Medical Cannabis Research

What is Medical Cannabis (Cannabis)?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally-occurring component found in the cannabis or hemp plant, and it comprises up to 40 percent of the plant.

The other major component of the plant is the more popular delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

CBD is not known to be a psychoactive agent, unlike THC. Instead CBD has shown to have numerous medical benefits in helping treat various illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, arthritis, chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, migraines and health issues related to aging.

There are no known severe long-term side effects to the use of CBD or products that contain CBD.

Studies show it to be completely safe, even in large doses. The hemp plant contains an abundance of CBD and extremely small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), making it impossible to get high from hemp.

Each strain of cannabis contains varying quantities of the different cannabinoids, which is why some strains work better for patients than others. Strains that contain more CBD than THC are known as CBD Rich strains, and have quite different effects from THC Rich strains.

CBD can be derived from either the marijuana or the hemp plant, but hemp is more preferable regarding CBD potency because it naturally has such a high amount of it, unlike marijuana, which has a very low cannabidiol profile.

A recent CNN report on medical marijuana by Dr. Sanjay Gupta spurred interest in the health benefits of CBD.

Previously a skeptic on medical marijuana, Gupta featured the story of a five-year-old girl, Charlotte Figi, who suffered continual epileptic seizures from a rare disease known as Dravet’s syndrome. Conventional treatment failed, but Charlotte’s condition dramatically improved after she was treated orally with an extract of CBD-rich cannabis.

A survey by Stanford researchers of 19 severely epileptic children found that 84% experienced substantial seizure reductions from CBD-enriched cannabis.

The company is developing a new line of skin care, oral care products and natural supplements containing the CBD component including mouthwash and toothpaste.

It is also working on developing a new line of erectile dysfunction supplements.