Cannabis

Curious About Cannabis CRC Extracts

Published

9 months ago

February 15, 2024

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Cannabis is legal in some form in 40 states and the DEA has been advised to reschedule it. It has become more mainstream as the majority of the population believe it should be legal. Smoking, long the most popular way to consume has given away to vaping and edibles. Like alcohol, there are dozens of way to enjoy it – and one is CRC.

CRC (color remediation column) is a type of cannabis extract that is made using a process called “column chromatography.” It was initially started to remove dark colored substances left over from low-quality extraction, which signaled to the consumer its low grade.

The process makes the extract appear lighter, as lighter color extracts are associated with high quality. The idea was to enhance the visual aesthetic of a cannabis extract so it would sell better.

CRC has started to become a mainstream practice used by legal and illicit manufacturers to enhance the appearance of cannabis extracts. CRC has evolved and is now used to remove pesticides, unpleasant flavors, and other wanted byproducts.

CRC is most commonly used with butane hash oil. The color of low-grade hash oil changes from nearly “black, or dark brown, to light gold, or even white” when it undergoes CRC.

What is CRC extraction?

CRC extraction is a post-extraction process that uses technology to enhance the appearance of cannabis extracts and concentrates.

Column chromatography works by using a column (often a steel cylinder) and packing it with a filtration medium. Common filtration mediums include:

Activated bleaching earth (used to remove colors)
Activated carbon/charcoal (paired with activated silica gel to withdraw chlorophyll)
Activated silica gel (used to remove very dark colors from an extract)
Bentonite clay (used to remove colors and impurities)
Diatomaceous earth (helps to create a fine filtration process)
Magnesol (used to remove colors and impurities)
Sand (used to remove impurities)
T5 clay (remove colors and impurities)

The cannabis concentrate is then pushed through filtering mediums that result in the removal of color-impacting pollutants and other impurities. Pollutants and impurities that can be removed (depending on the filtration medium) include:

Chlorophyll
Carotene
Lipids
Lycopene
Pheophytins
Xanthophyll

One of the downsides of CRC is that it will also strip a concentrate of its terpene content. A way to tell if an extract or concentrate has undergone CRC is the smell. It may smell of chemicals, or may smell excessively fruity or earthy, indicating that it may have had terpene infused to attempt to restore the original flavor profile.

Cannabis Concentrates How To Choose The Right Gear — Photo by eskymaks/Getty Images

Is CRC wax bad for you?

This question is up for debate. A manufacturer who uses CRC will say CRC is safe, while a cannabis consumer advocate might not.

The debate is rooted in the fact that cannabis lab tests that deem if a product is safe for consumption do not currently test for CRC filtration mediums. As a result, a cannabis concentrate can be approved for sale despite containing contaminants from CRC filtration.

Some people believe CRC wax is not safe because:

There is no regulation and testing for filtration mediums in the end product
Long-term studies show that miners who inhaled bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth experienced respiratory damage, so vaping extracts that have trace amounts of bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth could lead to respiratory harm
Bentonite clay can have elevated levels of lead
The inhalation of silica gel can cause respiratory damage
Manufacturers claim filtration materials are safe for use because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deemed them as “safe” but the safety approval only applies to ingested food products that could impact the stomach the approval does not apply to not inhaled products that impact lung tissue
When CRC manufacturers push too much extract through a filtration medium at once, the filtration doesn’t work properly and results in contaminants in the final product
Activated carbon from natural sources can release carcinogenic metabolites such as benzopyrenes
Not switching out activated carbon mediums can result in the activated carbon breaking down and releasing heavy metals when overuse.

5 Amazing Things To Know About CBD Was And Shatter — Photo by Cappi Thompson/Getty Images

In theory, if a manufacturer properly does CRC extraction, the concentrate could come out with fewer contaminants.

If you are concerned about contaminants in your cannabis concentrates, ask your budtender if the product you’re interested in underwent CRC and what filtration mediums were used.

Key takeaways about CRC extracts

CRC, or color remediation column, is a process used in the cannabis industry to remove impurities from extracts and enhance visual aesthetics.
The debate surrounding CRC wax is whether or not it is safe for consumption. At the time of writing this, cannabis labs do not test for residual filtration mediums, so it’s hard to state definitively whether or not CRC-processed extracts are safe.
Long-term exposure to some of the materials used in CRC processing (such as bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth) can be harmful to respiratory health.
If you’re interested in purchasing a CRC extract, you can ask your budtender what filtration methods were used.

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AARP

How Cannabis Can Help With Dysmenorrhea

Published

6 days ago

November 9, 2024

admin

Millions suffer, but relief could be here thanks to science and a simple plant. Here is how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.

It is an uncomfortable topic to discuss, but the painful truth is a majority of women will suffer it at some point and finding relief is invaluable. Around 80% of women experience period pain at some stage in their lifetime. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain or discomfort during menstruation. It is a common gynecologic problem, but the pain can range from dull cramps to indescribable agony. Here is how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.

Medicinal cannabis has emerged as a potential treatment option for dysmenorrhea, offering hope for the tens of millions of women who suffer from menstrual pain. Current medical management options primarily consisting of over-the-counter pain relievers and hormonal contraceptives. The effectiveness of these treatments vary greatly.

The endocannabinoid system plays a role in uterine function and pain perception. Cannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R, as well as TRPV receptors, have been identified in human myometrial tissue. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a primary component of cannabis, can act as a cannabinoid agonist, potentially triggering myometrial relaxation and easing menstrual pain.

