admin – Weedlier

Hemp is a majestic plant rich in active compounds like cannabinoids— CBD, THC, and CBN— flavonoids, and molecules called terpenes. Terpenes have been thrust into the spotlight thanks to some new promising findings. But as it turns out, humans have used some terpenes for centuries in folk medicine practices. One such terpene is linalool, a primary component of lavender that has been used for healing the body and mind.

Linalool (“li-nal-oh-awl”) is rarely the dominant terpene in hemp, but it still plays a significant role in hemp’s aromatic profile. In addition to hemp and lavender, linalool can be found in many fruits and spices including some varieties of citrus, mint, and hops.

A note about pronunciation: Linalool looks like it should be pronounced “lin-ah-lewel,” but the correct pronunciation is “li-nal-oh-awl.” This odd pronunciation is due to the fact that the word is a combination of lináloe, a family of trees found in Mexico, and the suffix -ol, indicating that it is an alcohol molecule¹.

In this post we’ll discuss:

What linalool is
Where linalool can be found in nature
And, what research has been done on linalool’s potential benefits

What Are Terpenes?

Let’s take a step back and discuss terpenes before we dive into linalool. Terpenes are a class of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons made of isoprene units. The number of isoprene units determines the class of terpene: monoterpenes have two isoprenes; sesquiterpenes have three; and diterpenes have four isoprenes. There are other classes of terpenes, but these will suffice for our purposes here. Terpenes typically comprise about 1-2% of the weight of a hemp flower.

Terpenes are produced by many plants and even some animals. It is believed that plants produce terpenes as a way of repelling pests and attracting beneficial insects. The aroma of many plants is dictated, at least partially, by terpenes.

Here are some terpenes that you may have already encountered:

beta-Caryophyllene is present in spices like black pepper and cinnamon.
Menthol is a primary component of peppermint.
Terpinolene is present in apples and cumin

What Is Linalool?

Linalool is a liquid at room temperature and is classified as a monoterpene alcohol. It was first isolated in 1875 from Cayenne Bois de Rose (rosewood) oil². Linalool is found in nature in a variety of sources including many varieties of trees, roses, mint, basil, some citrus, hops, lavender, and hemp.

But, why does hemp produce linalool? Botanists are still trying to sort out exactly why plants, including hemp, produce terpenes. So far, signs seem to point to terpenes as a defense mechanism against predators who might chomp on the flowers.

Fun fact: Linalool is present in hops and can contribute significantly to the aroma of some craft beers, particularly dry-hopped lagers!³

Linalool is not likely to be the dominant terpene in any given hemp cultivar, but there are some cultivars that contain significant quantities. Later in this post, we’ll share a list of the cultivars grown by Sunset Lake CBD and their linalool content.

What Is Linalool Used For?

As an isolated chemical, linalool is mostly discussed in the production of vitamins, both as an intermediary and a byproduct². But as a constituent of many plant essential oils, linalool has been used by humans for centuries. For example, lavender flowers contain a significant amount of linalool and they were used widely in ancient times by various groups around the Mediterranean including the Greeks, Romans, and Persians. Knowledge of lavender’s healing power spread east, finding its way into Indian and Tibetan pharmacopeias. It was used for a wide variety of ailments including sleeplessness, pain, and topical healing⁴.

You’ve likely noticed many products that are marketed as calming and relaxing are lavender-scented. Candles, incense, and some neck pillows are often treated with lavender essential oil to promote relaxation.

With public interest in terpenes on the rise, scientific research into compounds like linalool is accelerating.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of linalool’s potential benefits:

anti-anxiety⁵
sedative⁵
local anesthetic⁵
analgesic⁵
anti-convulsant⁵
burn treatment⁶
anti-depressant⁶
anti-parasite⁶

Research is still ongoing and we must be patient before jumping to conclusions about what linalool can and cannot do.

Sunset Lake CBD Cultivars Featuring Linalool

We grow our hemp under the sun at our farm in the Champlain Islands of Vermont with a particular focus on encouraging terpene production. We work with third-party certified testing laboratories to understand the terpene content from each harvest.

Below is a list of our 2022 cultivars and their linalool content. At first blush, these numbers may look tiny, but terpenes are highly potent and small quantities can have big impacts! Humans can detect linalool in concentrations as low as two parts per billion³!

Suver Haze – 0.06% linalool

Lifter – 0.06% linalool

Hawaiian Haze – 0.03% linalool

Cherry Abacus – 0.02% linalool

Sour Lifter – 0.02% linalool

Candy Kush – 0.02% linalool

Super Sour Space Candy – 0.02% linalool

*Note: the percentage of terpenes is reported on a by weight basis.

Sleep is essential to our health, though it isn’t always easy to get. If you have trouble sleeping through the night, you’re not alone. More than 50 million Americans report having sleep-related issues.

There are plenty of sleep aids on the market. CBD is one of the newest— marketed as an all-natural, hemp-derived option for folks who want to avoid more heavy-duty over-the-counter options. But is there any truth to the marketing hype that CBD can help with sleep? How about helping with REM sleep?

In this post, we’ll cover what CBD is, why REM sleep is important, and if it’s possible to use CBD to improve your REM sleep.

What Is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It’s one of the hundreds of naturally-occurring cannabinoids produced by flowering hemp plants. CBD is not psychoactive and will not make you feel “high” if you ingest it.

As of now, there aren’t many FDA-backed studies on CBD’s effect on humans, though there is an FDA-approved drug, Epidiolex, that’s derived from CBD oil and helps manage rare forms of epilepsy.

Does CBD Help With Sleep?

CBD is thought to indirectly improve sleep by inducing a sense of calm and relaxation, both of which may help users fall and stay asleep. It’s unclear if CBD improves the quality or increases the quantity of sleep and we won’t know without more FDA-backed studies.

There have been some interesting studies into how full-spectrum CBD may affect our sleep architecture which may have larger implications for CBD and sleep studies moving forward.

What Is Sleep Architecture?

Sleep architecture refers to the different stages of sleep that our brains cycle through while we sleep. Two types of sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) make up our sleep architecture. NREM constitutes about 75% of your total time spent asleep and REM sleep constitutes the other 25%.

Some sleep-tracking technologies like Fitbit and Apple Watches can actually show your sleep architecture by measuring both your heart rate and tossing and turning.

What Is REM Sleep?

Rapid eye movement sleep is the deepest state of sleep and is characterized by desynchronized brain wave activity, muscle atonia (the inability to move your muscles), and sudden rapid eye movements.

