We’re sure that over the last few years you’ve heard someone mention “cannabis light” or “CBD rich cannabis”. Today we’re going to talk about the world of CBD, or cannabidiol, a popular compound found in cannabis and hemp.
What’s CBD? Getting to Know Cannabidiol
Among the many cannabis strains out there, we’ve found over 100 cannabinoids within their composition, including THC (delta-9-THC), CBG (Cannabigerol), CBN (Cannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). Some of them produce psychoactive effects such as THC, while others such as CBD don’t, although they have known medicinal properties.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid that’s found in varying proportions depending on the strain. Some strains have low levels, and other may have much higher levels, in some cases the CBD and THC ratio can be equal or even contain more CBD.
Keep in mind that there are strains that hardly contain THC, with amounts lower than 1%, which means they’re hardly psychoactive at all – when they have 0.2% THC or lower, it’s non-existent. Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid that doesn’t produce any type of psychoactive effect, however it does have quite a unique therapeutic effect.
What is CBD for?
Cannabidiol has many different medicinal properties; it acts as an anti-inflammatory, it reduces anxiety and it can even help with sleep disorders. As more research into this cannabinoid is done, more and more potential uses are being discovered.
According to the UK’s Pharmacologic Association, there are certain confirmed uses for CBD, including antidepression, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic medicines.
Cannabidiol’s Therapeutic Properties
It’s hard to determine the exact properties of CBD, although as of now there are certain known benefits such as:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antispasmodic
- Pain reliever
- Neuroprotector
- Anxiolytic
- Antipsychotic
- Immunomodulator
This means that CBD can be used to treat various illnesses such as:
- Epilepsy
- Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis etc.)
- Anxiety
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Chronic inflammatory iseases such as chronic polyarthritis, Crohn’s diseas or intestinal inflammatory disease.
CBD Ratios
When we talk about CBD rich strains it’s quite common to talk about ratios, which is then usually followed by numbers that indicate the THC and CBD proportions of the strain (1:1, 1:2…).
THC/CBD ratios and proportions play quite a large part in determining the effect of the strain on the body, both pshycoactively and therapeutically.
That’s why seed banks have been breeding strains in order to obtain different ratios, providing different effects and benefits to the consumer.
For example, there are strains with THC/CBD ratios of up to 1:26 such as Swiss Dream CBD, which had a 1:1 or 1:3 ratio such as Sweet Afghani Delicious CBD, or a 1:2 ratio such as Jamaican Dream CBD.
CBD Legality
Here in Spain, the current legislation doesn’t directly regulate the production of CBD and derivates, it follows the 1961 united nations agreement that doesn’t catalogue CBD as a prohibited substance, as it doesn’t produce any sort of psychoactive effect. When cannabis growers want to grow CBD and make sure it’s legal, they need to make sure that it doesn’t have over 0.2% THC.
However, when dealing with commercializing CBD extracts, they must be indicated for topical use, as CBD is not classified as a food or medicine.
It’s not this way throughout all of Europe, as each country has its own legislation regarding CBD. Inf act, In Europe, 0.3% THC and under is considered hemp, although each country has its own rules.
- For example, in Germany, the commercialization of products using this compound has to be authorized, although when it is it can be sold at certain stores. Over the next few months, products containing THC might also be regulated.
- In the UK you also need authorization to produce CBD and other products rich in this cannabinoid.
- Switzerland is one of the big exceptions in the European continent, allowing this cannabinoid to be sold in different formats as long as maximum THC levels don’t go over 1%. There may soon be new regulation put into place dealing with producing and selling flowers and other derivates rich in THC.
- In South America it’s kind of similar to Europe; regulation depends on the country. Places like Uruguay, Colombia or Argentina are pioneers in legalizing cannabis, and other countries such as Pero have legalized the production of CBD and products containing it. However, there are still many countries in Latin America that don’t have any sort of CBD regulation.
- The US has federal regulation across the country dating back to 2018; CBD is legal as long as it’s extracted from hemp, and that the products made from it don’t have more than 0.3% and are approved by the FDA.
- In China CBD products are allowed as long as the government approves their production and sale. Cannabidiol is quite a popular element in traditional Chinese medicine.
*So, if a cannabis grower decides to plant strains rich in CBD, even if they’re lower than 1% THC, they still have to consult active legislation to make sure everything is above board.
In Spain, you can find quite a large amount of products rich in CBD. There are aromatic flowers such as CBD Cookies, CBD Gelato, and even CBD Strawberry that follow all active legislation and can be sold and purchased legally. You can also find cosmetic products such as I Joint CBD Oil or even e-liquids for vaping.
Strains Rich in Cannabidiol
Due to CBD having many medicinal properties, medicinal cannabis consumers have demanded more CBD strains on the market; different ratios and different strain formats.
This is why there are currently a large amount of CBD-rich strains on the market, and you can find many feminized strains and even autoflowering ones.
Feminized strains
On the current market, you can find a range of feminized strains rich in CBD. When it comes to sativa lovers, they can find strains such as Jamaican Dream CBD or CBD Skunk Haze, which still have the same qualities as their THC-rich versions, with entirely different effects and new medicinal benefits thanks to their high CBD content.
For those that enjoy sweet and fruity aromas, there are many different strains such as CBD Mango Haze, CBD Critical Mass or CBD Sweet and Sour Widow.
For those that prefer Indicas, various intense strains have been modified, turning them into more balanced experiences and more medicinal, such as TNT Kush CBD, SAD CBD or CBD+ Caramelice.
Keep in mind that our CBD-rich catalogue is giant, which is why everybody can find anything they need.
Autoflowering Strains
Autoflowering cannabis strains have become more popular over the last few years, which is why seed banks have begun creating new strains or making autoflowering versions of their acclaimed classics.
This has also happened with CBD rich strains, which is how we’ve ended up with a market full of autoflowering strains high in CBD.
There are many different strains with high CBD content in our autoflowering CBD-rich section that can provide CBD flowers in reduced growing times such as Sweet Nurse Auto CBD, Exodus Cheese Auto CBD or White Widow Auto CBD.
“Pure CBD” Strains
Some medicinal cannabis consumers prefer to not have psychoactive effects associated with cannabis and high THC contents, whether because they don’t like it or they have chores or other things to do that require lucidity.
This is why some seed banks have created some “pure CBD” strains, which hardly have any THC in them, making for a low or almost unperceivable psychoactive experience.
Known brands such as Eva Seeds, for example, have created strains such as Only CBD, which has less than 1% THC, so it won’t produce any type of psychoactive effect. The seed bank Sweet Seeds also has a strain with high amounts of CBD such as Sweet Pure CBD.
As you can see, there’s an endless number of options on the market for those that want to consume strains rich in CBD, all you have to do is take your time looking around and find one that adapts to your needs.
Every day seed banks around the world work extensively and research genetic modifications in order to find new strains rich in this cannabinoid and others, resulting in strains rich in CBG, THCV, and other compounds that we previously disregarded.
Does CBD help you in any way? Are you not convinced? Let us know what you think below in the comments!
Until next time!
La Huerta Grow Shop
