What’s the Difference between Hemp CBD & Cannabis CBD?

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Hemp and Marijuana (Cannabis) plants both belong to the Cannabaceae family, Cannabis Sativa L species, but have vastly different uses. Hemp grows extremely fast and is used industrially to make paper, rope, textiles, and is even being used to make building blocks called hempcrete. Back in 1941, Henry Ford actually made a car from Hemp that ran off Hemp Ethanol!

Hemp CBD has to have a THC content of 0.3% or less to be legal. Marijuana, which I prefer to call Cannabis, is used for medicinal purposes and so-called “recreational” use. I like to consider that “adult use,”; i.e., adults who prefer to use Cannabis for relaxation, creativity, stress reduction, etc.

While both are called CBD (Cannabidiol), there is a difference between CBD products made from Hemp and those made from Cannabis.  Both plants have terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids, but some hemp has a lower quantity of them. Cannabis CBD is cultivated to have high CBD content and THC below the 0.3% legal threshold. Because of its’ higher terpene, flavonoid, and other cannabinoids content, CBD-rich Cannabis is a much better choice for those who want a non-impairing medicinal benefit.

There are three types of CBD: Full Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, and Isolate:

Full-Spectrum is extracted from flower and trim and contains the full array of cannabinoids & terpenes present in the hemp/cannabis flower, including THC. Science suggests this form of CBD is best for people who have no known issues with minuscule amounts of THC.

Broad-spectrum CBD products have NO THC present in the final product as the extract is processed to remove all THC. It’s suitable for people with a high sensitivity to THC. It also contains compounds and other cannabinoids from the Cannabis plant like CBC, CBN, and terpenes.

Isolate CBD is 99% pure and contains ONLY CBD. Isolates don’t include additional cannabinoids or other compounds, like terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids found in the Cannabis plant. The research indicates it’s not as effective as Full and Broad-Spectrum CBD due to their absence. However, for some people, this is a better choice.

Warning! Buying online from unknown companies can be risky due to the FDA’s lack of regulation and oversight! Recent study results on 240 CBD products purchased online, at gas stations, and grocery stores showed 70% were highly contaminated and contained exceedingly high lead levels. Some had other drugs added, i.e., cough syrup, synthetic cannabinoids, melatonin, etc. In 50% of the CBD tested, the dosage stated on the bottle didn’t match the contents; some contained NO CBD at all!

Taru Fisher, Healer Certified Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor, NLP Health Practitioner & Coach

Copyright 2021 Jean Taru Fisher

Posted with permission

If you are looking for a reputable CBD company, please don’t hesitate to give us a call! 

 

Cannabis for a TBI?

Elana Frankel is not the first person to suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  She’s one of many to have discovered that cannabis has transformed her thinking about the effects of a TBI. 

Her injury occurred seven years ago and quickly learned three things – 1) she would present like a stroke victim, 2) recommendations for care would include brain and bedrest for 1 to 3 years, and 3) that living with a TBI would be a lifelong adjustment. 

“While I do not remember the actual fall, I do remember waking up unable to speak, think clearly or walk. My brain felt like it was constantly short-circuiting and the physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral disruptions confused me. Prior to this event, I was the creative director of an online retailer, with a team of 40 people. I was the mother of 2 small children, then ages 4 and 6, and a wife. I taught yoga and mediation and practiced 3-4 times a week. The idea of brain rest, quietly lying in a dark bedroom with no stimuli, for an extended period of time, was disheartening, to say the least,” said Frankel.

Similar to others who had been down the same road, Frankel and her partner began looking for alternatives and read research about TBIs and CBD. They made the decision to give it a chance.  Frankel said that friends and family, well versed in cultivating, extraction, and formulating all wanted to share their products.  She found quickly that with so many options and unlabeled products, her best course of action was to start low and slow.  About four months into her journey, she had discovered the right protocols for her own individual needs – intake methods and dosage had to be tracked to determine what best met her needs. 

She cites there were 4 things that changed with her TBI and how cannabis helped her heal:

  1. My eating habits. When my Parietal Lobe was bruised, I lost my sense of smell and taste so food became unappealing and nutrition went out the door. The right dosage and ratio of THC to CBD stimulated my appetite and boosted my healing through diet and nutrition.
  2. Understanding and expressing language was impossible. My impaired communication skills left me with cognitive and speech difficulties. Basically, I spoke gobbledygook. While many equate cannabis and slurred speech, a dosage of lower THC and higher CBD gave me relief. Honestly, I don’t know how or why. It just did.
  3. Mood. It may be obvious but it needs to be stated. With any life-threatening injury, anxiety, stress and depression sets in. Cannabis helps…a lot.
  4. Breathing. Science has evolved when it comes to mediation, breath work and healing. With cannabis, I accessed calmness and mindfulness.

