Monthly Archives: January 2022

Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil: Differences, Benefits, Side Effects, and More – D Magazine

Posted: January 7, 2022 at 5:01 am

This article is sponsoredcontent.Interested in advertising with us?Click here.CBD Oil vs Hemp Oil: Whats the Difference?

Ever since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the popularity of CBD products has grown by leaps and bounds. Sadly, a lot of people who are new to CBD dont take the time to do the necessary research before going out to buy CBD oil. What results is a lot of confusion over hemp oil vs CBD oil. In order to dispel some of the ensuing confusion, were giving our readers a brief and informal primer on the main differences between the two.

Hemp oil is also known as hemp seed oil. This type of hemp extract has been made from industrial hemp seeds that came from the cannabis Sativa plant. When hemp oil is extracted, the hemp seeds are pressed and either bottled or further processed and refined before they are bottled. Hemp oil is a wonderful healthcare product because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin E.

CBD is also known as cannabidiol. It is extracted from the hemp plant and then a carrier oil like MCT oil is added so that our bodies can better absorb the CBD. CBD comes directly from the cannabis Sativa, or hemp, plant. However, instead of using hemp seeds, CBD is extracted from the stalks, stems, leaves, and flowers of the plant. There are many ways to extract CBD including CO2, ethanol, and olive oil. However, the CO2 extraction method produces the cleanest end product, which explains why this method is industry preferred over others. The extraction method used plays a large role in the overall quality of CBD oil.

There are a few ways that these two oils are alike. Some of the main similarities are:

The many differences between these two oils are both vast and striking. Some of the ways that hemp oil is different from CBD oil are:

Even though hemp seed oil has many excellent benefits associated with it, it does not produce an entourage effect like CBD oil. During the entourage effect, all of the beneficial cannabinoids in CBD oil work synergistically within the bodys cannabinoid receptors to boost up each others positive properties while lowering one anothers negative ones. Since the hemp plant is created from hemp seeds, it doesnt contain any cannabinoids or terpenes. Moreover, full-spectrum hemp oils are created through the use of the entire hemp plant (flowers, leaves, stems, and stalks).

When CBD oil is extracted from the entire hemp plant, every compound that the hemp plant has to offer is captured. Therefore, both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils contain cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients that have many health-boosting benefits. On the opposite end of that, you have hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil does not contain any cannabinoids, terpenes, or phytonutrients. In fact, youll only be getting a sliver of the benefits that youd be getting if you were taking CBD oil because if youre only taking hemp oil, youre missing out on the entourage effect.

CBD oil and hemp oil can both boost overall health and wellness, though in different ways. Hemp oil is packed with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Because of this, it has strong nutritional power attached to it. In fact, a study conducted in 2010 found that hemp oil has the potential to positively influence heart disease. Scientists have also conducted further studies on hemp oils benefits to learn more about how it may also work to improve other health issues related to the skin, immune system, and nervous system.

There are no known side effects of hemp seed oil on its own, however as every persons physical makeup is unique, it is possible to have an allergy or sensitivity to just about anything. For this reason, its always a good idea to take your first dose of hemp seed oil with care. If youre using a lotion or cream, just try a little bit in one small area and pay attention to how it feels over the next few hours. Similarly, if youre adding hemp seed oil to a salad dressing or into your baking, try adding it to a small portion of your food first, so that you know if you like the taste and if your body tolerates it well.

There are many scientifically documented benefits tied to CBD oil. In fact, studies prove that CBD oil can help with many issues including:

Although many people tolerate CBD well and enjoy its anti-inflammatory and calming effects, some may experience relatively mild side effects. These may include:

CBD can also interact with some medications, so its a good idea to check with your doctor before starting a new regimen that includes CBD.

Since CBD oil has yet to be regulated through federal law, many subpar brands and manufacturers could use misleading labels or claims on their product packaging. If you want to avoid purchasing cheaply made hemp or CBD oil, then you should carefully and thoroughly read product labels. For example, hemp oils number one ingredient should always be hemp oil, while CBD oil bottles and boxes should always list cannabidiol, full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, hemp (not hemp seed), or phytocannabinoid-rich CBD as their top ingredient. Reputable brands care about being transparent with their customers. Therefore, based on brand reputation, verified customer reviews, third-party lab reports, and other factors, you can easily confirm that youre getting a top-notch, high-quality, clean and effective product.