It’s commonly believed that dreams only take place during REM sleep, but that’s not true. A majority of dreaming happens during these short windows of REM sleep, though some dreams do take place during NREM sleep, too. A more accurate statement would be that most of our vivid dreaming experiences happen during REM sleep.

Why Is REM Sleep Important?

All sleep is important, but REM sleep plays a unique role in brain health and development. It’s also less common than NREM sleep— another reason to make sure you’re getting enough!

Emotional Processing

During REM sleep, your brain processes emotions by way of amygdala activation. Your amygdala is a small region in your brain that processes and organizes your emotional responses to stimuli— the most well-known example being the fight-or-flight response. Researchers theorize that your REM-stage dreams may be linked to processing strong emotions and fear.

Memory & Recall

During REM sleep, your brain reviews everything you may have learned that day. During REM cycles, your brain decides what information to commit to memory and what to forget. This is why researchers think that infants and toddlers require more sleep and generally spend more time in REM sleep than adults. There is so much to learn when you’re a newborn as opposed to when you’re an adult.

Brain Development

Right now, researchers believe that REM sleep plays a huge role in healthy brain development and is also the reason that newborns spend most of their time in REM sleep.

Waking Up

As opposed to NREM sleep, REM sleep activates more sections of our central nervous system and is believed to prime us for a new day.

Not Getting Enough REM Sleep?

A number of studies suggest that not getting enough REM sleep may interfere with memory, retention, and may even cause emotional dysregulation.

In general, not getting enough sleep can present many challenges, like

Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Poor memory
Food and impulse control
And more…

Can CBD Help With REM Sleep?

If REM sleep is so important to memory, recall, and emotional regulation, it makes sense that we would want to get to sleep quickly, increase the amount of time we spend in REM, and reduce the time we spend tossing and turning every night, right?

Is it possible to optimize our sleep with CBD?

Yes and no.

A study published in 2013 found that rodents who were given medium- to high-dose CBD doses slept longer than rodents in the control group, meaning CBD may be able to help you stay asleep. Across the board, experts agree that getting more sleep is better. But a review of studies found that the size of CBD doses may actually affect REM latency.

REM latency is the amount of time it takes to reach the REM stage of sleep. In the aforementioned rodent study, higher doses of CBD were found to increase REM latency, while medium-sized doses were found to reduce REM latency. What gives?

Not every study or review is going to have definitive conclusions— small-scale studies rarely do. As we delve further into the benefits of CBD and its impact on sleep, we may notice that different dosing schedules affect sleep differently. It’s about finding that sweet spot. It may be that a CBD dose for you and your sleep may not have any effect on your neighbor.

CBD & REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder is characterized by aggressive movements during an individual’s rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. It’s more common in older people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

In one small-scale study, CBD was found to help manage REM Sleep Behavior Disorder symptoms and reduce the frequency of aggressive movements.

Will CBD Interact With Prescriptions?

CBD can interact with other prescriptions that an individual might be taking, by slowing down the liver’s ability to break them down. If you’re considering using CBD to aid in your sleep, you should first consult your doctor and find out if CBD negatively interacts with any of your medications.

Should You Take CBD To Optimize REM Sleep?

Taking CBD to help with sleep is a personal decision and one that you should consider with your doctor first. Many have found that CBD can help improve the quality and quantity of sleep they get every night, but the flip side is that plenty of folks also don’t experience those benefits.

CBD isn’t a magic bullet for your sleep issues. But it may be a useful tool that you can use on your journey for a better night’s sleep.

Can CBD really help your skin, or is it just another passing fad in the fast-paced beauty and cosmetic industry? While there is no shortage of so-called miracle products on the market, Cannabidiol, an age-old phytochemical produced by the hemp plant is worth another look.

In this post, we’ll talk cover the basics of CBD and skincare and cite some pieces from the growing body of research into whether or not CBD is good for your skin.

What Is CBD?

CBD (short for cannabidiol) is one of the more than 100 naturally-occurring cannabinoids produced by hemp and cannabis plants. CBD is a non-psychoactive phytochemical, meaning that taking or applying CBD to your skin won’t make you feel “high.”

CBD & Skincare

You may be seeing more skin products infused with CBD on your shelf and wondering how it’s processed from a hemp plant into a facial cream.

The process is straightforward. Once hemp is harvested, lab technicians extract its active ingredients— CBD and other cannabinoids— via ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide and purify it via distillation. Distilled CBD can be infused into oils like MCT, coconut, or hemp oil and blended into a wide range of products like lotions and salves.

Is CBD Good For Your Skin?

Is CBD just another tool used by companies to markup common skincare items?

There is a growing field of research into whether or not CBD applied directly to the skin can help manage skin conditions.

CBD For Acne

Acne is a common skin condition that happens when our skin creates excess sebum, an oily substance that protects our skin. When your skin creates excess sebum, it can mix with dead skin cells or external pollutants and get trapped in your pores, causing your skin to break out into acne.

Many factors influence your skin’s production of sebum, including hormonal imbalances, genetics, stress, medications, and diet. While CBD isn’t going to address many of these factors, a 2014 study suggests CBD, taken orally or topically, may help prevent and relieve inflammation caused by acne.

If you already have acne, CBD oil or facial serum may also help reduce the redness and irritation caused by acne.

CBD For Wrinkles

As our skin ages and is exposed to more external damage, it becomes less elastic and more susceptible to damage. Damage can range from exposure to the sun (UV light,) to smoking, to repeated facial expressions like smiling.

There are plenty of preventative measures someone can take like using sunscreen to moisturizing, but can CBD somehow reverse the effects of aging and smooth out wrinkles?

Unfortunately, no. CBD isn’t a magic bullet for your skin. But, there is some research that suggests that CBD’s antioxidant properties can reduce your skin’s oxidative stress— the imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant defenses. So while using CBD on your skin won’t get rid of your wrinkles, it may help boost your skin’s antioxidant defenses and prevent new wrinkles from forming.

CBD For Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin disease characterized by itchy, scaly patches of skin. There is no known cure, and flare-ups can be painful for individuals. Studies have shown a strong relationship between psoriasis flares and stress and anxiety.

CBD is believed to help reduce inflammation and relieve skin and joint pain when taken both orally and topically. CBD is also thought to help with stress and calm the symptoms of anxiety. So while CBD is not an effective treatment for psoriasis, it may help mitigate the factors that cause flare-ups and help ease discomfort during a flare-up.

