CBD Oil and How It Became One of The Fastest Growing Industries Today

FX Empire’s Thomas Hughes sat down for an exclusive interview with Leafreport’s DR. Zora DeGrandpre, a certified physician in anti-aging medicine and CME Medical marijuana to discuss the latest developments in the world of CBD and her outlook on the industry.

CBD is a high-growth niche market with a potentially very-lucrative future for investors. Because the buzz around CBD and Publicly traded CBD Companies is heating up, we wanted to cut through the hype to find out what our readers need to know.

What other growth opportunities exist in hemp aside from the CBD market?

CBG is an up-and-coming cannabinoid—it may have broader actions than CBD in some respects—it may have more effects on inflammation and appears to be a more potent anti-tumor agent.

There are well over 100 cannabinoids – any single one of them could potentially be a “growth opportunity”.

There’s also the hemp-fiber aspect—that is likely to be huge as a way to replace plastics and to impact climate change. The hemp plant is also pretty nutritious and resistant to climate change—and there are many areas/growth zones where hemp can be successfully grown.

I just learned that my valley in central Washington was a major hemp-growing area during WW2. I am hearing more and more farmers discussing the viability of growing commercial hemp.

Most of the growth opportunities depend on legislative intelligence—not as big a worry in Washington state, but a big concern across certain parts of the US. Even here in Washington state, until CBD helped reduce his son’s pain, one legislator was vehemently opposed to hemp—proving that logic, science and rational thinking does not move people, but personal experience may.

Legislation has to move with the science—I have little belief in legislator’s understanding of science, but more belief in their willingness to dip into the lobbying purse and suddenly become believers.

Cannabis has to be taken off Schedule I…there is no scientific rationale for its placement there, but I doubt whether that is convincing enough…but until it is taken off Schedule I, the science will be lagging and if the science lags, the potential growth opportunities will lag as well. Also—we don’t know where the FDA will come down on OTC CBD products—that can make or break the industry.

How does the future legalization of recreational cannabis fit into your future plans?

I don’t deal much with recreational cannabis, just the medical actions of CBD/THC. I do think that the psychological addictions of recreational cannabis are not well understood but that it is likely to be similar to alcohol addiction—an under-reported and misunderstood risk for those with addictive tendencies.

There is insufficient research in the pre-psychotic effects of cannabis. People tend to think “Its natural, it feels good, so it couldn’t possibly harm me” and that is out-and-out wrong—cyanide is a natural substance too. Digitalis is medically useful within a very narrow therapeutic window—outside that window, it’s a cardiac toxin.

What risks do you see for the hemp/CBD market in the near term? In the long-term?

CBD is being overblown as a “miracle” cure for everything from ingrown toenails to cancer. That will collapse at some point. It works for certain conditions but will likely be a major disappointment for many others.

There is no wonder drug-human physiological networks are complicated way beyond what we currently understand, and it is unlikely that any single substance will be any magic bullet. People want this but it is not likely.

The science has not yet caught up with the anecdotal evidence—when it does, the hype will calm down somewhat.

The story of vaping should be taken seriously—too many “amateurs” with no integrity got into the market—whatever substance(s) is/are adulterating the vape oils and causing respiratory illnesses will likely be identified and legislators will likely swing the regulatory pendulum way off—and the hemp industry will likely be pulled into a legislative episode of “Reefer Madness”.

What new verticals within the CBD industry do you see opening up in the future?

Depends on the research findings—the apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties are among the most potentially useful ones.