Vaporizers and Vaping Accessories
shopkeeper@ricardosvaporshop.com
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Ricardo's Vapor Shop Vaporizers and Vaping Accessories |
| Tel: 484-722-8259 | shopkeeper@ricardosvaporshop.com |
| The plant compounds found in Hemp- Cannabis sativa L have truly caught the attention of millions of people, particularly the scientific community, referring to the plant species as nature’s pharmacological treasure house due to a multitude of properties believed to have therapeutic value. |
CBD is an abbreviation for what has become a loose term for specific compounds called Cannabidiol, found in the Hemp–Cannabis plant. The cannabinoid referred to as CBD is just one of more than 100 known cannabinoids that exist among many other compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, phenols and other constituents that make up over 493 botanical chemicals identified in the cannabis or hemp plant. Terpenes being one of the catalysts for driving the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids. Studies suggest that cannabinoids activate the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which are also believed to be responsible for neuroprotection and stress recovery, among other fluid physiological attributes. Phyto-cannabinoids (CBD) account for up to 40 percent of the plant’s chemical structure. The plant compounds found in Hemp- Cannabis sativa L have truly caught the attention of millions of people, particularly the scientific community, referring to the plant species as nature’s pharmacological treasure house due to a multitude of properties believed to have therapeutic value. Research of these properties are among the fastest growing in studies today. Although studies have indicated that CBD is not intoxicating and considered non-psychoactive, unlike its THC constituent, cannabidiol is believed to have positive effects on mood, acting on serotonin receptors (5HT1A); regulating GABA, which has been shown to be linked to anxiety; and glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter. Therefore, CBD does appear to influence the psyche, just not in a way that impairs perception, judgment and/ or motor skills. Potential uses for CBD are the subject of many ongoing research studies, but Cannabidiol has been used to promote relaxation, stress relief and a sense of well-being, among other uses. A quick PubMed search yields over 1,500 papers that discuss the therapeutic actions of CBD. Research has shown a close and dynamic relationship between CBD, the central nervous system, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and various neurotransmitters. With the popularity of CBD use rapidly growing, it is no wonder the Chicago-based cannabis research firm, Brightfield Group, projects the Cannabidiol market could be worth more than $2 billion per year by 2021 with two-thirds of the CBD coming from U.S. Farm Bill-compliant hemp, not marijuana strains. |
| To access this information, all a retailer or consumer should need is the product in one hand and a smart phone in the other. |
Quality + Efficacy = Value There are many reasons why more and more consumers are turning to Cannabidiol, and those reasons vary from person to person. However, no matter what the application, there are two key focus points when it comes to being “in the know” about CBD products (quality and efficacy). The use of CBD should be taken seriously and for good reason. Many people are taking cannabidiol for a multitude of therapeutic reasons so it only makes sense that you know what you are spending your hardearned dollars on to address them. What are consumers looking for? Consumers are more conscious than ever when it comes to what and where they are spending their money. More so, the discerning consumer knows that when it comes to CBD products, not all are created equal - not by a long shot. When it comes to choosing a Cannabidiol product, the most important factor in the quality/efficacy equation are lab tests for potency and composition. Determining the hemp extract potency and cannabinoid profile is paramount, and there is only one way to do this: choose a brand that offers total transparency in its chain of custody. Look for a brand that offers lot-batch specific third-party certificates of analysis (COAs) from reputable FDAregistered testing facilities. This ensures that what you are reading on the label is exactly what you’re getting and therefore increases the probability of product efficacy (product that works), which is what brings customers back again and again. A reputable brand offering truly efficacious products will make COAs and other manufacturing information - like where/how the biomass (raw material) are grown and where/how the product is manufactured - easy to access right from the label. To access this information, all a retailer or consumer should need is the product in one hand and a smart phone in the other, be it through QR code on the label or being able to enter a lot/batch number on brands website. Of course, there is always the blind and often costly process of trying various brands until you stumble upon one that measures up to your expectations. Cannabinoid potency is a good indicator of efficacy but is not the only indicator. Although the consumer needs to know how much CBD (volume) is in the product, they also need to know how many cannabinoids (profile). This is important for determining product efficacy. Having access to a batch/lot-specific, COA is the only sure way to assess this. |
| Having answers to these questions provides some assurance that you will most likely purchase the product again. |
COAs - What and why Scientific quantification requires COAs to be reported in percent of cannabinoids by either mass (solids) or volume (liquids). For example, if a certificate of analysis is reporting 3.0 percent CBD by volume, then there are 30 milligrams of CBD per milliliter. If the report shows 3.0 percent CBD by mass, then that translates as 30 milligrams of CBD per gram. Once you know how much CBD is in a product, you can do a simple calculation of cost per milligram of CBD. If 500mg of CBD costs $50, then you are at $0.10/mg, which is a fair price for high-quality CBD at retail and is within the average cost range on the market. Of course other measures of value can be more simple and subjective; for example, is it working for you? Quality It is best if the product is manufactured in a registered facility that follows certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) guidelines. The following are quality-assurance questions that in-the-know retailers and consumers should have in their back pocket when choosing CBD products. Having answers to these questions provides some assurance that you will most likely purchase the product again. They also address compliance concerns with state and local regulations. 1. Is the product manufactured from hemp grown under the guidelines pursuant to the U.S. Farm Bill? Is there documentation to verify compliance? 2. How many milligrams and how many active cannabinoids - full spectrum (CBD, CBC, CBDa, CBN, CBG, etc.) - does the product contain? Quantity per serving? What is the total volume in milliliters? Active cannabinoids should typically be described in terms of milligrams per milliliter (mg/ml). 3. Is the product third-party tested for the following? • Cannabinoid potency • Cannabinoid profile • Pesticides • Residual Solvents • Heavy Metals • Microbials 4. Are they following cGMP standards? 5. Do they adhere to the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) guidelines? Value In summary, when choosing a CBD product, be sure to look for a brand that makes it easy to access the information you need to assess the product’s value. Being able to verify label content before purchasing is a good indicator of a reputable brand keeping its promise that their product offers the quality and efficacy for which you are purchasing CBD and thus a good value. |