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Four Things Everyone Needs to Know About Cannabidiol (CBD)

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most prevalent active ingredient of cannabis (marijuana).  While CBD is one of hundreds of components of cannabis, it does not have a psychoactive effect. According to a report from the World Health Organization, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” 

CBD has gotten a lot of attention in the mainstream market as it’s hailed for its many health benefits. CBD comes in various forms such as, body creams, oil tinctures, capsules and pills. While CBD has been around a very long time, it hasn’t been until the last few years that it’s gotten the attention of mainstream media, thanks to the legalization of cannabis in California and passage of the 2018 Farm bill.  

According to CNN Business, “The number of products featuring the non-psychoactive cannabis compound — often heralded as a health and wellness aide — ballooned after hemp was legalized in 2018. As of August, there were about 3,000 different CBD brands jockeying for position, driving down prices and shredding market share, according to Brightfield estimates.”

You’ve probably heard a commercial for cannabis on the radio, listened to an ad on a podcast, or even seen CBD sold at the local grocery or pet store.  In fact, Martha Stewart is offering a whole line of CBD products of her own! 

With all of the attention to CBD, do you know the difference between CBD purchased from the grocery store versus CBD products you can purchase from a licensed dispensary like The Good People Farms? We found it confusing ourselves, so we hope this article will help you learn the difference as well as a few other facts about this amazing ingredient and how to incorporate it into your life for all of its health benefits. 

1.What is the definition of CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural occurring compound in the cannabis flower. It is a safe non-addictive substance, CBD is one of more than a hundred “phytocannabinoids,” which are unique to cannabis and endow the plant with its robust therapeutic profile according to Projectcbd.com

The history of medical cannabis according to Why Cannabis is Medicine by Leafwell, starts at 12000 BC originating from China, Siberia and Mongolia and up to present day of medical and recreational use throughout the world. CBD has been used throughout history for medical purposes.

2. How is CBD different from THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is known for the “high,” psychoactive compound found in Cannabis, while CBD does not give you any form of “high” effect. CBD is known for its health compounds originating from the same cannabis flower. While the two are associated with one another they are two very different effective compounds used in various ways.

According to Healthline.com, “CBD and THC are chemically similar to your body’s endocannabinoids. This allows them to interact with your cannabinoid receptors. The interaction affects the release of neurotransmitters in your brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals responsible for relaying messages between cells and have roles in pain, immune function, stress, and sleep, to name a few.”

While CBD and THC are active compounds, one has a very different effect than the other. CBD is known to help with alzheimers, anxiety and depression. It can also be used as an anti-inflammatory. It has stronger and healthier effects than taking an over the counter pain medication like ibuprofen or Advil. Although CBD and THC, both have similar medical benefits, THC has the euphoric sensation while CBD does not. CBD is used to help with other various conditions, such as: seizures, inflammation , pain, psychosis or mental disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and much more according to Healthline. 

3. How is CBD that you buy from a licensed cannabis business different from what you buy in Whole Foods, for example?

The difference in purchasing CBD from a health food store versus buying it from a cannabis business is the extract percentage from either the hemp flower or the cannabis flower. Due to regulations, buying CBD from a health food store will normally have a low percentage extracted from a hemp flower compared to buying one from a licensed shop that extracts from a cannabis flower. CBD from a dispensary can be found to be extracted from a cannabis flower with THC and more than 3 percent unlike ones found at a health food shop. CBD from a dispensary can sell it infused in ratios with THC.

According to Weedmaps, “Key indicators of quality CBD oil is the most reputable CBD oils include the following information on their labels: Amount of CBD as an active ingredient per serving, supplement Fact Panel, including other ingredients, net weight, manufacturer or distributor name, suggested use , Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate and the batch or date code”

CBD is non psychoactive but has a number of the same medical benefits as THC. This allows you to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits without leaving you with the “stoned” feeling that often goes hand in hand with THC. 