Whether youre trying to boost or maintain your general health and wellness or attempting to get a handle on a tough health condition like depression, anxiety, or insomnia, you can find help through either hemp seed oil or CBD oil tinctures. If youre having a hard time deciding between hemp oil vs CBD oil, you should always take your wellness goals into consideration. Never hesitate to reach out to our primary care doctor or medical specialist if you need some extra help making that decision. Regardless of whether youve decided on hemp oil or CBD oil, always take the time to carefully read the product label and research the brand you want to go with.

Remember, because hemp oil is extracted only from the seeds of the hemp plant, it will not have any cannabinoids, terpenes, or other phytonutrients in it as CBD oil will. If youre looking to alleviate a specific health issue, then CBD oil is a great option because it works with your endocannabinoid system to help bring the body back into a state of balance. Moreover, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils create an entourage effect through the synergistic relationship of the cannabinoids in them.

Lastly, hemp oil and CBD oil can be used topically or ingested, and each will work in different ways with your unique body. Even though the spotlight has been mainly on CBD oil over recent years, the nutritional and health benefits of hemp seed oil should not be discounted. After all, hemp oil is an amazing nutritional supplement as well as a fantastic skin-smoothing topical treatment. The product you choose hemp oil or CBD oil will be based on your individual needs and intentions.

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Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil: Differences, Benefits, Side Effects, and More - D Magazine

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Federal Lawsuit Blames Curaleaf for Death From Undisclosed Amounts of THC in Its CBD Drops – Willamette Week

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A wrongful death lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon on Jan. 1 against Curaleaf, the Massachusetts-based cannabis company started in Portland, says its CBD oil contained THC that killed a 78-year-old man in Eastern Oregon.

The lawsuit alleges that Curaleaf sold droppers of CBD oil to customers that contained undisclosed amounts of THC and alleges that the plaintiff, Earl Jacobe, ultimately died from complications after he ingested the Select CBD Drops.

The lawsuit says that Jacobe took the drops in late August 2021. Shortly after, the lawsuit alleges, 78-year-old Jacobe fell ill.

[He] believed he was going to die, and experienced strokelike symptoms, and experienced sudden numbness and weakness in the face, arm, and leg, sudden confusion, trouble speaking, and difficulty understanding speech, trouble seeing straight, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, and lack of coordination, the lawsuit says. Mr. Jacobe turned pale, began sweating profusely, and had to be life flighted to the emergency room on two separate occasions. Due to defendants negligence, Mr. Jacobe experienced ongoing psychosis, discomfort, and distress, and interference with life activities.

Jacobe, who lived in the Lake County town of Christmas Valley, died just shy of two months later. The lawsuit claims the mislabeled drops were a substantial factor in his death. His family seeks a trial by jury.

Defendant labeled, marketed, advertised and sold the Select CBD Drops consumed by Mr. Jacobe as containing cannabidiol (CBD), which does not produce intoxicating effects, the lawsuit reads. In reality, the Select CBD Drops consumed by Mr. Jacobe contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces intoxicating effects.

Curaleaf did not respond to WWs request for comment.

The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission initially recalled hundreds of the CBD drops made by Cura Cannabis (acquired by Curaleaf in 2020) in September. Shortly after, the company recalled bottles of the same brand of drops, but which were supposed to contain THC. The OLCC found that the THC drops did not, in fact, contain THC, as claimed.

Defendant was negligent by failing to exercise quality control standards of its products which would have detected THC inside its Select CBD Drops, the lawsuit says. Defendant was negligent by offering a tainted product which contained a dangerous foreign object which was likely to cause harm and unwanted health consequences when unintentionally consumed.

Michael Fuller, the lawyer who filed the lawsuit, has represented over 10 plaintiffs who have accused Cura of selling the CBD drops without properly labeling them, leading to health issues. The company has claimed that the mislabeling was an unintentional mistake by a junior employee.

Fuller tells WW that nine of the 13 claims against Cura for the CBD drops were confidentially settled.

Curaleaf is no stranger to legal fights.

A class action lawsuit was filed against Cura in 2020 after it failed to disclose additives in thousands of its Select brand vape products. That class action was also brought by Fuller. That resulted in a $500,000 settlement.

