Here’s the latest CBD News:

• A European Union court has excluded cannabidiol from their legal definition of a narcotic substance.
• In a bid to prepare cannabidiol for eventual regulation, high-ranking officials at the FDA called a virtual public meeting on November 19th to share the “sex and gender differences in use and responses.” 
• The first study to assess the long-term effects of CBD consumption was published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research on November 20th.

Table of Contents

1. High-Level EU Court Defends CBD as a Non-Narcotic Substance
2. FDA Pours More Resources Into Pre-Regulatory CBD Evaluation
3. The First Long-Term CBD Exposure Study Was Just Published

High-Level EU Court Defends CBD as a Non-Narcotic Substance 

On November 19th, the Court of Justice of the European Union officially clarified its stance on CBD’s legal classification while settling a case related to the sale and distribution of CBD between two EU countries.

In the case, a Czech CBD oil e-cigarette company that marketed and distributed their products in France was charged with the violation of a French law that states “only the fibre and seeds of hemp may be put to commercial use.” 

In order to arrive at their ruling that the Czech company didn’t violate the provision in question—or rather, that EU law precluded the French law in this case—the judges had to exclude cannabidiol from the definition of a narcotic drug.

They did so by noting its exclusion from two UN conventions: the Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

In defense of their decision, the judges stated, “While it is true that a literal interpretation of the (Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs) might lead to its being classified as a drug, in so far as it is a cannabis extract, such an interpretation would be contrary to the general spirit of that convention and to its objective of protecting ‘the health and welfare of mankind’ … the CBD at issue does not appear to have any psychotropic effect or any harmful effect on human health.” 

The ruling marks an important turning point in the ongoing struggle between pro-CBD advocates and prohibitive European legislation, paving the way for a regulatory path in the near future.

FDA Pours More Resources Into Pre-Regulatory CBD Evaluation

Dr. Amy Abernethy, Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), commented on the FDA’s prioritization of CBD research and regulation last Thursday, November 19th.

“We are committed to advancing hemp products with available regulatory pathways, and we are further exploring what additional steps may be appropriate for hemp products,” said Commissioner Abernethy.

The comments were made in reference to a landmark public meeting held by the FDA (virtually) on the 19th, entitled “CBD and Other Cannabinoids: Sex and Gender Differences in Use and Responses.”

Per the FDA’s Women’s Health Research information portal, the meeting sought to “discuss potential sex (biological) and gender (psychosocial) differences in use and responses to cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids.”

The day-long series of four panels were hosted by a team of high-ranking FDA officials, including Women’s Health Director Kaveeta Vasisht, MD, PharmD; Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Toxicologist David Carbone, Ph.D.; and Dr. Abernethy herself.

The meeting covered perspectives from patients and healthcare professionals, known sex differences in CBD’s effects, how CBD use affects pregnant women, and the government agency perspectives on CBD research and evaluation.

The last panel is especially indicative of the FDA’s intentions to move forward with CBD research and regulation, as the learning objectives included identifying “current federal efforts to address scientific data gaps” and the “scientific and ethical considerations affecting CBD research and evaluation.” 

The First Long-Term CBD Exposure Study Was Just Published

A Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research study authored by Canopy Growth Corporation and published on November 20th is the first to officially investigate “lifelong toxicity” associated with CBD use.

The study used a type of roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans) regarded by researchers as the ideal non-human model for its strikingly similar genetic makeup and short life span.

To assess lifelong toxicity, researchers exposed “day 1 adults to 10, 40, and 100 μM until all animals perished,” which is about 2-3 weeks for this particular species.

Compared to control, roundworms in the experimental groups demonstrated a “maximum life extension of 18% observed at 40 μM” and an “increase in late-stage life activity by up to 206%.”

Most importantly for the purposes of this study and the CBD industry at large, the roundworms at all three dosage levels failed to demonstrate any signs of long-term toxicity.

Author

The CBD Insider Editorial Team

The mission of The CBD Insider is to provide consumers with a way to find high-quality, safe, and well-formulated CBD products. Our editorial team of passionate industry professionals achieves this mission by providing unbiased, trustworthy, and well-researched reporting about the CBD industry.