That said, marijuana-derived CBD products, or CBD products that contain THC, may be more effective than fiber hemp. But if you live in a state that hasn’t yet legalized medical marijuana or these strains are unavailable, you can still benefit from products containing industrial hemp-derived CBD.

4. Why should someone consider introducing CBD into their daily lives? And what are some health benefits from taking CBD?

People who deal with anxiety, take pain medication frequently or have issues with inflammation would highly benefit from incorporating CBD into their everyday routine. 

Anxiety is an intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Which can cause fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating and a tired feeling. According to adaa.org, “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.”

“A good rule of thumb when seeking cannabis strains for the treatment of anxiety is to stick to those with high CBD ratios, because CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety, and to avoid strains with high levels of THC, which can increase anxiety,” according to Leafwell. 

Simply replacing any pain-killer such as ibuprofen, tylenol, and Advil with CBD can drastically change your health as well. Unlike pain killers, CBD is a health conscious and  holistic approach that has double, if not more of a stronger and more working effect than popping an over the counter pain killer.

“Inflammation is a complicated process involving many signalling pathways.” According to Leafly. “The body uses signalling molecules called eicosanoids to initiate the inflammatory response. One of the ways CBD can reduce inflammation is by inhibiting an eicosanoid enzyme called COX2. NSAID medications such as Advil and Aspirin also target COX2 in their method of action.” The article also states, “CBD also appears to affect a class of molecules important to the inflammation process called cytokines. CBD tends to reduce the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby reducing inflammation.”

In addition to helping people with anxiety, pain and inflammation, CBD helps treat Alzheimer’s Disease.   CBD helps slow Alzheimer’s disease, which in short is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. According to alzheimers.net, THC can slow the production of beta-amyloid proteins, thought to be a hallmark characteristic and key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s. 

“Cannabidiol (CBD) appears to be a neuroprotective, and could well help prevent Beta-Amyloid-induced toxicity in PC12 cells,” according to Leafwell.

The next time you’re feeling anxious, are sore from inflammation, or need to take pain medication, reach out to The Good People Farms and find out what CBD products we have available for you to incorporate into your daily regime.

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Happy September and Welcome to The Good People Farms…

The Good People Farms is a family-owned and operated business. Our mission is to provide our customers and patients with excellent customer service while delivering quality and affordably-priced cannabis. We truly appreciate your business and our dedicated team will continue to work hard to provide the best overall cannabis delivery experience possible. 

While we strive to find products with high levels of THC for those that need it for chronic pain – or just because-  our competitively priced products vary in high to low concentrations to meet the needs of our customers and patients.  Whether to help with health related issues or for personal enjoyment and recreational use, we will work hard to provide a menu with as many options as possible. Currently our comprehensive selection of products includes flower, prerolls, cartridges, edibles, tinctures and more. 

In addition to excellent customer service and affordable prices, we aim to provide relevant cannabis education and information as well as reward you for your purchases with The Good People Farms.  We will share news and information with you from the company (through our monthly newsletter as well as in social media), our partners and other third-party experts. Educational material we share is meant to help integrate cannabis into people’s everyday lives, whether its CBD or THC products. 

Our free loyalty program rewards you with points each time you make a purchase from us. Those points can be used to redeem for coupons, specialty items and even money off on future orders. No need to sign up, you’re automatically enrolled with your first purchase.

The Good People Farms currently deliver cannabis products to the communities of Davis, Vacaville, Dixon, Woodland, West Sacramento, Winters, Esparto and Fairfield. Please let us know if you’d like us to deliver to other areas as well. No matter where we deliver to you, we take pride in serving you every step of the way- from the time your order is placed, packaged and delivered to you. 

Thank you for your business. We appreciate you.

