Cannabis research

Work in progress!

-Cannabinoids and human health

-Cannabis and environmental applications

Acidic versus decarboxylated cannabinoids

• While a cannabis plant is growing, the cannabinoids such as CBD and THC are actually formed as something else first. The plant forms CBDA and THCA, and when heat is applied to the plant material the acidic group is removed (decarboxylated) and CBD and THC are what remains. 

• Acidic cannabinoids have therapeutic potential as pharmaceuticals, just as decarboxylated cannabinoids do (also called neutral cannabinoids). 

  • CBDA acts as a full agonist on 5-HT1A serotonin receptors (Franco et al., 2020)

  • THCA acts as a full agonist on 5-HT1A serotonin receptors, and also acts as a full agonist on PPAR-γ nuclear hormone receptors (Franco et al., 2020). 

Topics to be covered:

• Square planting versus triangle planting for CBD hemp.

• 3-foot between-plant spacing versus 1-foot between-plant spacing.

• Seeds versus clones.

• Diploid versus triploid hemp cultivars. 

• CDA certified industrial hemp seed.

• Nutrients.

• Growing in soil versus organic media in containers. 

• Sunlight levels required. 

• Pest management.

• Indoor versus outdoor growing.

• Greenhouse, high tunnel/poly tunnel growing. 

• Growing hemp for hempseed.

• Growing hemp for fiber. 

• Industrial applications for Cannabis.