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Proud Partnership with Project CBD Japan

Always Pure Organics have partnered with Project CBD Japan, who in turn have teamed up with Green Zone Japan, which advocates for medical cannabis research, to create a Japanese-language version of Project CBD’s educational website.

The site is updated regularly as part of a collaborative effort from Project CBD and Green Zone Japan.  Always Pure Organics sponsors the project, which aims to make cutting-edge information about cannabis science and therapeutics available to 130 million Japanese-speaking people at a time when cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychotropic cannabinoid, has taken Tokyo by storm.

Always Pure Organics also supports GZJ’s programme named Midori-no-wa (Green Circle) for children with intractable epilepsy aiming at taking a leading role in increasing the awareness of the potential of CBD and medical cannabis.

To find out more about the project, or to start your Japanese CBD journey, contact chikako.yoshida@alwayspureorganics.com

Always Pure Organics aim to be the driving force behind the global understanding, research, education, and ultimately distribution of cannabis derived products.

We offer the highest quality wholesale legal cannabis and cannabinoid products, as bulk ingredients, bulk products, white label, and bespoke formulations. This is coupled with regulatory and legal expertise and supported by delivery within three working days across Europe.

Our unique bespoke formulation products allow our customers to create their own product from scratch, whilst we provide the regulatory and product knowledge, as well as production of the product.

To find out more about how Always Pure Organics can support your business on their CBD journey visit alwayspureorganics.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Author: Harriet Brown

Always Pure Organics have partnered with Project CBD Japan, who in turn have teamed up with Green Zone Japan, which advocates for medical cannabis research, to create a Japanese-language version of Project CBD’s educational website.

The site is updated regularly as part of a collaborative effort from Project CBD and Green Zone Japan.  Always Pure Organics sponsors the project, which aims to make cutting-edge information about cannabis science and therapeutics available to 130 million Japanese-speaking people at a time when cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychotropic cannabinoid, has taken Tokyo by storm.

Always Pure Organics also supports GZJ’s programme named Midori-no-wa (Green Circle) for children with intractable epilepsy aiming at taking a leading role in increasing the awareness of the potential of CBD and medical cannabis.

To find out more about the project, or to start your Japanese CBD journey, contact chikako.yoshida@alwayspureorganics.com

Always Pure Organics aim to be the driving force behind the global understanding, research, education, and ultimately distribution of cannabis derived products.

We offer the highest quality wholesale legal cannabis and cannabinoid products, as bulk ingredients, bulk products, white label, and bespoke formulations. This is coupled with regulatory and legal expertise and supported by delivery within three working days across Europe.

Our unique bespoke formulation products allow our customers to create their own product from scratch, whilst we provide the regulatory and product knowledge, as well as production of the product.

To find out more about how Always Pure Organics can support your business on their CBD journey visit alwayspureorganics.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Author: Harriet Brown

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Opportunities in the CBD market with Always Pure Organics

With the recent announcement from the UK Government regarding its decision to enforce CBD’s status as a Novel Food, it has consequently become more difficult to create and sell new CBD food products.

In light of this, we have taken a look at other opportunities in the CBD market, such as cosmetics and patches.

A Novel Foods application is a considerable regulatory barrier for businesses to overcome, taking possibly years and a sizeable monetary investment to put new food products on the market. This is likely to increase interest in other areas of the CBD market due to more ease of entry. For this reason, we expect to see further growth in the already large cosmetics market as they are unaffected by the Novel Foods regulations. Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million with two main forms of skincare topicals leading the category.

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Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

CBD topicals

The first form of cosmetic to spotlight is also the most common and is known by a variety of names: lotion, cream, balm, etc. There are many names for the range of CBD skincare products that are currently available, but typically they are a topical cosmetic that gets applied directly to the skin.

Consumers immediately know how to use topical skincare products from previous experience, and often know how much to use for their intended purpose. With how new CBD skincare products are this is not guaranteed, but topicals are still more intuitive than a sublingual oil.

These products also have the potential for other ingredients to be formulated into them, allowing for claims to be made on them. The inclusion of linalool for example, the terpene that is responsible for the distinct smell of lavender, allows for a product to make claims as a sleep aid. Creams are a versatile and well recognised range of products, easy to sell, and proven effective.

Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.
Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

CBD patches

The other type of cosmetic that deserves attention is fairly new to the EU market: CBD patches.

Similar in design and function to nicotine patches to quit smoking, or paracetamol patches for pain-killing purposes, CBD patches are fairly common in the more developed NA CBD market. The CBD does not pass through the skin (referred to as transdermal) which would require them to be a medical product, instead they slowly deliver their CBD load directly into the skin in the same way an ointment or lotion would.

Patches have the advantage over a more traditional cosmetic in that they allow for more specific dose control. Each patch will have a set amount of CBD, making it more precise when calculating how much CBD you get from it, as opposed to a cream where you have to estimate how much to apply. They are also cleaner – leaving no oily residue – but are difficult to apply to parts of the body with lots of hair or that have to bend. This does make them slightly less flexible in their use (as it would be difficult to apply them to hands and would look strange stuck onto one’s face) but the ability to discretely stick one to an upper arm and receive constant CBD over the course of a day is a major selling point. Whether a consumer wishes to use a traditional lotion, or a more precise but specialised patch will depend on their specific requirements and preferences.

Given how large the CBD cosmetics market currently is and how much larger it is expected to grow, in conjunction with the restrictions on food products that the Novel Foods process has introduced, investing in new cosmetic products is a sensible decision for those looking to expand in the CBD industry. There are plenty of options available for a variety of consumer needs, and the inclusion of different ingredients can allow for health claims to be made – something that isn’t allowed for CBD as a solo ingredient until clinical evidence proves it has specific health benefits. Whatever direction a company decides to take in regard to producing CBD cosmetics, now is the best time to do so due to their expected increase in demand as a result of the constraints imposed by Novel Foods.

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Novel Foods

The newest legislation for Novel Foods was laid out in January of 2018 and CBD was classified as novel (meaning that it wasn’t consumed to a significant degree in humans before the 15th of May 1997) in January of 2019. Any CBD product which was on the market before the announcement must have a ‘validated’ application by the 31st of March to remain trading legally, and products sold after must have an approved application to remain on the market. From the 1st of April, any product that fails to meet these criteria is subject to removal by the local trading authority. Since a validated application can take between 1-3 months and an approved application can take anything up to 2 years, it is critical for business that wish to continue trading to begin their application as soon as possible, or to ensure that their chosen supplier is making an application that covers their product.

A dossier of evidence supporting the safety of the proposed foodstuff must be compiled for a Novel Foods application, which includes such things as the production process, product specifications and toxicology information. Some of this will be immediately available, but things like subchronic toxicity (for example) will require specialised testing to be carried out. Once the dossier has been completed and submitted to the European Commission (or FSA in the UK after the 1st January 2021) there will be a 2-3 month period in which they will determine if the application is suitable to be validated. Once validated, the application will be passed to the EFSA who will have 9 months to perform a risk assessment if no further information is required. If the EFSA approves, it is then passed to the European Commission who have a further 7 months in which to decide whether to add the foodstuff to the list of Novel Foods.

There are clearly many steps and a lot of time required for a Novel Foods Application. For applicants, the earlier an application can be submitted, the better. However, only high-quality applications will make it past the verification step, so there is a definite trade-off to be made.

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A dossier of evidence supporting the safety of the proposed foodstuff must be compiled for a Novel Foods application, which includes such things as the production process, product specifications and toxicology information. Some of this will be immediately available, but things like subchronic toxicity (for example) will require specialised testing to be carried out. Once the dossier has been completed and submitted to the European Commission (or FSA in the UK after the 1st January 2021) there will be a 2-3 month period in which they will determine if the application is suitable to be validated. Once validated, the application will be passed to the EFSA who will have 9 months to perform a risk assessment if no further information is required. If the EFSA approves, it is then passed to the European Commission who have a further 7 months in which to decide whether to add the foodstuff to the list of Novel Foods.

There are clearly many steps and a lot of time required for a Novel Foods Application. For applicants, the earlier an application can be submitted, the better. However, only high-quality applications will make it past the verification step, so there is a definite trade-off to be made.

Always Pure Organics Presents New Range of High Quality CBD – Containing Cosmetics

Always Pure Organics has been busy creating a new range of high-quality CBD-containing cosmetics, the results of many months of formulation and rigorous testing in conjunction with advice and guidance from leading experts in the field of skincare products. We’re excited to announce that these premium skincare products are now available as part of our white label portfolio for clients.

View our:
CBD Daily Lotion
High Strength CBD Balm

Read the full article on White Label Expo website.

Always Pure Organics has been busy creating a new range of high-quality CBD-containing cosmetics, the results of many months of formulation and rigorous testing in conjunction with advice and guidance from leading experts in the field of skincare products. We’re excited to announce that these premium skincare products are now available as part of our white label portfolio for clients.

View our:
CBD Daily Lotion
High Strength CBD Balm

Read the full article on White Label Expo website.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3

With the recent announcement from the UK Government regarding its decision to enforce CBD’s status as a Novel Food, it has consequently become more difficult to create and sell new CBD food products.

In light of this, we have taken a look at other opportunities in the CBD market, such as cosmetics and patches.

A Novel Foods application is a considerable regulatory barrier for businesses to overcome, taking possibly years and a sizeable monetary investment to put new food products on the market. This is likely to increase interest in other areas of the CBD market due to more ease of entry. For this reason, we expect to see further growth in the already large cosmetics market as they are unaffected by the Novel Foods regulations. Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million with two main forms of skincare topicals leading the category.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3
Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

CBD topicals

The first form of cosmetic to spotlight is also the most common and is known by a variety of names: lotion, cream, balm, etc. There are many names for the range of CBD skincare products that are currently available, but typically they are a topical cosmetic that gets applied directly to the skin.

