Zimbabwe increased the THC limit for industrial hemp from 0.3% to 1%, making significant changes for the African country’s hemp industry.
In 2018, Zimbabwe became the second nation in Africa to legalize medical cannabis and cannabis production for medical and scientific purposes.
Zimbabwe Independentreports that the THC level increase makes significant changes for CBD manufacturers, who will now be able to produce the entourage effect combined with other cannabinoids.
The amended bill, called the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill, 2002 is proposing the amendment of section 155 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) to remove industrial hemp from the list of dangerous drugs.
“By the insertion of the following definition,” the bill reads, “‘Industrial hemp’ means the plant cannabis sativa L and any part of that plant, including the seed thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts and salts of isomers, whether growing or not with a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than one per centum on a dry weight basis.”
Zimbabwe, like many other countries, is technically in conflict with the United Nations international drug convention, which still dictates global drugs policy over the past 60 years.
However, by amending the legislation and providing clarified definitions as outlined in the Amendment Bill 2022, Zimbabwe is establishing an environment in which a wider range of line mixes and ultimately hemp varieties may be produced and supplied.
An increased THC level gives industrial hemp farmers a bigger trove of options, allowing them to select genetics worthy for the production of a broader range of markets.
This is particularly important, Zimbabwe Independent notes, because studies have shown that certain genetics that combine CBD and THC produce better fiber qualities and also an entourage effect with synergistic therapeutic benefits.
As new CBD products are currently being tested by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, they may be more effective and therefore more appealing to consumers.
The Tobacco Research Board (TRB) was directed to “reform and restructure by 2025,” making itself a center for national research, development, and innovation in tobacco and alternatives.
The country developed an objective to advance agricultural profitability and development in Zimbabwe. Industrial hemp was among the crops of interest. TRB has been testing and developing hemp varieties that are acclimated to Zimbabwe’s climatic conditions over the last few years.
The 0.3% THC requirement is an arbitrary quantity—mirroring THC limits in the U.S.—that makes it difficult for breeders to create and grow varieties with other desirable synergistic properties.
Five Years into Medical Cannabis in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe legalized medical cannabis in 2018, making it among the first countries in Africa to do so.
In 2019, Zimbabwe abolished its ban on cannabis cultivation, which set the stage for the country’s farmers to begin cultivating industrial hemp to export. That same year, the country issued the first license to a medical cannabis company to begin cultivation.
In May 2022, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned a $27 million medical cannabis farm and processing plant to be run by Swiss Bioceuticals Limited in West Province, Zimbabwe.
“This milestone is a testimony of the successes of my Government’s Engagement and Re-engagement Policy. It further demonstrates the confidence that Swiss companies have in our economy through their continued investment in Zimbabwe. I extend my profound congratulations to the Swiss Bioceuticals Limited for this timely investment in the medicinal cannabis farm, processing plant and value chain, worth US$27 million,” Mnangagwa said in the announcement of the plant.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe said on July 26, 2022 that it would begin accepting applicants from cannabis and hemp producers, manufacturers, importers, exporters, and retail pharmacists, in a seismic shift away from tobacco.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday signed into law a bill that seeks to expand the states industrial hemp industry.
The legislation, which was sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, aims to “promote greater use of New York-grown industrial hemp by businesses in New York State,” and “instructs the Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets, in collaboration with the Urban Development Corporation, the [New York State] Hemp Workgroup, and industry representatives, to develop a plan to expand market opportunities for industrial hemp that would increase its use in manufacturing and construction materials, including packaging, textiles, and hempcrete.”
“Hemp is the material of the future, and positioning New York as a leading producer of the world’s industrial hemp supply is a winning strategy for fighting the Climate Crisis, bringing large-scale economic development to New York’s rural communities, and unlocking new revenue sources to put our farmers in a better financial position,” Hinchey said in a statement on Tuesday. “I’m proud that my hemp bill has been signed into law, directing our state to seek strategic collaborations to help us usher in a new era of manufacturing power, product creation, and rural economic development around an industry that is nearly untapped around the world.”
Industrial hemp was legalized on the federal level in 2018, when Congress passed a Farm Bill that opened the door for states to allow its cultivation.