Source: https://thecbdinsider.com/news/cbd-news-roundup-high-level-eu-court-defends-cbd-as-a-non-narcotic-substance/

Not all people consuming cannabis like the idea of smoking or vaping. Some are looking for alternative forms of consumption. The good news is that alternatives do exist as there are many ways to use cannabis. One of these alternative forms is by drinking cannabis-infused beverages. They can be both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It’s important to note that any alcoholic cannabis-infused beverages that are available on the market must meet the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) requirements. Even though marijuana has been legalized in many American states, there are still strict regulation standards for drinkable cannabis. Therefore, each marijuana-infused drink must be approved before being sold. That’s one of the reasons why it still may be difficult to buy this type of beverage. Luckily, it is not hard to make a cannabis-infused drink by yourself. Let’s consider some of the most popular ways of consuming cannabis in drinks!

1. Cannabis-Infused Milk

This is one of the most popular ways to drink marijuana. To prepare it, you need four cups of milk and nearly a quarter ounce of ground cannabis. Try to choose the highest quality ingredients. Don’t buy cheap products as your drink will depend a lot on the quality of your ingredients.

First, you need to decarboxylate your marijuana which means to activate its psychoactive components by heating it in the oven. You should keep cannabis at a temperature of about 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, pour the milk into a boiler and allow it to simmer. Then, add the marijuana and stir it occasionally for 30 minutes until it is thoroughly blended with the milk, which will change colour to spring green. Before serving, cool the milk for at least an hour.

You can not only drink cannabis milk alone but also use it as an ingredient for other recipes. Once you make it, cannabis-infused milk allows you to prepare many more beverages and edibles with weed.

2. Cannabis Lemonade

There are a number of recipes for making cannabis lemonade depending on the desired flavour. To achieve the best result in lemonade preparation, you should use a cannabis tincture which you can either get from a dispensary or make at home.

Making cannabis lemonade only requires squeezed lemons, water, and sugar. Take 2 tablespoons of cannabis tincture for every 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 1 ¾ cups water, and 1/3 cup of sugar or honey.  You can add some ice and garnishes according to preference, for instance, fresh strawberries.

3. Protein Shake

If you are into fitness and a healthy lifestyle, you can try a marijuana protein shake. It’s really easy to make using cannabis coconut oil. First, you need to boil coconut oil and cannabis together, then just add it to your usual protein shake. Enjoy this healthy and delicious alternative to ordinary sports drinks!

4. Cannabis Iced Tea

To make this refreshing drink, you need to add cannabis to your tea blend, put it into a bag, then place it in boiling water. The longer it steeps in hot water, the more potent your drink will be. You can also use cannabis tinctures or milk instead of a teabag. Add some spices to taste and add ice. To sweeten your iced tea, you may add sugar or honey. This beverage is definitely worth trying!

5. Coffee

If you always start your morning with a cup of flavoured coffee, make your routine a little bit different. You can do it by adding a tablespoon or two of cannabis oil to your cup of joe. If you are trying to cut on calories, coconut oil can replace cream and sugar for you. This may be a great alternative to traditional coffee as a cannabis drink can enhance your mood and give you energy for the whole day. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your morning drinks and find out what works best for you.

Everyone has different preferences even when it comes to marijuana consumption. Luckily, today cannabis is available in various forms. You can choose from edibles, sweets, and even drinks. It’s absolutely up to you whether to buy cannabis-infused beverages or to make them yourself. You can create your own cannabis drink according to your preference which is limited only by your imagination. Marijuana-infused drinks can be considered a healthier alternative to smoking, but still don’t forget that everything should be in moderation. Note that cannabis drinks can give you a more potent experience and a stronger high. Moreover, some people like that drinkable weed brings its effects faster than edibles as it is digested more quickly and its components are absorbed into the bloodstream more easily. Typically, cannabis drinks take around 30 minutes to kick in. On the other hand, because of the faster ingestion, cannabis-infused drinks may last between 2 – 4 hours.

by Tia M., Editor and Contributor at AskGrowers

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020

Source: https://cbdeducationonline.com/top-5-cannabis-infused-drinks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-5-cannabis-infused-drinks

Traditionally the industry categorizes the marijuana plant by “Indica”, “Sativa”, and “Hybrid”. However, the more we learn about the hemp and cannabis plants, the more we discover this approach is flawed. It is becoming outdated. This historic system typically applies to cannabis, but does not translate well for the hemp industry as a whole. Research continues to show that we need a more sophisticated structure. One which accurately describes the different varieties of this unique plant. Once and for all, we will clarify how to navigate these plant varieties in a science led way.