Consumers immediately know how to use topical skincare products from previous experience, and often know how much to use for their intended purpose. With how new CBD skincare products are this is not guaranteed, but topicals are still more intuitive than a sublingual oil.

These products also have the potential for other ingredients to be formulated into them, allowing for claims to be made on them. The inclusion of linalool for example, the terpene that is responsible for the distinct smell of lavender, allows for a product to make claims as a sleep aid. Creams are a versatile and well recognised range of products, easy to sell, and proven effective.

Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.
Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

Refs:

Coronavirus: A Message from Always Pure Organics

With the recent announcement from the UK Government regarding its decision to enforce CBD’s status as a Novel Food, it has consequently become more difficult to create and sell new CBD food products.

In light of this, we have taken a look at other opportunities in the CBD market, such as cosmetics and patches.

A Novel Foods application is a considerable regulatory barrier for businesses to overcome, taking possibly years and a sizeable monetary investment to put new food products on the market. This is likely to increase interest in other areas of the CBD market due to more ease of entry. For this reason, we expect to see further growth in the already large cosmetics market as they are unaffected by the Novel Foods regulations. Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million with two main forms of skincare topicals leading the category.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3

What are terpenes?

Always Pure Organics has been busy creating a new range of high-quality CBD-containing cosmetics, the results of many months of formulation and rigorous testing in conjunction with advice and guidance from leading experts in the field of skincare products. We’re excited to announce that these premium skincare products are now available as part of our white label portfolio for clients.

View our:
CBD Daily Lotion
High Strength CBD Balm

Read the full article on White Label Expo website.

Always Pure Organics has been busy creating a new range of high-quality CBD-containing cosmetics, the results of many months of formulation and rigorous testing in conjunction with advice and guidance from leading experts in the field of skincare products. We’re excited to announce that these premium skincare products are now available as part of our white label portfolio for clients.

View our:
CBD Daily Lotion
High Strength CBD Balm

Read the full article on White Label Expo website.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3

With the recent announcement from the UK Government regarding its decision to enforce CBD’s status as a Novel Food, it has consequently become more difficult to create and sell new CBD food products.

In light of this, we have taken a look at other opportunities in the CBD market, such as cosmetics and patches.

A Novel Foods application is a considerable regulatory barrier for businesses to overcome, taking possibly years and a sizeable monetary investment to put new food products on the market. This is likely to increase interest in other areas of the CBD market due to more ease of entry. For this reason, we expect to see further growth in the already large cosmetics market as they are unaffected by the Novel Foods regulations. Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million with two main forms of skincare topicals leading the category.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3
Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

CBD topicals

The first form of cosmetic to spotlight is also the most common and is known by a variety of names: lotion, cream, balm, etc. There are many names for the range of CBD skincare products that are currently available, but typically they are a topical cosmetic that gets applied directly to the skin.

Consumers immediately know how to use topical skincare products from previous experience, and often know how much to use for their intended purpose. With how new CBD skincare products are this is not guaranteed, but topicals are still more intuitive than a sublingual oil.

These products also have the potential for other ingredients to be formulated into them, allowing for claims to be made on them. The inclusion of linalool for example, the terpene that is responsible for the distinct smell of lavender, allows for a product to make claims as a sleep aid. Creams are a versatile and well recognised range of products, easy to sell, and proven effective.

Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.
Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

Refs:

The effects of CBD to your body

Always Pure Organics has been busy creating a new range of high-quality CBD-containing cosmetics, the results of many months of formulation and rigorous testing in conjunction with advice and guidance from leading experts in the field of skincare products. We’re excited to announce that these premium skincare products are now available as part of our white label portfolio for clients.

View our:
CBD Daily Lotion
High Strength CBD Balm

Read the full article on White Label Expo website.

Always Pure Organics has been busy creating a new range of high-quality CBD-containing cosmetics, the results of many months of formulation and rigorous testing in conjunction with advice and guidance from leading experts in the field of skincare products. We’re excited to announce that these premium skincare products are now available as part of our white label portfolio for clients.

View our:
CBD Daily Lotion
High Strength CBD Balm

Read the full article on White Label Expo website.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3

With the recent announcement from the UK Government regarding its decision to enforce CBD’s status as a Novel Food, it has consequently become more difficult to create and sell new CBD food products.

In light of this, we have taken a look at other opportunities in the CBD market, such as cosmetics and patches.

A Novel Foods application is a considerable regulatory barrier for businesses to overcome, taking possibly years and a sizeable monetary investment to put new food products on the market. This is likely to increase interest in other areas of the CBD market due to more ease of entry. For this reason, we expect to see further growth in the already large cosmetics market as they are unaffected by the Novel Foods regulations. Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million with two main forms of skincare topicals leading the category.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3
Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

CBD topicals

The first form of cosmetic to spotlight is also the most common and is known by a variety of names: lotion, cream, balm, etc. There are many names for the range of CBD skincare products that are currently available, but typically they are a topical cosmetic that gets applied directly to the skin.

Consumers immediately know how to use topical skincare products from previous experience, and often know how much to use for their intended purpose. With how new CBD skincare products are this is not guaranteed, but topicals are still more intuitive than a sublingual oil.

These products also have the potential for other ingredients to be formulated into them, allowing for claims to be made on them. The inclusion of linalool for example, the terpene that is responsible for the distinct smell of lavender, allows for a product to make claims as a sleep aid. Creams are a versatile and well recognised range of products, easy to sell, and proven effective.

Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.
Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million.

Refs:

How will CBD help inflammation?

Over the course of my blogs I’ve done considerable research into the potential therapeutic effects of CBD and why people take it. Personally I’ve found the three main complaints for which people use it to be anxiety, inflammation and pain relief. I covered anxiety in an earlier blog – albeit briefly – so I feel it’s finally time to address one of the two remaining ‘major’ uses for CBD. While the ability to reduce inflammation may seem fairly straightforward, I’d like to take some time to go through the topic and hopefully explain just how widely this process affects the human body.

Over the course of my blogs I’ve done considerable research into the potential therapeutic effects of CBD and why people take it. Personally I’ve found the three main complaints for which people use it to be anxiety, inflammation and pain relief. I covered anxiety in an earlier blog – albeit briefly – so I feel it’s finally time to address one of the two remaining ‘major’ uses for CBD. While the ability to reduce inflammation may seem fairly straightforward, I’d like to take some time to go through the topic and hopefully explain just how widely this process affects the human body.

Inflammation is a very general purpose description for a rather complicated process. At its simplest it can be described as a protective response by the body in reaction to damage, infection or irritants. It is characterised by heat, pain, redness, swelling and loss of function in the inflamed area, with symptoms presenting to different degrees depending upon severity. The mechanism employed involves increased movement of blood to the affected area. By pumping more blood to the affected area, the body can clear out dying cells and tissue, initiate tissue repair and eliminate the initial cause of the injury. Typically this process is beneficial to the body, as it prevents build-up of infectious organisms that could otherwise lead to death. However, there are times when the body over expresses the inflammation response, which can cause its own problems.

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CBD has been alleged for some time to have neuroprotective properties, so it’s likely that this comes about through prevention of this inflammation occurring in the first place.

One such example of chronic inflammation (which means that it occurs over a prolonged period of time) is arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is more applicable than osteoarthritis, but both are fairly common afflictions where the cartilage and bone within joints break down over the course of many years. These two tissues are crucial for ease of movement, so when they degrade the body induces inflammation to protect the area from further damage and remove breakdown particles produced by the damaged tissues. Unfortunately, long-term inflammation actually puts pressure onto the joints, causing pain and uncomfortable swelling. Since CBD has a reputation for returning the body to homeostasis, it can be used to reduce the total amount of inflammation caused by the body. Since it is the over-expression of inflammation that causes most of the pain and discomfort in arthritis, this can be mitigated while not sacrificing the protective effects of it completely.

CBD has been alleged for some time to have neuroprotective properties, so it’s likely that this comes about through prevention of this inflammation occurring in the first place.

There is considerable scientific research indicating that certain neurodegenerative disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (Chen et al. 2015), Alzheimer’s disease (Kinney et al. 2018) and Parkinson’s disease (Herrero et al. 2015) are connected to chronic inflammation, among others. For these mentioned diseases there is considerable buildup of cytokines, which are a broad class of chemicals that are released by immune cells and have effects (in this case they promote inflammation) on other cells in the body. Under normal function they are crucial for the positive reasons mentioned earlier, but with these diseases they are over-expressed and cause their respective degenerative effects, in conjunction with the other aspects of each disease. Again this is the perfect situation for CBD to help with, as it can help return the body back to its natural state by reducing inflammation. CBD has been alleged for some time to have neuroprotective properties, so it’s likely that this comes about through prevention of this inflammation occurring in the first place.

CBD has been alleged for some time to have neuroprotective properties, so it’s likely that this comes about through prevention of this inflammation occurring in the first place.
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There is considerable scientific research indicating that certain neurodegenerative disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (Chen et al. 2015), Alzheimer’s disease (Kinney et al. 2018) and Parkinson’s disease (Herrero et al. 2015) are connected to chronic inflammation, among others. For these mentioned diseases there is considerable buildup of cytokines, which are a broad class of chemicals that are released by immune cells and have effects (in this case they promote inflammation) on other cells in the body. Under normal function they are crucial for the positive reasons mentioned earlier, but with these diseases they are over-expressed and cause their respective degenerative effects, in conjunction with the other aspects of each disease. Again this is the perfect situation for CBD to help with, as it can help return the body back to its natural state by reducing inflammation. CBD has been alleged for some time to have neuroprotective properties, so it’s likely that this comes about through prevention of this inflammation occurring in the first place.

