No single compound expanded its market in 2019 quite like CBD did. This cannabinoid owns the year’s bragging rights for new-product diversity, after finding its way into water, lattes, jellybeans, hummus, cosmetics and even doggie treats.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of dozens of biologically active ingredients called cannabinoids created by Cannabis sativa plants. CBD only recently earned the most-popular-cannabinoid title — for decades, the crown more likely belonged to THC, the euphoria-inducing compound in marijuana. But not all C. sativa plants contain much THC: Those that do are considered marijuana, while those that don’t are called hemp. Now, the Farm Bill of 2018 has made growing hemp as mainstream as farming corn and soybeans, as long as derivative products contain no more than 0.3 percent THC. The bill also spells out federal regulations on cultivating and producing hemp. And more hemp means more CBD.
Currently, the only FDA-approved CBD-based drug is Epidiolex, which treats seizures from rare types of epilepsy. A study published in May found that synthetic versions of CBD may also work on seizures, based on preliminary studies in rats. What’s more, researchers announced in June that CBD might even work as an antibiotic.
