ALL THINGS AND EVERYTHING HEMP
Everything is a Big Word!
The title is bigger than this article can be. Words have meaning but our current-day society wants you to tell it ALL! The textbooks and research now being done on hemp are too large to encompass the word “everything” so we shall give you a quick overview of what hemp is and then drill down on some of the exciting revelations that lie on the horizon.
What is Hemp?
The dictionary says that hemp as a noun is a cannabis plant that was originally grown for fiber. Hemp was forced into prohibition after the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. The fiber along with any of the medicinal uses of hemp was suspended in American agriculture when some of the byproducts of the cannabis plant were deemed to be injurious to our health. In 2018, hemp was decriminalized as an agricultural plant with limited approval of certain nutrients which were previously used as medicinal additives and once again has risen out of the ashes.
Because of the breadth, height, width, the depth of everything hemp, I shall focus on where the renaissance of hemp is as a medicinal compound. Let’s remember that hemp/cannabis was within our U.S. Pharmacopia from 1827 until 1940. This means that cannabis was part of the formulation of many medicines for almost 100 years before it was demonized and restricted in use and considered illegal for the last 50 years until this most recent Renaissance, now five years in the making.
Distillation
Distillation is the action of purifying a liquid by a process of heating and cooling. The equipment used is called a “still” which is commonly used to make “hooch”, also known as “white lightning”. As part of the extraction process, when hemp was legalized in 2018, there was a mad rush to distill the oils from this cannabis plant, which had been substituted for petroleum many years prior.
Hemp contains compounds called cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which interacts with the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to regulate a variety of physiological processes including pain, sensation, inflammation, and immune function.
CBD, which is non-psychoactive, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties. Hemp products such as CBD oil, capsules, topicals and edibles are available and may be used as a complementary therapy. The other extracted cannabinoids can provide other medical benefits as well – a topic for another discussion.
Looking Over the Horizon
Upon the advent of hemp legalization, the research floodgates opened. THC has taken a firm hold on the recreational market and the CBD market is being flooded with inquiries on how to best obtain, purify, and regulate this nuance called “The CBD Rage”.
The Rage
Almost every part of the hemp plant can stand on its own as a commercial entity, be it hemp seeds being classified as superfoods, or the hemp fibers being considered the next and new building blocks for a “Greener” America. Overall, hemp has become increasingly popular due to its versatility, sustainability, and health benefits.
Getting from Here to There
There is a common saying in seeking directions that can stop you in your tracks when you are told; “You can’t get there from here.” That was the case when hemp was considered a Schedule 1 Narcotic, no longer the case! A variety of different extraction processes have been developed in an effort to separate, concentrate, and deliver a consistent product that is non-fungible.
The New Delivery System
The process of distillation outlined above was the old system. Filtration is the new system, where economy and simplicity are the credo.
The cannabis industry is on the cusp of a revolution in extraction and purification. The current method of distillation is energy intensive and requires large investments in equipment, personnel and other infrastructure. I’ve witnessed a revolutionary process being used to extract and purify cannabinoids using green methods. Little or no solvents and no use of the expensive methods of distillation and winterization resulting in extracts that are in a powdered form and can be easily dispersed in water. The powdered extracts are bitter-free can be used in edibles, pills, tinctures, creams, etc. This is a game changer!
The versatility of the uniquely engineered filtration method is also borne out by its ability to separate out specific cannabinoids. This capability will facilitate manufacturing products that comply with state and federal laws on THC content.
Changing World Markets
Most of the large-scale producers of cannabis products in North America have hundreds of millions of dollars in sales but are operating in the red. Wide scale implementation of this new extraction and purification method will see a dramatic effect on the worldwide cannabis market by reducing cost of production. The cost savings in production could easily be 50-90%!
It is difficult to predict which companies will be the winners and losers during the coming months and years. But, this new process will play a major role in shaping the global market. New players utilizing this process could have a lower cost to entry into the marketplace, whereas established players will need to scramble to stay competitive or join the revolution!
All Things Possible, Cannabis as Medicine
As noted in the introduction, it was stated that all things and everything are big words. However, affordability is one of the most important aspects if we’re going to deliver cannabis-based medicine to the masses. Cannabis is by no means a panacea to a healthier tomorrow, but it is an important staple in protecting and properly utilizing our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). All things and everything for Hemp will have to go full cycle and we must continue to explore new techniques necessary to unlock the health benefits of this age-old botanical.