The last inflammatory statement I have to make is regarding allergens and their respective immune responses, like hay fever. Also referred to as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is characterised by a runny nose, itchy eyes, sinus pressure and sneezing. These symptoms are caused by irritation of the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses by small proteins contained within pollen (NHS Inform, 2019). Normally your body ignores these proteins, but in hay fever sufferers it treats them as if they were a dangerous foreign body like a virus, and triggers an inflammatory immune response. The runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing are an attempt to flush the ‘invader’ from your system and the sinus pressure comes about from inflammation in an attempt to improve the supply of white blood cells. This all leads to the tissues of these areas becoming swollen, irritated and inflamed. So from what we’ve learned from our previous examples, it seems like CBD has potential to help alleviate at least the sinus pressure, and potentially reduce the severity of the other aspects to hay fever too.

From the examples shown above we can see that inflammation has wide-ranging effects on almost all parts of the body. Since it has a general application of effect, CBD could prove to be an effective measure for alleviating most if not all of these inflammatory disorders. Since many have no true cure, CBD may be a valuable tool in managing the symptoms in people suffering from these conditions.

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From the examples shown above we can see that inflammation has wide-ranging effects on almost all parts of the body. Since it has a general application of effect, CBD could prove to be an effective measure for alleviating most if not all of these inflammatory disorders. Since many have no true cure, CBD may be a valuable tool in managing the symptoms in people suffering from these conditions.

Refs:

Chen et al. (2016) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4805095/

Kinney et al. (2018) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6214864/

Herrero et al. (2015) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4382972/

NHS Inform (2019) – https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/immune-system/hay-fever

What is water soluble CBD?

The range of CBD products on the market currently is mind-boggling. Tinctures, creams, oral sprays, coffees, sports drinks, even CBD infused clothing. Those who are more scientifically or culinary inclined might have noticed a seeming contradiction in a couple of those products. CBD is a non-polar substance, meaning that it doesn’t dissolve in water. This is why tinctures are commonly made from hemp seed or coconut oil as they provide a carrier oil for the CBD to dissolve into. Much like with magnets, like attracts like and vice versa. How then can products have CBD and water coexist within the same liquid?

Water soluble has so much interest surrounding it for a few reasons. The first is the number of new applications it allows, some of which were mentioned earlier. A water-soluble solution could be useful in the formulation of water based cosmetics or for infusing into textiles like clothing or bed-linens. Another reason its so exciting is for the improved bioavailability of a water-based product. The human body is much better at metabolising water than oils, which is very useful since we’re ~70% water but not great for our purposes of absorbing CBD.

The range of CBD products on the market currently is mind-boggling. Tinctures, creams, oral sprays, coffees, sports drinks, even CBD infused clothing. Those who are more scientifically or culinary inclined might have noticed a seeming contradiction in a couple of those products. CBD is a non-polar substance, meaning that it doesn’t dissolve in water. This is why tinctures are commonly made from hemp seed or coconut oil as they provide a carrier oil for the CBD to dissolve into. Much like with magnets, like attracts like and vice versa. How then can products have CBD and water coexist within the same liquid?

Water soluble has so much interest surrounding it for a few reasons. The first is the number of new applications it allows, some of which were mentioned earlier. A water-soluble solution could be useful in the formulation of water based cosmetics or for infusing into textiles like clothing or bed-linens. Another reason its so exciting is for the improved bioavailability of a water-based product. The human body is much better at metabolising water than oils, which is very useful since we’re ~70% water but not great for our purposes of absorbing CBD.

After some trawling of the various products and methodologies involved, I’ve identified three methods of making CBD compatible with water – though whether they make the CBD “water-soluble” is a point of contention. There are likely other methods out there that do the same thing, but the three I mention here are arguably the main ones that are most common nowadays. In order that I will discuss them here they are: glycosylated, liposomal and micellar. While most people think of water-soluble in terms of micro- or nano-emulsified, these terms are confusing and vague. This is due to the distinction being based on particle size despite there being no standard cut-off for where one becomes the other.

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A water-soluble solution could be useful in the formulation of water based cosmetics or for infusing into textiles like clothing or bed-linens. Another reason its so exciting is for the improved bioavailability of a water-based product.

Firstly we’ll look at glycosylated CBD – technically a cannaboside, to give it its technical name. Glycosylation refers to a chemical process which adds a carbohydrate (typically a sugar) to an existing molecule, typically a protein or fat. This process is incredibly common in the human body, especially in the formation of proteins for within cells. The physiological effects of glycosylated CBD were investigated in a paper by Hardmann et al (2017). Their overall discoveries were that after glycosylation, the water solubility of the molecule was greatly increased – with the water solubility improving even further the more carbohydrate chains were attached. While this process definitely has benefits when it comes to improving the water solubility and therefore bioavailability, the safety and efficacy of glycosylated cannabinoids have yet to be thoroughly studied.

A water-soluble solution could be useful in the formulation of water based cosmetics or for infusing into textiles like clothing or bed-linens. Another reason its so exciting is for the improved bioavailability of a water-based product.

The next method for making water-soluble CBD is through the use of liposomal technology.

This involves the addition of a surfactant that effectively bridges the gap between the water and CBD, allowing them to co-exist within a solution by forming a layer between the two. This structure is referred to as a liposome, where a double layer of surfactant forms a bubble with water outside of it and CBD on the inside. Both liposomes and micelles are depicted in the associated image as this is a fairly confusing topic. Liposomal CBD is the most common form of water-soluble currently available, but it has some major drawbacks. The particles are fairly large (>150nm) so don’t form a transparent solution, and due to forming a double layer they have less than stellar stability. The low stability is compounded by the fact that most suppliers provide liposomal water-soluble at high CBD concentrations, which causes it to degrade even faster.

A water-soluble solution could be useful in the formulation of water based cosmetics or for infusing into textiles like clothing or bed-linens. Another reason its so exciting is for the improved bioavailability of a water-based product.
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The next method for making water-soluble CBD is through the use of liposomal technology.

This involves the addition of a surfactant that effectively bridges the gap between the water and CBD, allowing them to co-exist within a solution by forming a layer between the two. This structure is referred to as a liposome, where a double layer of surfactant forms a bubble with water outside of it and CBD on the inside. Both liposomes and micelles are depicted in the associated image as this is a fairly confusing topic. Liposomal CBD is the most common form of water-soluble currently available, but it has some major drawbacks. The particles are fairly large (>150nm) so don’t form a transparent solution, and due to forming a double layer they have less than stellar stability. The low stability is compounded by the fact that most suppliers provide liposomal water-soluble at high CBD concentrations, which causes it to degrade even faster.

Finally I’m going to talk about micellar CBD. Micellar may be a familiar term for those who use make-up removers, such as micellar water. A CBD micelle is effectively the same thing as

a liposome; a bubble of surfactant with CBD on the inside and water outside. The main differences are related to the size and stability. Because micelles only have a single layer rather than a bi-layer, they are much smaller than liposomes, often around 100nm or less which makes a micellar solution transparent. To put it in perspective, a human hair is 50 to 100μm (micrometers) thick, or 50,000 to 100,000nm. This single layer of surfactant also makes micelles more stable, as the CBD is attached to the fat-loving tails of the surfactant. There have been some concerns regarding nanotechnology’s safety, but most of them are related to potential increased toxicity because of the better absorption (EC, 2006). Because CBD has almost non-existent toxicity, this isn’t an issue for micellar CBD, especially when we take into account that micelles are how the body breaks down fats naturally.

So we can determine that of the three methods available, micellar CBD has the most potential, followed closely by glycosylated-CBD. Once more studies have been conducted into the safety and total efficacy of both methods we shall know the ideal way to deliver CBD to the human body, but until then we just have to wait for the research to catch up to the interest.

View our Water Soluble CBD range.

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So we can determine that of the three methods available, micellar CBD has the most potential, followed closely by glycosylated-CBD. Once more studies have been conducted into the safety and total efficacy of both methods we shall know the ideal way to deliver CBD to the human body, but until then we just have to wait for the research to catch up to the interest.

View our Water Soluble CBD range.

Refs:

Hardmann et al. (2017) – https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2017/01/30/104349.full.pdf

EC (European Commision) (2006) – https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_003b.pdf

What is the Endocannabinoid system?

We’ve covered a wide range of topics in the blogs so far, but we’ve yet to touch upon the root of the entire CBD business: the Endocannabinoid System. This is going to a real chonker of a blog because there’s a lot to chew through regarding the ECS. There’s also going to be a small appendix of abbreviations at the end in case you need to refresh.

To begin with, we need to look at how the nervous system sends signals. Whenever your brain sends signals to the various parts of your body (for example, if you wanted to bend your knee, the brain sends a signal to your quad muscles that tells them to contract) these signals travel along your nerve cells via the help of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are small chemicals your body produces to transfer the signal between two nerve cells. You can imagine them as a ferry, transferring a messenger from one bank of a river to the other. The more messengers you have to transport, the more ferries/neurotransmitters are required. And of course, the ferry has to dock somewhere. In the body, the docking points are the cell receptors. There are hundreds of known receptors and many more have yet to be studied (Dautzenberg & Hauger, 2002).

We’ve covered a wide range of topics in the blogs so far, but we’ve yet to touch upon the root of the entire CBD business: the Endocannabinoid System. This is going to a real chonker of a blog because there’s a lot to chew through regarding the ECS. There’s also going to be a small appendix of abbreviations at the end in case you need to refresh.

To begin with, we need to look at how the nervous system sends signals. Whenever your brain sends signals to the various parts of your body (for example, if you wanted to bend your knee, the brain sends a signal to your quad muscles that tells them to contract) these signals travel along your nerve cells via the help of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are small chemicals your body produces to transfer the signal between two nerve cells. You can imagine them as a ferry, transferring a messenger from one bank of a river to the other. The more messengers you have to transport, the more ferries/neurotransmitters are required. And of course, the ferry has to dock somewhere. In the body, the docking points are the cell receptors. There are hundreds of known receptors and many more have yet to be studied (Dautzenberg & Hauger, 2002).

