CBD: The new raising market
Cannabidiol is taking Europe by storm.
This new and exciting industry provides plenty of opportunities for a lucrative business, although it does come with its own set of challenges.
Complying with country-specific rules and regulations can be difficult. Due to the legal complexity, it is crucial for every CBD business to cooperate exclusively with trusted and tested solutions and providers.
Pont, a leading European packaging company, has years of experience in providing packaging for demanding and highly regulated sectors, such as Food & Beverage, Chemicals, Vitamin & Sport Nutrition, OTC & Pharma, and more.
Our vast in-house expertise and commitment to quality and sustainability make our packaging solutions the obvious choice for any European CBD business that puts the quality of their product and the wellbeing of their customers as their top priorities.
Understanding CBD and THC
CBD and THC are the two main cannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa plant.
To understand the function of cannabinoids, one needs to learn the basics of the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a system of receptors spread throughout the human body. It is responsible for managing multiple vital processes, such as appetite, pain, mood, and memory.
Our bodies produce endocannabinoids that bind to the receptors of our endocannabinoid system, influencing the processes mentioned above.
Cannabinoids, such as CBD and THC, are chemical compounds that can interact with the endocannabinoid system in the same way as endocannabinoids do. As a result, the appropriate use of cannabinoids allows us to influence the endocannabinoid system and processes it is responsible for.
It is important to note that while both THC and CBD interact with our endocannabinoid system in a similar way, each of them affects the human body very differently.
What Is CBD?
CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is vastly used and easily accessible throughout Europe.
Due to its potential health benefits and no psychoactive effects associated with its use, CBD is a popular choice for health-conscious consumers and can be found in many European homes.
Most of the CBD available on the European market is extracted from Hemp. Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis Sativa plant known for its low levels of THC. While the exact level of THC allowed in Hemp grown in Europe differs from country to country, they usually range between 0.2% and 0.3%.
While more research needs to be done to understand the full potential of CBD, we already know it could provide excellent support for people dealing with the stress and pressure of modern life.
CBD is also increasingly popular among people who struggle with sleeplessness, anxiety, nausea, and pain. Early research suggests that its anti-inflammatory properties can benefit people with autoimmune diseases and various skin conditions, such as acne, rosacea, or psoriasis.
While CBD has a multitude of beneficial properties, it is highly susceptible to external conditions. The mishandling of any products containing CBD can result in an irreversible loss of the cannabinoid’s healing properties. Therefore it is crucial to handle it with care from the very early stages of production.
What Is THC?
THC, short for Tetrahydrocannabinol, is known for its psychoactive properties. When exposed to THC, the human body responds by experiencing a highly euphoric and relaxed state.
Early research suggests THC can have vast medical benefits. Patients of any age dealing with multiple sclerosis, tourette’s syndrome, epilepsy, certain kinds of cancer, eating disorders, and side effects of chemotherapy, can be prescribed medical cannabis containing high levels of THC. While more research needs to be done to fully understand the impact of THC on the human body and its ability to combat serious diseases, the current findings are very promising.
It is important to note that, due to its psychoactive effects, access to high THC cannabis for non-medical purposes in Europe is very limited. While many European countries allow its use for medical purposes, obtaining rights to the production and distribution of cannabis with high THC levels requires special permissions or licenses that are very difficult to acquire.
What Are the Different Ways of Taking CBD?
Due to the vast number of uses and potential health benefits, customers can choose between several various ways of taking CBD.
Depending on personal preferences, as well as the desired effects, users can take CBD through:
● Inhalation
● Oral Consumption
● Topicals
Inhalation
Inhalation is a very popular form of taking CBD, primarily due to the short amount of time needed to feel desired effects. When inhaled, CBD reaches the bloodstream very quickly, making the user feel the effects nearly instantly.
CBD can be inhaled in two ways – through smoking and vaping.
