by Paul Watson

It’s easy to see why so many people are flocking to the sheer enjoyment of growing their own plants, whatever they may be, inside of their home 365 days a year, no matter where they live.

            Just about everything in the world of medicine at first came from plants. Chamomile, an easy-to-grow plant, helps with sleep, as well as calming the nervous system and the tummy. Peppermint soothes the stomach and breaks up gas. Evening primrose flower produces oil that’s said to alleviate the symptoms of PMS and skin conditions like eczema.

            There are many reasons why people hang up their first light and flip the switch. Number one and probably most reassuring is to know where that medicine came from. We can grow low-cost natural alternatives to traditional medicine, including cannabidiol (CBD), which has made an explosive entry into the world of natural medicine.

            For manufacturers of CDB oil to be compliant with federal law, they must assure that their products fall within government guidelines for acceptable levels of THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana). The plant must be considered full-spectrum to be effective, which includes a small percentile of THC. Research shows that all the components need to be present to have an effect. Hemp (a specific strain of cannabis) has all the right government-allowed percentages, and with the addition of a small amount of THC, does work as well as whole-plant infusion.

            There are 113 different cannabinoids in cannabis, and that’s what is meant by the term “full-spectrum”. The best full-spectrum, commercial hemp CBD products might have up to 13 cannabinoids and offer at best up to 5 percent CBD, nowhere near the 20-to-one ratio of CBD to THC we’re seeing in the home market strains.

            For those of us that live in states that have legalized cannabis, this means that we can now grow and produce our own CBD, which is full of all the plant’s compounds and energies. Seed breeders have done a marvelous job of producing high-CBD, low-THC strains for growing in our own homes. The difference between these plants and hemp is immeasurable.

            Commercial producers can only produce what is allowed by federal regulations, so this is one of the main reasons that growing our own to produce the best possible natural medicine available is so important to our health and your pocketbook. Growing your own medicine can be a lot more than just fun.