Now that we understand roughly how the nervous system sends signals, we can specifically look at the ECS. The ECS is composed of two specific receptors and their relevant neurotransmitters, and is present in both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The two receptors are known as CB1 and CB2, and their relevant neurotransmitters are called anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) respectively. These neurotransmitters are called endocannabinoids (‘endo’ meaning ‘within’, since these chemicals are produced in the body) and are where the name of the ECS comes from.

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Some scientific papers describe the effects of these phytocannabinoids by not so much as replacing the body’s natural endocannabinoids, but rather that they ‘kickstart’ the production of them.

But how does the signalling actually occur? Well, the ECS is a bit of a novelty in that it was discovered in 1988 to be the first of these kinds of signalling systems that actually works backwards (Moore, 2018). Normally neurotransmitters are released from the upstream nerve cell (neuron) and received by the downstream neuron. But in the ECS the neurotransmitters travel backwards, against the flow of information, a process known as retrograde signalling. The importance of this in how the endocannabinoid system affects the human body is very interesting, but would unfortunately most likely need a full blog of its own. All that you need to know is: its status as a retrograde signalling system is what gives it so many of its effects on the human body.

Some scientific papers describe the effects of these phytocannabinoids by not so much as replacing the body’s natural endocannabinoids, but rather that they ‘kickstart’ the production of them.

So hopefully we now know how cell signalling works and how the ECS fits into this function of the nervous system. How then do extracts from the cannabis plant come into this jigsaw puzzle?

Currently there are ~113 phytocannabinoids that have been identified in the cannabis plant. Phytocannabinoids are so named because they originate in plants (‘phyto’ literally means ‘relating to plants’). Here we’re going to look at just the two “main” phytocannabinoids: CBD and THC. The reason we’re only interested in these two molecules is because, due to some very interesting evolution mechanics, CBD and THC are considered mimetic of 2-AG and AEA respectively. This means that they have the same pharmacological profile – CBD causes the same effects as 2-AG, and THC causes the same effects as AEA (Zou & Kumar, 2018). Some scientific papers describe the effects of these phytocannabinoids by not so much as replacing the body’s natural endocannabinoids, but rather that they ‘kickstart’ the production of them.

Some scientific papers describe the effects of these phytocannabinoids by not so much as replacing the body’s natural endocannabinoids, but rather that they ‘kickstart’ the production of them.
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So hopefully we now know how cell signalling works and how the ECS fits into this function of the nervous system. How then do extracts from the cannabis plant come into this jigsaw puzzle?

Currently there are ~113 phytocannabinoids that have been identified in the cannabis plant. Phytocannabinoids are so named because they originate in plants (‘phyto’ literally means ‘relating to plants’). Here we’re going to look at just the two “main” phytocannabinoids: CBD and THC. The reason we’re only interested in these two molecules is because, due to some very interesting evolution mechanics, CBD and THC are considered mimetic of 2-AG and AEA respectively. This means that they have the same pharmacological profile – CBD causes the same effects as 2-AG, and THC causes the same effects as AEA (Zou & Kumar, 2018). Some scientific papers describe the effects of these phytocannabinoids by not so much as replacing the body’s natural endocannabinoids, but rather that they ‘kickstart’ the production of them.

To make matters even more confusing, there is mounting evidence as to the effects of phytocannabinoids on other signalling systems in the body. Many of the effects of CBD on aspects like anxiety, mood and sleep are thought to be a result of it affecting the 5-HT receptors in the serotonergic system (Russo et al. 2005, Yi P.L et al. 2008). Basically we can think of it as if CBD can catch a lift across the river from lots of different ferries, not just the ones for the ECS. There is constant research underway to identify what other signalling systems CBD and the other phytocannabinoids can affect.

So. Quite a complex topic. Hopefully after this we have a reasonable grasp on what a signalling system is, how the ECS works as a signalling system, and what effects the phytocannabinoids have on the ECS, as well as their impact on other systems. I could genuinely spend 3 or 4 pages going into depth on this topic but I have serious doubts anyone bar other scientists would read to the end. Cell signalling is one of the more complex topics in biology, so kudos if you’ve followed the whole thing.

Abbreviations:

ECS = Endocannabinoid System

CNS = Central Nervous System

PNS = Peripheral Nervous System

AEA = Anandamide

2-AG = 2-arachidonoylglycerol

CBD = Cannabidiol

THC = Tetrahydrocannabivarin

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Abbreviations:

ECS = Endocannabinoid System

CNS = Central Nervous System

PNS = Peripheral Nervous System

AEA = Anandamide

2-AG = 2-arachidonoylglycerol

CBD = Cannabidiol

THC = Tetrahydrocannabivarin

Refs:

Dautzenberg FM & Hauger RL (2002) – https://www.labroots.com/trending/cannabis-sciences/8519/endocannabinoids-performance-retrograde-signaling

Zou S & Kumar U (2018) – International Journal of Molecular Science; 19 (3): 833

Russo et al. (2005) – The Open Sleep Journal; 1: 58-68

Where is the evidence?

In the United Kingdom, CBD is primarily sold as a food supplement. Food supplements are expressly forbidden from making any sort of medical or health claims regarding their active ingredients. This has led many to believe that CBD has no place in medical products, which is completely untrue. Not only are there multiple medical products containing CBD currently available, but there are also dozens of clinical trials underway to prove which of CBD’s effects are also suitable for the treatment of medical conditions. These trials range from investigating CBD’s effects on anxiety disorders, neuropathic pain and arthritis, among others. A total of 209 clinical trials involving CBD are listed on the clinicaltrials.gov website, the majority of which are completed and have results available.

In the United Kingdom, CBD is primarily sold as a food supplement. Food supplements are expressly forbidden from making any sort of medical or health claims regarding their active ingredients. This has led many to believe that CBD has no place in medical products, which is completely untrue. Not only are there multiple medical products containing CBD currently available, but there are also dozens of clinical trials underway to prove which of CBD’s effects are also suitable for the treatment of medical conditions. These trials range from investigating CBD’s effects on anxiety disorders, neuropathic pain and arthritis, among others. A total of 209 clinical trials involving CBD are listed on the clinicaltrials.gov website, the majority of which are completed and have results available.

Something interesting to note: approximately a quarter of all studies are backed or sponsored by GW Pharma. This itself is unsurprising, considering that they were the first company in the world to fully license a medical product containing Cannabidiol: Sativex. Sativex was licensed in 2010 for use in patients with Multiple Sclerosis to alleviate neuropathic pain, spasticity and other symptoms of MS. It consists of a 50/50 ratio of THC/CBD. Because of this mix of cannabinoids it is classed as a Class B controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and is only available on prescription by a specialist doctor with experience treating MS.

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Disregarding its ability to alleviate symptoms of epileptic syndromes and MS, the number of applications that CBD has in regards to treating various ailments is impressive. There are results available from studies investigating the effects of CBD on ulceratic colitis, pain relief in patients with advanced cancer or neurological pain.

GW Pharma also have a second medical product containing CBD: Epidiolex. Epidiolex was only approved in 2018 for the treatment of epileptic symptoms in patients with Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, aged 2 years or older. Unlike Sativex, Epidiolex consists purely of Cannabidiol. Aside from the greater ease of access due to CBD’s less strict legal restriction compared to THC, the total dosage of active ingredient is much higher in comparison. Sativex is an oral spray that delivers 2.7mg of THC and 2.5 mg of CBD per spray, whereas Epidiolex is an oral syringe-delivered oil that delivers 100mg of CBD per ml, with a recommended starting dose of 5ml. The suggested total dose for Epidiolex is 10mg/kg of body mass per day, although if required one may take up to 20mg/kg per day.

Disregarding its ability to alleviate symptoms of epileptic syndromes and MS, the number of applications that CBD has in regards to treating various ailments is impressive. There are results available from studies investigating the effects of CBD on ulceratic colitis, pain relief in patients with advanced cancer or neurological pain.

So we can see that CBD has definite potential as a medical product, especially in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. From the number of clinical trials both currently underway and completed, it is clear that many pharmaceutical/research companies have understood this potential of CBD as a medicine. Disregarding its ability to alleviate symptoms of epileptic syndromes and MS, the number of applications that CBD has in regards to treating various ailments is impressive. There are results available from studies investigating the effects of CBD on ulceratic colitis, pain relief in patients with advanced cancer or neurological pain.

Disregarding its ability to alleviate symptoms of epileptic syndromes and MS, the number of applications that CBD has in regards to treating various ailments is impressive. There are results available from studies investigating the effects of CBD on ulceratic colitis, pain relief in patients with advanced cancer or neurological pain.
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So we can see that CBD has definite potential as a medical product, especially in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. From the number of clinical trials both currently underway and completed, it is clear that many pharmaceutical/research companies have understood this potential of CBD as a medicine. Disregarding its ability to alleviate symptoms of epileptic syndromes and MS, the number of applications that CBD has in regards to treating various ailments is impressive. There are results available from studies investigating the effects of CBD on ulceratic colitis, pain relief in patients with advanced cancer or neurological pain.

With this in mind, why then are there so few clinical trials compared to the number of scientific studies on the matter of CBD? A quick search on Google Scholar for these studies involving the term “cannabidiol” turns up nearly 40,000 results – even removing patents and citations. While some of these will be repeats or passing mentions, that’s still considerably more papers than clinical trials. One reason is the stringency with which clinical trials are regulated. Another is the cost and length of time clinical trials require. A large scale Phase III trial (the phase looking into the efficacy of a potential medicine on its targeted demographic) can be anything from several hundred thousand pounds to potentially tens of millions. When considered in conjunction with the fact that they often take up to a year to complete, it makes sense that it requires the resources of a considerable-sized pharmaceutical company to carry out.