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Athletes, Meet Your New Bestie: CBD

Have you ever done something that you very quickly come to regret? Something that makes you question your sanity? Well, I recently signed up for a half marathon on an impulse, and it has left me wondering if I can trust my own judgment ever again. While I am an athletic person, I have never been a runner, and it showed my first few training sessions for this accursed half marathon. Less than one month into my runs I developed shin splints- if you’ve never had them, consider yourself blessed, but also imagine a thousand tiny knives repeatedly stabbing your shins- pleasant, right? As my own body revolted against me in punishment for my idiocy, I was left wondering what natural remedies I could use to ease some of the pain, and that’s when I recalled the thousands of Instagram ads I’ve seen for CBD products. After doing some research, I quickly realized that this may be the answer I was looking for. Could this product that has inundated every aspect my social media feed actually be a miracle cure? Let’s find out, shall we?

The first thing I wanted to understand about CBD was what it actually was; It would be smart to actually research what I was going to be putting in my body, right? Well, this is what I’ve come up with: CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol, and is one of over one hundred cannabinoids found in marijuana plants. Unlike THC, the cannabinoid we all know and love, CBD does not have psychoactive effects and therefore does not get you “high.” Although it does not produce mind altering effects, CBD, like THC both have healing properties that can help with a multitude of different ailments ranging from aches to anxiety.

Both THC and CBD work by replicating molecules in the body called endocannabinoids, which operate within the endocannabinoid system (ECS). While it may be a mouthful to pronounce, the ECS is the system within the body that helps to maintain homeostasis, keeping your body functioning in a balanced way. When things become unbalanced or your internal stability is threatened by the outside world, say you get an injury in your shins (sounds familiar), the pain from the injury will signal endocannabinoids to attach to endocannabinoid receptors in the central nervous, informing the ECS system that it needs to jump into action and get your body functioning properly again. Because CBD mimics the endocannabinoids, when you ingest CBD substances doctors believe that the CBD molecules bind onto the endocannabinoid receptors and extend the longevity of the endocannabinoids that already exist within your body. Long story short, CBD is believed to help your bodies endocannabinoids last longer, and therefore have stronger healing effects.

After understanding the function of CBD, my next quest was to discover how and where I could obtain products containing CBD, and which products would be the most effective. I soon discovered that pure, pharmaceutical grade CBD oil is prescription only, and is usually only prescribed to patients with specific diseases- awesome for them, bummer for me. Upon doing more research, I did discover that CBD oil can still be purchased online and at dispensaries across the country without a recommendation from your doctor. The only difference is that the CBD products that you may buy online are unregulated by the FDA, meaning the quality can be inconsistent, and depending on the practices of the company their products may contain toxic chemicals and pesticides;

therefore you need to do your due diligence before dropping your hard earned cash on just any CBD company’s website. While it may seem daunting, I recommend reading reviews on both products and companies, because it will be worth it in the end.

When looking for the right product for you, it does come down to the ailment you are trying to treat. For athletes struggling with bodily injury, pain or inflammation, many doctors recommend taking CBD orally or by applying salves and ointments to effected area. In terms of dosage there is no standard that has been implemented. One common guide that I discovered said to use 1-6 milligrams of CBD per 10lbs of body weight; therefore, if you weighed 100lbs you would take a dose of 10-60 mg. Another suggestion that I found recommended starting with 5-10mg per day and increasing 5-10mg each day until you feel the desired effects. While this isn’t exactly streamline, the process can help you to understand how your body reacts to CBD.

Following my deep dive into the world of CBD, I have started to add CBD products into my daily life. While it hasn’t transformed into next Olympic gold medalist, it has helped silence my screaming shins, and will hopefully help to ease any future pain I will most likely encounter. If you are an athlete or just someone dealing with pain and inflammation, I highly suggest looking into CBD for its versatility and healing properties. If you don’t know where to even start looking for CBD products, here is a helpful list of great CBD products for athletes. A simple Google search will also get you started on the road to health and recovery.