State leaders have since eagerly approved their own laws and regulations for hemp production, capitalizing on a burgeoning new industry.
In New York, hemp farmers have been able to get in on the ground floor of another cash crop after Hochul signed a bill in February allowing them to apply for conditional licenses to grow marijuana, which the state legalized for recreational use and sales in 2021.
“I am proud to sign this bill, which positions New York’s farmers to be the first to grow cannabis and jumpstart the safe, equitable and inclusive new industry we are building,” Hochul said at the time. “New York State will continue to lead the way in delivering on our commitment to bring economic opportunity and growth to every New Yorker in every corner of our great state.”
Hinchey celebrated the signing of that bill, as well.
“Today is an exciting day in New York as our bill to give New York farmers the ability to start the cannabis market is signed into law. The [new marijuana law] set the foundation for our state to build a truly circular cannabis economy that puts New York farmers and small business dispensaries at the center of growth and production, and with the signing of this bill, farmers can now put seeds in the ground to ensure we meet the demand of this burgeoning industry. I thank Governor Hochul for her quick action on this bill so that we can get to work building the most forward-thinking and socially-equitable cannabis industry in the country,” Hinchey said in a statement at the time.
New York Adult-Use Cannabis Market
Since she took over for former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August of 2021, Hochul has been busy getting the state’s new adult-use cannabis industry up and running.
Hochul, who won her first election as the incumbent governor in last month’s midterms, said in October that she expects the first regulated pot retailers to open their doors to customers by the end of the year.
“We expect the first 20 dispensaries to be open by the end of this year,” the Democratic governor said at the time. “And then every month or so, another 20. So, we’re not going to just jam it out there. It’s going to work and be successful.”
Information collected in the “Global Hemp Market by Type” report from Research and Markets, which analyzed the numerous applications of hemp as a textile, food item, construction material, and more. The report projects that the next five years will see the industry’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6%, suggesting that this percentage will rise because many other countries have legalized industrial hemp, or will do so in the near future.
The report also cites examples of hemp successes seen throughout this year. In terms of application, hemp meal was recently covered as an alternate method of feeding livestock. “Hempseed and hempseed cakes could be used as feed materials for all animal species, according to the scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Additives and Products or Substances Used in Animal Feed, with species-specific differences in the rate of inclusion in the diet,” a Research and Markets press release states. “Hemp oil, as a rich source of essential fatty acids, can be used as a supplement in animal feed, while hemp seeds and hempseed cakes can be used as a fat and protein source in animal diets.”
The report also explains that hemp bast fibers, which are made up of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and pectin, also offer many benefits for use in textiles. “The benefits of bast fibers include lighter product weight, lower energy consumption, and a smaller environmental footprint. Bast fibers can be spun and woven and are thus widely used in the textile industry,” Research and Markets states. “Furthermore, bast fibers are far stronger than cotton and do not mildew. Hemp bast fibers have exceptional properties such as strength, durability, and anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.”
In addition to an increase in legalization worldwide, the report also cites the increased use of hemp seed and oil in food items and a “rising incidence of Chronic Diseases” to be two main drivers contributing to the rise of hemp. Although, the lasting stigma against hemp and cannabis and some country’s restrictions on industrial hemp continue to hinder its growth.
Other hemp-based reports have also been published recently and anticipate a similar growth for the hemp industry. A report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) called “Commodities at a glance: Special issue on industrial hemp” that the global hemp market will reach $18.6 billion by 2027. According to UNCTAD economist and report author Marco Fugazza, hemp offers a lot of potential for both established and developing countries. “The growing hemp market offers significant economic opportunities that all countries can capitalize on,” Fugazza said. “As a renewable product, the opportunities are sustainable. This is extremely important as countries try to boost their economies while protecting the environment.”
The UNCTAD report recommends that “governments must clarify its legal status as a non-intoxicant.” Once this has been done, countries can begin to explore the many benefits that hemp plants offer. “Because of its versatility and its functional characteristics, the industrial hemp market holds vast potential in agriculture, textiles, recycling, automotive, furniture, food and beverages, paper, construction materials and personal care,” the UNCTAD report states. Additionally, hemp can be an effective part of crop rotation, which can help maximize the use of land and contribute to increased incomes for farmers.