Despite the intimidating entry requirements to begin clinical trials for a medicine, funding , grants and incentives from the EMA and similar regulatory bodies, in conjunction with increasing knowledge of CBD and acceptance from governments and health agencies, means that we’re likely to see more and more medical products that include CBD in some aspect. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see either an anti-anxiety or pain relief medication within the next few years. Regardless of your opinion on cannabinoids, the creation of new medical products can only be a positive for the many people they will end up helping.

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Despite the intimidating entry requirements to begin clinical trials for a medicine, funding , grants and incentives from the EMA and similar regulatory bodies, in conjunction with increasing knowledge of CBD and acceptance from governments and health agencies, means that we’re likely to see more and more medical products that include CBD in some aspect. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see either an anti-anxiety or pain relief medication within the next few years. Regardless of your opinion on cannabinoids, the creation of new medical products can only be a positive for the many people they will end up helping.

How much CBD should I be taking?

With my previous post focusing solely on some of the therapeutic applications of CBD, I feel that it follows that the next topic should be dosage. You can google phrases such as, “How much CBD should I be taking?” and receive as many different answers as there are opinions to the topic. While I hold absolutely no illusions that my viewpoint is more accurate than anyone else’s, I hope that I can at least help make the topic a little clearer. What I’m not going to do is give accurate numbers for how much CBD to take to treat every possible ailment, for reasons that will hopefully become clear over the course of this post. Instead I’ll try to convey how to determine yourself what is the best dosage on a per person, per symptom basis.

First of all we need to talk about the route of administration. As I mentioned briefly in the post about toxicity, different methods of administration have varying bioavailabilities (a measure of the amount of active ingredient that makes it into the bloodstream). In regards to CBD I’m going to discuss sublingual, oral and topical methods of application. It’s difficult to pin down accurate numbers for bioavailabilities for each of these methods of administration, as scientists are naturally conservative beasts when writing literature. In addition, a wide array of conditions like metabolism, age, health and presence of other substances (even food!) all affect the overall uptake of CBD.

With my previous post focusing solely on some of the therapeutic applications of CBD, I feel that it follows that the next topic should be dosage. You can google phrases such as, “How much CBD should I be taking?” and receive as many different answers as there are opinions to the topic. While I hold absolutely no illusions that my viewpoint is more accurate than anyone else’s, I hope that I can at least help make the topic a little clearer. What I’m not going to do is give accurate numbers for how much CBD to take to treat every possible ailment, for reasons that will hopefully become clear over the course of this post. Instead I’ll try to convey how to determine yourself what is the best dosage on a per person, per symptom basis.

First of all we need to talk about the route of administration. As I mentioned briefly in the post about toxicity, different methods of administration have varying bioavailabilities (a measure of the amount of active ingredient that makes it into the bloodstream). In regards to CBD I’m going to discuss sublingual, oral and topical methods of application. It’s difficult to pin down accurate numbers for bioavailabilities for each of these methods of administration, as scientists are naturally conservative beasts when writing literature. In addition, a wide array of conditions like metabolism, age, health and presence of other substances (even food!) all affect the overall uptake of CBD.

While this all sounds rather daunting, since we’re primarily interested in self-dosing a food supplement we can afford to be pretty vague. CBD is incredibly safe, even by the World Health Organisation’s standards (WHO). Their official quote is:

“Cannabidiol is found in cannabis and cannabis resin, but does not have psychoactive properties and has no potential for abuse and no potential to produce dependence. It does not have significant ill-effects”.

Let’s start with oral dosage. Typically oral drugs come in the form of capsules or tablets, though for CBD you can also get gummies. Unfortunately for us, the stomach is incredibly efficient at processing what comes into it. As a result oral bioavailability can be as low as 9-19% (Cherniakov et al. 2017, Scuderi et al. 2009). This is often accounted for in medications by including absorption enhancers in the formula or by increasing the total percentage of active substance. For CBD though, this means you’ll typically need a higher dosage to attain the same effect of a higher bioavailability route.

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“Cannabidiol is found in cannabis and cannabis resin, but does not have psychoactive properties and has no potential for abuse and no potential to produce dependence. It does not have significant ill-effects”.

Next let’s look at tinctures, the sublingual approach. A paper on sublingual pharmacokinetics by Narang and Sharma (2011) found that Glyceryl trinitrate (Nitroglycerin) had a bioavailability of 48% when administered under the tongue. CBD is a larger molecule than Nitroglycerin and therefore won’t have the same level of absorption, but even if we assume it has only half the absorption rate that’s still 24% – much higher than taking oral capsules of the same strength.

Finally I would like to discuss topical products like balms, lotions, ointments etc. These products are interesting because they mostly don’t get absorbed into the bloodstream at all and instead act locally on the area they are applied to. Exceptions exist where a permeation enhancer is included in the formula (Paudel et al. 2010), allowing the active ingredient to pass through the skin (though these are often referred to as ‘transdermals’ instead of topicals). Despite their minimal bioavailability, because the CBD is being applied directly to the area it is required they are incredibly effective. For purposes such as joint pain or inflammation these are the ideal method of application.

“Cannabidiol is found in cannabis and cannabis resin, but does not have psychoactive properties and has no potential for abuse and no potential to produce dependence. It does not have significant ill-effects”.

Now we come back to the original question: how much CBD do you actually need to take? Hopefully it won’t come as too much of a shock after reading this far that the answer is: it depends. When self-dosing it’s important to start small and work up from there. For minor issues you may find that you only need 5-10mg of CBD per day. However, someone with the same symptoms could need 40-50mg to achieve the same relief. My personal recommendation would be to start at 5mg for a few days, then up your dosage by another 5mg and repeat until you get the desired effect. But how do you know how much 5mg of CBD actually is?

“Cannabidiol is found in cannabis and cannabis resin, but does not have psychoactive properties and has no potential for abuse and no potential to produce dependence. It does not have significant ill-effects”.
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Now we come back to the original question: how much CBD do you actually need to take? Hopefully it won’t come as too much of a shock after reading this far that the answer is: it depends. When self-dosing it’s important to start small and work up from there. For minor issues you may find that you only need 5-10mg of CBD per day. However, someone with the same symptoms could need 40-50mg to achieve the same relief. My personal recommendation would be to start at 5mg for a few days, then up your dosage by another 5mg and repeat until you get the desired effect. But how do you know how much 5mg of CBD actually is?

Capsules usually state the mass of CBD per capsule on the packaging which makes things easy, but tinctures often only state the CBD content per bottle. For a standard tincture we can reasonably assume that a single drop is 0.05ml. Thus, a 10ml bottle of 1000mg (10%) CBD will contain 200 drops – each drop containing 5mg of CBD (so a 5% drop will contain 2.5mg and a 20% drop will contain 10mg). From there you can determine how many drops to take for your desired dose.

The absolute best advice I can give is to do some personal research and see what other people are taking for similar problems. Read some opinion blogs, ask a question or two on reddit, speak to other people who already take CBD. And consult with a doctor if you can, especially if you currently take medications for any condition you’re looking to treat.

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The absolute best advice I can give is to do some personal research and see what other people are taking for similar problems. Read some opinion blogs, ask a question or two on reddit, speak to other people who already take CBD. And consult with a doctor if you can, especially if you currently take medications for any condition you’re looking to treat.

Refs:

WHO () – https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/325073/9789241210270-eng.pdf?sequence=10&isAllowed=y

Cherniakov et al. (2017) – https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Irina_Cherniakov/publication/318594415_The_effect_of_Pro_NanoLipospheres_PNL_formulation_containing_natural_absorption_enhancers_on_the_oral_bioavailability_of_delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol_THC_and_cannabidiol_CBD_in_a_rat_model/links/5b0e57d40f7e9b1ed7018c8d/The-effect-of-Pro-NanoLipospheres-PNL-formulation-containing-natural-absorption-enhancers-on-the-oral-bioavailability-of-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-THC-and-cannabidiol-CBD-in-a-rat-model.pdf

Scuderi et al. (2009) – https://cbd-b.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Cannabidiol-in-Medicine-A-Review-of-its-Therapeutic-Potential-in-CNS-Disorders-2009.pdf

Narang and Sharma (2011) – https://innovareacademics.in/journal/ijpps/Vol3Suppl2/1092.pdf

Paudel et al. (2010) – https://www.medicinalgenomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Transdermal_CBD1.pdf

How dangerous is CBD?

It is undeniable that the CBD market is flourishing. Previous posts by my colleagues have documented its growth in UK, EU and US markets, its applications in cosmetics, pain-relief and anti-inflammatory roles, and tracked its regulation by governing bodies. In this post I’d like to spend a little time going into the science behind CBD and – to a lesser extent – cannabinoids in general.

It is undeniable that the CBD market is flourishing. Previous posts by my colleagues have documented its growth in UK, EU and US markets, its applications in cosmetics, pain-relief and anti-inflammatory roles, and tracked its regulation by governing bodies. In this post I’d like to spend a little time going into the science behind CBD and – to a lesser extent – cannabinoids in general.

Firstly I’d like to talk about the safety profile of CBD specifically. Despite its current rise in popularity, research into CBD and its effects has been ongoing since as early as the 70s (Zuardi et al., 1982). As one would expect, early research included investigations into the toxicity of this and other cannabinoids. Toxicity is typically measured with the LD50 value, which is the Median Lethal Dose: the amount of that substance required for a fatal dose for half of the members of a tested population after a specified test duration. I was unable to source data for the LD50 in humans (something I’m actually quite relieved about) but the Toxicology Data Network states the LD50 for rhesus monkeys as 212mg of intravenous CBD per kilogram of body mass (TOXNET). They also state that in mice it was 50mg per kg body weight. If we presume a tentative correlation where tolerance increases with increasing body mass, we can do some rough science and predict a human LD50 of around 300mg/kg (more to make our next calculation easier than because of actual mathematical proof).

