Why it matters: A new CBD-like compound has been found in a plant species native to Brazil and other South American countries that could expand the use of CBD for medicinal purposes without legal barriers. This plant could eliminate the problem of extracting CBD from hemp, which is difficult due to THC restrictions and the risk of hot hemp.
What they are saying: Researchers associated with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have identified that Trema micrantha, a species of plant from the hemp and hops family, is a legal alternative to using cannabis and could be a simpler and cheaper source of cannabidiol. Although chemical analysis didn’t show any THC-like compounds in Trema micrantha, the plant could show promise for CBD production and therefore could be a game-changer in the CBD market.
The big picture: Considering the explosion of the CBD market, this new avenue is worth exploring as the global CBD market was valued at $4.9 billion USD in 2021 and is projected to reach a value of $47.22 billion USD by 2028 at a CAGR of 21.20% over the forecast period. The discovery of CBD-like compounds in several other plant species beyond cannabis shows that this compound is not entirely unique to one species.
What to watch: Neto’s team recently won a 500,000 real ($104,000 USD) grant from the Brazilian government to fund research into the best methods to extract CBD from the plant and analyze its effectiveness in patients with conditions currently treated with medical cannabis. The results have not been published yet, but researchers will undoubtedly give more insights into this new discovery.
My take: The discovery of a new source of CBD is promising news for many in the CBD industry. This new source is worth exploring as it may expand our understanding of CBD market trends and improve the accessibility of CBD products to the many people who use it for medicinal purposes. Given the huge potential for the CBD market to grow, this discovery is encouraging.