CBD For Eczema

Eczema, like psoriasis, is a common skin condition characterized by itchy, inflamed skin. There are few studies regarding CBD use and eczema, like this study published in 2019 that found that CBD ointment helped clear eczema and help reduce sleep loss caused by discomfort and itching.

The national eczema association has said that adults who want to try topical CBD for their condition should, as they believe that it is safe to use.

CBD For Dry And Cracked Skin

While not linked to any specific condition, many of us suffer from dry and cracked skin, especially during winter months. One of the best ways to combat dry skin is to stay hydrated. Another is to use moisturizers that protect your skin from the elements.

CBD-infused topicals are a great way to both moisturize your skin and protect it from further drying.

How Do You Use CBD On Your Skin?

Using CBD on your skin is as easy as buying CBD oil, or a CBD topical product and applying it directly to your skin. You can bolster the effects of topical CBD by also taking CBD oil orally.

If you’re making your own at-home CBD topical, you’ll want to mix raw CBD flower with a carrier oil like:

Coconut oil
Olive oil
Shea butter
MCT oil

Because CBD is fat soluble, it will bond to the lipids in your preferred oil at which point you can combine them with ingredients of your choice.

Is CBD Safe?

CBD is generally well-tolerated by most, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t experience any side effects. If you’re taking CBD oil orally to help with a skin condition, you may experience the following side effects:

Change in appetite
Diarrhea
Nausea
Dizziness
Upset Stomach
Weight change

Less is known about the side effects of using CBD topically. If you experience any rash or irritation after using a topical CBD product, you should consult your doctor.

Edible THC products are becoming more popular in today’s hemp market. You may have found this blog while looking for gummies infused with hemp-derived THC.

Have you ever wondered why edible THC seems to be more powerful than inhaled THC? You’re in luck. We’ll cover that and the following in this post.

Contents

What edible THC is
The pros and cons of edible THC
How To Read Your Edible THC COA
How To Safely Enjoy Your Edible THC

What Is Edible THC?

Edible THC is delta-9 THC that’s been infused into baked goods, drinks, or other edible food products.

Because THC and other cannabinoids like CBD and CBG are fat soluble, it’s possible to infuse them into cooking oils and edible products. In some states where recreational THC products are legal, individuals can purchase ready-made edibles made with THC-infused coconut oil, butter, or alcohol.

It’s also possible to make your own THC edibles at home. You just need to secure the prerequisite cannabis flower and something to infuse like unsalted butter, coconut oil, or high-proof ethanol.

How Is Edible THC Different Than Inhaled THC?

Edible THC is different than inhaled THC because of the way your body metabolizes it.

When you smoke or vaporize cannabis, you inhale rapidly decarboxylated cannabinoids. They travel to your lungs and enter your bloodstream via a network of capillaries. The onset of effects is almost immediate— some research suggests that inhaled cannabinoids, and THC in particular, reach peak concentration in your blood three minutes after inhalation. This early peak and fall is the reason that users experience a sharp intoxication shortly after inhalation and the effects fade in 2-3 hours.

Edible THC must first travel to your liver before it enters your bloodstream. This can sometimes take 1-2 hours based on factors like eating before your edible and metabolism.

When edible THC reaches your liver, enzymes break delta-9 THC down into a more powerful form of THC called 11-hydroxy tetrahydrocannabinol.

What Is 11-Hydroxy THC?

11-Hydroxy-THC is a cannabinoid that isn’t found in the raw cannabis plant. It’s a THC metabolite that your liver produces when you eat edible THC.

As of right now, not much is known about 11-OH-THC, though research suggests that it’s between 2 to 4 times more potent than delta-9 THC, meaning that 5mg of edible delta-9 THC can feel like 20mg once it’s broken down by your liver.

Why Does Edible THC Last Longer Than Inhaled THC?

The effects you feel from edible THC last longer because it takes the THC that much longer to get into your bloodstream. It must first be broken down by your liver into 11-OH-THC and enter your bloodstream. This slow onset of effects (and higher intoxication level) will ultimately make for a smoother transition into intoxication, but turns into a much longer “high.”

What Are The Pros of Taking Edible THC?

Edible THC has many benefits, though some depend on your situation.

Edible THC is a much better option for people with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Even if you don’t fall into this category, edible THC is a great way to avoid the hassle of smoking cannabis.
With each passing year, THC (and cannabinoids in general) are being infused into more and more products. With a bit of searching, you can find hemp-derived edible THC infused into candy products, baked goods, seltzers, coffee, and much more.
If you’re more of a do-it-yourself person, it’s quite easy to make edibles at home. You just need a few tools and some cannabis.
The effects of edible THC last much longer than other methods. This can be a great benefit for folks who suffer from chronic pains or need constant dosing.
As opposed to inhalation, edible THC is much more discreet. Everyone will notice if you start smoking cannabis in a public space, but no one will care if you eat a gummy.
Edible THC has a much more gradual come up than inhalation. If you aren’t a fan of the immediate intoxication you get from smoking, look into edible THC.

The Cons Of Edible THC

Almost all of the benefits of taking edible THC are double-edged in some way. It’s up to each individual to evaluate and determine whether or not edible THC is a good option.

Edible THC isn’t a very time-efficient way of consuming THC. Depending on a few factors like metabolism, the last time you ate, and the dose, it can take up to two hours to feel any effect.
- This con can cause some to “dose-stack” meaning that before the first dose has kicked in, one takes another and overindulges. Stacking doses can increase an individual’s likelihood of experiencing some unwanted side effects.
Because edibles are becoming more and more advanced, it’s becoming difficult to even detect the presence of cannabis in an infused product. This can also lead to overindulgence and dose stacking.
Edibles aren’t always dosed properly, meaning some edible THC products you buy can sometimes have much more or much less THC than advertised. This inconsistency can make it hard for folks to find their preferred dose.
Keeping edible THC in a home with children isn’t advisable. Most pediatric hospitalizations for THC are the result of kids finding their parent’s edibles.
Edible THC can also appear on drug tests. If you are subject to random screenings or think you will be in the coming weeks, do not consume edible THC.

What Are The Side Effects Of Edible THC?

Because 11-hydroxy THC is more potent than inhaled delta-9 THC, it’s more likely that individuals who eat too much edible THC are likely to experience side effects like:

Cognitive and motor function impairment
Extreme sedation
Anxiety
Cardiac stress
Upset stomach and vomiting
Extreme time dilation

How To Read Your Edible THC Label

There aren’t any federal labeling standards for edible THC products yet, so labels can be unreliable and vastly different from place to place.

