Although a number of cannabinoids have been identified and synthesized, why are we limited to only knowing the percentage of THC and CBD in a strain?
History of Cannabinoid Discovery:
Cannabinol or CBN, the degraded form of THC, was first identified around the end of the 19th century. The presence and quantity of this cannabinoid in your medicinal cannabis, is an indication of its age. Although mildly psychoactive, it does contain a number of medicinal benefits that contribute to homeostasis in your body.
History of Cannabinoid Discovery:
Cannabinol or CBN, the degraded form of THC, was first identified around the end of the 19th century. The presence and quantity of this cannabinoid in your medicinal cannabis, is an indication of its age. Although mildly psychoactive, it does contain a number of medicinal benefits that contribute to homeostasis in your body.
Moving forward to the forties:
Roger Adams, the University of Illinois Department Head of Chemistry, identified CBD (Cannabidiol) in 1940 and subsequently, THC in 1942. Despite these discoveries, it wasn't until the early sixties when these cannabinoids were fully understood and able to be synthesized (reproduced in the lab). During this time in the sixties, a number of other cannabinoids were discovered including cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC),Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV).
With the adoption and implementation of the UN's 1961 Single Convention on Drugs, the United Nation's Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) published recommendations for the identification and analysis of confiscated 'pot' which used Gas Chromatography as the method for separating like compounds in an organic sample along with purporting that the ratio of THC to CBD was an agreed method of distinguishing drug type from fiber type marijuana. If the result of dividing THC/CBD is greater than 1, it is evidence that the plant is drug type, however, if the result is less than or equal to 1, the UN deemed the plant to be fiber-type.
The adoption by the UN of the two distinct chemotype/phenotype varieties of cannabis as drug-type or fiber-type was the result of a number of paid studies by the UN. In 1971, Fetterman, et al, using gas chromatography, argued that their research showed that the most abundant cannabinoids present in the leaves and buds of cannabis were THC and CBD.
During the seventies, after the adoption of the UN Single Convention on Drug Abuse and the UN's recommended method of distinguishing Drug-type from Fiber-type 'marijuana', it was uncovered that CBC had been misidentified as CBD due to the separation and retention problems using Gas Chromatography as the method to separate and identify chemicals in an organic sample.
Using the ratio of THC:CBD as the method to distinguish drug type from fiber type is inherently flawed and has no place in medicine, let alone forensics. The use of this ratio and the complete oversight of the other valuable compounds in the cannabis plant, not only obscures the distinction of hemp from the medicine, it ensures that hemp remains under strict control.
The cannabinoid CBD is unique in its effectiveness for treating childhood epilepsy, the other important cannabinoids CBC, CBG and THCV should not be overlooked in choosing your medicine as these cannabinoids are extremely important in the treatment of many serious conditions and diseases.
In order that patients and customers are not limited to knowing just the quantity of THC and CBD in various cannabis strains, it is necessary to demand the full strain fingerprint, including all cannabinoids and terpenes. It is only when the full fingerprint is known, are you able to better and more intelligently choose the cannabis strain that is right for you.
With the adoption and implementation of the UN's 1961 Single Convention on Drugs, the United Nation's Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) published recommendations for the identification and analysis of confiscated 'pot' which used Gas Chromatography as the method for separating like compounds in an organic sample along with purporting that the ratio of THC to CBD was an agreed method of distinguishing drug type from fiber type marijuana. If the result of dividing THC/CBD is greater than 1, it is evidence that the plant is drug type, however, if the result is less than or equal to 1, the UN deemed the plant to be fiber-type.
The adoption by the UN of the two distinct chemotype/phenotype varieties of cannabis as drug-type or fiber-type was the result of a number of paid studies by the UN. In 1971, Fetterman, et al, using gas chromatography, argued that their research showed that the most abundant cannabinoids present in the leaves and buds of cannabis were THC and CBD.
During the seventies, after the adoption of the UN Single Convention on Drug Abuse and the UN's recommended method of distinguishing Drug-type from Fiber-type 'marijuana', it was uncovered that CBC had been misidentified as CBD due to the separation and retention problems using Gas Chromatography as the method to separate and identify chemicals in an organic sample.
Using the ratio of THC:CBD as the method to distinguish drug type from fiber type is inherently flawed and has no place in medicine, let alone forensics. The use of this ratio and the complete oversight of the other valuable compounds in the cannabis plant, not only obscures the distinction of hemp from the medicine, it ensures that hemp remains under strict control.
The cannabinoid CBD is unique in its effectiveness for treating childhood epilepsy, the other important cannabinoids CBC, CBG and THCV should not be overlooked in choosing your medicine as these cannabinoids are extremely important in the treatment of many serious conditions and diseases.
In order that patients and customers are not limited to knowing just the quantity of THC and CBD in various cannabis strains, it is necessary to demand the full strain fingerprint, including all cannabinoids and terpenes. It is only when the full fingerprint is known, are you able to better and more intelligently choose the cannabis strain that is right for you.