The lawsuit came just two days after Cura paid the maximum fine to the OLCC for not disclosing the addition of botanical terpenes in the vape oils, and at a time when non-marijuana-derived terpenes werent allowed in products due to the vape-related respiratory illness outbreak in 2019. The OLCC also tacked on a $10,000 charge to the fine for dishonest conduct.

The company was founded in Portland in 2016, then called Cura Cannabis. In 2020, the day after the company paid its fine to the OLCC for mislabeling its vapes, it was acquired by Massachusetts-based Curaleaf. It was the highest-valued cannabis company in the state at the time, and it sold to Curaleaf for under $400 million (when the acquisition was first announced, it was valued at over a billion dollars).

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Federal Lawsuit Blames Curaleaf for Death From Undisclosed Amounts of THC in Its CBD Drops - Willamette Week

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Medical cannabis oil shows promise as an effective treatment for autism – Study Finds

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TEL AVIV, Israel Medical cannabis oil could become a new treatment for patients with autism, according to a new study. Researchers at Tel Aviv University say it successfully improved behavioral and biochemical symptoms among animals with the condition.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disease which generally leads to social deficiencies and compulsive behavior. Estimates show that one in 44 children in the United States have the condition and previous studies point to that number skyrocketing over the last two decades. These cases can range from mild to severe, with the cause of autism being either genetic or environmental.

Study authors say about one percent of all autism cases are due to a mutation in the Shank3 gene. Instead of examining humans, the team decided to first study animals with this mutation seeing how they react to receiving medicinal cannabis oil.

We saw that cannabis oil has a favorable effect on compulsive and anxious behaviors in model animals, says study author Shani Poleg in a university release. According to the prevailing theory, autism involves over arousal of the brain which causes compulsive behavior. In the lab, in addition to the behavioral results, we saw a significant decrease in the concentration of the arousing neurotransmitter glutamate in the spinal fluid which can explain the reduction in behavioral symptoms.

Researchers add that what makes cannabis oil so effective at easing the symptoms of autism is THC the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. THC (or Tetrahydrocannabinol) is what gives recreational users the well-known high feeling.

Clinical trials testing cannabis treatments for autism usually involve strains containing very large amounts of CBD due to this substances anti-inflammatory properties, and because it does not produce a sense of euphoria, Poleg explains. Moreover, the strains used for treating autism usually contain very little THC, due to apprehension regarding both the euphoria and possible long-term effects.

In the second stage of our study we inquired which active substance in cannabis causes the behavioral improvement, and were surprised to discover that treatment with cannabis oil that contains THC but does not contain CBD produces equal or even better effects both behavioral and biochemical. Moreover, our results suggest that CBD alone has no impact on the behavior of model animals, the study author continues.

CBD, the non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, is an increasingly popular product due to its reported health benefits. Previous studies point to it being an effective pain reliever and even a cancer-fighter.

Since cannabis is not defined as a medication, trials have already been conducted in children and adolescents with autism without any preliminary studies addressing issues like the effect of cannabis on biochemical processes in the brain, spinal fluid or blood, and who can benefit from which type of cannabis oil. There is a great deal of misinformation on the subject of medicinal cannabis and autism, and Shani Pelegs doctoral project represents pioneering basic research with regard to treating autism with cannabis oil, adds Prof. Daniel Offen.

This is an initial study, concludes Poleg. But we hope that through our basic research we will be able to improve clinical treatments. Our study shows that when treating autism with medicinal cannabis oil there is no need for high contents of either CBD or THC. We observed significant improvement in behavioral tests following treatments with cannabis oil containing small amounts of THC and observed no long-term effects in cognitive or emotional tests conducted a month and a half after the treatment began.

The study is published in the journal Translational Psychology.

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CBD Oil and Heart Failure – newsconcerns

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Could CBD oil ease your heart failure symptoms or help you manage your condition? This herbal supplement is sold over the counter and may be marketed with various health claims, but heart experts arent so sure its worthwhile or even safe if you have heart failure.

Heart failure patients should know that while CBD has been touted as a wonder compound and seems to be in almost everything these days, it has never been shown to have any significant cardiovascular benefits in human studies, says Scott Lundgren, DO, a transplant cardiologist at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha.