There are two numbers you need to look for on your edible THC product before you buy:

The milligram (mg) dose of THC in each serving/product
The ratio of CBD to THC (or THC to CBD)

On some full-spectrum edible products, you’ll see CBD and THC expressed as a ratio of 1:1, 1:5, or 1:20. These ratios can mean different things in different places.

In some states where recreational cannabis is legal like New York, the THC is the first number in the ratio. A product described as 1:5 will have 1mg of THC for every 5mg of CBD. That same product in Colorado will have 5mg of THC for every 1mg of CBD where they have the reverse standards.

In Vermont, we have yet to establish a set ratio meaning you should always ask to see the product’s certificate of analysis before you make a purchase. This paperwork should tell you just how much THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are in your product.

For more on reading certificates of analysis, read our guide here.

5 Tips For Safely Consuming Edible THC

If you’re considering edible THC products, you should know some tips to help you have a happy, healthy, and safe time. The cardinal rule is: Start low and go slow. Patience is key.

Some other, equally important tips include:

Don’t stack your doses. Start with a small dose in order to know how you react to edible THC. Observe how you feel and how your body handles the experience. Once you’re comfortable, adjust your dosage incrementally the next time you indulge.
If you plan to make your own edibles, use a dosage calculator. Read our dos-and-don’t guide to help get you started.
Plan ahead and consume your edible THC in a safe space. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery after you consume THC.
Make sure to lock up your edible THC so that they are completely inaccessible to your pets and children.
Don’t mix your edible THC with any other substances or with alcohol. And definitely don’t eat any THC if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

To Eat Or Not To Eat? Our Takeaways On Edible THC

Edible THC can be a great way to enhance your experiences with cannabis. They’re tasty, discreet, and under the right circumstances, can be very relaxing. Just be sure to adhere to the cardinal rule of low and slow, and make sure that your edible THC doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

CBD oil is everywhere these days— supermarkets, drug stores, we’ve even seen it at the hardware store. You might be reading this because you’re wondering how to use CBD oil, or if it’s even the right CBD product for you.

This post will be about the different ways to use CBD oil and how to acclimate yourself to a new supplement. If you’re looking for more information about how to calculate an appropriate dose, please read our post on dosing your CBD oil here.

Without further adieu…

How Do You Use CBD Oil?

CBD oil is a versatile product. How you use it may depend on the strength of your oil. With Sunset Lake’s CBD oils, you’ll want to get comfortable with our recommended 25mg doses before moving on to a more robust dosing schedule.

We suggest getting acclimated to 25mg doses taken in the evening after you’ve settled in for the night. You’ll want to take your CBD oil either orally or sublingually every night and see how you feel after 1 to 2 hours. After two weeks of adjusting to 25mg, feel free to adjust your dose as needed.

After you’re used to ingesting CBD oil, feel free to get more creative with dosing. CBD oil can make a great additive to dips, drinks, and can even take the edge off of your morning cup of coffee.

Still unsure of how much CBD you should take? Read more here.

Using CBD Oil Orally vs. Sublingually

There are two ways to take CBD oil via your mouth— sounds strange but it’s true. When you take your CBD oil orally, you swallow CBD oil and wait for it to reach your digestive tract before experiencing any benefit.

If you take your CBD oil sublingually—under your tongue— you should feel the effects much quicker than you would if you were to swallow your CBD oil.

A woman placing CBD oil under her tongue for sublingual application

How To Use CBD Oil Sublingually

Sublingual consumption involves putting CBD oil under your tongue where the membrane to your bloodstream is thinner than anywhere else in your mouth. The CBD will traverse this membrane more easily and you should feel CBD’s effects in as little as 15 minutes. Once you’ve held your CBD oil under your tongue for roughly 20 to 30 seconds, swallow your oil.

What Does Sublingual Mean?

“Sublingual” comes from Latin for “under the tongue.” The soft tissue under your tongue contains what are known as the sublingual glands.

Are There Benefits to Using Your CBD Oil Sublingually?

Taking CBD sublingually has some advantages over consuming CBD orally. Because you’re applying CBD oil directly to a capillary-rich membrane in your mouth, the CBD is getting into your bloodstream faster than it would if you swallowed it.

Using your CBD oil sublingually does present certain disadvantages, too. For instance, if you’re taking unflavored CBD oil sublingually, you’ll need to hold said oil under your tongue for 20 seconds before swallowing. If you’re not a big fan of hemp’s taste, this could be unpleasant. Luckily, there are flavored CBD oils that can help mitigate that downside. Here at Sunset Lake, we carry almost all of our CBD oils in both a mint and a citrus flavor.

How To Use CBD Oil Orally

Using CBD oil orally is more straightforward than sublingual ingestion— it involves swallowing your CBD either by itself or mixing it with food or into a beverage.

The downside of using your CBD oil orally versus sublingually is that you’ll have to wait for the CBD to reach your digestive tract and liver before you notice any benefits.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Your CBD Oil Orally?

Using CBD oil orally rather than sublingually has the distinct benefit of versatility. You can add CBD oil to just about any recipe edible or potable. This method will help you experience all the benefits that CBD has to offer without the aftertaste.

You can add CBD oil to:

Your morning coffee or tea
Your pre- or post-workout smoothie
Homemade salad dressing
Your evening cocktail
A snacking dip, like guacamole

Which Is Better? Oral or Sublingual?

Taking your CBD oil orally vs sublingually shouldn’t have any effect on how long the benefits from your dose should last, but taking your CBD oil sublingually should allow you to feel more immediate effects.

Use Your CBD Oil Topically

You can also choose to use your CBD oil topically. This requires applying CBD oil directly to your skin in the affected area.

The benefits of using your CBD oil topically include,

Rapid effect on the targeted area
Targeted relief
There is no risk of triggering a positive drug test with topical CBD

While CBD oil will work topically, it’s probably best to use topical products formulated with CBD instead. These are crafted with skincare in mind and contain other moisturizers and vitamins that will benefit your skin.

How Often Should You Use CBD Oil?

This a common question that many who start CBD oil have. How often you take CBD oil will vary depending on your body, what your goal is, and how you take your CBD.

If you’re ingesting your CBD orally or sublingually, we first recommend adjusting to daily 25mg doses to get comfortable and observing how your body reacts, before changing your dose strength and frequency.