From there we can work out that for a 70kg human it would take 21 grams of pure CBD injected directly into their veins to cause a lethal overdose. Half of the time. Let’s put that into perspective.

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I hope you’ll agree with the point I’m making about CBD being as safe (if not safer) than some very common substances that we don’t think twice about before putting them into our bodies, something that the World Health Organisation seems to agree with.

Arguably the most common CBD products available today are tinctures. 10ml, 30ml or maybe 50ml bottles of Full Spectrum CBD Oil held in a carrier oil (commonly coconut oil) and delivered orally by placing a few drops under the tongue – or sublingually to use the technical term. These tinctures can range in strength from 3% to 40%, but are commonly sold between 5% and 20%. If we take a 20% tincture as our example, that means that in a 10ml bottle there are 2000mg of CBD. Disregarding all safety advice, our 70kg human would have to drink ten and a half bottles to have a 50% chance of succumbing.

I hope you’ll agree with the point I’m making about CBD being as safe (if not safer) than some very common substances that we don’t think twice about before putting them into our bodies, something that the World Health Organisation seems to agree with.

Except we haven’t accounted for bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the proportion of a drug that actually enters the bloodstream when introduced to the body. Different methods of administration have varied rates of bioavailability. As to be expected, intravenous injections have nearly 100% bioavailability because it’s literally going straight into the bloodstream. For our purposes we can assume that oral administration has a bioavailability of around 50%. It can vary depending on many factors, but 50% is usually a good estimate. So right there we’ve doubled the amount of tincture you’d need to drink to have a 50% of lethality. Now our 70kg example human is downing 21 bottles of oil, or almost a whole slim can of your favourite carbonated beverage. Let’s say our example human gets a great deal and only pays £50 per bottle. That’s still £1050 they’ve spent and, to be honest, drinking that much oil in one go is more likely to make you throw up than pass away from a CBD overdose.

I hope you’ll agree with the point I’m making about CBD being as safe (if not safer) than some very common substances that we don’t think twice about before putting them into our bodies, something that the World Health Organisation seems to agree with.
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Except we haven’t accounted for bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the proportion of a drug that actually enters the bloodstream when introduced to the body. Different methods of administration have varied rates of bioavailability. As to be expected, intravenous injections have nearly 100% bioavailability because it’s literally going straight into the bloodstream. For our purposes we can assume that oral administration has a bioavailability of around 50%. It can vary depending on many factors, but 50% is usually a good estimate. So right there we’ve doubled the amount of tincture you’d need to drink to have a 50% of lethality. Now our 70kg example human is downing 21 bottles of oil, or almost a whole slim can of your favourite carbonated beverage. Let’s say our example human gets a great deal and only pays £50 per bottle. That’s still £1050 they’ve spent and, to be honest, drinking that much oil in one go is more likely to make you throw up than pass away from a CBD overdose.

To put our rough maths into perspective, I’d like to quote some LD50s for some relatively common substances you probably come into contact with. And I’m not doing this to scare anyone, but rather to point out how well diluted a lot of things you encounter are and also how relatively safe CBD is by comparison.

Mayer (2014), in a review of earlier research, estimated an LD50 of between 6.5-13mg per kg for nicotine. Peters (1967) found the LD50 for caffeine in humans to range between 150-200mg per kg, again after a review of previous literature. Aspirin, one of the most common pain and fever medications, was determined by Temple (1981) to have a potentially lethal dose at levels of 500mg per kg and above.

Obviously our stated LD50 for CBD of 300mg per kg body mass is a rough estimate, but it gives us a good idea of the general safety profile of the substance when compared to common substances that are readily available. Caffeine is purported to be consumed by 80% of the world’s population (Heckman, 2010), with coffee and tea being the most common forms.

Recently there have been products such as high-caffeine energy drinks, powders and pills introduced to the market making it easier than ever to consume high amounts of this substance. Aspirin is one of the most common medicines, readily available over the counter and taken for mild to moderate pain relief. Most stores have a limit on how many packs you can purchase in a single transaction, but overall the regulation is quite loose.

I hope you’ll agree with the point I’m making about CBD being as safe (if not safer) than some very common substances that we don’t think twice about before putting them into our bodies, something that the World Health Organisation seems to agree with (WHO CBD Report, 2018). I’d have liked to discuss CBD tolerance at lower concentrations, but the reality is that it’s very well tolerated and there isn’t much more to write than that. Even when taken chronically (over a long period of time) there are very few adverse effects (Bergamaschi et al., 2011).

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Recently there have been products such as high-caffeine energy drinks, powders and pills introduced to the market making it easier than ever to consume high amounts of this substance. Aspirin is one of the most common medicines, readily available over the counter and taken for mild to moderate pain relief. Most stores have a limit on how many packs you can purchase in a single transaction, but overall the regulation is quite loose.

I hope you’ll agree with the point I’m making about CBD being as safe (if not safer) than some very common substances that we don’t think twice about before putting them into our bodies, something that the World Health Organisation seems to agree with (WHO CBD Report, 2018). I’d have liked to discuss CBD tolerance at lower concentrations, but the reality is that it’s very well tolerated and there isn’t much more to write than that. Even when taken chronically (over a long period of time) there are very few adverse effects (Bergamaschi et al., 2011).

Refs:

Zuardi et al. (1982) – https://rebelhealthtribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/CBD-Blocks-Some-THC-Effects.pdf

WHO CBD Report (2016) – https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/WHOCBDReportMay2018-2.pdf?ua=1

TOXNET () – https://chem.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/rn/13956-29-1

Mayer (2014) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3880486/

Peters (1967) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20492310

Bergamaschi et al. (2011) – https://www.medicinalgenomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Bergamaschi_2011.pdf

Is CBD beneficial to hair, skin and nails?

It’s hard to miss the craze of companies quickly producing CBD products in order to keep up with customers desire for the natural ingredient. Cannabinoid (CBD) seems to be the remedy to all our beauty problems but unlike some other beauty trends this might not just be a myth.

It’s hard to miss the craze of companies quickly producing CBD products in order to keep up with customers desire for the natural ingredient. Cannabinoid (CBD) seems to be the remedy to all our beauty problems but unlike some other beauty trends this might not just be a myth.

Scientific studies are showing Cannabidiol (CBD) to be the cure all plant. Making it the most talked about wellness and beauty ingredient anticipated to expand at a CAGR of over 33% through 2027. A market report published by Future Market Insights titled ‘CBD Skin Care Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2019-2027,’ the revenue generated from sales of CBD skin care products is estimated to be valued at over US$ 645 million (~€570 million) in 2019. (1)

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Vogue magazine recently wrote “I always say CBD offers a three – pronged skincare approach – it’s anti-ageing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Why is the hair industry getting involved?

Not a lot of research has been done for the benefits of CBD on hair and scalp. However hair experts are boasting about the oils nutrient profile. When absorbed through the scalp it stimulates and enhances the growth of hair as it contains all 21 amino acids, to help give hair protein (essential to damaged hair). It also contains fatty acids including GLA (gamma linoleum acid) which promotes natural hair growth.

Instead of buying multiple hair products a CBD hair product can moisturise, strengthen, fortify, seal the hair cuticles and protects the hair from environmental damage. (2) Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout your body and, so far, researchers have identified two major types : CB1 (found primarily in the central nervous system, including parts of the brain and spinal cord) and CB2 (found mainly in immune system tissues). Interestingly, both have been found in skin (3 & 4). Topical CBD products take up to an hour to absorb and should not have an overall greater affect than ingesting or inhaling but because the product can be directly applied to any specific area, users tend to report greater improvements in their condition.

Vogue magazine recently wrote “I always say CBD offers a three – pronged skincare approach – it’s anti-ageing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Evidence has shown it to also be an anti inflammatory which is beneficial for acne, eczema and psoriasis prone skin. It also changes the way the body created Sebum which is an oily, waxy substance that protects the skin (5). It has also been shown that taking CBD orally can still act as an anti inflammatory to the skin. Vogue magazine recently wrote “I always say CBD offers a three – pronged skincare approach – it’s anti-ageing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. In terms of an antioxidant on the skin, it provides a missing particle that a free radical can bond with, stopping it from going on to cause DNA damage. As for anti-inflammatory properties we know that skin ageing and inflammation go hand in hand, and CBD helps to combat oxidative stress (6). “Studies are constantly being released of the significant anti-ageing benefits for the natural compound proving it is the answer to youthful glowing natural skin.

Vogue magazine recently wrote “I always say CBD offers a three – pronged skincare approach – it’s anti-ageing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
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Evidence has shown it to also be an anti inflammatory which is beneficial for acne, eczema and psoriasis prone skin. It also changes the way the body created Sebum which is an oily, waxy substance that protects the skin (5). It has also been shown that taking CBD orally can still act as an anti inflammatory to the skin. Vogue magazine recently wrote “I always say CBD offers a three – pronged skincare approach – it’s anti-ageing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. In terms of an antioxidant on the skin, it provides a missing particle that a free radical can bond with, stopping it from going on to cause DNA damage. As for anti-inflammatory properties we know that skin ageing and inflammation go hand in hand, and CBD helps to combat oxidative stress (6). “Studies are constantly being released of the significant anti-ageing benefits for the natural compound proving it is the answer to youthful glowing natural skin.

Is a £45+ Marijuana Manicure worth it?

CBD manicures are popping up all over America but CBD treatments are making their way onto Spa and Salon menus throughout the UK such as the Cowshed and The Natural Health Spa. The manager of The Natural Health Spa says “Our decision to add CBD to our Spa Menu is beyond being ‘on trend, it’s based on the vast therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. We are excited to incorporate CBD into our Spa as part of our continuous efforts to source the best in beauty and wellness solutions for our guests and clients (7).” Studies have shown that CBD is a potent antioxidant, it can kill off free radicals and prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles which is perfect for the hands as that is where ageing first starts to show.

Is it Beneficial?

