There has already been a major shift in the way that the marijuana plant is perceived in the United States. Most of the country agrees that the marijuana plant should be legalized for medicinal reasons whereas approximately 18% of the country’s population agrees that is should be legal for medicinal and recreational purposes. Many studies have been conducted over the span of a few decades that have concluded that the plant has a wide range of medicinal benefits for the human body and mind. Which is why the majority of the country has legalized the once demonized plant.
The part of the marijuana plant that contributes to the medicinal properties is cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a naturally occurring cannabinoid constituent of cannabis. The compound is known to have only mild psychoactive and medicinal effects. The legalization of the Cannabis in states across the country has resulted in an explosion of new and advanced hemp extract technology. This type of technology has been in development for quite some time already and has only increased in momentum. Extraction methods have been found as far back in time as ancient Mesopotamia. Some of the first functional extractors have utilized a system much like a coffee percolator.
The extraction methods have not strayed too far since then and continue to use the simplest method possible. Since then, many studies have been conducted to validate medicinal claims of the cannabidiol cannabinoid constituent. The constituent has been shown to provide many health benefits to the brain and body. Some of the benefits are that it:
- Can Relieve Pain
- Could Reduce Anxiety and Depression
- Can Alleviate Cancer-Related Symptoms
The benefits of pain relief by Marijuana can be dated back to about 2900 B.C. Several different components of the marijuana plant are responsible for its pain-relieving effects, including CBD. Studies have shown that CBD may help reduce chronic pain through the impact of endocannabinoid receptor activity. The endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters that are naturally produced by the body and can bind to cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system.
Cannabidiol can also have the mental benefits of reduce anxiety and depression. There was a study conducted where 24 people with social anxiety disorder were given either 600 g of CBD or a placebo before a public speaking test. The group that was given the CBD showed significantly less anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort during their speech compared to the group that was given the placebo.
One of the most miraculous benefits that come from Cannabidiol is that it can alleviate cancer-related symptoms. CBD has been shown to reduce side effects such as nausea, vomiting and pain. A study observed the effects of CBD and THC in 177 people with cancer-related pain. People that were treated with both compounds experienced significant reduction in pain compared to those who received only THC extract. The drugs that are usually used to help with these kinds of symptoms are often ineffective and have unnecessary side-effects.