If you’re using CBD topically though, you don’t need to adhere to this adjustment period. Instead, apply the topical CBD to the affected areas and do so as much as you feel you need to.

Another harvest is done and that makes four! Our production team is still working on getting this year’s flower hand-trimmed up, but we’ve battened down the hatches for the year.

We can hardly believe it ourselves, and we have folks like you to thank for making this all possible.

It seems like we just finished last year’s Giving Tuesday roundup a few weeks ago. Now that we have a moment to sit and think, I wanted to reflect on our social philanthropy for 2022 and how it aligned with our mission.

Let’s start locally…

Feeding Chittenden

Amount: $8,500 or 5,667 meals

We’re farmers, first and foremost. Many Vermont farms donate extra produce and allow gleaners onto their property to collect produce for people suffering from food insecurity— something that’s become more common here in the past year.

Unlike many other farms though, we don’t produce any food. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have the responsibility to donate what we can to help our neighbors. That’s why we decided to turn our end-of-the-year Black Friday sale into a fundraiser for Feeding Chittenden, the largest emergency food shelf in the state. Because Thanksgiving, the precursor to Black Friday, is a holiday about food, Feeding Chittenden just made sense.

Vermont Public Radio

Amount: $16,400

We’re staying local with our next donation. Like food, equitable access to information and news is incredibly important to us here at Sunset Lake CBD. All of the native Vermonters that work here grew up listening to VPR— our parents either had it on in the car or in Sam’s case he listens to it at full volume in the dairy farm tractor.

VPR provides great local coverage that most Vermonters can access for free. We couldn’t be happier being an underwriter once again.

Magic Mann’s Global Indigenous Fund

Amount: $1,000

As farmers making a living off the land, it’s important to remember that these lands were in fact stolen long ago from indigenous peoples. Donating to Magic Mann’s Global Indigenous Fund allowed us to acknowledge that fact and give back to those very same communities.

The Global Indigenous Fund’s mission is to partner with indigenous communities and develop strategies to sustainably address their needs. If you’re interested in learning more about Vermont’s Indigenous communities or donating to the fund yourself, click here.

Green Mountain Club

Amount: $1,000

Vermont is called the Green Mountain State for a good reason. Exploring our mountains and valleys is quintessentially part of being a Vermonter. The Green Mountain Club’s mission is to make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in everyone’s life by protecting and maintaining the Long Trail System and fostering through education, the stewardship of Vermont’s hiking trails and mountains.

The Green Mountain Club’s mission for land stewardship, creating common and equitable spaces, and promoting health by getting out into nature is what we’re about here at Sunset Lake CBD. As an avid hiker myself, it was a no-brainer to contribute to this cause and we will continue to do so. If you too want to support the Green Mountain Club, please consider donating to them here.

Planned Parenthood

Amount: $2,500 with a $2,500 match by The Majority Report

Reproductive rights were a vital issue in this election cycle. Because of our strong business partnership with the folks over at the Majority Report, we decided to collaborate with them on an election sale project. We reached out to Sam, Julie, and the rest of the crew with our plan and they agreed to make a matching donation.

While a donation to Planned Parenthood doesn’t neatly align with our mission here at Sunset Lake CBD, we felt we needed to contribute something to one of the biggest reproductive healthcare providers in this country.

Innocence Project

Amount: $4,000

As someone who works in the cannabis industry, the long unjust road we, as a country, have traversed to get to this point is never far from my mind. That’s why we wanted to turn our Spring 4/20 sale into a fundraising opportunity.

As an organization, The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create, fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. That means exonerating the innocent, improving case law, and reforming policies that lead us to where we are today. We wholeheartedly support The Innocence Project’s comprehensive approach to reforming our legal system. If their mission sounds like something you might support too, consider donating to them here.

Next Year

We’re already looking ahead to 2023 with gratitude and excitement. We can’t wait to get back on the farm and build on our charitable momentum. But for now, we’re going to settle in for the holidays and the cold weather ahead. We also want to thank you— our amazing customers for making this possible.

-Cy Kupersmith

Dir. of Sales and Sustainability

You may already know about the cannabinoids CBD and THC, but there are hundreds of other compounds that hemp produces. One such class of compounds gaining attention is terpenes. Researchers are looking into how terpenes affect humans when consumed and what possible uses they might have.

Beta-Caryophyllene (“bay-tah carey-oh-fi-leen”) is one of the major terpenes found in hemp and plays a big role in how hemp smells. You probably have some beta-caryophyllene in your kitchen and might not know it. Beta-caryophyllene is found in many popular cooking spices like black pepper and cinnamon.

In this post, we’ll discuss:

What beta-caryophyllene is
Where beta-caryophyllene can be found in nature
And, what research has been done on its potential benefits

What Are Terpenes?

Before we hop right into beta-caryophyllene, it might be good to examine what terpenes are. Terpenes are highly aromatic hydrocarbon compounds composed of small isoprene units. Depending on how many isoprene units they contain, terpenes are classified as monoterpenes (two isoprenes), sesquiterpenes (three isoprenes), and diterpenes (four isoprenes). There are other classifications, but these three are sufficient for our discussion here. In terms of hemp, terpenes typically make up about 1-2% of the weight of a hemp flower.

Here are some that you may have encountered at the market:

Limonene is present in the peels of citrus fruits.
Myrcene is found in hops and mangoes.
Terpinolene is used in many soaps and cosmetics.

What Is beta-Caryophyllene?

Beta-caryophyllene has a larger molecular footprint than other terpenes like terpinolene or linalool due to the fact that it is composed of three isoprene units. This sesquiterpene is unique in that it is the only terpene known to directly activate CB2 receptors in our endocannabinoid system. Because of this unique feature, some scientists consider beta-caryophyllene to be both a cannabinoid and a terpene.

So why does hemp produce it? Researchers believe that hemp plants produce beta-caryophyllene to ward off herbivorous predators who might eat the hemp flowers, citing beta-caryophyllene’s bitter taste as a deterrent¹. Additionally, beta-caryophyllene attracts green lacewing insects which feed on pests, adding another layer of protection⁴.

In addition to being commonly found in hemp, beta-caryophyllene is found in many common spices like cinnamon, clove, and black pepper, as well as in herbs like rosemary, oregano, and basil. The woodsy, pungent, spicy aroma of freshly-cracked black pepper is dominated by beta-caryophyllene.

