Breaking Down the Top 4 Cannabinoids for Potential Cannabis Investors
With the recent changes in state and federal regulations, the cannabis industry is rich with opportunity. Current cannabis investors know the industry has come a long way in the past decade or so. However, even with all the recent developments in both the medical and recreational markets, there is still plenty of opportunity to go around for investors, farmers/cultivators, along with those on the testing and processing side.
For example, cannabis testing equipment has become a must-have item for those that need the ability to perform lab tests without sending them off to a third party. Being able to run your own lab tests means that you’re saving shipping time and processing fees you’d normally incur when working with an external lab. Having your own testing equipment also means being able to deduce the purity levels and cannabinoids of your product the same day you test a sample.
Cannabinoids Defined
For those that are growing cannabis or are considering investing, the plant or flower is the raw form of the product. Cannabinoids derived from the plant are the chemical substance (a naturally occurring compound) that causes an effect in the brain and body through your receptors. The most current research indicates that a cannabis plant produces up to 100 different types of cannabinoids and roughly triple that number of non-cannabinoid chemicals.
Cannabinoids generally fall into one of three different silos: recreational, medicinal, and synthetic. Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two with the most name recognition; however, there are other lesser known cannabinoids you should be aware of if you’re considering becoming a cannabis investor.
#1 – Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Delta 9 (THC) is perhaps the most widely recognized cannabinoid because it’s the chief psychoactive ingredient in achieving a high or euphoric feeling. It can be taken through inhalation, oral ingestion, topical application, or sublingual administration. Delta 9 (THC) is the very same ingredient that cultivators need to be conscious of when testing and harvesting because the amount will ultimately determine the product’s legality. The federally-mandated legal limit for THC in CBD products is 0.3%.
#2 – Cannabidiol (CBD)
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is heated using a decarboxylation process to create cannabidiol (CBD). Unlike Delta 9 (THC), CBD has no psychoactive chemicals, meaning that the product cannot produce a high or euphoric feeling. However, CBD will produce its intended therapeutic benefits such as pain relief, a decrease in anxiety, and relaxation. Similar to THC, CBD has all the same methods of delivery (vaping, smoking, topicals, edibles). For the most part, the most popular method sold to consumers is bottled CBD oil that can be applied with a dropper.
#3 – Cannabinol (CBN)
Cannabinol (CBN) – not to be confused with cannabidiol (CBD) – is another one of the more than 100 types of cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Although CBD and CBN interact with the same receptors in the body, CBN is not nearly as popular as CBD nor can it be found in very many products. That’s because CBN is essentially a toned-down version of THC. Indeed, it does produce psychoactive effects, but they are about 75% less effective than THC. More research needs to be conducted, although CBN does show some promise in the areas of sleep aid and pain relief.
#4 – Cannabigerol (CBG)
Cannabigerol (CBG) is regarded as one of the rarest cannabinoids on the market. This is because it’s found in much smaller quantities compared to other cannabinoids like Delta 9 (THC) and CBD. In fact, CBG usually comprises 1% or less of any given cannabis plant. Because of the short supply of CBG, not much has been conducted by way of testing. The rarity of CBG also makes it incredibly expensive compared to other cannabinoids.
Ready to Invest in the Cannabis Industry? Contact Elite Robotics!
Elite Robotics is revolutionizing the cannabis industry by putting cannabis testing equipment in the hands of growers and cultivators. This means they are no longer solely reliant on third party labs to ascertain the purity level and potency of their crops. Additionally, growers and cultivators save valuable time that would normally be spent waiting for an external lab to test and deliver results.
Having cannabis testing equipment in-house also means cultivators are able to preserve their chain of custody. Although it is still a requirement to go through a licensed lab to obtain an official certificate of analysis (COA), our lab testing equipment allows growers and cultivars to better estimate when they need to do that.
To find out more about our equipment or to become an investor, you can contact Elite Robotics at (805) 987-6217. Or you can send us a message directly using our contact form.