Homogenization refers to the process by which a substance made up of two or more parts is evenly distributed in order to maintain consistency throughout the substance. For example, when instant coffee is mixed into hot water to make a cup of coffee, that cup of coffee is a homogenized substance. 

In the case of cannabis (hemp) and cannabis (hemp) products, such as our Abundant Labs Energy Tincture, the process of homogenization involves evenly distributing the cannabinoids throughout the solvent (be it oil, concentrate, solid or liquid edible, etc…). This is done so that the THC or CBD potency is the same throughout the product, should it ever be divided. (hemp)

Why Is Homogenization Important?

Homogenization is an important part of the process when creating any product composed of more than one component. We wouldn’t want a cup of coffee that’s all water for ten sips followed by dirty water with the most bitter bits of coffee grinds in the last sip. The same can be said for household cleaning products, we need our kitchen cleaner to have the same level of concentration and effectiveness from top to bottom so that it cleans our kitchen just the same whether it’s the first spray or the fiftieth. 

Importance Of Homogenization In The Cannabis (Hemp) Industry

Similar to how we need homogenization in the manufacture of standard commercial products and general food items, we need it in the cannabis (hemp) industry as well. 

Homogenization is important for customer safety and satisfaction, as avoiding the process of homogenization while creating cannabis (hemp) products could result in your products being unequal in potency. Cannabinoids are often clumped together, which means one customer could receive a product with no cannabis (hemp) compounds, while another could receive a product with a cannabis (hemp) concentrate that is much too high. The first customer would likely be extremely dissatisfied, possibly turning to a competitor for future purchases and the latter could be at risk of overconsumption resulting in paranoia or psychosis. 

Another factor that makes homogenization so vital in the cannabis (hemp) industry is compliance. The potency and dosage of cannabis (hemp) products have to be consistent, reliable, and controlled in order to comply with local laws and regulations surrounding cannabis (hemp) products. In order for lab technicians to accurately test cannabis (hemp) consumable products, there needs to be consistency in the dispersion of the particles. This allows lab technicians to accurately verify the potency of cannabinoids and terpenoids in the product. In order for the cannabis (hemp) consumables industry to be legitimate and legal, the products within it have to follow these standards. 

Benefits Of Homogenization

On top of homogenization being essential in the cannabis (hemp) consumables industry, it also has benefits such as better appearance or even taste. It increases the bioavailability of cannabis (hemp) in the product as smaller particles allow for easier absorption of the active ingredient. This means there doesn’t need to be as much of the active ingredient in the product for it to have the desired potency, as well as meaning that the consumer may feel the effects faster. The process is also effective in ensuring the product particles cannot separate, allowing for a longer product shelf life. 

Homogenization in the cannabis (hemp) industry allows for total control of the active ingredient in cannabis (hemp) consumables and provides safety and consistency in the potency of products. Furthermore, it allows cannabis (hemp) consumables to be tested in a lab, making it easier for lab technicians to give the product the go-ahead for public consumption. Homogenization is an essential part of the legal cannabis (hemp) production process, good thing Abundant Labs knows this and utilizes their knowledge of homogenization to curate safe, reliable cannabis (hemp) products for you. 

Luckily for cannabinoid users, the process of CBD extraction is far more complicated than usage. The process begins with high-quality hemp and ends with a distillate that can enter the bloodstream without the need for smoke or inhalation as an interlocutor.

For medical patients, those seeking discreet usage, or users who rely on consistent dosage, having alternate forms of cannabis intake becomes a critical part of their self-medication strategy. One innovation that has allowed these users to target pain on an as-needed basis quickly has been topicals—a cannabis product that is as simple to use as it sounds.

Topicals CBD products are simply skincare products (like lotions or balms) that can be rubbed into the skin for cannabinoid uptake. Depending on the terpene concentrations and overall potency, the effect may be amplified or diminished. This gives the consumer a greater level of choice and flexibility in understanding and anticipating the effect.

For instance, a CBD distillate with a high level of pain-relieving terpenes might offer a different kind of effect than one with anti-inflammatory or anxiety-reducing effects.

