CBD Glossary

We know the CBD market can be tricky to navigate at first, that’s why we created this CBD Glossary. If you are unsure of the meaning of any terms or words you have read when learning about CBD or searching for products then this is the place for you.. To read a definition for each of the words below simply expand it by clicking on the arrow on the left.

Anandamide is one of two known endocannabinoids that occurs naturally in the brain and certain foods and acts as a messenger molecule, playing a modulatory role in appetite, depression, memory, and fertility.

Bioavailability refers to the effectiveness of a specific route of administration. It measures how fast and what percentage of the product which is absorbed into the bloodstream for use by the body.

A species of plant in the Cannabis genus. Cannabis Sativa L refers to both agricultural hemp and marijuana.

CBD is a non-impairing phytocannabinoid that is found within the cannabis plant that has been shown to have therapeutic benefits on human and animal health.

A class of diverse chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. These cannabinoids interact with the cannabinoid receptors found throughout the body and brain in a system called the endocannabinoid system.

Cannabinoid receptors are found on the surface of cells within the body. They are part of the endocannabinoid system and are found in two types throughout the body and brain (CB1 and CB2). The CB1 receptor is primarily found in the spine and brain while CB2 receptors are found abundantly in the peripheral nervous system.

CBDa is an acidic cannabinoid. It is also the naturally occurring raw form/precursor of CBD that is produced directly in the cannabis plant.

An isolate of the single CBD molecule which has undergone processing to extract and remove other cannabinoids, terpenoids and other all other matter leaving nothing but crystalline (often 99%+ pure) powdered CBD.

CBC or Cannabichromene is another phytocannabinoid found in cannabis that has little to no intoxicating effects. Like many of it’s courterparts, CBC is also being investigated currently for its potential therapeutic value.

Cannabigerol or CBG is the non-acidic form of cannabigerolic acid (CBGa), the parent molecule from which other cannabinoids such as CBD and THC are synthesized. CBGa is often referred to as the “stem cell cannabinoid.” It is found in minor quantities in the cannabis plant.

Cannabinol is another phytocannabinoid that is found in cannabis. It is produced when THC is metabolized and provides mild psychoactive effects.

The process where naturally occurring acid-form cannabinoids (eg: CBDa) are heated to remove a carboxyl group to become CBD. This process is achieved by heating cannabinoids at temperatures of 100 degrees celcius. This form of ‘decarbing’ is used to activate cannabinoids so they may bind to the cannabinoid receptors in the ECS.

Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids similar to phytocannabinoids CBD, THC, etc which are produced naturally in the body. These chemical messengers, for example Anandamide and 2-AG, activate and interact with cannabinoid receptors throughout the bodies’ endocannabinoid system.

This is the idea that cannabinoid, terpenoid and flavonoid compounds work together synergistically making them more efficacious than isolate compounds alone. In other words, whole plant extracts are more effective than broad spectrum or isolate formulations.

Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that occur naturally in the Cannabis plant. ‘Phyto’ as a prefix means derived from plants. There are around 110 known phytocannabinoids within the Cannabis Sativa L plant for example CBD, THC, CBG, etc.

There are a number of ways of extracting the active compounds from cannabis. One of the cleanest options is by supercritical co2 extraction. This is achieved by pressurising gas into a super-critical state where it is both liquid and gas and using it to extract oils from plants without the use of solvents.

 
Terpenes are a large and diverse class of strong smelling organic compounds produced by a variety of insects and plants. In cannabis they are responsible for the smell and taste. Some of the most common terpenes include Myrcene, Limonene and Pinene.

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