal tinctures/extracts, and natural pet prod... Read More »