CBD History
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, has been used for a long time for Medical reasons, however it wasn’t known very well what the mechanism behind the benefits was until recent times. For inflammation and pain strains high in CBD were used in England as far back as the 19th century, but many of the purported benefits of CBD have been known for longer than this. The mechanism at work was only very recently discovered and successfully tested on laboratory animals to reduce anxiety as well as seizures and other issues, which came as news to many researchers who focused almost solely on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their studies.
The first company to see the potential in creating high-CBD strains was back in 1998 after a grower came to the and said he could create a strain of Cannabis with many of the same medical benefits minus the psychoactive effects that turn many medical companies away from the plant. The psychoactive properties are a potentially negative side effect from THC and could cause distress in certain patients, especially those suffering from anxiety or depression related symptoms. The promise of high-CBD strains was very enticing.
Originally, Cannabis plants had a fairly balanced natural levels of THC to CBD in them. There were plenty of variances but the ratio did not get bent to the absurd levels that was seen coming from breeders before the widespread news of CBD and its importance. Many generations of Cannabis breeding while seeking only to increase the “high” caused much of the most popular strains, especially those coming from Northern California, to only have trace amounts of CBD in them compared to extremely high THC levels. The result were plants that could potentially cause paranoia, while being incredibly effective at inebriation. A lot of the reason for these types of plants came about actually due to the war on drugs, where breeders had to sell less plant matter for the same price making the only viable plants for profit having to be extremely potent.
The Medical Scene changed much of this, however. CBD’s role in Cannabis plays calms much of the more intense effects of THC, which is also why CBD is an effective anti-anxiety agent. The two chemicals work on different pathways in the brain, CBD calms certain sectors. With this knowledge, much of today’s modern Medical Cannabis have achieved much more balanced levels of THC to CBD with some being nearly 1:1 or higher of CBD to THC.
The non-psychoactive properties of CBD while still being able to maintain the medical benefits that THC promised have made this natural occurring chemical a highly popular choice for those seeking a more holistic approach to their mental health and easing their agony of physical pain. Many different ailments can be successfully improved through the regular use of CBD as a topical agent, eaten, or vaporized if prepared correctly. Governments worldwide are realizing this, and it is slowly being seen as a standard medication to use for a variety of problems.