CANNABIDIOL

CBD is the second most prominent and studied cannabinoid, and the major cannabinoid in “hemp-type” cannabis. CBD appears to lessen many of the unwanted side effects of THC, and modifies the high of THC, making it less acute but longer lasting, with fewer effects such as sleepiness or loss of memory. On its own, CBD is a potent antioxidant, reduces anxiety and has antipsychotic effects. It has been shown to reduce spasms and has pain relief, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. As with THC, CBD can also be present in cannabis in its acidic form, which is converted to CBD by time and heat. THE GENETICS OF CANNABIS The mix of cannabinoids in a particular strain of cannabis is largely a product of heredity. By contrast, the total level of cannabinoids is dictated both by genetics – some strains can achieve higher levels than others – and by how well the cannabis has been grown. It appears that a single gene dictates whether a plant produces THC or CBD. A plant inherits a copy of this gene from both of its parents. If both genes are of the THC type, the plant produces almost entirely THC; if CBD type, almost all CBD, and if the plant inherits one of each, it will produce a mix of THC and CBD. There seems to be some variations in the “strength” of these genes, so the ratio of THC to CBD production varies from plant to plant depending on the exact copy of the genes the plant has inherited. Each clone of the plant will, however, produce essentially the same ratio of THC to CBD as its “parent”. In hemp strains, the CBD form tends to predominate, so the primary cannabinoid in hemp is CBD. By contrast, drug strains of cannabis have been selected over centuries of breeding for the THC gene.