Doctor’s Note by Dr. Chin: Cannabis & Sustainability

For April’s HiVi office hours, we dived into the topic and importance of sustainability in the cannabis industry. The cannabis plant itself is largely self-sustaining and naturally resistant to pests or disease. The plant also yields compared to the amount of water and space it consumes as well as provides nutrients back into the soil rather than depleting it. However, there is still a lot of waste and room for improvement within the industry among cultivators and manufacturers. Indoor cannabis cultivation leads to a considerable amount of emissions, no matter where it is grown throughout the country. So, it is important, and our responsibility, to adopt more sustainable practices as well as support the farms and brands doing it right.

We were joined by Melany and Freya Dobson, of Hudson Hemp in New York. Hudson Hemp is a family-run farm and business and was among the first companies licensed to grow industrial hemp in New York State.

While sustainable approaches to hemp cultivation are important, Hudson Hemp is going a step further with regenerative agriculture. They take a holistic approach to producing biodiverse hemp cannabis that’s grown intentionally with the plant and the planet as major priorities. Compassion for the plant is celebrated as farmers grow top-tier industrial hemp that holds unique characteristics specific to the living soil.

Regenerative agriculture is farming that supports soil, life, and the planet going beyond sustainability to actually replenish ecosystems, nurture biodiversity, and sequester carbon. According to Dobson, “We see regenerative practices and growing hemp as a way to return value to our earth within the agricultural and industrial system. And there are three crucial steps for regenerative agriculture:”

1) Building Soil

The principal goal of a regenerative agricultural system is to build and maintain the soil’s ability to recycle nutrients, to capture and hold water, and minimize the farm’s dependence on outside inputs.

2) Carbon Sequestration

When we build topsoil by embracing natural biodiversity, we pull more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and back into the soil.

3) Closed Loop System

The regenerative future of agriculture depends upon closed-loop models. We farm according to the principle that in a natural system, there is no waste; what is not used by one organism is energy for another.

Hudson Hemp also extracts and processes full-spectrum hemp oil distillate and cannabidiol (CBD) isolate extracts for use in foods and wellness preparations. The company’s line of hemp extract products, called Treaty, includes formulations for focus, calm and sleep, pain and inflammation, and general balance. They are sublingual tinctures made with CBD and supporting botanicals.

We see regenerative practices and growing hemp as a way to return value to our earth within the agricultural and industrial system. And there are three crucial steps for regenerative agriculture.

Q &A:

What is the difference between CBD and hemp extract?

Cannabis is the genus of flowering plant in the family Cannabaceae. The two subspecies most commonly referenced and used are Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, and each contains numerous “strains,” or genetic variants, including hybrids that blend both sativas and indicas. The hemp plant is part of the family Cannabaceae and genus Cannabis L. Hemp is Cannabis sativa, but this variety contains a lower percentage of THC.

The cannabis plant grown for human consumption can contain up to 30 percent of the cannabinoid THC. Hemp has been selectively bred as an industrial plant to remove THC almost entirely but not completely. To be legal in the United States, hemp plants and hemp-derived products must contain less than 0.3 percent of THC per dry weight. With legalization, cannabis cultivators are breeding new strains with higher CBD content to appeal to consumers who are becoming more aware of the compound’s therapeutic benefits.

What types of hemp or cannabis CBD oil are there?

CBD oil that contains more than 0.3% THC is considered a Schedule 1 drug, whereas CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC is currently legal in all 50 U.S. states. Generally, CBD oil with more than 0.3% THC is extracted from marijuana while CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC is extracted from hemp. Both marijuana and hemp are classified as “cannabis,” which, of course, adds to the confusion.

Full-spectrum CBD oil products include all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids and terpenes from hemp, including trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%). This trace THC will not incur psychoactivity but there is a chance that it could cause a positive test result on a urine test for THC.
If that’s of concern, consumers should consider buying an Isolate or Broad Spectrum CBD, these formulations have zero THC content.

CBD products made from Isolate contain only CBD with no other phytocannabinoids and are preferred by those wanting no THC or are concerned about passing random drug tests at work.

What makes Hudson Hemp Farms different from other cultivators and processors?

Not only are Hudson Hemp’s crops organic-regenerative, but the plants themselves are also custom developed to be the best for specific purposes, processed to maintain the full plant potential, and third-party tested for quality and potency.

Hudson Hemp plants go through on-site cryo-ethanol extraction and then short-path distillation. We use certified organic, food-grade ethanol that evacuates and transfers an emulsion from stage to stage in a recirculating closed loop with a 90% solvent recovery rate.

Hudson Hemp works to ensure that our quality and testing set global standards. Metabolomic scans of the cannabinoid and terpene profiles allow us to identify and target effects of the finished product through extraction methodology, and against the genetic goals. Their in-house analyzer and HPLC, and third-party ProVerde Laboratories ensure that our potency and purity adhere to New York state standards.

Hudson Hemp partners with organizations aligned with our mission of using regenerative farming techniques and plant medicine for the betterment of our planet, people, and society.

I hope you can join me for the next HiVi monthly office hours!

Wishing you the Best in Health!

Dr. June Chin

Learn more about Dr. Chin and her practice here.

HiVi is intended as an educational resource and makes no medical claims. The information provided is NOT intended to assist anyone in violating federal law and is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. Representations regarding the efficacy and safety of cannabis consumption have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Do not consume cannabis if you are taking medications until you’ve researched all potential interactions. Do not discontinue any medications you are currently taking in favor of cannabis without trusted, professional guidance by a physician or someone knowledgeable about cannabis.