“Of course, cannabis alone wasn’t the only factor in the healing process and I believe that the combination of cannabis and these four factors brought me tow here I am today: founder of IndigoandHaze.com; founding editor in chief of Women and Weed magazine; author of the book Women and Weed; Chief Growth Officer of medicalcannbismentor.com; creative consultant; and advocate.”

Kansas Considers Cannabis

On February 24, proponents of Kansas House Bill 2184 testified before the Federal and State Affairs Committee to advocate for patient access and amendments to the bill. 

Our fearless leader, nurse April, was one of them. During the 3 minutes she was given to speak she shared two stories, the story of her grandmother who suffered due to opiates and the other, a story about a boy diagnosed with autism who has made great progress since he began a high CBD, low THC oil.

April strongly encouraged the committee to allow the sale of dried cannabis flower, home cultivation, to provide patient protections, and to add autism to the list of qualifying conditions.

To read her full testimony and Todd Scattini’s, a veteran and strong supporter of medical cannabis as an alternative to the often ineffective pharmaceuticals prescribed to veterans, visit the state legislature site here.

 Kansas HB 2184 Proponent Testimonies

To read the Kansas Reflector article where both April and Todd are quoted, please follow the link below. 

Read the KS Reflector Article here

Cannabis, Often Unaffordable

In the US, as around the globe, several political battles are in progress, as well as the raging pandemic that is close to its one-year mark, and economic crises.  Here on our home soil, marijuana decriminalization and legalization are hot topics, but across the pond, the waging war between parents of children with epilepsy and the National Health Service (NHS) continues to grow. 

In Telford, England, we learned about another child who has a rare form of epilepsy known as “Landau Kleffner syndrome.” It occurs in children usually between the ages of three and nine years and is characterized by loss of language skills and silent electrical seizures during sleep. It may be associated with convulsive seizures and additional difficulties with behavior, social interaction, motor skills and learning. While not usually life-threatening, it can significantly impact negatively on quality-of-life unless it responds well to treatment. It occurs in approximately one child in a million.

Unfortunately for Sienna Richardson, aged seven, and her family, the realities of LKS are heart-wrenching, made worse by the fact that cannabis medicine has shown great results in her symptoms, but like others in the UK, the cost and legalities associated with cannabis medicine make it difficult to depend on supply.  The Richardson family was able to secure a prescription for Bedrolite, a medical cannabis oil through a private physician and her mother dubbed it a “miracle.”  Minimal progress in the UK for cannabis as medicine includes a change in the law to allow the prescription of cannabis-based medications, but some families can’t secure it on the NHS, which is government-run healthcare used by nearly all UK residents.  Sienna’s treatment was estimated at £15,000 (roughly $20k in US) and while the family was able to raise just over half of that, they secured the prescription. 

Sienna’s mother, Lucy Richardson, said they saw improvements within weeks. “Since taking it she is able to understand and speak normally,” she said. “She is living a normal life, she is still in mainstream school, playing with friends, she is doing really, really well.” 

The medication costs about £1,400 per month, which the family will have to fund themselves in the new year. They are supporting a campaign by End our Pain and Epilepsy Action for access to cannabis-based medicines for children with severe and treatment-resistant epilepsy, but the inherent issue with this type of regulatory restraints becomes more widespread.  As a parent, how can you acquire medication that clearly helps your child when you can’t afford it and risk breaking the law to obtain it?

 

 

  

CBD for Exercise and Recovery

CBD is not just for those who are sick and suffering. Many athletes and sports enthusiasts have added CBD pre and post-workout for the benefits it can provide with recovery. 

April was honored to be included on the expert panel for an article written for Incredible Edibles. To read more about how CBD is being utilized for exercise, check out the link below. 

 

read the article here

Have we told you about CBG?

Recently, April was interviewed by writer Joshua Eferighe for an article in Ozy magazine. He wanted to hear first-hand why April thought CBG is the next big thing. 

As a nurse who has spoken to hundreds of patients about the medical use of cannabis, she was happy to share her own experience and the experience of her patients.

April says, “CBG is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that patients often immediately feel. It has a wide range of benefits and it is often the cannabinoid most patients add to their treatment plan when they haven’t seen the success they are looking for with CBD.”

To read the article published in Ozy, check out the link below. 

 

read the article here

CBD for PTSD

Ask those who are passionate about legalization efforts for cannabis what their cannabis story is and you’ll hear a wide range of responses. Many of those are related to veterans, and with good reason. Veterans are the victims of PTSD, insomnia, pain, and a host of other conditions that are related to their time in service.

