FAQs
What is hemp?
Hemp is an incredibly versatile plant that has been utilized by humans as far back as 8,000 B.C., and was legalized in all 50 states with the passage of the Farm Bill in late 2018. It is part of the Cannabis family, but is not to be confused with its cousin, marijuana. The main difference between hemp and marijuana is the chemical makeup. Marijuana’s composition is dominated by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is what makes you “high.” Hemp is very low in THC, and is dominated by cannabidiol (CBD) which has no psychoactive properties, and is actually known to counteract the cognitive effects of THC.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol, and it is one of many related active compounds known as cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. The human body actually produces its own cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), which are molecules that interact with the body’s central regulatory system. This system is known to manage bodily processes such as pain, anxiety, mood, memory, sleep, and immune system functions. Studies suggest that CBD from hemp plays a role in the endocannabinoid system. Other beneficial cannabinoids besides CBD that are found in hemp include CBN, CBG, and CBC, and we are currently working to isolate and better understand these compounds and their synergistic health effects.
How does CBD work?
There are two classes of cannabinoid receptors found in human cells. CB1 receptors are found mainly in the brain and nervous system, as well as in the lungs, liver and kidneys. CB2 receptors are mainly in the immune system, concentrated most heavily in the spleen and gastrointestinal system. This network of cell receptors throughout the body is known as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Chemical compounds of the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids) are able to interact or bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors because they are structurally analogous to the endocannabinoids our own bodies produce. Through a complex series of pathways, they alter the release of chemicals in the brain, which in turn, produce a wide array of effects throughout our bodies.
Are your products safe?
Yes, we can confidently say that our products are safe. How do we know? We control every aspect of our products, from seed to sale. We grow our hemp using organic methods and harvest it by hand. The cannabinoids are extracted from the hemp plants in our own lab, ensuring the efficacy of our premium products. All products are formulated in-house, and shipped to you directly. We know the source of our CBD, and think it is important that you do too. To verify our processes, we work closely with reputable independent labs, and link these test results to each and every product we make with a QR code. If you have any questions about our processes, send us a message and let’s talk!
What do you do to focus on quality?
It starts with the seeds we select and extends to our organic farming practices, and the delicate care of our flower. We only use feminized flower for extraction, and remove all stems by hand. We use a proprietary quick wash ethanol extraction technique that is adjustable for our intended product, and leads to a “Gold Run” of pure goodness for our consumables. There is minimal chlorophyll extracted, and all lipids and waxes are removed.
Due to the heavy marketing of CO2 extraction, there is a common misconception that ethanol is not natural or “clean”. In truth, ethanol extraction is a very high-quality and natural technique, as ethanol can be made with plants. It is a very unique compound in that it has both polar and nonpolar qualities, and is a great resource for extracting cannabinoids from hemp. Our final extraction step removes the ethanol from our CBD oil to undetectable levels. All of this leads to the extraction of the highest array of cannabinoids and terpenes, creating superior medicinal effects and the best tasting products in the market. We use a slightly different process to extract oil for topicals, in order to leave some natural waxes in the oil. We also target hemp strains for use in specific products. Our extensive R&D with extraction and formulation methods sets us apart. We spent a year testing techniques, ratios, and multiple other variables in order to land on our base product set. We continue to experiment, and are having discussions with other farmers (think Hawaii and Australia) about partnerships incorporating medicinal plants from their regions into our products. We will launch a black label for the products that result from these exciting collaborations.
We produce, bottle, and package all of our products under a commercial kitchen license, so you know that care is taken to close the loop to your home.
We hope you enjoy our products as much as we like making them!
What's the right dose of CBD for me?
The ideal serving size varies based on factors such as height, weight, and the specific concern you are addressing.
For example, to help alleviate anxiety, a smaller dose of our full-spectrum CBD oil can prove effective – a 1/2 dropper of 500mg tincture might do the trick.
But for deep pain or chronic conditions, you’ll want to go for a heavier strength, like 1500mg.
Begin with a serving of 10 mg taken orally (swallowed or placed under the tongue for 60 seconds), 1-3 times a day.
Each drop in our 500 mg tincture contains approximately 1 mg CBD.
1000 mg tincture – 2 mg per drop
1500 mg tincture – 3 mg per drop
What makes Boulder Medicinals unique?
We’re the only 100% U.S.D.A. certified organic hemp farm in Boulder, Colorado that also offers THC remediation services in our laboratory. So while we offer a complete line of premium full-spectrum CBD products that include >0.3% THC, we can also offer this unique THC remediation service to the CBD community. Another unique quality of Boulder Medicinals is that we’re a true seed-to-sale company. All of our products are crafted by hand to ensure an optimal experience for our customers.
What is Boulder Medicinals shipping policy?
Orders are shipped via USPS priority mail with tracking provided. Please allow 5-7 business days for delivery. Also, please allow 24-48 hours for tracking information to update. Orders over $100 qualify for free shipping.
What are Boulder Medicinals' return and exchange policies?
