Medical cannabis with high CBD content

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• CBD is the second best-known cannabinoid after THC
• Studies demonstrate its wide-ranging medicinal effects
• Breeders are beginning to focus on developing strains rich in this cannabinoid

For a long time, cannabis connoisseurs judged cannabis mainly by its potency, i.e. the strength of the given strain, usually measured as the percentage of THC it contains. Preferring stronger strains is a habit established mainly by the cannabis black market, where customers and patients simply got used to preferring a stronger product, which consequently lasts them longer and may save them a little money.

Strength as a measure of quality has always been associated with THC content, which further led to the rapid propagation and breeding of strains that are positively loaded with this cannabinoid. Although THC still remains the most popular active cannabinoid, it is only one of roughly 85 discovered so far. 

Thanks to the ever-growing fame of cannabis and its medicinal properties, however, breeders are also beginning to focus on other components of cannabis that show therapeutic potential. One of the first and so far the biggest competitors of THC, on which breeders' efforts are focused today, is CBD.

Why CBD strains?

CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol, the second cannabinoid in terms of content in the plants, right after THC. In terms of its medicinal spectrum, this cannabinoid is among those with the very greatest potential, and it is no wonder that many studies have focused on it recently.

To summarise quickly, it demonstrably helps against inflammation, acts analgesically (against pain) and also has notable antidepressant effects, so in time it could replace some of the pharmaceutical antidepressants prescribed today. Moreover, CBD is capable of all this without the psychoactive effects that some people find undesirable.

Compared with THC, whose average content in today's strains is roughly 20%, a high CBD content is considered to be as little as 4-5%.

Who can CBD strains help?

At first, the main function of CBD was considered to be its ability to act as a counterpart to THC, i.e. to reduce its psychoactive effect, but over time it turned out that CBD is capable of providing much more. There is talk above all of the potential of CBD for patients suffering from Crohn's disease, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or multiple sclerosis. One of the diseases most often associated with CBD treatment is a severe form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome (DS).

DS is a devastating form of epilepsy that affects children. It is notoriously resistant to today's common, recognised forms of treatment. Children suffering from this form of epilepsy are worn down by an enormous number of seizures, which often reach as many as hundreds a day. Moreover, these seizures usually worsen with age and can begin to directly threaten the child's life. Currently, forms of treatment used include, for example, an eye patch, various diets or brain surgery. All of these methods, however, have mixed results.

Ever since the parents of children affected by Dravet syndrome began reporting huge successes with cannabis treatment, CBD has begun to look like the best hope for their recovery. There is no need to be alarmed; this does not mean that children should start smoking cannabis. The best-known story of one such child is still that of Charlotte, a little girl from Colorado who was given a tincture made from the strain known as Charlotte's Web. This strain was bred especially for her, so that it could deliver the desired medicinal effects without affecting Charlotte psychologically in any way. And the result? Within two years, the number of Charlotte's seizures fell from roughly 1,200 a month to a maximum of 3 (!). This story set off a whole wave of further attempts by parents trying to help their children with cannabis.

If you are specifically interested in the use of medical cannabis in the case of epilepsy, read our previous article devoted to this topic - Epilepsy.

Strains rich in CBD

Finally, let us look at the most interesting CBD strains on offer. Let us remember, however, that in the end the content of active substances in the plant may differ from the expected or described content. It depends mainly on the time of harvest, the fertilisers used and the growing conditions.

Stress Killer Auto (Royal Queen Seeds)

Stress Killer is, as the name itself suggests, a perfect natural antidepressant, with which you need not fear adverse side effects as with some pharmaceuticals. The very high-quality seedbank Royal Queen Seeds bred this strain by crossing ruderalis cannabis (autoflower), Juanita la Lagrimosa and Lemon Haze. Juanita la Lagrimosa is a strain famous for its high CBD content (and above all its perfect THC:CBD ratio of 1:1), while Lemon Haze is popular for its high THC concentration. Both varieties are dominant sativas. As a result, the balanced cannabinoid ratio in Stress Killer Auto is literally tailor-made for patients who need to quickly and effectively banish any symptoms of depression while keeping a clear and focused mind.  

CBD Critical Cure (Barney's Farm)

From the seedbank Barney's Farm, which incidentally has won more than 40 cannabis cups, we have the strain CBD Critical Cure. This therapeutically very promising plant is a cross between Critical Kush and a CBD strain bred by Shantibaba himself (co-founder of CBD Crew). The CBD content in this plant is around 8%, while the content of psychoactive THC is lower this time - roughly 5.5%. This rare CBD/THC ratio of 16:11 ultimately acts very synergistically, which increases the therapeutic potential of this strain. 

And what about you, our readers? Do you prefer classic or CBD strains? Share your opinions and experiences with us in the comments section! 

Sources: leafly wikipedia.org edition.cnn

Images: healthyhempoil cdn 420magazine