We tend to see products and fads come and go faster than ever before, aided by social media influencers and celebrity endorsements. Often, these products have little or no real benefit or use and are quickly pushed aside for the next big thing.
Occasionally, however, something comes along that contradicts the norm, and we find ourselves presented with a product that may have a real benefit. Recent years have revealed that CBD appears to be one of these products.
In this article, we take a look at how CBD has risen in the last few years, why it became so popular, and where it’s headed in the future.
Where Has CBD Come From?
Hemp has been used for medicinal purposes for nearly 5,000 years (the first records of its use date back to 2,900 BC, in ancient China). Cannabidiol (CBD), however, was not discovered until 1940, when Dr Roger Adams’ team isolated the molecule. CBD medicinal properties were elucidated some 40 years later but, by then, Cannabis plants were forbidden, and massive use of CBD was therefore inconceivable.
With time, we were able to isolate CBD from the psychoactive cannabinoids in hemp and its popular use started to gain momentum. In 2010, the UK approved the first prescription cannabis medicine (Sativex®) and in 2019 the European Medicines Agency approved the first CBD-based medicine (Epidyolex®).
The combination of the depenalisation of hemp and CBD with the scientific efforts invested in better understanding hemp derivates benefits have boosted the popularity of CBD across the world.
Hemp is the Ideal Crop
Farmers quickly realised that hemp is a great crop to cultivate compared to others like corn and cotton. Hemp plants are resilient, fast-growing and require less water, fertiliser, pesticides, and herbicides.
It became easy for farmers to meet the rising demand for hemp extract to use in the production of CBD products.
Why Has CBD Become So Popular?
With a regular supply of quality hemp, the CBD industry could go about creating, testing and marketing a variety of products, which were met with a definite interest from the public.
This demand, combined with compelling scientific research on the benefits of pharmaceutical-grade CBD, led to a sharp increase in the popularity of the product. Spurred on by a significant number of testimonials from both the general public and sporting names, CBD has quickly become a universal product.
Why is CBD Not Just Another Trend?
In today’s terms, a trend is something that isn’t expected to last and will be popular for a short amount of time, followed by a sudden, and often careless, drop off of the radar.
While CBD is undoubtedly spending some time in the limelight, many are not characterising it as a fashion or trend. The amount of scientific research going into hemp derivates and the gradually increasing regulations on CBD is securing a place for CBD and other cannabinoid-based products in the shelves of pharmacies, health shops and beauty salons.
CBD is Different
The ongoing research of the benefits of CBD products, along with its continued endorsement by thousands of users, appears to have solidified its place in today’s mainstream, with no sign of it dropping out.
Besides, its reputation has only been strengthened by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s decision to remove CBD from its list of prohibited substances for two years running.
Where Can I Buy CBD?
Unfortunately, as is often the case, with the rise in popularity of a product comes a plethora of companies offering the same thing in varying quality.
CBD is available to purchase legally in the UK both in shops and online; however, buyers should proceed with caution. Some companies offer CBD products with little or no active ingredient, which results in minimal, if any, perceivable benefit.
Furthermore, there are even more out there who offer a poor-quality product consisting of CBD isolates, which only provide partial support.
Always Look for a Full-Spectrum Product
The most effective CBD products are what are known as full-spectrum. Full-spectrum (or whole plant) extracts contain not only CBD but also other cannabinoids (like CBDA), terpenes and flavonoids.
All these natural chemicals work together to achieve a better result in what is known as “the entourage effect”. Furthermore, companies who are confident with the quality and strength of their products will happily share with their customers the results of independent laboratory tests to prove their authenticity.
The most important thing to remember is to research a company before purchasing CBD from them properly.
Summary
While there is no doubt that CBD is having a moment, the industry, scientists, and regulators behind it do not show signs of plateauing, which suggest that it is here to stay. In the future, we are looking forward to the results of in-depth, further research on the effects of CBD and its interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system.
For more information on CBD oil and other products, please feel free to explore the ElleVance Sciences website. As the providers of maximum strength full-spectrum CBD products, we are happy to share with our customer’s further details and lab reports; please contact us at customersupport@ellevancesciences.co.uk.