Please and thank you
Dr. Eric I Mitchell
Everything is a Big Word!
The title is bigger than this article can be. Words have meaning but our current-day society wants you to tell it ALL! The textbooks and research now being done on hemp are too large to encompass the word “everything” so we shall give you a quick overview of what hemp is and then drill down on some of the exciting revelations that lie on the horizon.
What is Hemp?
The dictionary says that hemp as a noun is a cannabis plant that was originally grown for fiber. Hemp was forced into prohibition after the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. The fiber along with any of the medicinal uses of hemp was suspended in American agriculture when some of the byproducts of the cannabis plant were deemed to be injurious to our health. In 2018, hemp was decriminalized as an agricultural plant with limited approval of certain nutrients which were previously used as medicinal additives and once again has risen out of the ashes.
Because of the breadth, height, width, the depth of everything hemp, I shall focus on where the renaissance of hemp is as a medicinal compound. Let’s remember that hemp/cannabis was within our U.S. Pharmacopia from 1827 until 1940. This means that cannabis was part of the formulation of many medicines for almost 100 years before it was demonized and restricted in use and considered illegal for the last 50 years until this most recent Renaissance, now five years in the making.
Distillation
Distillation is the action of purifying a liquid by a process of heating and cooling. The equipment used is called a “still” which is commonly used to make “hooch”, also known as “white lightning”. As part of the extraction process, when hemp was legalized in 2018, there was a mad rush to distill the oils from this cannabis plant, which had been substituted for petroleum many years prior.
Hemp contains compounds called cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which interacts with the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to regulate a variety of physiological processes including pain, sensation, inflammation, and immune function.
CBD, which is non-psychoactive, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties. Hemp products such as CBD oil, capsules, topicals and edibles are available and may be used as a complementary therapy. The other extracted cannabinoids can provide other medical benefits as well – a topic for another discussion.
Looking Over the Horizon
Upon the advent of hemp legalization, the research floodgates opened. THC has taken a firm hold on the recreational market and the CBD market is being flooded with inquiries on how to best obtain, purify, and regulate this nuance called “The CBD Rage”.
The Rage
Almost every part of the hemp plant can stand on its own as a commercial entity, be it hemp seeds being classified as superfoods, or the hemp fibers being considered the next and new building blocks for a “Greener” America. Overall, hemp has become increasingly popular due to its versatility, sustainability, and health benefits.
Getting from Here to There
There is a common saying in seeking directions that can stop you in your tracks when you are told; “You can’t get there from here.” That was the case when hemp was considered a Schedule 1 Narcotic, no longer the case! A variety of different extraction processes have been developed in an effort to separate, concentrate, and deliver a consistent product that is non-fungible.
The New Delivery System
The process of distillation outlined above was the old system. Filtration is the new system, where economy and simplicity are the credo.
The cannabis industry is on the cusp of a revolution in extraction and purification. The current method of distillation is energy intensive and requires large investments in equipment, personnel and other infrastructure. I’ve witnessed a revolutionary process being used to extract and purify cannabinoids using green methods. Little or no solvents and no use of the expensive methods of distillation and winterization resulting in extracts that are in a powdered form and can be easily dispersed in water. The powdered extracts are bitter-free can be used in edibles, pills, tinctures, creams, etc. This is a game changer!
The versatility of the uniquely engineered filtration method is also borne out by its ability to separate out specific cannabinoids. This capability will facilitate manufacturing products that comply with state and federal laws on THC content.
Changing World Markets
Most of the large-scale producers of cannabis products in North America have hundreds of millions of dollars in sales but are operating in the red. Wide scale implementation of this new extraction and purification method will see a dramatic effect on the worldwide cannabis market by reducing cost of production. The cost savings in production could easily be 50-90%!
It is difficult to predict which companies will be the winners and losers during the coming months and years. But, this new process will play a major role in shaping the global market. New players utilizing this process could have a lower cost to entry into the marketplace, whereas established players will need to scramble to stay competitive or join the revolution!
All Things Possible, Cannabis as Medicine
As noted in the introduction, it was stated that all things and everything are big words. However, affordability is one of the most important aspects if we’re going to deliver cannabis-based medicine to the masses. Cannabis is by no means a panacea to a healthier tomorrow, but it is an important staple in protecting and properly utilizing our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). All things and everything for Hemp will have to go full cycle and we must continue to explore new techniques necessary to unlock the health benefits of this age-old botanical.
Please and thank you
Dr. Eric I Mitchell
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