Today’s blog will examine how these products work and how topical cannabinoids might fit into your next wellness routine.

How Do Cannabinoid Topicals Work?

Topical cannabinoids work the same way other cannabinoids do—reaching and stimulating the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our bodies, known collectively as the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system is a complicated physiological system that connects the brain to the body and is made up of receptors (CB1 and CB2) present all over the body. When cannabinoids from cannabis are breathed in, swallowed, or in this case, applied to the skin, they bind to these receptors, causing a range of effects depending on which cannabinoids are absorbed.

Both types of receptors can be found in epidermal cells and sensory neurons of the skin. Cannabinoids bind to receptors in these cells when a cannabis topical is given, generating localized effects such as pain alleviation and anti-inflammatory reactions. The specific impact of a topical, including the cannabis concentration, is, of course, determined by the contents—CBD is more of a body high, while THC stimulates the mind.

By mixing soluble cannabinoid distillates with skin-safe formulations, you can experience skin-saving benefits while also introducing reliable doses of cannabinoids directly to affected areas.

When Can A Cannabinoid Topical Be Used?

Topical cannabinoids excel whenever the pain is localized to a specific region. Since CB receptors are located in the epidermis, the uptake is rapid, reliable, and easy to control in the affected area. If more relief is needed, topicals can be reapplied as needed.

Compared to the inhalation method, topicals can be more reliable. Localized application is more acute in scope than taking it in orally and allowing the effects to disperse over the entirety of the body.

To fully understand the effects of the cannabinoids you will be taking, it is critical to choose CBD distillates that are comprehensive in their processing and transparent in their potency. If you decide to apply a blended THC/CBD distillate, you will experience different effects than if you were to use a distillation comprised of solely CBD.

Full-distillate CBD offers additional benefits in terms of terpene concentration and makeup. By choosing a full-distillation CBD isolate, you are ensuring the integrity of the complex cannabinoid makeup, along with all of the benefits that terpenes provide.

Visit our retail store online to explore our lineup of topicals, tinctures, and balms.

Abundant Labs is dedicated to elevating and preserving great hemp through thoughtful distillation and world-class chemical engineering. Visit us online to learn more about our process, or contact us directly with any questions about our lineup of distilled cannabis products.

Cannabis (commonly known as marijuana) has been used in medical procedures for decades, but is only now coming under more comprehensive legal umbrellas.

Many jurisdictions within the United States and other parts of the world are authorizing the use of marijuana products for medical purposes. Consider how in 2018, a CBD oil for seizures called Epidiolex was approved by the FDA (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to treat specific epilepsy symptoms. This CBD was extracted from hemp using the same technologies utilized at Abundant Labs, resulting in a safe, clean distillate that offers relief for many conditions.

In this blog, we will explore this growing area of research with a particular focus on CBD for seizure prevention. 

The History of CBD 

CBD is a pharmacologically important component of the cannabis plant. It is derived from the cannabis plant and is frequently transformed into oil for consumption. CBD does not cause the ‘high’ that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, does. In Canada, CBD is legal and has been utilized to treat various medical ailments.

It is an exciting prospect that medical marijuana can help reduce and even prevent seizures. This prospect has been an exciting field of study for medical practitioners and enthusiasts of alternative medicines. The Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have conducted an observational study with participant-reported data in partnership with the Realm of Caring Foundation and other institutions to better understand these items’ impact on patients with epilepsy. 

The medicinal use of CBD is not new to medicine—around 2727 B.C. Emperor Sheng Neng of China utilized cannabis-based tea to treat various diseases, including impaired memory, malaria, and even gout.

Cannabis traces have been discovered in several Egyptian mummies, adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting marijuana was a common element of ancient Egyptian culture. Seshat, the goddess of wisdom, sometimes represents a marijuana leaf above her head as one of their gods.

CBD, like all cannabinoids, has an effect on the body by binding to specific receptors in the brain and immune system. The human body also produces cannabinoids. CBD does not appear to bind to receptors directly. Instead, it encourages the body to create more of its cannabinoids to achieve the therapeutic effects of CBD.