Sources:

https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/what-is-the-endocannabinoid-system

https://www.leafly.com/news/cbd/cbd-vs-thc

https://www.menshealth.com/health/a26467604/cbd-for-inflammation-muscle-recovery/

https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system#functions

https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-101/what-is-cbd

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

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How to Discuss Weed at a Cocktail Party and…

Whether or not you use cannabis products, have used them in the past, or you’re just interested in the cannabis movement, this article will provide both insight into the science of cannabis, and something to talk about at your next cocktail party. While it may seem strange to bring up weed at a formal event, this article will show you just how it can be done.

Let us first set the scene: imagine that you are standing in a swanky joint, light jazz is playing, and you’re wearing your best outfit (you know, the one you spent half of your paycheck on, but have only worn once) Your boss is across the table from you sipping on their drink.To your left is that coworker you’ve secretly been in love with for months, and desperately want to impress. In other words, you need to stand out- it’s your time to shine!

As the party continues on, the topic of conversation somehow turns to the growing legalization of marijuana across the U.S., and your boss turns to you asking your opinion on the matter. Now, without this information you might sputter out something simple and forgettable, or something that makes you look suspicious: “Marijuana!?” [Sweat beading across your forehead] “I’ve never smoked marijuana!” [cue nervous giggle] “I don’t even know what that is!” Flash forward to Monday, and you’ve got a drug test sitting on your desk that needs to be completed, or you’re looking at filing for unemployment. In order to save you from this potential mishap, sit back, relax, and read on about terpenes - or otherwise known as your key to coming across as a cannabis savant.

 

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes, you say? Never heard of ‘em? Well buckle up, because we are about to get a crash course in understanding what these unique hydrocarbons are, and how they effect your daily life, but most importantly, your weed.

Terpenes are common hydrocarbon molecules that are produced by a wide variety of organisms for a range of purposes. While this sounds pretty vague, the functions of terpenes are so vast and become so specific that it would probably take an entire book to explain the exact workings of each one; however, the major purpose of many of these molecules is the survival of the organisms which produce them. Many terpenes are responsible for producing odors that are secreted by plants, and some animals, and serve to attract pollinators, deter predators, or do both. Some of the common terpene odors that we may recognize are camphor, menthol, and pinene, but almost all smells secreted by plants are the byproduct of terpenes.

In addition to plants, some animals also produce more complex terpenes, like the poly-unsaturated hydrocarbon, Squalene. Squalene is a lipid that comes from many fish oils, and is also found in human skin sebum, that serves as a natural skin lubricant. In recent years, this complex terpene has also been studied and utilized in the medical field for its anticancer, detoxifying, and skin protecting properties; pretty cool, right? Because of the diversity and utility of terpenes, they are now an integral part of modern day industries like the cosmetics, perfume, and medical industries. In other words, terpenes are something we encounter every day, and we may not have even realized it.

Cannabis and Terpenes

While this is all interesting, you may now be wondering how all of this science-y stuff relates to cannabis. Well, let me tell you, it’s all a primary factor in how cannabis effects individual users, and different ailments. Just like most other plants, cannabis plants also adopted different terpenes for survival purposes. The strong odors that come from a cannabis plant are secreted in order to attract pollinators and keep predators at a distance. The strong odors and colors that the cannabis plants produce are now a major draw for humans, and can be one of the factors that makes us so interested in different strains. In my own personal journey to understanding cannabis, I always used to wonder how the buds I was smelling so closely resembled the smell of lemon, berry, or even the strangely intoxicating smell of a roadside skunk (come on, you all know it’s one of those smells that repulses you and intrigues you at the same time. There’s no shame in my game).  Well, unlike my weird, wandering imagination may have led me to believe, no, the buds are not mixed with any sort of fruit or sprayed by skunks during the growth process- It’s the terpenes!

By now, over one hundred different terpenes have been discovered in cannabis plants, and each one contributes to the uniqueness of a different strain; they also are vital in producing different effects on users. While all terpenes are not fully understood, the most commonly occurring terpenes in cannabis plants are.