CBD oil contains cannabidiol, an herbal liquid supplement made from the cannabis plant. It doesnt have the same effect on the brain as THC, another compound found in cannabis that gives you a high when smoked or eaten, says Larry Allen, MD, associate division head for clinical affairs in cardiology at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

There are no known cardiovascular benefits for cannabis or cannabidiol, and there may even be some adverse effects, so people should not take these products and think that it will have positive effects on their cardiovascular health, says Allen, whos also co-author of the American Heart Associations statement on all cannabis products.

In 2018, the FDA approved the first oral, purified CBD drug, Epidiolex, to treat seizures in two rare forms of epilepsy. Two synthetic versions of cannabiinds are also approved: dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) for treatment of nausea during cancer chemotherapy and nabilone (Cesamet) to treat weight loss associated with AIDS.Marinol is synthetic THC

Some of CBDs proven benefits in other health conditions may be intriguing to people living with heart failure, Allen says.

Does it stimulate your appetite? Yes. Do people gain weight if they take it? Possibly true. Patients with severe heart failure do have cachexia, or severe weight loss and muscle wasting, he says. One could argue that people with nausea, lack of appetite, or who are losing weight could think CBD would help them. People with heart failure have a fair amount of discomfort, including edema [swelling] and somatic or pain-related issues, so you could think CBD has a role.

But there isnt really any evidence to prove that it will relieve heart failure symptoms or be safe to use if you have heart failure, he adds.

Some research suggests that CBD oil may improve some heart-related symptoms:

Its illegal in the U.S. to market CBD by adding it to any food or calling it a dietary supplement. Also, although the FDA has approved a few CBD drugs to treat certain diseases, dont expect CBD sold over the counter to be safe or beneficial for heart failure, Lundgren says.

CBD oil may not have the same properties, and it can actually cause gastrointestinal distress like diarrhea or cause decreased appetite. CBD products can include unknown ingredients and may not be accurately labeled, he says.

When you use CBD oil, your liver breaks it down. During this process, it could interfere with your medications for heart failure or other heart conditions. CBD has known interactions with warfarin, certain statins, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and nitrates. Just because a supplement is natural doesnt mean that it is safe, Lundgren says.

CBD oil must be studied in randomized clinical trials on people, not animals, before it can be considered safe or effective for heart failure, Lundgren says. Until that happens, he advises against buying or using CBD. There is some evidence that CBD can cause liver injury as well as lead to male infertility issues. When consumed with alcohol, individuals may experience increased drowsiness, which can lead to household injuries.

If you have heart failure, you might feel like youre taking control of your own care by trying herbal treatments that dont require a prescription. To be safe, talk to your cardiologist first: Ask questions about CBD oil and make decisions together about using this or any other supplement, Allen says.

CBD products cost money and can distract you from taking prescribed treatments for heart failure that are evidence-based. They could do indirect harm to people with heart failure. We already have a half-dozen treatments for heart failure symptoms and to help you live longer.

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Highway to Hemp: ‘Wild West’ of the CBD Market – Flatland

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Published January 6th, 2022 at 6:00 AM

Across the country, bags of hemp grown as long ago as 2019 still sit in barns, waiting to be sold and extracted.

When the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp, most growers grew hemp for cannabidiol (CBD) extraction, because it had a high profit-to-acreage ratio. With an estimated 455% increase in U.S. hemp producers, the CBD industry quickly found itself with a glut of product and not enough consumer demand. Moreover, there wasnt enough processing capacity to make the crop profitable.

Heres the crux of the problem. While the trendy therapeutic, commonly used to alleviate aches, pains, anxiety and difficulty sleeping, popped up in small shops across the U.S., it still lacked approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA).

Without big food and pharmaceutical companies getting in on the CBD craze, the more than 130,000 acres of hemp planted across the country could never be fully used. Most CBD shops or dispensaries sell the product in single ounce bottles, with the CBD diluted down by other oils to a consumable amount.

Put simply, it doesnt take a lot of the plant to stock the shelves (or the webpages) of an independent CBD shop.

Despite the saturated market, Heath Martin, president of Kancanna, a CBD extraction company in Wichita, Kansas, remains hopeful for the future of his business. The consumer goods side of the industry, he said, has continued to grow.

This is supposedly going to be a $25 billion industry by 2025, Martin said. So obviously, that leads to a lot of growth in the cannabinoid side. But hemp, in general, I think we have just drastic strides that we could make.

As with everyone in the hemp industry, trust in the future of hemp has been vital for Kancanna. Martin had to start the business without loans, security nets nor trust from the bank, so hes not easily deterred.

