Ok, on request I will post this on some forums. I copied and pasted my own post on GC here. There were various people with various myths that were harmful to progress, such as this or that nute helps CBD, or late harvest helps CBD, or CBD is bad because X, or heating or doing unusual treatments post harvest can do this or that to CBD. So to set things straight, I am posting here what I know. There are still mysteries as to CBD but the general scientific consensus is that genetics dominate CBD/THC ratio, and that codominance is the mechanism at hand. 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1 ratios or 1:2-1:5 ratios are quite a mystery considering the scientific literature published pinning THC/CBD to certain alleles, and the codominance picture, but here I propose some possibilities.
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Most all evidence points to CBD/THC NOT being affected differently by environment. CBD degrades a bit faster under UVB than THC but the effect is minimal, and CBC's photo-degradation is markedly faster. It is speculated CBC may be a sacrificial degradation compound that acts as a sunscreen but this is pure speculation on the part of some scientist back in the late 80s.
Theories as to there being more CBD vs THC in roots or leaves earlier in life are generally urban myths. There are studies on early leaves pre-flowering that indicate leaves follow the same formula of THC-only, CBD-only, or the near-1:1 chemotype. The genetic type determines the CBD or THC makeup. A scatter plot indicates 5:6 or around 11:12 is the codominant chemical phenotype. Again, CBD only or THC only are other possibilities.
There is some slim possibility that pH may affect CBD vs THC. This is pure educated speculation on my part but cyclization reactions IF they are present are indeed affected by pH. Neutral 7 then would hypothetically favor THC. But the effect if present is expected to be very small and secondary to genetics.
Degradation due to light or heat does NOT increase THC levels, nor does it increase CBD levels, nor really affect relative ratios other than the above-mentioned effect that CBD absorbs UVB ever slightly more.
The two compounds are so close and similar that any differentiation based upon mild environmental conditions is rather unlikely.
No scientific, and peer-reviewed journal has ever published ratios of 3:1 or 4:1. That is not to say these ratios do not exist, but perhaps that they are rare, or labs are making mistakes, manipulating data or giving growers what they want.
Some possible explanations for the non-1-to-1 (5:6 or 11:12) ratio phenotypes are STR's, alternate pathways to CBD or THC, or polyploidy (not to be confused with whorl phyllotaxy).
Neither variety indica nor sativa of the drug strain are expected to have any significant CBD. Drug cannabis is generally bred for high THC and so CBD has generally been bred out, except for in some hash strains and strains specifically bred for CBD. Unworked wild landraces, some ruderalis strains, some hemp strains may be of high enough CBD to be of interest, but with each of these, you will have problems such as intersex, stretching, auto-flowering, poor terpene profile.
CBD giving more couchlock is also thought to be a mis-attribution. The effects of cannabis plant are thought to be a combination of cannabinoids and terpenes and perhaps other lesser known or unidentified compounds. CBD alone in moderate doses has generally produced feelings of alertness. It also shows some potential for anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety effects and may (in unscientific wording) produce a mellower ramp up and longer happier and less frightening effect. It certainly does not "block" out the effects of THC at relevant doses though it is a partial GPR18 agonist, a 5-HT 1A agonist (think Abilify, etc.) and a weak CB receptor antagonist.
The couchlock effects are likely linalool with CBN, or some other terpenes and compounds present, possibly in greater concentrations with certain cures and certain strains.
Heating pot does not increase CBD, but for ingestion, the carboxylic acids may be decarboxylated if heated to the proper temperature and held.
For a quick and dirty determination for the presence of CBD, the abandoned BEAM test may be of interest. For those willing to learn something new, TLC is a cheap chromatographic method that if done properly is most likely more reliable than some of these unethical or sloppy labs. It would not be accurately quantitative without standards but spot size can give enough clues about potency. Choice of eluent is key for good separation of CBC/CBG/CBD/THC/acids/THCv/CBDv/etc.
If desired, PM me for references.
.............
As a note and challenge to some of these breeders and labs reporting 4:1 or such ratios on 15-20% total wt% cannabinoids to publish if known the Bd/Bd, Bt/Bt, Bd/Bt chemotype, and if known diploidy/triploidy/tetraploid of the plant, and grow conditions including pH, lighting, medium, etc.
With a $ incentive to publish or produce good lab results, there should be healthy skepticism as to these figures. It would also be consistent and beneficial if labs consistently measured the carboxylic acids, the common and significant isomers THCV/CBDV/delta-8/etc.
