And the Role of CBD in the Cannabis Industry
Ever since the legalization of marijuana in certain states for medical purposes, the cannabis industry established a foundation of being a healthcare alternative for individuals who are averse to specific medications and treatments. Medical cannabis has been used to treat chronic pain, nausea in chemotherapy patients, and several other symptoms from those suffering from ALS, HIV/AIDS, Glaucoma, Alzheimer’s, and more.
However, some conditions don’t require a substance as strong as medical cannabis, which is exactly where cannabidiol (CBD) comes into play. As cannabis industry professionals know, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most prevalent cannabinoid in cannabis. CBD happens to be the second most prevalent and is currently under far less restrictive regulations compared to THC.
The Legality of CBD
Before we get into the health benefits of CBD, it helps to gain an understanding of its current legal status in the U.S. The short answer is that CBD is a federally legal substance; however, there are certain regulations that CBD products must adhere to. Most notably, the CBD that’s extracted from hemp plants can contain no more than 0.3 percent THC. CBD products that exceed the federally mandated level must be destroyed at the owner’s expense. Growers and cultivators can usually avoid this by regularly testing the THC levels of their hemp plants.
The Health Benefits of CBD
Similar to medical cannabis, CBD has carved out its own section in the health and wellness space. Although far more research needs to be conducted on the true health benefits of CBD, there are notable areas of success that patients have had thus far. They include:
- A reduction of common arthritis symptoms, such as stiffness and pain. CBD lotions and topicals directly applied to the affected area have been particularly effective.
- Can help mitigate the symptoms commonly associated with depression and anxiety, enabling some patients to reduce their dependence on antidepressants and other powerful medications.
- Has shown to prevent neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which is one of the more notable health benefits of CBD.
- Has shown to increase levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide while reducing levels of resistin, which helps those who are struggling with diabetes.
- A reduction of pain symptoms for those who are experiencing chronic pain that is non-cancerous. Initial research shows that CBD topicals have proven the most effective thus far.
- Can help treat symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients such as stiffness, muscle tightness, and unwanted spasms; however, testing so far has shown that combining CBD with THC yields the best results for ALS patients who are dealing with severe symptoms.
- Has shown some success in helping opioid addicts overcome their cravings and withdrawal symptoms, such as pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
- Can help reduce some symptoms that are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Of course, psychological therapy should always play a role in the treatment of PTSD patients to get to the root cause of the issue; however, the initial studies have shown positive results when PTSD patients take CBD.
- Has shown amazing results in treating patients that suffer from epilepsy. In fact, a CBD medication by the name of Epidiolex was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 to treat patients who are experiencing seizures due to Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Are You Considering Becoming a Part of the Cannabis Industry? Elite Robotics Can Help
The cannabis industry is booming right now due to the mainstream acceptance of medical cannabis and recreational cannabis in the states where it’s legal. Additionally, CBD is showing some real promise in the holistic healthcare space. As we’ve broken down here, there are several medical benefits of CBD in treating a wide array of conditions.
One of the core components of extracting and producing CBD products is the testing process. Since CBD products cannot legally exceed the 0.3 percent threshold of THC, growers and cultivators must be diligent about their hemp testing. This is exactly where Elite Robotics comes into play.
Our Cannabot line consists of two main products – a containment device and an analyzing device. The specimen containment device (SCD) hermetically seals a cannabis or hemp sample until it’s ready to be tested. The analyzer tests the samples, giving growers and cultivators easy-to-read results that include THC and CBD levels along with other critical data.
Our technology has enabled growers and cultivators in the cannabis industry to easily test their own products, which makes them less dependent on third-party labs that use harmful chemicals.
Learn more about our cannabis testing equipment or become an investor by contacting Elite Robotics at (805) 987-6217. Or send us a message directly using our contact form.