Fun fact: Beta-caryophyllene is the only terpene known to directly activate CB2 cannabinoid receptors in humans!

Beta-Caryophyllene is not typically the dominant terpene in any given hemp cultivar, but it does typically show up in significant quantities. A little later we’ll share a list of Sunset Lake CBD cultivars and their beta-caryophyllene content.

A row of cinnamon sticks lined up left to right — Cinnamon is rich with beta-caryophyllene

What Is beta-Caryophyllene Used For?

Foods containing high amounts of beta-caryophyllene have been used historically to promote calm and comfort. Think of the holidays when we see hot mulled cider and lots of spiced cookies featuring cinnamon and clove. We start to feel cozy just thinking about it!

In addition to spicing things up in the kitchen, beta-caryophyllene shows lots of therapeutic potential and scientists are hard at work.

Here is a short list of some potential benefits that have been researched so far:

Analgesic²
Anti-inflammatory^2,3
Antimalarial^3,4
Antinociceptive³
Gastric cytoprotective^3,4
Eases gut muscle spasms²
Easing of anxiety & depression symptoms⁵

But we must remember that the research is ongoing and these results still need to be verified by high-quality placebo-controlled studies.

Sunset Lake CBD Cultivars Featuring beta-Caryophyllene

Each year we send samples of our hemp flowers to a certified laboratory for analysis of the terpene profile of each cultivar. Here is a breakdown of how much beta-caryophyllene is contained in the 2022 crop of Sunset Lake CBD hemp flowers, listed by cultivar. When you first glance at these percentages, the numbers may look small. But terpenes are really potent and a little bit goes a long way!

Cherry Abacus – 0.51% beta-caryophyllene

Sour Lifter – 0.51% beta-caryophyllene

Lifter – 0.48% beta-caryophyllene

Sour Suver Haze – 0.44% beta-caryophyllene

Candy Kush (coming soon!) – 0.41% beta-caryophyllene

Super Sour Space Candy – 0.39% beta-caryophyllene

Suver Haze – 0.37% beta-caryophyllene

Hawaiian Haze – 0.19% beta-caryophyllene

*Note: the percentage of terpenes is reported on a by weight basis.

Which solvent is best for making hemp extracts— ethanol or CO2? The question has lingered for years even though there is no right answer. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

In this post, we’ll highlight the two main methods of solvent-based extraction used in the hemp industry at large: ethanol and supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2.)

What Is Solvent-Based Extraction?

Cannabinoids like CBD and THC can be extracted from hemp in a number of ways. Because cannabinoids are fat-soluble, it’s possible to use solvents to pull cannabinoids from hemp via its essential oils.

Solvent-based extraction methods allow manufacturers to concentrate hemp’s essential oils which can then be infused into other products like edibles, topicals, and tinctures.

Is There Such A Thing As Solvent-less Extraction?

There is a way to extract cannabinoids without the use of solvents. For millennia, people have used screens mechanical tumbling to separate kief, also known as dry sift concentrates, from hemp and cannabis plants.

Related: What is kief?

What is Ethanol Extraction?

Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is not only an incredibly efficient solvent, but it’s also responsible for intoxication by way of alcoholic beverages. Because ethanol is a relatively safe and efficient solvent, it’s a great choice for commercial and at-home extractions alike.

Extracting cannabinoids using ethanol involves grinding down your hemp to increase its surface area and washing it with high-grade ethanol. Ethanol, is a polar solvent, meaning that it will readily bond with water-soluble and fat-soluble compounds; meaning ethanol will pull all active ingredients from hemp and produce a full-spectrum extract.

When the extraction is complete, the ethanol is evaporated off and recycled for future use leaving behind a molasses-like product called full-spectrum crude extract. This dark brown oil can be turned into distillate using purification methods.

What Is Supercritical CO2 Extraction?

Supercritical CO2 extraction uses carbon dioxide cooled and pressurized into a supercritical state— displaying properties of both a liquid and a gas— to strip away cannabinoids and other phytochemicals from hemp. This process calls for carbon dioxide that’s both kept above 87.9F and 1,071 psi (pounds per square inch.) For reference, car tires are usually kept between 30 and 35 psi.

Aside from the high pressure, CO2 extraction and the resulting oils are very safe and pose little risk to consumers. Getting a supercritical CO2 extraction right is a bit trickier from a quality standpoint though. Whereas ethanol extractions involve washing and evaporating, supercritical CO2 setups generally feature three stages: cooling, a closed-loop extraction, and finally CO2 recapture.

Supercritical CO2 is also a tunable solvent, meaning that its solvation strength can be adjusted incrementally by changing the density of the supercritical CO2 fluid.

What Does Supercritical Mean?

When a substance is supercritical, it means that it’s at a temperature and pressure above its critical (moment of transition) point. When a substance is supercritical, it is not a gas, nor is it a liquid, but it is not under enough pressure to become a solid yet.

Ethanol vs. CO2 Extraction: Which Is Better?

Which extraction method makes a better hemp concentrate? It’s not as simple as that. Both methods have their pros and cons— and it depends on what you want to do with each extract.

Efficacy

If the goal is to make a full-spectrum distillate that would then be turned into edibles, tinctures, and topicals, using an ethanol extraction is the way to go. Ethanol not only bonds with cannabinoids in hemp but other beneficial compounds too, like terpenes and flavonoids.

Supercritical carbon dioxide extractions tend to leave a lot of hemp’s phytochemicals on the table. While it’s true that CO2 extraction pulls out cannabinoids, a 2018 study published in Planta Medica found that CO2 extraction eliminated terpenes and flavinoids in the process. Because most of the plant matter is left behind during a CO2 extraction, producers can more readily turn their extract into products like oils, concentrates, and vape cartridges.

Safety

Both ethanol and CO2 extractions are relatively safe. They do present some unique safety hazards, but these can be mitigated with proper equipment and training.

Both methods, if done poorly, can result in residual solvents in your concentrate. Luckily, all hemp products should come with proper testing, including a residual solvents test. If there are any solvents left over, you’d do well to avoid that product.

Final Product

Advocates of CO2 extraction and ethanol extraction will point out the benefits of their preferred extraction methods. After equipment costs are taken care of, CO2 extractions are cheaper for manufacturers and better at pulling cannabinoids from hemp plants.

At the same time, ethanol extractions require less energy, take less time, and create a more rounded full-spectrum extract for infusions.