We have discussed in the past that, according to science, hemp and cannabis are the same plant. We also know that this plant can do many different things based on its chemical makeup. This chemical makeup refers to cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds that the plant creates. Hence, the most accurate way we are today able to classify this plant is by its chemotype.

The word “chemotype” sounds pretty fancy. But, it’s actually a simple term when we break it down. Think of it as the blend of the words “chemical” and “type”. So really, we are trying to classify the cannabis and hemp class based on their chemical makeups. Currently, there are 5 types of chemotypes that focus on just the cannabinoids; Types I – V. Note that it does not consider the other compounds available in the plant, like terpenes. This is important as we will be looking at classifications based on terpenes in our next post! 

Why are chemotypes important?

What are these chemotypes and why are they so important? The first 3 types are pretty straightforward. They finally give us a scientific difference between hemp and cannabis as we know it. To put it simply, Type I is high THC, low CBD content. Type II has a roughly 50:50 split of THC to CBD. While Type III is high in CBD and has a max amount of 0.3% THC. We dive into more detail for the full five types below.

Type I & II – cannabis

We categorise Type I as high in THC, and this is typically what we refer to as cannabis. It is also referred to as marijuana, too. We know that THC is psychoactive and is what causes the “high” associated with cannabis. Type II is less psychoactive than Type I. However, it still maintains a sufficiently high level of THC that would impair the consumer, albeit less so.

So, chemotypes I and II fall under the traditional cannabis category. These types are still illegal in a recreational sense in the U.K, EU and much of the US. However, they are increasingly available through medical programmes across the world, including the UK. Access is still limited, though.

Unfortunately, the lack of legality has stymied significant medical research of Type I and Type II categorized products. It is to the point that there is little expertise outside of the United States and Israel.

Type 3 – hemp

The Type III chemotype is where traditional hemp falls. As the U.K. and EU have recently raised the max THC limit to 0.3%, they now match US regulations. This further establishes said concentration as the standard THC limit for hemp. This reclassification now allows for consistency across the borders and truly establishes hemp as a Type III chemotype.

The physical effects of Type III products are significantly different than that of Type I and II. Type III is much more mellow and relaxed, and lacks the impairment that comes with Types I and II. Type III material is not psychoactive and will be the main focus for medical research in years to come.

Interestingly, while Type I and II will also go through significant testing for medical research, the associated “high” makes it difficult to prescribe as a kind of daily use-type medication.

Type 4 – rich in CBG

Type IV cannabis and hemp plants are gaining traction over the last year. These are plants which are high in Cannabigerol, or CBG. Researchers are interested in CBG because it binds directly to the body’s cannabinoid receptors. This is unlike CBD which does not do this. Further, it has a slightly higher affinity for binding to the CB2 receptors over the CB1 receptors.

Also, CBG is not psychoactive so it will not impair the consumer in the same way that THC does. Needless to say, there is a lot of excitement about CBG. But, we are still learning about its function and benefits to the human body. CBG does offer wellness benefits but it will take some time to quantify what those benefits will be.

Type 5 – no cannabinoids

Finally, we are at Type V of hemp and cannabis. This chemotype does not produce any cannabinoids at all! The science community is still figuring out what function they can serve. One idea is that they may be helpful in stabilizing the genetics of Types I – IV chemotypes, for example.

Drew Ford, our Hemp Advisor, says, “as we expand the industry I fully expect more chemotypes to be confirmed. This will happen as we stabilise more genetic variations which have a focus on the other minor cannabinoids. It is somewhat short-sighted to think we can classify this plant and its 113+ cannabinoids with just a few categories. By focusing on the chemical makeup we discover it is a much more accurate system to understand the amazing benefits of this plant”.

Source: https://www.greenbox.co.uk/the-difference-between-hemp-and-cannabis/