Peer reviewed scientific literature including genetic studies tend to suggest these things aren't really making a difference outside total cannabinoid levels. How some are reporting say 18% THC 5% CBD is beyond anyone's wild guess, though I am not saying it is impossible.
I welcome all posters to post what theory, ideas, or findings they have here about CBD and CBD strains.
_____
Most all evidence points to CBD/THC NOT being affected differently by environment. CBD degrades a bit faster under UVB than THC but the effect is minimal, and CBC's photo-degradation is markedly faster. It is speculated CBC may be a sacrificial degradation compound that acts as a sunscreen but this is pure speculation on the part of some scientist back in the late 80s.
Theories as to there being more CBD vs THC in roots or leaves earlier in life are generally urban myths. There are studies on early leaves pre-flowering that indicate leaves follow the same formula of THC-only, CBD-only, or the near-1:1 chemotype. The genetic type determines the CBD or THC makeup. A scatter plot indicates 5:6 or around 11:12 is the codominant chemical phenotype. Again, CBD only or THC only are other possibilities.
There is some slim possibility that pH may affect CBD vs THC. This is pure educated speculation on my part but cyclization reactions IF they are present are indeed affected by pH. Neutral 7 then would hypothetically favor THC. But the effect if present is expected to be very small and secondary to genetics.
Degradation due to light or heat does NOT increase THC levels, nor does it increase CBD levels, nor really affect relative ratios other than the above-mentioned effect that CBD absorbs UVB ever slightly more.
The two compounds are so close and similar that any differentiation based upon mild environmental conditions is rather unlikely.
No scientific, and peer-reviewed journal has ever published ratios of 3:1 or 4:1. That is not to say these ratios do not exist, but perhaps that they are rare, or labs are making mistakes, manipulating data or giving growers what they want.
Some possible explanations for the non-1-to-1 (5:6 or 11:12) ratio phenotypes are STR's, alternate pathways to CBD or THC, or polyploidy (not to be confused with whorl phyllotaxy).
Neither variety indica nor sativa of the drug strain are expected to have any significant CBD. Drug cannabis is generally bred for high THC and so CBD has generally been bred out, except for in some hash strains and strains specifically bred for CBD. Unworked wild landraces, some ruderalis strains, some hemp strains may be of high enough CBD to be of interest, but with each of these, you will have problems such as intersex, stretching, auto-flowering, poor terpene profile.
CBD giving more couchlock is also thought to be a mis-attribution. The effects of cannabis plant are thought to be a combination of cannabinoids and terpenes and perhaps other lesser known or unidentified compounds. CBD alone in moderate doses has generally produced feelings of alertness. It also shows some potential for anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety effects and may (in unscientific wording) produce a mellower ramp up and longer happier and less frightening effect. It certainly does not "block" out the effects of THC at relevant doses though it is a partial GPR18 agonist, a 5-HT 1A agonist (think Abilify, etc.) and a weak CB receptor antagonist.
The couchlock effects are likely linalool with CBN, or some other terpenes and compounds present, possibly in greater concentrations with certain cures and certain strains.
Heating pot does not increase CBD, but for ingestion, the carboxylic acids may be decarboxylated if heated to the proper temperature and held.
For a quick and dirty determination for the presence of CBD, the abandoned BEAM test may be of interest. For those willing to learn something new, TLC is a cheap chromatographic method that if done properly is most likely more reliable than some of these unethical or sloppy labs. It would not be accurately quantitative without standards but spot size can give enough clues about potency. Choice of eluent is key for good separation of CBC/CBG/CBD/THC/acids/THCv/CBDv/etc.
If desired, PM me for references.
.............
As a note and challenge to some of these breeders and labs reporting 4:1 or such ratios on 15-20% total wt% cannabinoids to publish if known the Bd/Bd, Bt/Bt, Bd/Bt chemotype, and if known diploidy/triploidy/tetraploid of the plant, and grow conditions including pH, lighting, medium, etc.
With a $ incentive to publish or produce good lab results, there should be healthy skepticism as to these figures. It would also be consistent and beneficial if labs consistently measured the carboxylic acids, the common and significant isomers THCV/CBDV/delta-8/etc.
Peer reviewed scientific literature including genetic studies tend to suggest these things aren't really making a difference outside total cannabinoid levels. How some are reporting say 18% THC 5% CBD is beyond anyone's wild guess, though I am not saying it is impossible.
I welcome all posters to post what theory, ideas, or findings they have here about CBD and CBD strains.