If your goal is potency, CO2 extractions may be the way to go. If your goal is a balanced full-spectrum experience, ethanol is the extraction method for you.

Solvent-Based Extractions: Final Thoughts

We’re not here to tell you which extraction method is better, but we will say that all of Sunset Lake CBD’s products are made with ethanol-extracted hemp concentrates. Not only do we believe that terpenes and flavinoids play an important role in the user’s experience, we think they may even enhance hemp’s beneficial effects.

A lot of new delta-9 THC products are coming out that are designed to help users relax and have fun. But what is delta-9 THC? Is it the same as THC?

In this post, we’ll look at delta-9 THC, cannabis’s main psychoactive ingredient, and what you should know if you’re considering purchasing some.

What Is Delta-9 THC?

Delta-9 THC, THC being short for TetraHydroCannabinol (emphasis ours,) is one of the 100+ cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp plants. When people consume cannabis to get intoxicated or “high,” they experience the effects of delta-9 THC. There are other forms of tetrahydrocannabinol, but we will focus on the delta-9 variant in this post.

Read more: CBD vs. THC: What’s The Difference

Is Delta-9 THC The Same As THC?

Generally speaking, when you see THC advertised or spoken about in popular culture, it’s referring to delta-9 THC. Delta-9 THC is the most stable and naturally occurring form of tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis.

In the hemp industry, it’s important to make the distinction between delta-9 THC and other forms of THC. Because of the way the 2018 Farm Bill is written, delta-9 THC, a schedule I substance, is specifically limited in hemp products, while all of the other potentially psychoactive variants of THC are not.

Delta-9 THC vs. Delta-8 THC

One of said variants is called delta-8 THC. Delta-9 and delta-8 THC are nearly identical molecules with a small molecular difference. Both will intoxicate you (delta-8 not as effectively as delta-9) but delta-8 is in a legal gray area and will continue to be so until addressed by legislation.

What Are The Effects Of Delta-9 THC?

People consume cannabis for many reasons, both recreational and medical. Some recreational effects of delta-9 THC include feeling:

Euphoric
Uplifted
Energetic
Sleepy
Creative
Focused
Hungry

Is Delta-9 THC Safe?

Cannabis, hemp, and delta-9 THC are all relatively safe. Overconsumption can cause some unwanted side effects like paranoia, anxiety, and restlessness, though consuming delta-9 THC is generally considered safe.

Is Delta-9 THC Addictive?

Despite the common belief that cannabis is not addictive, THC dependence has been widely documented. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 3 in 10 cannabis users will become addicted. If a person uses cannabis before the age of 18, the likelihood of forming an addiction, or cannabis use disorder, increases.

Does Delta-9 THC Show Up On A Drug Test?

Yes, delta-9 THC does show up on drug tests. If you are subject to or are scheduled to take a workplace drug test, don’t consume delta-9 THC, or any THC, in any concentration. Because workplace tests look for THC metabolites— what’s left after your body breaks down THC— all forms of THC will make you test positive.

More: Can CBD make you fail a drug test?

How Long Does Delta-9 THC Stay In Your System?

The rule of thumb is that delta-9 THC stays in your system for about four weeks, but it really depends on the individual. Delta-9 THC is fat-soluble and will build up in your system with prolonged or frequent use.

If you aren’t a frequent or long-time user of delta-9 THC, it will likely clear out of your system a bit faster.

You may have come across the term “terpenes” while shopping for hemp CBD products and wondered, “what’s that?” Hemp plants produce hundreds of active compounds. Research into said compounds beyond just CBD and THC is ramping up. Terpenes not only play a major role in how hemp smells but they’re also believed to change how you feel when using different hemp cultivars.

One commonly found terpene is limonene (“lie-muh-neen”). You may already be familiar with limonene but didn’t know its name. All citrus fruits contain limonene as it’s a major component of citrus’s aromatic profile.

In this post we’ll discuss:

What limonene is
Where limonene can be found in nature
And, what research has been done on its potential benefits

What Are Terpenes?

We’ll get to limonene in a moment, but before we do let’s look at terpenes as a whole. Terpenes are aromatic volatile hydrocarbons. Found in many plants and in some animals, terpene molecules are composed of isoprenes which can be thought of as small building blocks. Terpenes are classified by how many of these isoprene building blocks they contain. Monoterpenes (two isoprenes), sesquiterpenes (three isoprenes), and diterpenes (four isoprenes) are the most common types of terpenes. Terpenes typically account for 1-2% of hemp flower’s weight.

The aromatic profile of many plants rely on these highly volatile terpene compounds. You may already be familiar with many terpenes but might not know their names.

Examples of terpenes include:

Mangoes contain myrcene.
Beta-caryophyllene is found in black pepper and cinnamon.
Terpinolene is a component of turpentine.

What Is Limonene?

Limonene, which is sometimes referred to as D-limonene, is a monoterpene, meaning it’s composed of two isoprenes. But it’s limonene’s aroma that you’re probably familiar with: a sweet, citrusy, fruity scent reminiscent of tangerines and lemons. Limonene makes up a large percentage of the essential oils found in citrus rinds. Besides citrus, limonene can be found in hemp as well as caraway, juniper, dill, and some coniferous trees.

Fun fact: Limonene is one of the most plentiful terpenes found in plants! ²

Although it is rarely the dominant terpene, limonene can be found in significant concentrations in many hemp cultivars. We’ll take a closer look at the limonene content of Sunset Lake CBD cultivars below thanks to laboratory testing.

What Is Limonene Used For?

Thanks to its bright, fresh scent, limonene is used as a flavoring agent for food & drinks, a component in many fragrances, and as an additive in cleaning products. In addition to these commercial uses, scientists are researching how limonene affects the human body and how it might be used in a therapeutic capacity.

Here is a short list of some potential benefits that have been researched:

anti-anxiety ^1,2,6
aid with gastro-oesophageal reflux ¹
antibacterial ¹
antibiotic ²
inhibition of acne ²
immunostimulation¹
anti-inflammatory ^2,4,5
analgesic qualities ³

While some of the results look very promising, we must be patient and wait for more research to confirm any potential benefits that limonene could offer.

Sunset Lake CBD Cultivars Featuring Limonene

Our Vermont-grown hemp naturally produces high levels of many terpenes. We send samples of our hemp cultivars to a third-party laboratory to determine the terpene profile of each. Below is a breakdown of the limonene content for the 2022 crop of Sunset Lake CBD hemp flowers. These percentages may seem small, but a little bit can be quite powerful!