Hemp for animals and livestock continues to be an argued topic. While hemp as animal feed could reduce stress in cattle, a recent research study showed that it found THC in the systems of cows who ate hemp feed. In September, the state of Idaho halted the sales of CBD pet supplements because “Safe levels of hemp and hemp-derived products in animal feed have not yet been established under federal or state law,” the State Department of Agriculture said.
Researchers at Kansas State University have found that livestock feed containing industrial hemp can reduce stress levels in cattle, according to a recently released study.
The 2018 Farm Bill’s legalization of hemp has led to a flurry of research across the country as scientists work to discover novel ways to make use of a valuable new agricultural commodity. Previous research at Kansas State has shown that plant matter from industrial hemp has favorable crude protein and digestibility profiles, potentially making the crop suitable for inclusion in cattle feed.
Another study revealed that cattle readily absorbed cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) after being fed hemp flowers produced for CBD production. Michael Kleinhenz, assistant professor of beef production at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says that the previous research has implications for the viability of industrial hemp as a livestock feed.
“If hemp is to be utilized as an ingredient in the ration of cattle, it is prudent to know and understand the pharmacokinetics and potential biological effects of cattle exposed to repeated doses of cannabinoids present in industrial hemp,” Kleinhenz said in a statement from the university.
Kleinhenz and a team of researchers decided to study whether the cannabinoids present in industrial hemp would have an effect on the stress and activity levels of cattle that were given feed containing hemp.
“Cattle experience a variety of stress and inflammation,” Kleinhenz explained, noting that animals that are being transported or weaned are particularly vulnerable.
Researchers Observe Benefits of Hemp Livestock Feed
To conduct the study, the researchers fed industrial hemp to a group of 8 Holstein steers. The hemp was mixed into grain that was given to each animal individually to ensure a complete and consistent dose. A control group of 8 steers was given feed that did not contain hemp. The animals were monitored for cannabinoid levels, blood stress markers and activity levels including the number of steps taken per day and the amount of time spent lying down. The researchers then analyzed the data to compare the results between the two groups of animals.
“Our most recent data shows how cannabinoids via industrial hemp decreased the stress hormone cortisol as well as the inflammatory biomarker prostaglandin E2,” Kleinhenz said. “This shows that hemp containing cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA, may decrease stress and inflammation in cattle. Thus, hemp may be a natural way to decrease stress and inflammation related to production practices such as transportation and weaning.”
The researchers also determined that the group of cattle given feed containing industrial hemp spent more time lying, which can aid digestion by helping the animals produce saliva and chew their cud. The study revealed that while cannabinoids could be detected in the animals that had been fed industrial hemp, the level did not increase over time.
“Our new research helps us better understand how cannabinoids present in industrial hemp interact with bovine physiology and pharmacology,” Kleinhenz said. “For instance, we now know that repeated daily doses of CBDA via feeding hemp does not result in accumulation of cannabinoids in the blood. Additionally, it solidified previous research and shows that each cannabinoid has its own absorption and elimination profile.”
Kleinhenz said that the initial data collected by the team is essential if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Association of American Feed Control Officials are going to approve industrial hemp as a feed for livestock. He also noted that more study will be needed to learn if the same effect on stress levels is observed in animals undergoing stressful situations.
“Further work is needed to determine if cannabinoids can alter the stress response in cattle during stressful times such as transportation and weaning, but we hope this research is a step forward in the right direction.”
Funding for the research was provided by a grant from the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The full study, “Short term feeding of industrial hemp with a high cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) content increases lying behavior and reduces biomarkers of stress and inflammation in Holstein steers,” was published online this month by the journal Scientific Reports.
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We all know about delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive cannabinoid of the cannabis plant. Recently, delta-8 THC started making a strong impression as an alternate form of THC, with slightly different benefits. We even know there’s a delta-10 THC. So, how many THCs are there out there, and how are they similar?
Well, it’s finally happening, the new vape ban will stop retailers from being able to send vape products through the mail in the US. Luckily, you can still pick up products in dispensaries, and you can still order until the ban starts. Just a few days left, so check out these great Delta-8 THC dealsbefore we can’t send them out to you anymore!