Yes, CBD is essential to hair skin and nails. It is unlike any other beauty ingredient to exist and studies will continue to show the benefits of adding CBD from skincare routines to oral application daily (8). Taking into consideration the vast amount of beauty products that are being released along with the beneficial research on applying topical CBD it is clear that Cannabidiol is here to stay in the beauty industry. In fact it is making a rather big impact considering the CBD skincare market is estimated to be valued at over $645 million this year and growing at the quickest rate any other industry ever has before (9).

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Is it Beneficial?

Yes, CBD is essential to hair skin and nails. It is unlike any other beauty ingredient to exist and studies will continue to show the benefits of adding CBD from skincare routines to oral application daily (8). Taking into consideration the vast amount of beauty products that are being released along with the beneficial research on applying topical CBD it is clear that Cannabidiol is here to stay in the beauty industry. In fact it is making a rather big impact considering the CBD skincare market is estimated to be valued at over $645 million this year and growing at the quickest rate any other industry ever has before (9).

Refs:

() – https://www.beautypackaging.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2019-04-16/cbd-skincare-market-on-a-high

() – https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curls/it-s-true-cbd-oil-is-the-key-ingredient-for-healthier-hair

() – https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.tb20780.x

() – https://www.self.com/story/cbd-for-pain-topical

() – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324689.php

() – https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/how-does-cbd-skincare-work

() – https://www.budockvean.co.uk/spa/cbd-spa-treatments

() – https://www.today.com/style/do-cbd-beauty-skin-care-products-actually-work-t150394

() – https://www.healtheuropa.eu/cbd-skin-care-market-rapid-growth/90913/

CBD – a cosmetic fad or the biggest trend?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is currently the trend of day in almost every industry globally. With scientific research backing the claims made by some of the biggest players in the beauty market it is proving itself to not be another dead fad of 2019.

It’s surprising to think that this natural ingredients’ use dates back to over 4000 years ago. The oldest known written record is Chinese emperor Shen Nung and carries on to Ancient Romans, Greeks and the timeless beauty icon Egyptian Queen Cleopatra who was known to use CBD oil in her daily beauty routine to keep her skin looking young and refreshed (1).

Cannabidiol (CBD) is currently the trend of day in almost every industry globally. With scientific research backing the claims made by some of the biggest players in the beauty market it is proving itself to not be another dead fad of 2019.

It’s surprising to think that this natural ingredients’ use dates back to over 4000 years ago. The oldest known written record is Chinese emperor Shen Nung and carries on to Ancient Romans, Greeks and the timeless beauty icon Egyptian Queen Cleopatra who was known to use CBD oil in her daily beauty routine to keep her skin looking young and refreshed (1).

However, it wasn’t until 1940 that scientists took a closer look at the benefits of isolating the CBD compound. At the time they did not know exactly what they had discovered. It is only in recent years we have successfully found the remarkable benefits of CBD when used in skincare, beauty products, soaps and hair care.

Despite cannabis being a taboo for decades, it is today flourishing into a multi-billion-pound industry. The American CBD industry alone was predicted to reach 20 billion by 2020 (2). Future Market reported in its Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment (2019 – 2027) that the CBD skincare market is estimated to be valued at over $645 million in 2019. (4) The United Kingdom is also seeing a drastic shift in the consumers approach towards CBD products. The Cannabis Trades Association states that the number of CBD oil users doubled in 2017 and currently sits at 250,000 regular customers. Making it the fastest growing industry in the UK. (3)

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What we know so far…

While no health claims can be advertised, the research is there to back up the consumers claims. CBD research has shown that there are a wide range of benefits to using CBD to help with pain relief, skin repair, and the ability to alleviate sleeping disorders like insomnia. Cannabidiol acts as an anti-inflammatory on the skin which helps to alleviate the toughest and costliest skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Although it is said that if it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Surprisingly this does not seem to be the case with CBD skin care products (5). A New York Dermatologist, Dr. Francesca Fusco found that CBD can even improve overall skin health. In her studies, Fusco has found that CBD is a source of rich fatty acids and contains other nutrients that are beneficial to the skin to retain moisture and keep skin youthful. Studies show Cannabidiol to assist with the-

  • Repairing of the skin and reduce the appearance of scars, wrinkles and skin discoloration.
  • Reduction of inflammation and improvement of symptoms of inflammation-related conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), eczema, and acne.
  • Improvement of the circulatory system by reducing vascular tension, reducing blood pressure, and preventing cell death from oxidative stress. (6)

Who loves it?

The list of celebrities that are advocates for CBD is lengthy from athletes such as Mike Tyson to actors / actresses like Kirsten Bell, Whoopi Goldberg, Seth Rogen and Jenniffer Aniston (7). In recent media Kim Kardashian welcomed guests to her California home to enjoy a CBD themed baby shower for her 4th childs’ arrival (8). This might make you think it is simply a trend that will die down after the hype but more companies are popping up with new CBD services regularly, including celebrities who are jumping on the CBD bandwagon and opening CBD companies such as Whoopi Goldberg creating CBD products for menstrual pain, Mike Tyson developing his own CBD farm. (9)

While hemp has been on the high street for a few years notably with Body Shop selling a pot shaped soap bar made from hemp. Its only in the last year or so that other companies have launched their own range of CBD cosmetics. The American chain Sephora has added CBD infused products from Milk Makeup and (Estee Lauders sister company) Origins (10). Continuing their trend, this week they announced that they would be stocking a powerful blend of CBD by Saint Jane’s Luxury: CBD Beauty Serum. The price tag on this item come in at $125 a bottle! (12)

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Who loves it?

The list of celebrities that are advocates for CBD is lengthy from athletes such as Mike Tyson to actors / actresses like Kirsten Bell, Whoopi Goldberg, Seth Rogen and Jenniffer Aniston (7). In recent media Kim Kardashian welcomed guests to her California home to enjoy a CBD themed baby shower for her 4th childs’ arrival (8). This might make you think it is simply a trend that will die down after the hype but more companies are popping up with new CBD services regularly, including celebrities who are jumping on the CBD bandwagon and opening CBD companies such as Whoopi Goldberg creating CBD products for menstrual pain, Mike Tyson developing his own CBD farm. (9)

While hemp has been on the high street for a few years notably with Body Shop selling a pot shaped soap bar made from hemp. Its only in the last year or so that other companies have launched their own range of CBD cosmetics. The American chain Sephora has added CBD infused products from Milk Makeup and (Estee Lauders sister company) Origins (10). Continuing their trend, this week they announced that they would be stocking a powerful blend of CBD by Saint Jane’s Luxury: CBD Beauty Serum. The price tag on this item come in at $125 a bottle! (12)

Regulations & Law – UK

The Cosmetics Regulation is directly applicable in the UK and therefore, CBD may be used in cosmetics placed on the UK market provided they are obtained from cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabis extracts and cannabis tinctures originating from the seeds and leaves that are not accompanied with the fruiting tops of the cannabis plant.

Cosmetics operators may contact one of the safety assessors available from the UK industry body Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) to comply with the safety assessment requirements imposed under Annex I of the Cosmetics Regulations. The Regulation also requires manufacturers to notify the European Commission directly of every cosmetic product placed on the market, using the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP).

EU

The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) supports the development of a harmonized legislation in this field, to make sure that consumers are protected, to sustain the industry’s current double-digit growth rate, to attract new investors and to boost product development. The legislation should avoid any restrictions for CBD and clarify that extracts and preparations from industrial hemp are not narcotics in the EU.

Final Thoughts

The CBD market is an industry that has plenty of room for all entrepreneurs. It looks unlikely that it will be calming down anytime soon as national bodies abandon their historical approach of criminalising anything cannabis based and instead seek to regulate appropriately.

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EU

The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) supports the development of a harmonized legislation in this field, to make sure that consumers are protected, to sustain the industry’s current double-digit growth rate, to attract new investors and to boost product development. The legislation should avoid any restrictions for CBD and clarify that extracts and preparations from industrial hemp are not narcotics in the EU.

Final Thoughts

The CBD market is an industry that has plenty of room for all entrepreneurs. It looks unlikely that it will be calming down anytime soon as national bodies abandon their historical approach of criminalising anything cannabis based and instead seek to regulate appropriately.

Refs:

() – https://www.pureratioscbd.com/blogs/news/the-brief-history-of-cbd

() – https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/news-study-cbd-market-22-billion-2022-722852/

() – https://www.bmmagazine.o.uk/business/will-the-united-kingdoms-cbd-business-boom-in-2019/

() – https://www.healtheuropa.eu/cbd-skin-care-market-rapid-growth/90913/

() – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3085542/

() – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25801536

() – https://www.binoidcbd.com/blogs/news/famous-celebrities-who-use-or-endorse-cbd-oil

() – https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/inside-kim-kardashians-cbdthemed-baby-shower-with-sound-baths-crystals-and-massages-38059921.html

() – https://www.marijuanabreak.com/celebs-that-are-creating-their-own-cbd-brands

() – https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarabrittanysomerset/2018/09/18/origins-infiltrates-the-cannabis-space-with-a-face-mask/#570bb6c078af

() – https://globalcosmeticsnews.com/estee-lauder-details-restructuring-costs/

() – https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sephora-highest-concentrated-cbd-beauty-product-saint-jane_l_5cd58aefe4b054da4e881523?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jb25zZW50LnlhaG9vLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIPPMXRN3QCe_KFgnFhrjrWMMDZz8J-UrS56D8dEuj6Nr120gOrHjmuCggRQffTz3KPdrymJ89042q7EWqAQZkRInoQXxhcY1gEkG4FTOJVr8JVAe-X20NI-D4XSUaFTfnrVX49xbiusddpKgVoBIptUPxo5EdJbiF5AztofJFDO

CBD – Threat to the pharmaceutical industry?