Lifter – 0.08% limonene

Sour Lifter – 0.1% limonene

Hawaiian Haze – 0.13% limonene

Suver Haze – 0.06% limonene

Sour Suver Haze – 0.2% limonene

Super Sour Space Candy – 0.12% limonene

Cherry Abacus – 0.13% limonene

Candy Kush (coming soon!) – 0.09% limonene

*Note: the percentage of terpenes is reported on a by-weight basis.

As research explores all the potential benefits of hemp, there is an increased public interest in learning more about the active compounds beyond just CBD and THC. Terpenes feature prominently in the discussion about how hemp can make you feel and they play a major role in how hemp smells.

There are dozens of terpenes found in hemp flowers, and one of the least common terpenes is called terpinolene (“ter-pin-oh-leen”). But just because it’s not typically found in high concentrations, doesn’t sideline it. In fact, some of Sunset Lake CBD flower cultivars like the 2021 Sour Lifter and 2021 Super Sour Space Candy are quite high in terpinolene!

In this post we’ll discuss the following:

What is terpinolene
Where terpinolene can be found in nature
And, what research has been done on its potential benefits

What Are Terpenes?

Before jumping into terpinolene, let’s take a moment to explore what terpenes are in general. Terpenes are aromatic, volatile hydrocarbons found in many plants and in some animals. Terpene molecules are composed of small units called isoprenes and terpenes are classified by the number of isoprene units they contain. The most common terpenes are monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes.

Terpenes play a key role in the scent of many plants. You may already be familiar with many terpenes but might not know their names.

Examples of terpenes include:

Pinene is present in pine trees.
Linalool is prominent in lavender.
Myrcene plays a big role in how mangoes smell.

What Is Terpinolene?

Terpinolene is a monoterpene comprised of just two isoprene units. This sweet-smelling terpene is found in apples, cumin, lilacs, nutmeg, conifer trees, tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), and hemp. It is also one of the components of turpentine, which is a product made from fir trees.

Fun fact: the word “terpene” is derived from the word turpentine, which is composed primarily of pinene, carene, camphene, dipentene, and terpinolene.

Terpinolene has a fresh, sweet chemical smell with notes of pinecones, apples, citrus, flowers, and pine sap.

Terpinolene is typically found in small concentrations in hemp flower and is rarely the dominant terpene in a given cultivar. Hemp cultivars feature a wide array of terpenes and the dominant terpene is the one with the highest concentration in that specific cultivar. Below, we will discuss which of our hemp cultivars have terpinolene as the dominant terpene based on laboratory analysis.

What Is Terpinolene Used For?

Terpinolene is used in many consumer goods like soaps, cosmetics, and perfumes. Aside from commercial uses, there is currently a wide array of ongoing research into how it affects the human body.

Terpinolene’s potential benefits may include:

antioxidant ^1,2,7
sedative ^1,3
anti-inflammatory ⁸
antibacterial & antimicrobial ⁴
antifungal (as part of tea tree oil) ^5,6
larvicide ⁷
insecticide ⁷

While research is ongoing, the jury is still out on what potential benefits terpinolene can offer.

Sunset Lake CBD Cultivars Featuring Terpinolene

Our hemp cultivars naturally contain a wide range of terpenes. We send samples of our hemp flowers to a third-party laboratory for testing to determine their terpene composition*. Here are our top cultivars that feature terpinolene as their dominant terpene:

Super Sour Space Candy – 1.06% terpinolene

Sour Lifter – 0.59% terpinolene

*Note: the percentage of terpenes is reported on a by-weight basis.

The hemp plant produces over a hundred different cannabinoids, but as of now, researchers have only just scratched the surface when it comes to their potential benefits. Some of these cannabinoids you may be familiar with, like CBD, THC, and CBN. Lately, there has been a lot of media attention on the “varin” family of molecules, like cannabivarin (CBDV) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV).

In another post we discussed CBDV. This time around we’ll be talking about THCV and its potential uses.

Some articles have dubbed THCV “diet weed,” citing claims that THCV might help with weight loss. But before we dive into what it is and what it’s not, let’s look at THCV and the available research.

In this post, we’ll discuss:

What THCV is,
How THCV is different from THC,
And, THCV’s potential benefits

What Is THCV?

THCV, or tetrahydrocannabivarin, is one of over a hundred different cannabinoids produced by the hemp plant.

Let’s get a little more technical for a moment. THCV is the activated, or decarboxylated, form of tetrahydrocannabivarin acid (THCVa) and is non-intoxicating. THCV is a dose-dependent CB1 agonist and antagonist and a CB2 agonist. THCV also interacts with many transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, as both an agonist and antagonist¹. Long story short is that there could be a lot of potential uses for THCV, some of which we’ll discuss below.

Where Can I Find THCV?

Although THCV isn’t found in high concentrations in most commercially-available hemp, some hemp cultivars have been bred to produce high concentrations of THCV¹. Leafly, a cannabis media website, reports that some African Landrace Sativa cultivars produce substantial concentrations of THCV. THCV can be isolated from hemp and cannabis in a laboratory and concentrated for use in manufactured products.

THCV vs. THC: What’s The Difference?

Despite being so close in name and chemical composition, THCV behaves in a different manner than THC. THC is famous because of the psychoactive, or “high,” feeling you get after consumption. This effect is achieved by activating the CB1 receptors in your brain. THCV is non-intoxicating and does not produce a “high.” In fact, THCV can actually block the CB1 receptor and has been shown to counteract some of THC’s effects in research using mice².

What are researchers finding? – Potential THCV Benefits

Research into THCV’s possible benefits is still in its infancy, but momentum appears to be building. Let’s take a look at some of the research on THCV.

In a double-blind 2016 pilot study, THCV, when combined with CBD, showed potential therapeutic benefits for patients with type-2 diabetes⁷. In small doses, scientists have found that THCV may prevent some of the effects of Delta-9 THC, such as THC-induced hypothermia².

Here is a list of other research that has been done into the potential effects of THCV:

weight loss/decrease in body fat¹
appetite suppression/regulation^2,4
anticonvulsant^1,3
hyperalgesia suppressant^1,2
anti-inflammatory^1,2,6
acne¹
anti-addiction effects^2,5
antiemetic²

Since most of this research has been done either in vitro or in animal models, we will have to wait to see what the implications are for humans. So far the research has been promising and it looks like we will be hearing more about THCV in the coming years.