CBD – Confused By Debate??

Why is there so much debate, so much discussion, and so much confusion surrounding CBD? Try typing ’CBD’ into google and it returns over 1 billion, 100 million hits! CBD is on everyone’s lips – both figuratively and literally. All the buzz, the hype, the fearmongering and the mile high praise, why are the reactions so extreme, and the verbiage so over-the-top? Let’s take a look at why there has been so much ’noise’. Why has there been all the misunderstanding and controversy in terms of the regulation and legality of CBD; what has caused the media to throw a hissy fit and a plethora of reactions broader than full spectrum CBD.

Controversy over Regulation

We don’t regulate coffee, we don’t regulate Coca-Cola, we do regulate (loosely) energy drinks, but we don’t regulate chocolate, we get strict with our nicotine, and somewhat confusing when it comes to alcohol, but it’s a free for all when it comes to sugar. When you stop, take a second, and consider how our society so radically differently reacts to mood-altering substances it’s no surprise that the blossoming of the whole new CBD industry is causing such diverse reactions. Add to this the association that CBD has with the propaganda of ’marijuana’ and the resulting ’loud confusion’ is quite understandable.

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The genus is divided into three species, which include cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis is a fairly broad classification term that includes both hemp and marijuana plants.

Hemp is a variety of the genus cannabis sativa plant species that is grown for industrial use. As mentioned previously, hemp has many uses and has lower concentrations of THC. Hemp is an extremely fast-growing plant similar to bamboo and was one of the first plants spun into fiber. Furthermore, there are several commercial uses for hemp that include paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biofuel, biodegradable plastics, and food.

Marijuana is comprised largely of cannabis sativa plants as well. However, although marijuana and hemp share a species, they are quite different. Marijuana has much higher levels of THC in the plant and causes intoxication when consumed. Typically, marijuana contains about 5 – 20% THC content in the plant. 

Hemp, marijuana and Cannabis are all related, but they differ in significant ways … and wait, what happened to CBD in this whole discussion? Well, to understand where all the confusion comes from you needed to see why it could all be so confusing in the first place. CBD is one of 120 Cannabinoids that have so far been discovered in the Cannabis Sativa plant. The same plant that is the source for both Hemp and Marijuana. As such the confusion of CBD with Hemp and with Marijuana is one that is natural to make, but that is quite clear in its distinction.

Therefore, both Hemp and Marijuana are terms that refer to the same plant but with a key difference — the presence of THC in the plant. What is THC? THC is another of those 120 cannabinoids that have so far been found in the Cannabis plant. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid extracted from the cannabis (marijuana) plant. It is the cannabinoid that is responsible for the ’high’ or euphoric effect that occurs from the use of marijuana.

Now that we understand all the terminology, and we understand the connections, it will be clear and easy to understand the difference between CBD which is produced from Hemp, and marijuana. The THC is the key. The THC content of Industrial Hemp is negligible, and when producing CBD can range from non-existent to amounts of a percentage less then 1%. The legal content for a CBD product has been set in the EU at 0.3% as of 2023.To distinguish, marijuana that is grown today usually contains 5-20% THC content. Thus you can see the difference, it is comparable to having a liqueur flavoured chocolate as opposed to a shot of vodka; while they both may contain alcohol, the difference between effect and purpose is quite frankly, non-relatable.