We love our products and will stand behind them 100%. If any of our products do not meet your expectations please send it back within the first 15 days of delivery and we will be happy to exchange it for another product or issue a full refund. In order to receive a refund on your product, send us an email on our contact page within the fIrst 15 days of delivery and we will respond with instructions.
The Entourage Effect of CBD and THC
There is a basic theory in cannabis pharmacology, known as the entourage effect, which posits that cannabidiol (CBD) has greater benefits when used in conjunction with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This effect is enhanced when smaller organic compounds such as terpenes and flavonoids, which provide flavor, aroma, and a variety of therapeutic benefits, are introduced. When combined, the ratio of CBD to THC plays a vital role in determining the overall efficacy of a product for a specific ailment.
CBD and THC are what’s known as cannabinoids, and they are just two of the approximately 100 to 140 found in the cannabis plant. Each cannabinoid has its own qualities — traditionally, THC has been the primary cannabinoid of choice for consumers and researchers alike, as it contains psychoactive properties that create a high. CBD, by contrast, is technically psychoactive based on its ability to change brain function and behavior, but it is non-intoxicating.
Research into THC began in 1964 when a scientist named Raphael Mechoulam isolated and synthesized it. THC has been the focus of cannabis research ever since, even though CBD had been discovered a year earlier in 1963.
When pure, synthetic THC became available in the 1980’s in the form of the drug Marinol, scientists expected it to work just as well as the natural cannabis plant. However, patients reported greater therapeutic benefit from natural cannabis, i.e. “flower”, which includes all of the compounds and chemicals of the cannabis plant. This implies greater benefit from cannabinoids used in conjunction with one another versus administration of THC in isolation.
How Does CBD Affect the Body?
The human body is regulated by the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which keeps our body in homeostasis, or balance. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD act upon our ECS to produce specific effects.
In recent years, CBD has emerged as a particularly valuable cannabinoid due to its ability to relieve a variety of ailments, from anxiety to nausea to muscle pain. Because of encouraging research and the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill which legalized large-scale hemp cultivation, the CBD marketplace has grown exponentially.
However, not all CBD products are created equal. The entourage effect is the underlying difference between the 3 main classifications of CBD products. CBD products that contain THC are “full-spectrum” whereas CBD products that do not contain THC, but include other compounds found in the cannabis plant, are “broad-spectrum”. The third classification is called isolate, and it is just that – the CBD cannabinoid alone, isolated from any other compound found in cannabis.
Broad-Spectrum CBD
Contains a variety of cannabinoids, excluding THC.
Full-Spectrum CBD
Contains all of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, including up to 0.3% THC, the amount allowed by law in the U.S.
At Boulder Medicinals, we believe in the entourage effect and we use only premium “full-spectrum” CBD oil in our products.
CBD Isolate
Contains only the CBD molecule and no other cannabinoid.
Beyond anecdotal evidence, a variety of studies have been performed to measure the efficacy of the entourage effect. In a 2011 study, the British Journal of Pharmacology found that taking terpenes and cannabinoids together may be beneficial for:
- pain
- anxiety
- inflammation
- epilepsy
- cancer
- fungal infection
CBD may also help modulate the undesirable effects of THC, such as anxiety, hunger and drowsiness. In many ways, CBD helps the body stay balanced and can even help reduce harm caused by long term cannabis use:
In 2018, a research study based on a 10-week trial of oral CBD treatment (200 mg) showed an increase in the volume of discrete hippocampal regions of heavy cannabis users. Overall, these studies point to a protective effect of CBD on cognitive regions of the brain during cannabis use in humans.
The same study also found that CBD, co-administered with THC, increased visual learning, procedural learning, and memory
Terpenes and the Entourage Effect
Terpenes and terpenoids provide aroma and taste to cannabis — they are volatile aromatic molecules, most readily identified as the frosted white hairs on cannabis flower. Terpenes, similar to CBD, provide a “shield” against some of the deleterious psychoactive effects of cannabis.
Terpenes also form the basis of aromatherapy. If you’ve walked through a candle aisle, you’ve experienced terpenes in essential oils. It is these terpenes that give cannabis strains their own distinctive smell and flavor profile. Over 200 terpenes have been discovered in the cannabis plant. Industrial hemp farming is known to destroy these valuable terpenes, which is why Boulder Medicinals is a certified-organic producer of hemp, as we believe in hand cultivation over machine cultivation.
The benefits of the entourage effect in relation to terpenes, published in a 2011 report by Dr. Ethan Russo in the British Journal of Pharmacology:
Terpenoids and cannabinoids both increase blood flow, enhance cortical activity, and kill respiratory pathogens, including MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that in recent years has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Americans.”
Dr. Russo’s article reports that cannabinoid-terpenoid interactions “could produce synergy with respect to the treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal, and bacterial infections.
Research into CBD is still relatively young, and additional studies will prove beneficial to further cement our understanding of the entourage effect. Of the 3 classifications of CBD, only full-spectrum CBD oil takes advantage of all of the cannabinoids of the cannabis plant, allowing CBD and THC to work in conjunction to maximize their therapeutic benefits.