If you don’t spin around in the cannabis and hemp circles, you might not know many facts about CBD. People have been using cannabis for centuries for it’s overall wellness supporting properties, as well as its textile benefits to make things such as clothing and paper from the hemp plant.
Archaeologists discovered traces of the compounds of cannabis compounds being used, dating back to at least 4000 BCE in the Pan-p’o village where hemp was considered one of the “five grains” of China as a major food crop.
The earliest record of cannabis being used medicinally dates back to 2737 BC in Pen Ts’ao Ching where Emperor Shen-Nung, often considered the Father of Chinese medicine, recognized its treatment properties.
It wasn’t until 1839 that Irish doctor William O’Shaughnessy introduced the therapeutic uses of cannabis to Western medicine.
So what happened between then and now with the use of cannabis? Continue reading for a brief history on CBD oil, along with some key facts and fun bits of information that you can tuck into your back pocket for a rainy day.
CBD Facts: The Hemp Plant Through the Ages
To understand the history of CBD oil, you have to know a bit of the controversial past of this precious plant — hemp.
In 1937 the Marihuana Tax Act was enacted to regulate the growing and distribution of hemp, and it was from here that the laws regarding the prohibition and legalization of cannabis use followed.
But this didn’t stop the American chemist Roger Adams from his cannabis studies. He received a Treasury Department license to work with cannabis oil, and in 1940 he successfully isolated the first cannabinoid — cannabidiol, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Then in 1963, an Israeli chemist named Dr. Raphael Mechoulam made a breakthrough towards understanding the effects of CBD, and a year after that, the effects of THC.
In 1970, industrial hemp, for all intents and purposes, became completely illegal on a federal level by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Due to the stigma surrounding cannabis before this time, and definitely after, any breakthrough studies on CBD and even THC weren’t publicized.
It wasn’t until 1996 that California passed Proposition 215 that legalized medical marijuana. Within a few years, seven other states joined in.
It’s been a slow uphill climb since then to legalize CBD and cannabis, but finally, thanks to the Farm Bill from 2018, the federal government legalized hemp (a huge breakthrough) as long as it contained less than 0.3% THC and complied with state laws that differed by state.
The Discovery Of The Endocannabinoid System Creates A Breakthrough
The discoveries of the different cannabinoids and active compounds in the hemp plant were groundbreaking, but scientists still didn’t understand why they worked the way they did. Then, in 1988, American researchers Allyn Howlett and William Devane discovered the first cannabinoid receptor on a mouse. After the discovery of the cannabinoid receptor, much more was studied on this system in the body, now labeled the endocannabinoid system.
Not too long after, William Devane teamed up with Lumir Hanus, world-renowned chemist and a leading figure in cannabis research, and in 1992 together they isolated the first known endocannabinoid in the human brain — known as Anandamide, which was named after Sanskrit word for “bliss.” This newer discovery opened the door even further for future scientists to continue to grow the reservoir of knowledge surrounding CBD, cannabinoids, and the human body.
Fast forward and we can now do many amazing things with the hemp plant. From textiles, to topicals to oils and baked goods, there’s seemingly no end for how we can utilize this incredible crop from nature.
At HempFusion, our whole food hemp extract is created using a proprietary method of solvent-free C02 extraction that includes the use of low heat over a longer period of time leaving the resulting hemp oil much closer to the way nature intended. We believe–and our batch reports support!– that this process yields a more diverse and better quality hemp extract, yielding not only CBD, but other minor cannabinoids as well. All other botanicals used in our formulations are tested to make sure they are free of residual solvents and other potential contaminants.
The Present And Future Of CBD Oil
We can do a lot of speculating about where the CBD oil industry is headed. At present, there’s a lot of room for brands to rise to the top based on quality, compliance, and the care taken with educating consumers in a transparent way.
CBD laws vary by state, as the Farm Bill of 2018 gave the states some say over what they’ll allow. But there’s no stopping the CBD train at this point. As an industry, it’s essential that brands and the consumers supporting them educate themselves about high-quality CBD products. With a lack of regulation, it’s easy for companies to cut corners, produce inferior products and put out false and potentially harmful information, so it’s important to do your due diligence when looking for reputable brands.
As the industry continues to grow, it’s important for companies to tell you the truth about CBD and what’s in their products. Look for those who perform third-party, ISO-certified testing and provide easy access to their Certificate of Analysis reports, are transparent in their business practices, and offer premium hemp products that are clearly labeled. Facts about CBD oil are important, and when manufacturers put their money where their mouth is, other companies and lawmakers take notice. That’s why HempFusion, since its inception, has committed to being a leader in the industry on all fronts.
5 CBD Facts: 5 Fun Things to Know About Hemp and CBD
So far, you have a pretty solid, yet brief, rundown on the history of CBD, cannabinoids, and the hemp plant. Let’s take a look at some fun and interesting CBD oil facts.
1.) More than 120 different cannabinoids are present in the hemp plant.
2.) There are three different types of CBD oil: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and CBD isolate. It’s important to understand the difference when choosing a CBD product.
3.) CBD isn’t just for humans – animals may take it as well (but it’s a good idea to check with a veterinarian first)
4.) You can enjoy CBD oil in various ways — applying moisturizing CBD oils topically to your skin, or consuming liquid CBD tinctures, CBD gummies or CBD capsules. – You can even cook with it!
5.)The hemp plant is incredibly absorbent, which means it’s prone to absorbing chemicals so when choosing a CBD oil always look for the use of Organic Hemp Oil. You can see this on the supplement facts panel on the back of any product.
Whatever your reason for taking CBD oil, it’s always helpful to be informed on the history of the compound you’re consuming, and consult with your physician. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. So empower yourself on this CBD journey.
If you have more questions about CBD, check out our FAQs.