Those who prefer smoking CBD will need access to CBD hemp flowers. It is important to remember that many European countries have strict laws and regulations regarding CBD hemp flowers, and the product is not freely available everywhere.
Those who do not enjoy smoking can inhale CBD through vaping. Users can choose from a wide selection of vape pens, which can then be used to vape CBD through CBD cartridges. The CBD cartridges, designed specifically to be used with vape pens, are filled with CBD vape juice. The vape juice, often referred to as E-liquid, is a mix of CBD extract and a carrier liquid. The vape pen works by heating the liquid in the CBD cartridges, which evaporates and can then be inhaled by the user.
Strict packaging laws and regulations are in place to ensure the safety of CBD E-liquid users. Pont has a range of different types of CBD cartridges to choose from, making it easy to find the right solution for your business.
Oral Consumption
Another popular way of taking CBD is through oral consumption. Those who want to take CBD without having to smoke or vape it can do so by trying out edibles or tinctures.
Edibles, such as CBD gummies or CBD chocolate, as well as CBD drinks (often referred to as drinkables), are a trendy choice for novice users. They are simple to consume and do not require any additional tools for correct administration. They do nevertheless need to comply with local laws and regulations, be safe to consume, and be packaged accordingly.
Since human bodies require time to digest CBD present in edibles and drinkables, users can not expect to feel the results of CBD-infused food and drink immediately after consumption.
For users who prefer to consume CBD orally and are looking to experience the effects quickly, CBD in the form of tinctures might be a better choice.
Tinctures allow a nearly instantaneous effect comparable to the one achieved through inhalation.
CBD tinctures include CBD extract combined with a carrier oil, such as hemp, coconut, or grapeseed oil. Carrier oil is a necessary ingredient of any CBD tincture. It assures that our bodies are able to absorb CBD.
The most efficient way of taking CBD tinctures is through sublingual administration.
Sublingual administration requires the user to place a specific amount of drops (usually 1 or 2) directly under the tongue.
When drops are not placed directly under the tongue, two issues arise.
First of all, the flavour of the CBD tincture becomes much more pungent. Since many people dislike the earthy flavour present in most CBD oils and drops, a stronger taste can become a problem. As most taste buds are located on the tongue’s surface, placing CBD tinctures under the tongue reduces the taste buds’ exposure to the tincture and provides a more pleasant experience.
Additionally, sublingual application allows for faster and better absorption of CBD. Placing the tincture under the tongue allows quick access to the bloodstream. When placed on the tongue and swallowed, most of the tincture will be absorbed in the digestive tract, resulting in delayed and decreased effects.
The application of CBD tincture can be somewhat awkward if the dropper bottle is not designed specifically for sublingual use.
As a result, packaging will have a tremendous impact on the user experience. The producer has to ensure ease of use in order for the users to be able to enjoy all of the benefits of their CBD tincture.
Topicals
It is also possible to use CBD externally through topicals.
CBD topicals are available in various forms, such as creams, oils, gels, and thermal patches.
They require strategic application directly on the targeted body parts.
There are multiple CBD personal care products available on the market for people looking for new and effective ways of keeping their skin healthy and moisturised.
Early research shows great promise in CBD and its anti-inflammatory and soothing effects on problematic skin. People dealing with rosacea, acne, or psoriasis are reaching for CBD products to improve their conditions, often with success.
Many athletes use CBD creams and gels in order to relieve muscle stiffness, a common symptom of over-exercising.
Transdermal patches are a relatively new way of using CBD. They are a common choice for people who struggle with pain related to inflammation, such as joint pain caused by arthritis.
CBD topicals work in a limited way. The effects of CBD applied through body creams and oils, gels, or thermal patches can only be felt in the area of application. This is different from inhalation or oral consumption, where the effects can be felt throughout the entire body.
Each of the CBD products discussed above requires a different approach in regards to appropriate and safe packaging. Fortunately, we can provide you with all the advice and information you need to select the best packaging for your CBD products.