The potential benefits of cannabis for dysmenorrhea includes pain relief, improved sleep quality, and reduced reliance on pharmaceutical pain relievers. While research specifically on cannabis for dysmenorrhea is growing, studies on chronic pain provide some insights:

A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials found that synthetic cannabis products with high THC-to-CBD ratios may offer moderate improvement in pain severity.
A meta-analysis of 32 trials showed that medical cannabis or cannabinoids resulted in small to very small improvements in pain relief, physical functioning, and sleep quality among chronic pain patients.

There is significant interest in using cannabis for gynecologic pain management:

A survey found that 61.2% of women who had never used cannabis and 90.0% of those who had were willing to try it for gynecologic pain.
After cannabis legalization in Canada, current cannabis use increased from 13.3% to 21.5% among women with self-reported moderate-to-severe pelvic pain.

With th American Medical Association, American College of Physicians and even AARP recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis, it is critical more research is funded. Millions of women may be in pain needlessly due to untreated dysmenorrhea.

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Cannabinoids

Staying Trim During The Holidays With Marijuana THCV

Published

6 days ago

November 9, 2024

admin

The holidays are fun and full of family, activities, and food. But does marijuana have a natural secret weapon to help you at least not gain weight this season?

The holidays are here – turkeys, pie, and family favorites. Along with Christmas cookies, holiday cocktails, everything adds up and starts to make a difference in how clothes fit. On average, people gain between 1-2 pounds in November and December. Some studies suggest people gain more, with an average of 2–5 pounds. But is marijuana’s THCV your natural holiday weight loss plan. While Ozempic has been the wonder drug of weight loss, cannabis a natural plant used for thousands of years in medicine. Why not use to look good also? Here is some information and also advice on how much to take and how it works.

The most famous cannabinoids are THC or CBD. Legal to over 50% of the country and used by millions across the country. While they are the most commonly used cannabinoids, the cannabis plant contains many other medically beneficial cannabinoids including THCV. Although THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin) is similar to THC, it contains its own unique benefits.

Research points to THCV’s ability to block the body’s rewarding sensations while eating different foods. If you’re looking to keep your food cravings at bay or prevent the munchies, check out strains high in THCV, which will suppress your appetite, especially during the holidays.

It has also been found that THCV in its purest form can calm the unreasonable urge to overeat while also reducing hunger cravings. Thus, consumption of THCV can be beneficial for those who struggle with weight gain and/or food craving. Since THCV can help curb one’s appetite, researchers believe there’s a potential for THCV helping people fight obesity and other related health issues.

It is important to manage the dosage. Start with a low dose of 5-7.5mg of THCV for appetite suppression effects. Options for taking THCV include gummies, tinctures, vapes, or THCV-rich cannabis strains Take THCV in the morning to help with focus and energy. Start on teh weekend so you can make sure it works in a way which is comfortable. Consume it with food to increase absorption.

Gummies and tincture/oils are the easiest ways to consume to manage the dosage. Start with half a gummy or 1 full gummy (typically 10mg) and adjust based on your response. You can increase to 2 gummies per day if needed. For tinctures, start with half a dropper or less and adjust as needed. Take THCV about an hour before you normally start feeling hungry

THCV should be part of a healthy routine including exercise and proper rest. Research on cannabis continues, to using THCV is not a long term solution, consider it for the holidays. As usual, take to your health professional to make sure it doesn’t interact poorly with any prescribed medications. Start low and grow so you can pay attention how your body and mind reacts.

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alcohol

Science Says Cannabis Can Be Making Us Healthier

Published

6 days ago

November 8, 2024

admin

As it it becomes available to more people, there is a positive health change going on according to data.

Cannabis is becoming more mainstream and and the side effects are doing even better than expected. It seems the availability of legal marijuana is helping with the health of the general population. Studies in California, Canada and the now New Zealand have shown the upside of legalization. While cannabis has been used for health benefits for millions of years, reduction in more harmful intoxication products is another important wellness trend.

Alcohol consumption is associated with significant health risks, including liver damage, cardiovascular issues, and certain cancers. In contrast, marijuana has not been linked to the same level of severe physical health consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 36,000 annual U.S. deaths are attributed to chronic alcohol use, while there is no comparable category for marijuana-related deaths. Alcohol is also much more addictive than marijuana, causing long term physical and mental issues.

A study from New Zealand has found some interesting trends regarding the relationship between marijuana legalization and the consumption of alcohol and opioids.

heart cannabis — Photo by megaflopp/Getty Images

Following the legalization of marijuana in New Zealand, researchers observed a notable decline in alcohol consumption:

There was a 6-9% decrease in the frequency of binge drinking among adults aged 21 and older.
The study found no significant impact on underage drinking rates among those aged 12-20.

This suggests for adults, marijuana may be serving as a substitute for alcohol in some cases, particularly when it comes to heavy drinking episodes.

The relationship between marijuana legalization and opioid use appears more complex:

There was no clear evidence of marijuana legalization directly reducing opioid use or abuse.
However, some research indicates that people who use cannabis are more likely to initiate opioid use, with an odds ratio of 2.76 compared to non-cannabis users.
The likelihood of transitioning from opioid use to opioid use disorders among cannabis users was found to be 2.52 times higher than non-cannabis users.

The study also revealed some additional findings regarding substance use patterns:

Marijuana use increased by 16% among adults aged 21 and older following legalization.
There was a 5-6% increase in marijuana use initiation among adolescents and young adults aged 12-20. This would be go with the greater North American trend of California sober and Gen Z drifting away from alcohol and more into marijuana.
No significant changes were observed in the use of hard drugs like cocaine or heroin in any age group.

These findings suggest while marijuana legalization may lead to decreased alcohol consumption among adults, it does not necessarily translate to reduced use of other substances, particularly opioids. The relationship between cannabis use and other substance use behaviors is complex and multifaceted. Time and more research should yield more benefits.

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