It is not surprising that, even millennia later, there is a growing interest in the medicinal use of CBD, especially as a therapy against seizures. It is still unfortunate that just one product has received FDA approval at this time; this is primarily because of the many uncertainties around this new “wonder’, mainly where legality, quality, and safety are concerned. 

CBD and Seizure Prevention

Seizures are brought on by alterations in your brain’s electrical activity. There are many distinct types of attacks, and the following are some of the possible causes:

• Infections in the brain caused by epilepsy
• Deficiencies in electrolytes
• A lack of sleep
• Drug overdose after severe brain damage
• CBD is not euphoric or intoxicating like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Although CBD’s legal position may be uncertain in some states, the research offers significant hope for future breakthroughs, and recent innovations have been taking place in the space. 

Explore our CBD products, and find out more about the latest scientific research in the field by visiting us online or contacting our specialists.

Everyone wants to feel safe when choosing a product. With the growing legalization of adult recreational and medical cannabis/hemp, comprehensive and reliable analytical testing is required to ensure consumer safety. Cannabinoids, terpenes, residual solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes are only some substances in cannabis/hemp that must be heavily tested, but unfortunately, with the lack of cross-state regulations, poorly tested products often slip through.

While most states have enacted personal cannabis/hemp laws, the truth is that not all testing labs are made equal, and consumers wind up having to endure the repercussions when they get the results wrong. These errors are unintentional, but at other times they are overlooked, disregarded, or deliberately recorded wrong because they benefit the product seller. That doesn’t make these laboratories’ acts any less harmful.

Because there is significant profit to be had from unregulated or untested cannabis/hemp products, this can lead to harmful conditions for the consumer. 

THC, CBD, and CBN are the most common cannabinoids tested for potency. CBN is a breakdown product of THC that indicates the degeneration of cannabis/hemp owing to age or poor storage conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection and gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection are the two most used methods for potency analysis (FID). However, when these tests aren’t done correctly, higher potency cannabis/hemp can slip through and cause harmful reactions to those unaware of its strength. 

Additionally, solvents such as butane, propane, isopropanol, or acetone are frequently used to extract cannabis/hemp to produce components in oils, edibles, and other products. Because these solvents are hazardous to one’s health, they should not be found in the finalized product. Poor testing can allow these substances to remain and be sold unknowingly, creating a significant health hazard for those ingesting cannabis/hemp merchandise. 

Pesticides and fungicides are unlawful for cannabis/hemp farmers to employ to manage pests and mold, which flourish in the warm, wet indoor conditions needed to grow cannabis/hemp unless the manufacturer’s label specifies otherwise. There are currently no insecticides on the market that include cannabis/hemp on the title, leaving some producers in a difficult predicament. They may choose to disobey the law and employ prohibited substances to salvage their harvest. If a lab refuses to test for this or falsifies the information, the consumer may be unknowingly swallowing harmful substances along with their cannabis/hemp.

Labs should also test cannabis/hemp for microorganisms like mold, mildew, bacteria, and yeast that can contaminate cannabis/hemp plants during growth or storage. Bacterial pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, and fungal toxins can cause severe sickness, especially in children and vulnerable people who use medical cannabis/hemp. However, since there are so many microorganisms and pathogens to test for, it is often easier and cheaper for labs to only test for the basics, lowering the overall quality of cannabis/hemp testing. 

It’s a terrible but straightforward fact that there’s a nationwide pandemic of low-quality laboratories producing low-quality results that consumers rely on to determine whether or not a product is safe. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. cannabis/hemp is a valuable medicine, and most manufacturers, dispensaries, and testing labs are concerned with its quality. Every honest player in the cannabis/hemp sector must continue to raise the bar on standards for consumers and patients to feel comfortable.

Abundant Labs is proud to work with growers directly to secure unique biomass that serves the needs of CBD users and product developers nationwide. Don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website for more on our practices, techniques, and material acquisition process. We are always looking for inventive plants that produce superior quality distillate.