We all know about CBD and its meteoric rise in popularity. The popularity of products like pure CBD oil can be spotted from the U.S. to Italy to Australia. Major skin care and makeup brands are infusing it into their products. We’re seeing CBD infused foods and beverages popup every day. Some people have even started giving CBD to their pets.
CBD is here and it looks like it’s here to stay. With the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) nearly 30 years ago, a number of different studies have been conducted on the role it plays in our health. We all have an ECS, so it would make sense that the potential exists for CBD tinctures to have meaningful applications.
The research into the ECS system coupled with the legalization of industrial hemp have spurred the growth of the CBD market. The market has grown to the point where farmers growing traditional cash crops have begun to look into industrial hemp as a way to supplement their current crops, or as a replacement for what they’re currently farming.
Expectations of the young industry in the United States got a boost when a decades-old federal ban on growing hemp was lifted in last year’s farm bill. Limited cultivation had already started, after a 2014 federal policy change cracked the door open for some states to begin working with the crop—which can be used for food, fiber and, popularly, the compound cannabidiol, or CBD—on an experimental level. Some forecasts say the nation’s hemp industry, which was estimated at $800 million last year, could skyrocket to $20 billion by 2022. Now, more states are opening up to the crop—at least 41 have created some kind of hemp program—and many are expecting it will infuse fresh vitality into the agricultural sector.
Farmers may not be the snazziest dressers, but they still understand trends. American farmers are seeing the trend of the CBD market and recognize they don’t want to be left behind. Variables out of the farmers' control can either drive up the cost of farming traditional crops or depress the prices of those crops to the point where farmers must either supplement or change direction completely. With the CBD market poised to climb to over $22 million in the near future, it makes sense that farmers are positioning themselves to provide the raw materials that will help drive the market.
The number of medical conditions for which CBD is being researched is consistently growing. Science is trying to determine if there is a real basis for using CBD to combat a number of ailments. These disorders can be extreme and talking to a doctor is always the best decision.
Some people are trying topical creams while others are taking a sublingual CBD oil. No matter what product you choose, remember to look for products that are third-party tested so you know what you’re getting.