Delta-9 and delta-8 THC
The first guy to synthesize THC was chemist Roger Adams. He was the first to identify the compound in the 1940’s, although he was not able to isolate it. This was done in 1964 by Raphael Mechoulam and his team, although Adams was the first to isolate CBD. Mechoulam was able to benefit from Israel’s less restrictive cannabis research laws. He and his team wanted to figure out what it was in Indian hash that was making people act so intoxicated.
The answer, he found, was THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. To be more specific, he isolated the most common form of THC found in cannabis plants, delta-9 THC. Delta-9 THC itself does not actually exist heavily in any cannabis plant, but is instead produced from THCA which decarboxylates (generally through sun exposure or heat) to become delta-9 THC. It was learned in the 1940’s that there were many different forms of THC, although how many THCs can be created, was a mystery (and still is).
In the last year or so, another form of THC has been getting more popular, partially due to the 2018 US Farm Bill which legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp for certain purposes. As a form of THC which does not exist in large enough amounts on its own, delta-8 THC requires being sourced from delta-9 THC. It’s formed through an oxidation process, which results in a compound that has shown in testing to have less psychoactive response, to produce less associated anxiety and panic symptoms, to be effective for use with nausea and vomiting due to illness and treatments, and which, due to the oxidation process, is actually more stable over time than delta-9.
Some even say it produces a very clear high, and heightens the senses of users. And since it can be sourced from any delta-9 THC, it can just as easily be sourced from delta-9 coming from industrial hemp, as from high-THC marijuana, creating a legal loophole for production. Even this THC isn’t quite as ‘new’ as current interest would have you believe, though. Delta-8 THC has been known about since it was fully synthesized in 1965 by Raphael Mechoulam.
Mechoulam even published research back in 1995 showing how delta-8 THC eradicated the nausea and vomiting of children receiving cancer treatments. Yet, of course, we didn’t hear much about it. What makes delta-8 THC relevant currently, is that it’s being produced in the very gray area of the 2018 Farm Bill, which has therefore permitted – to a degree – legal sales of THC (or gray-area sales). The two compounds are nearly identical, and have similar properties, it is only the sourcing of delta-8 THC from hemp that creates this legal quandary.
What else have we missed about THC? How many other THCs might exist?We know about delta-9 and delta-8, and that they’ve both been around for awhile. We even recently found out about delta-10 THC. Delta-10 also isn’t new, having been first synthesized back in the 1980’s. In fact, it was discovered accidentally by the contamination of outdoor flowers used to make concentrates, with flame retardant chemicals for dealing with wildfires in California, where the company creating the extracts was located.
The company, Fusion Farms, wasn’t aware that their product had issues and went on with the extraction process, just to find strange crystals forming. It was eventually realized that these strange crystals were another form of THC, this time delta-10. Delta-10 THC is an artificial cannabinoid that was formed when delta-9 THC was converted after being exposed to a catalyst, in this case the flame retardant material, though there could be less toxic catalysts out there.
As far as what delta-10 does, it’s hard to say. It came into existence through an accident, and has not been through even the compulsory scientific research that delta-9 THC and delta-8 THC have. It likely has similar mechanisms of action in the brain, attaching to CB1 and/or CB2 receptors, but nothing specific about the molecule can be said, other than that the double bond (the delta) exists on the 10th carbon atom of the chain, rather than the 9th like delta-9, or the 8th, like delta-8. That is, in fact, what defines a type of THC, where the double carbon atom is located.
Delta-3, delta-4, delta-6, delta-7
Now we know that the THC molecule can exist in different forms, depending on where the carbon double bond is located, which is what brings up the whole question of how many THCs are out there. Could that double bond be located on the 3rd, 4th, or even 7th carbon atom? Seems like it.
Delta-3 THC, delta-4 THC, and delta-7 THC were all identified during the 1940’s when THC was first starting to be synthesized in laboratories by researchers like Adams. These are entirely synthetic, and developed as a way to establish a synthetic form of a plant product (likely to get around patent issues). Though research has been done into these compounds, it has remained limited. It is generally thought that these synthetic isomers are less potent than delta-9 or delta-8 THC, but this may not be true all the time.
