Synthetic CBD is growing famous day by day. Very soon, they will be in the highest demand in the medical research field to test their therapeutic uses. Pharmaceutical companies are now taking advantage of cannabis compounds that they produce in the laboratory. This is because they are more reliable than natural ones.
You should find it unsurprising that we’ve reached a point where the many different cannabinoids found in the hemp plant can synthesise in a lab. Horticultural advances over the past few decades have also seen an increasing prevalence of GMOs and the use of artificial lighting in greenhouses.
What Is Synthetic CBD?
Synthetic CBD is an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) that is chemically identical to the naturally produced hemp-derived CBD. The form it takes, as with most isolates, is a crystalline powder that you then typically mix with a carrier oil.
What makes synthetic CBD significant is the fact that it acts as a direct analog of the original iteration of cannabidiol. This includes CBD-like compounds that are also in the hemp plant, including CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) and CBD-C4 (nor-cannabidiol)
You’ll sometimes see CBD isolates being refer to as ‘synthetic’, though this is incorrect since isolates can be from both natural and synthetic sources. In essence, all CBD synthetics are isolates, but not all isolates are synthetic.
Forms Of Synthetic CBD
1). Recreational Synthetic CBD
Synthetic cannabinoids first hit the spotlight in the realm of legal highs. In this instance, the cannabinoids scientists produce are altered versions of existing Cannabis compounds so as to work around illegal substance lists. It’s important to note that none of the CBD products will ever get you high.
Since these products are largely not put to test, the side effects are often far more severe than their natural counterparts. Despite this, because they are illegal in the UK in 2016, for a time it was actually much easier to get a hold of than marijuana.
Where synthetic CBD differs is that it’s an emulation of an existing cannabinoid rather than an alteration. Furthermore, where legal highs were with little regulation, most synthetic CBD production is occurring in accordance with health and safety practices.
2). Medical Synthetic CBD
Not all Synthetic CBD is in order to replicate the psychoactive properties of marijuana. For example, one of the most popular synthetic cannabinoids currently is an equivalent of THC is known as Nabilone.
Nabilone has been through rigorous testing, and was legal by the FDA way back in 2006. This goes to show that when the proper process is put in place. synthetic cannabinoids are for positive reasons.
Is Synthetic CBD Legal?
Although the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, the production of the plant and its derivatives – or certain aspects of it – remain illegal in some states. As a result, many stakeholders are contemplating the idea of using synthetic CBD over its naturally derived counterpart. But does the lack of hemp and tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) render synthetic CBD legal?
What we do know is that the use of synthetic cannabinoids, including those legal by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), do cause serious side effects, including but not limited to euphoria, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In addition, illicit synthetic cannabinoids, also known as cannabimimetic agents, have been repeatedly causing severe illnesses and deaths.
Benefits Of Synthetic CBD
Drug manufacturers have the option of extracting cannabinoids from the hemp plant. However, they highly prefer to use synthetic CBD. Note that synthetic CBD is going to replace the natural ones.
1). It Is Cheaper Than The Natural Counterpart
Natural cannabinoids are generally less expensive to extract from hemp plant compared to manufacturing in the lab. Also, other cannabinoids like CBG and THCV only exist in cannabis plants in very small quantities. As a result, extracting them is a bit expensive when you compare to other cannabinoids like CBD and THC. This is why creating them in the lab is a good idea.
2). Synthetic CBD Is Easier To Obtain
Minor cannabinoids are becoming popular as research goes on, and legalization happens. This means their demand is also growing every day. A stable source of these cannabinoids will be good for research and creating in the lab will be the most reliable one.
The plant has more than 100 cannabinoids. Although CBD and THC can easily be extracted, they are very rare, and you can’t find them right now. The cost of creating the cannabinoids in the lab is the same regardless of what you are creating.
3). It Is Pure and Clean From Toxic Agents
Purity and consistence are other advantages of cannabinoids created in the lab (synthetic). heavy metals does not affect Synthetic CBD. Especially those present in the dirt where plants grow, pesticide residue, and solvents used for extraction. Also, weather and climatic changes cannot affect synthetic CBD. This ensures that they manufacture only pure CBD for perfect research results.
A perfect example is yeast fermentation in the lab. It is completely susceptible to drought, heat waves, and harsh climatic conditions. There is a consistence in cannabinoids that scientists create in the lab. This is unlike those you extract from different plants that grow under different climatic conditions.
4). Synthetic Cbd Can Be With Other Supplements
Lastly, synthetic CBD is available for more innovations in pharmaceuticals. In the cannabis plant, CBD exists for so many years and cannot have patent. However, during CBD creation in the lab, it can be put with other products to invent something else. The new product can be with patent.
In the medical field, patenting CBD is a perfect way of making a profit. However, now that it’s already in the public domain, the only way to patent it is to combine it with other new products that have medicinal value.
Conclusion
There are still doubts as to the effectiveness of Synthetic CBD. More research will be in place in order to make Synthetic suitable with lesser side effects. It is advisable to consult with your medical practitioner before self-medicating on Synthetic CBD.
