Page 36 - HME Business, May/June 2021

2021 HME BUSINESS HANDBOOK
PAIN MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CANNABINOIDS
A S THE public’s acceptance of cannabis products
continue to grow, a growing number of consumers have been looking to CBD (cannabidiol) and hemp products in hopes
of alleviating pain and inflammation, anxiety, and insomnia.
However, “CBD” has become a blanket term for therapeutic hemp products and that CBD is just one of the currently 160+ identified potentially therapeutic cannabi- noids. Other cannabinoids that have been identified with thera- peutic benefits are:
Like CBD, CBN is non- psychoactive, meaning that it does not elicit a “high.” CBN can be used effectively as a sleep aid or sedative. This cannabinoid has also been shown to help regulate the immune system and works to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by several conditions.
CBG works to fight inflamma- tion, pain, nausea and may work to slow the proliferation of cancer cells. Research has shown it also significantly reduces intraocular eye pressure caused by glaucoma.
Delta-8 THC is a federally legal form of THC that naturally occurs in both hemp and marijuana plants. Like other cannabinoids, Delta-8 THC can be synthesized. Users report that Delta-8 THC
is one-half to three-quarters as psychoactive as Delta-9 THC.
By Nick DiFrancesco
As these cannabinoids gain popularity, both the legality and safety of these products should be of utmost impor- tance to the HME provider selling them.
As for legality, it can be confusing.
The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill states that hemp cannabis and cannabinoid products
are federally legal provided that these products contain no more than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC by weight and that these products are 100 percent industrial hemp-derived, not synthesized. Per the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, all hemp-derived cannabinoid products and cannabinoids such as CBD, CBN, CBD, CBG, Delta-8 THC, etc., are federally legal as long
as these products do not exceed 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC by weight.
It is much cheaper and much easier
to produce synthetic molecules such
as CBD, CBN, CBG, and Delta-8 THC. This, in turn, leads to greater profit, and many cannabis companies offer these man-made, less-expensive, and federally illegal products.
Remember, cannabinoids are mole- cules found in plants. In nature, these molecules vary from plant to plant and harvest to harvest. It is much more costly and much less efficient for a manufac- turer to derive these nutrients or canna- binoids from natural plant sources than it is to synthetically manufacture them.
Unlike synthetic nutrients, synthetic cannabinoid products are currently federally illegal as these cannabinoids are not derived from industrial hemp per the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. Reputable cannabis companies providing thera- peutic products are well aware of this regulation and will always offer 100 percent hemp-derived cannabinoids.
This brings us to safety. Hemp
POINTS TO REMEMBER
• CBD has become a catch-all acronym for a variety of therapeutic cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBN and Delta-8 THC.
• The legality and safety of these products should be of utmost importance to the HME provider selling them.
• Reputable manufacturers should fully discloses all ingredients as well as all manufacturing and extraction processes.
cannabis products are commonly avail- able in topical lotions and salves, oral tinctures and gummies, concentrates, or the hemp flower itself via inhalation. With so many delivery systems, it is imperative to ensure a “clean” and safe product.
Ensure the manufacturer fully discloses all ingredients and all manufacturing
and extraction processes. Choose
hemp products from companies that proactively provide independent third party certificates of analysis (COA) from reputable labs that provide the following laboratory analysis:
• Total Cannabinoids. This ensures the final product contains cannabinoid(s) labeled in the amounts they are labeled at. Also, this states that the product does not exceed 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC by weight.
• Pesticides and Herbicides. This states the product does not contain potentially toxic synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and residuals.
• Heavy Metals. States that the product does not exceed acceptable levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury.
• Residual Solvents. The product does not contain potentially toxic residual solvents such as butane or hexane.
• Microbials. The absence of molds, yeasts, and fungus in the product.
Also, providers should always choose reputable cannabis brands that proac- tively provide all certificates of analysis and regulatory certifications. ■
Nick DiFrancesco is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of PūrWell,
which markets exclusively to healthcare providers, physicians, and independent pharmacies. For more information, email info@purwell.com.
• They should also provide inde- pendent third-party certificates of analysis (COA) and a variety of elements providing the product is safe, clean and contains what it should.
LEARN MORE
To read more news and features about pain management, visit hme-business. com/pain. To learn about PūrWell’s formulations for the healthcare marketplace, visit purwell.com.
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