 

Top 3 Terpenes

The next time you go to pick out a strain at your friendly, local neighborhood dispensary, you may want to read up on the effects of the terpenes that are working behind the scenes in each bud. A common misconception is that the THC content of each strain is what is most important; however, if you are looking to achieve specific effects from your cannabis experience, the terpenes are what will actually benefit you most.

The first, and most common terpene that is found in most strains nowadays is Myrcene (pronounced MUR-seen, just to add to your connoisseur- like appearance), and is found in strains like Blue Dream and OG Kush, amongst others. The presence of Myrcene in a strain produces a serene blue tint, which is fitting because it is commonly believed to induce a calming, sedative effect on the user. Fun fact: Classic Blue is also the color of the year for 2020… I think it’s a sign. Because of the calming effect of Myrcene it is thought to have the most therapeutic value for the treatment of pain, inflammation, and insomnia. If you’re trying to sniff this one out, it’ll hit your scent glands with a musky, earthy scent that may resemble cardamom or cloves. If you’re looking for Myrcene in something other than cannabis, it can be found in mangoes, lemongrass and thyme.

Up next on the terpene roster is Limonene (LIM-o-neen). This terpene is found in strains such as Do-Si-Do, Wedding Cake, and Strawberry Banana. Whether you speak fluent Spanish or can recall any of your high school Spanish days, you may recognize the root of this terpene name as deriving from the word “limón,” which is just a fancy way of me telling you that Limonene produces a yellow tone in the cannabis strains in which it is present, just like a lemon. Just as it’s name and color implies, Limonene can be distinguished by it’s light citrus aroma, which may be why it is conducive to mood elevation and stress relief. Because of it’s positive effects on the mind, you may consider reaching for a Limonene dominant strain in order to treat anxiety, depression, inflammation, and pain. Outside of cannabis strains, Limonene can be found in lemon and orange rinds, rosemary, and peppermint.

Lastly, known for being the most common terpene in nature, Pinene is prevalent in many strains of cannabis, including Critical Mass, Big Smooth and OG Kush. Because it appears as green when present, Pinene may be harder to visually spot; however, it’s strong pine sent will have you reeling back in time to your childhood camping trips up in the mountains… except you don’t have to worry about bears this time. The benefits of using strains that are have a high concentration of Pinene in them include: memory retention, alertness and can serve as an anti-inflammatory. Pinene is most commonly believed to treat asthma, pain, ulcers, inflammation, anxiety, and even cancer. Some researchers even believe that Pinene may serve as one of the major methods of future dementia treatment. If you want to find Pinene in other sources look for pine needles, rosemary, dill, parsley and basil.

 

If you’re a visual learner like me, here is wonderful chart that can help you decipher the spectrum of terpene application:

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https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/terpenes-the-flavors-of-cannabis-aromatherapy

 

What We’ve Learned

Well, there you have it! Now you have just enough knowledge on terpenes to make it through any cocktail party. Picture it now: you’ve just finished explaining the scientific details of terpenes in cannabis to your boss, and they are so impressed by your ability to convey such knowledge that they decide to promote you- surely someone who could provide such detailed insight into a topic like cannabis, of all things, should be representing the company on a much higher level (no pun intended). Next, your lovely coworker is awestruck at your intellect and slips you their number, suggesting that you go to dinner sometime. Little do you know that five years from now you two will be married and living happily ever after. Your life has gone from ordinary to extraordinary all because you took the time to read up on terpenes, and blew everyone away.

*Actual side-effects may vary

While everything I just explained may actually be a tad bit dramatic, what you did just learn about terpenes will help in finding the right cannabis strain for you. Although only three are described here, there are over a hundred more that are just begging for you to go research and test out. There’s a whole new world out there waiting for you to go explore, one terpene at a time!

Sources:

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/terpenes-the-flavors-of-cannabis-aromatherapy

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/terpene

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/22361190/

https://www.intechopen.com/books/terpenes-and-terpenoids/introductory-chapter-terpenes-and-terpenoids