The more we go into the question of how many THCs currently exist, or can be created, the more we find that there are quite a few, with plenty we don’t know about yet or haven’t worked with. And some, just like the original finding of THC, that just don’t get the attention they deserve.
Take this, for example, a study from 1980 highlighting how delta-6 THC, and some other cannabis compounds, effect mice brains. The study found that several cannabinoids or isomers are correlated with an up-to-60 minute cataleptic effect in mice. Catalepsy is a disorder in which the body doesn’t respond to external stimuli, with overall muscular rigidity, and an inability to move.
While delta-6 THC didn’t create the highest correlation with cataleptic symptoms, it did show to be one of the most potent cannabinoids in the brain. The study authors concluded that psychoactive features of cannabinoids and their metabolites, are more likely related to structural features than pharmacokinetic ones. This was back in 1980, and yet a look at the medical cannabis landscape of the last few decades shows a massive deficit in follow-up research.
We know that THC molecules vary between each other slightly, but what about once THC is metabolized by the body? The reason that THC edibles are so strong is the conversion of THC into 11-hydroxy-THC. When delta-9 THC (C21H30O2) is ingested, it gets processed into 11-hydroxy-THC (C21H30O3) by way of the liver and digestive tract. The difference is explained well by the publication Leafly’s primary researcher, Nick Jikomes:
“The real difference between edibles and smoking or vaping is that with edibles, a much larger fraction of Delta-9-THC makes it to the liver first. There it gets converted to 11-hydroxy-THC.” He continues, “So in other words, if you smoke or vape, the ratio of 11-hydroxy-THC to Delta-9-THC is quite low, and if you take an edible it’s much higher.” This helps explain why edibles can cause very intense highs, and why the high lasts so much longer. 11-hydroxy-THC is not naturally occurring, and requires the body to break down THC to produce it. Perhaps future research will find a way to synthesize it, without consumption.
This isn’t a standard version of THC, but it does go to show the other possibilities out there when asking the question of how many THCs there are.
So, how many THCs are there?
With the ability to synthesize cannabinoids, the ability to create new versions of THC has been available for some time. Research into THC back in the 40’s identified much of this information, but little has been done to effectively use it. By now, years of intense research into THC should have been done, but decades after these forms of THC were found, we’re still asking the question of how many THCs are even out there. The reason things are this way is highly debatable, with some people holding true to beliefs about inherent drug dangers and black markets, a holdover from previous smear campaigns, no doubt.
Others might argue that the pharmaceutical industry couldn’t compete with a plant, and found it easier to suppress information about it, essentially ending research, or bringing it down to a trickle throughout the world, until it could be monetized properly. The latter argument makes way more sense considering the new pharma-cannabis industry, which seems to have no problem with people using the drug and sees no reason for danger, so long as the money goes into pharmaceutical pockets. Of course, that’s just my interpretation.
It could be that hundreds of versions of THC can be created, or maybe there are strictly 15. In a research field so wide open, with so much to investigate, it’s impossible to say just how many THCs exist. It’s not even possible to say if delta-9 is the strongest form, or what other kinds of psychoactive and medical effects could be hidden therein. One of the more interesting things to understand about THC, is just how much more there is to learn about THC.
The same issue that comes up with delta-8 THC is also relevant with other forms of THC that are sourced from delta-9. They can come from high-THC marijuana, or low-THC hemp, which means these compounds are falling into a legal gray area in many places like the US and the UK. They are being ruled illegal by drug scheduling legislation that names THC and all its derivatives as narcotics, but at the same time, they are starting to be sourced from places that are not considered illegal, making it questionable whether products made from them would therefore be legal or not.
Either way, the world of THC is opening up more and more, and proving to be a surprising and interesting place. In the next few years we might even get a better answer to the question of how many THCs are out there in the world.
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Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a medical professional, I have no formal legal education, and I’ve never been to business school. All information in my articles is sourced from other places which are always mentioned, and all opinions stated are mine, and are made clear to be mine. I am not giving anyone advise of any kind, in any capacity. I am more than happy to discuss topics, but should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a professional in the relevant field for more information.
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