Cannabis and cannabidiol (or CBD) are no longer the topic of unconventional or avant-garde conversations in the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, CBD is today a topic that is being discussed by individuals at every level in medicine.

One year ago, the most common questions we were asked by clients were; “Is it safe?”; “What is CBD?”; “Is it legal?”. Today the commonest question is “How do we implement this in our products most efficiently?”

Cannabis and cannabidiol (or CBD) are no longer the topic of unconventional or avant-garde conversations in the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, CBD is today a topic that is being discussed by individuals at every level in medicine.

One year ago, the most common questions we were asked by clients were; “Is it safe?”; “What is CBD?”; “Is it legal?”. Today the commonest question is “How do we implement this in our products most efficiently?”

It’s not going away anytime in our lifetimes – in fact it going to become even more of a prominent theme. To put it in perspective the pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom is projected to hit £33 billion by 2020 1. and the CBD sector will be £1.6 billion. 2

That is 4.8% of the entire industry poured into a product that has been in the public eye for barely 2 years!

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In almost every US state where cannabis has been legalised and CBD consumption normalised there has been a drop in opioid related deaths.

That is 4.8% of the entire industry poured into a product that has been in the public eye for barely 2 years!

The biggest loser in this CBD revolution, the ‘green rush’, we believe will be synthetic opioids.

The two most common reasons for opioid prescription are chronic pain and arthritic pain. 3

Likewise, the two most common reasons people use CBD are (I’m sure you can guess by now) …. chronic pain and arthritic pain. 4

This is enormously significant.




In almost every US state where cannabis has been legalised and CBD consumption normalised there has been a drop in opioid related deaths.

CBD does not remove the need for vaccines, diabetes medications, beta blockers and so on.

It does however present the opportunity to remove the need for opiates. As the public becomes aware of a less harmful, less addictive, healthier and natural alternative to opiates, aren’t they more likely to take it?

In almost every US state where cannabis has been legalised and CBD consumption normalised there has been a drop in opioid related deaths.

In one such study that compared US states between 1999 – 2010, it was found that there was a 25% decrease in opioid related mortalities in the states that has legalised cannabis. 5




In almost every US state where cannabis has been legalised and CBD consumption normalised there has been a drop in opioid related deaths.
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CBD does not remove the need for vaccines, diabetes medications, beta blockers and so on.

It does however present the opportunity to remove the need for opiates. As the public becomes aware of a less harmful, less addictive, healthier and natural alternative to opiates, aren’t they more likely to take it?

In almost every US state where cannabis has been legalised and CBD consumption normalised there has been a drop in opioid related deaths.

In one such study that compared US states between 1999 – 2010, it was found that there was a 25% decrease in opioid related mortalities in the states that has legalised cannabis. 5

Another study that looked at opioid abuse found a 44% decrease in consumption after subjects were given access to medical cannabis and CBD. 6

So far this doesn’t seem very threatening. In fact, if approached well this could be a revolution for the industry as more and more of the public look for an alternative to the ‘pill for any problem’ culture in modern medicine.

Cannabis, hemp and CBD in particular seem to operate in the perfect middle ground between holistic and conventional medicine. Perhaps offering an opportunity for conventional medicine to regain the confidence of millions who have started to look elsewhere for their health care.

Where the threat lies, in our opinion, is in the fact that CBD unlike many conventional medicines lends itself very well to almost any product it is put inside. Soaps, cosmetics, foods, workout supplements and so on. Meaning as more of the public continue to look for the alternative, they will begin to find it away from the high street pharmacy.

The pharmaceutical industry must act fast if it wants to be a guiding force in the world of cannabis and CBD. People in Britain are turning to CBD at a spectacular rate. Most estimates put the figure at around 350 new CBD customers per day in the United Kingdom alone. 7 By offering these people an avenue to access safe and legitimate cannabis products (rather than sending them elsewhere) pharmacies all over the United Kingdom could stand benefit massively from the ‘green rush’.

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Where the threat lies, in our opinion, is in the fact that CBD unlike many conventional medicines lends itself very well to almost any product it is put inside. Soaps, cosmetics, foods, workout supplements and so on. Meaning as more of the public continue to look for the alternative, they will begin to find it away from the high street pharmacy.

The pharmaceutical industry must act fast if it wants to be a guiding force in the world of cannabis and CBD. People in Britain are turning to CBD at a spectacular rate. Most estimates put the figure at around 350 new CBD customers per day in the United Kingdom alone. 7 By offering these people an avenue to access safe and legitimate cannabis products (rather than sending them elsewhere) pharmacies all over the United Kingdom could stand benefit massively from the ‘green rush’.

Refs:

Globaldata.com. (2018) – https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/gdhc0053chr–countryfocus-healthcare-regulatory-and-reimbursement-landscape-uk/#.VtlnbECyXkc

Daniel, E., Daniel, E. and Daniel, E (2018) – https://www.verdict.co.uk/uk-cbd-use/

Drugabuse.gov. (2018) – https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids

Jamie Corroon and Joy A. Phillips (2018) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6043845/

Bachhuber, M., Saloner, B., Cunningham, C. and Barry, C. (2014) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392651/.

Projectcbd.org. (2019) – https://www.projectcbd.org/medicine/americas-opiate-crisis-how-medical-cannabis-can-help.

The Independent. (2018) – https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/cannabis-products-cbd-oil-marijuana-weed-legalisation-millennials-trend-a8675691.html

38% of Pharmacies stock CBD – Here’s why

With the recent announcement from the UK Government regarding its decision to enforce CBD’s status as a Novel Food, it has consequently become more difficult to create and sell new CBD food products.

In light of this, we have taken a look at other opportunities in the CBD market, such as cosmetics and patches.

A Novel Foods application is a considerable regulatory barrier for businesses to overcome, taking possibly years and a sizeable monetary investment to put new food products on the market. This is likely to increase interest in other areas of the CBD market due to more ease of entry. For this reason, we expect to see further growth in the already large cosmetics market as they are unaffected by the Novel Foods regulations. Realistic valuations put the CBD cosmetics market at several hundred million with two main forms of skincare topicals leading the category.

Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3 Always-Pure-Organic-3
It seems fairly safe to say that the information is out there If you choose to look for it.

What about reliable information? Peer reviewed journals? A quick search on one of the world’s largest open scientific journals database publons.com provides over 1000 journals relating to cannabidiol (CBD). It seems fairly safe to say that the information is out there If you choose to look for it.

So, why aren’t many independent pharmacies stocking it? It would seem logical to assume that thanks to the uncertain future surrounding the legal and regulatory status of CBD in the European Union and the United Kingdom, many independent pharmacies are put off investing in stock that they might not be able to legally sell.

It seems fairly safe to say that the information is out there If you choose to look for it.

Now for those that don’t follow the CBD industry with the same fiendish obsession that we do here at AP Organics, it might be worth googling ‘CBD novel food’. This will give you a good catch up on where we are at currently regarding regulation.

Good news is on the horizon however – the ‘Cannabis Trade Association’ representing over 700 UK businesses have been spending a great deal of time in Brussels and with our own Politicians working to encourage them to take a more pragmatic and sensible approach on regulating cannabis products.

It seems fairly safe to say that the information is out there If you choose to look for it.
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Now for those that don’t follow the CBD industry with the same fiendish obsession that we do here at AP Organics, it might be worth googling ‘CBD novel food’. This will give you a good catch up on where we are at currently regarding regulation.

Good news is on the horizon however – the ‘Cannabis Trade Association’ representing over 700 UK businesses have been spending a great deal of time in Brussels and with our own Politicians working to encourage them to take a more pragmatic and sensible approach on regulating cannabis products.

The newest legislation for Novel Foods was laid out in January of 2018 and CBD was classified as novel (meaning that it wasn’t consumed to a significant degree in humans before the 15th of May 1997) in January of 2019. Any CBD product which was on the market before the announcement must have a ‘validated’ application by the 31st of March to remain trading legally, and products sold after must have an approved application to remain on the market. From the 1st of April, any product that fails to meet these criteria is subject to removal by the local trading authority. Since a validated application can take between 1-3 months and an approved application can take anything up to 2 years, it is critical for business that wish to continue trading to begin their application as soon as possible, or to ensure that their chosen supplier is making an application that covers their product.

A dossier of evidence supporting the safety of the proposed foodstuff must be compiled for a Novel Foods application, which includes such things as the production process, product specifications and toxicology information. Some of this will be immediately available, but things like subchronic toxicity (for example) will require specialised testing to be carried out. Once the dossier has been completed and submitted to the European Commission (or FSA in the UK after the 1st January 2021) there will be a 2-3 month period in which they will determine if the application is suitable to be validated. Once validated, the application will be passed to the EFSA who will have 9 months to perform a risk assessment if no further information is required. If the EFSA approves, it is then passed to the European Commission who have a further 7 months in which to decide whether to add the foodstuff to the list of Novel Foods.

There are clearly many steps and a lot of time required for a Novel Foods Application. For applicants, the earlier an application can be submitted, the better. However, only high-quality applications will make it past the verification step, so there is a definite trade-off to be made.

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A dossier of evidence supporting the safety of the proposed foodstuff must be compiled for a Novel Foods application, which includes such things as the production process, product specifications and toxicology information. Some of this will be immediately available, but things like subchronic toxicity (for example) will require specialised testing to be carried out. Once the dossier has been completed and submitted to the European Commission (or FSA in the UK after the 1st January 2021) there will be a 2-3 month period in which they will determine if the application is suitable to be validated. Once validated, the application will be passed to the EFSA who will have 9 months to perform a risk assessment if no further information is required. If the EFSA approves, it is then passed to the European Commission who have a further 7 months in which to decide whether to add the foodstuff to the list of Novel Foods.

There are clearly many steps and a lot of time required for a Novel Foods Application. For applicants, the earlier an application can be submitted, the better. However, only high-quality applications will make it past the verification step, so there is a definite trade-off to be made.