Ryan Kohrig is yet another veteran whose story is moving and inspiring. Retired in 2018, Kohrig suffers from PTSD after more than 20 years of service and repeated combat deployments – which left him with the daunting task of reintegrating into “normal” society. PTSD frequently leaves sufferers with the frustration of daily interactions and tasks seem insurmountable and Kohrig was startled by sudden movements and sounds. “My hearing was so amplified, any sudden noise had the potential to throw me off, even if it was coming from my neighbor’s apartment,” said Ryan in an interview in 2020.


Accompanying his PTSD came anxiety and insomnia, and like others before him, Ryan sought help from the VA. Unfortunately, again, like others before him, the VA prescribed him sleeping pills, which began a long and arduous dance with a cocktail of pharmaceuticals that would eventually lead him to his rock bottom. He supplemented his pharma with alcohol and seemingly kept himself busy by playing competitive pool, which was an activity that he could perform and feel in control. It was when he and his wife moved to St Croix to begin a completely new life that Kohrig would find his “new” life after talking with a stranger at the gym about his struggles. “We got to talking about my PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia and how I had just moved here. He mentioned something about CBD, and gave me some to try. I had never used cannabis before and was just shocked by the results. I couldn’t believe something so small could make such an impact on
me.”

Ryan’s incredulity over CBD turned into a thirst to learn everything he could and his research began in earnest. He began extensive research online into clean and safe CBD products and certifications and The Remedy was born. The Remedy opened in July of 2019 in St Croix and today Ryan and his wife are thriving as business owners, but more importantly as educators and providers of safe and clean plant-based medicine. Today Ryan takes no pharmaceuticals and has a regiment of CBD he uses to treat his conditions.

(Image courtesy of the Medical Cannabis Society)

Treating Anxiety & Depression with CBD

Unfortunately for some, the holiday season can be difficult. Loneliness, loss, a tight budget that keeps you from giving the gifts you want to… all contribute to anxiety and depression. 

Health Central recently reached out to our team for our opinion on using CBD to treat anxiety and depression. You can read the article below, but we wanted to share a few techniques to help manage anxiety and depression here as well. 

  • Get an adequate amount of good sleep- Restful sleep promotes healing, regulates blood sugar, and is even needed for weight loss. Weight gain is often a source of anxiety for many people during the holidays.

 

  • Avoid too much sugar- Sugar significantly contributes to inflammatory conditions, is very addictive, and wreaks havoc on all of our physiological systems, greatly affecting our mood.

 

  • Do something fun that gets your heart pumping- Of course, check with your physician first, but exercise is one of the best-known anti-depressants. Anandamide, also known as “the bliss molecule,” a cannabinoid our body produces, is responsible for the “runner’ high” that makes us feel oh-so-good after an effective workout.

 

And lastly, if you are becoming too overwhelmed with anxiety or depression, please contact your health-care provider. We are also happy to provide you with local mental health resources anytime. Please call 888-810-WELL (9355).

Read the Health Central article here

Parents Fight for Access to Safe, Quality Medicine

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Oftentimes we learn about patients in the media who are struggling from having legal access to safe medicine.  While every patient story is heart-wrenching, it’s the ones about children that seem to stick with us and sometimes serve up the impetus for policy change.  Charlie Hughes is one such patient story that both touches and infuriates readers who learn of the battle his family is waging for access to medicine.

 

In the UK, parents of toddler Charlie Hughes are fighting the National Health Service (NHS) and seeking a policy change that could radically alter his quality of life.  Charlies, 3, has a rare form of epilepsy called West Syndrome, known best for its frequent seizures – up to 120 per day – and historically treated with benzodiazepines which have side effects ranging from lethargic to dazed and not effective at reducing either the seizures nor their impact. 

 

Under the NHS protocols, he has been prescribed seven different prescriptions for anti-epilepsy medication, yet he was still experiencing up to 100 seizures a day.  Charlie’s parents, Allison and Matt claim that with full extract cannabis oil, the number of seizures he experiences in the course of a day is dramatically decreased.  The family pays hundreds of pounds per month to source full extract cannabis oil privately because clinicians at NHS have refused to prescribe Dutch-made oils (which meet the European Medicines Agency guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practice).  

 

Matt said of his son’s improvement since taking cannabis: “Charlie is happier, more alert, far more vocal, constantly babbling and takes an interest in his toys. He can feed himself and loves nothing more than some rough and tumble with me. He’s come alive again.

“No one knows definitively what effect all those anti-epileptic drugs in combination with each other have on the development of the brain. If he wasn’t asleep or completely zonked out, he was just seizing. Cannabis has massively improved his general wellbeing.”

The decision in the Hughes’ case against the NHS could have profound impact on cannabis oil as medicine and the ability for parents like the Hughes to have access to what is clearly making a difference in their son’s quality of life.

Visit the link below to learn more about the Realm of Caring. Not only are they actively involved in making cannabis accessible to all who could benefit, but they provide a financial assistance program as well. 

Realm of Caring.org