Martin believes the FDA ultimately will approve CBD, so his company is already trained and following FDA protocol.

FDA approval is critical for two main reasons.

First, it would encourage widespread use and sale of CBD, driving up demand and price.

Second, FDA approval would regulate a market thats currently making its own rules.

As Martin said, creating an industry in an unregulated environment doesnt always lend itself to the best players.

At its warehouse in southwest Wichita, millions of dollars of high tech equipment extract and isolate CBD from about 1,000 pounds of hemp each day.

Once the harvested crop arrives at Kancanna, its ground into a tea-like powder, then spread on thin sheets and set to roast.

This is a vital step in cannabinoid extraction called decarboxylation.

In this process, the acid chain is broken down, making the material bioavailable. If youve ever tried to make an edible, youll know the weed has to be cooked first or youll just end up with some skunky brownies. This process is essential in order to reap the benefits of any cannabinoid.

Now that the fine green powder has been decarboxylated, it moves down the hallway into the supercritical CO2 (carbon dioxide) extraction room.

The shiny machines pump pressurized CO2 into a column, loaded with about 20 pounds of decarboxylated hemp powder. At a pressure of 4,000-5,000 pounds per square inch, the supercritical CO2 is between a liquid and a gas.

The fluid nature of the CO2 at this pressure allows it to pass through the hemp and strip the plant material of its cannabinoids (along with some other properties) before it journeys into the next couple of chambers. Here, the pressure is slowly reduced until the CO2 is fully returned to a gas state and the CBD it had collected drops off as a crude oil.

Each of the six machines can process 20 pounds of hemp in an hour.

Once its run through, the CO2 is recycled, the hemp column is reloaded and it goes again. All in all, the facility can process about 1,000 pounds of hemp in an eight-hour work day. Martin said this puts Kancanna in the top 3% of processors in the nation.

The crude oil is then brought to yet another room to be refined.

For the refining process, crude oil is mixed with ethanol. The mixture is then winterized and chilled overnight to a very low temperature (usually below -100 degrees Fahrenheit).

At these freezing cold temperatures, the cannabinoids in the oil bind to the ethanol and remain liquid, while the fats, waxes and other remaining materials in the crude oil float up to the surface, like a sludge. The sludge is removed and the cannabinoid-bonded ethanol remains.

In the same room, this winterized crude is taken to a rotary evaporator which heats the mixture until the ethanol evaporates and is vacuumed out, leaving just the cannabinoids.

The ethanol then condenses in a coil and can be reused.

The remaining cannabinoid oil is either 100% ethanol free, or only contains trace amounts, which are removed in the next step: wipe film distillation.

In another highly scientific-looking machine with glass vessels and coils, the oil is spread thinly and heated to the vaporization point of CBD. The vaporized substance is vacuumed up, hits chilled coils and condenses back into a liquid, now as a pure CBD concentrate.

It drips out at a honey-like consistency into buckets, where it will crystallize until heated back up to be put into products.

Nick Cannady, Kancannas director of business development, said most people still dont understand the CBD industry. Everyone who tours the facility comes away with a different perception.

I think most people come in expecting to see a bunch of stoners around a cauldron or something, but instead they see millions of dollars of high end equipment.

Kancanna consults with its growers across the state of Kansas from seed to harvest to ensure the crop is grown optimally for extraction.

Martin has a background in agriculture, so to him, this element is essential, and means Kancanna can reach the soil to oil standard he believes in.

We dont have anything to process unless the grower has a successful harvest, and so if we can help that ensures that we are going to have a crop to extract and high quality cannabinoids to offer the market once weve done the extraction, Martin said.

Attention to the growth and cultivation of the hemp in a CBD oil is another indication of a quality product.

The Poindexter family in Drexel, Missouri, walked Flatland through their hemp fields. But the small operation takes the hemp all the way to the finished product as well.

Similar to Martins motto, the Poindexters line of CBD products say: We farm it. We extract it. We bottle it.

With all the other CBD products and lines on the market, Michelle Poindexter said Rural Route Hemp Co. stands out because every step of the process is controlled by the Poindexter family.

(Other CBD companies) are acquiring their hemp from someone else, and they dont know exactly whats been put into the soil, applied to the plants, or even what the extraction process is and they dont know if theres anything necessarily harmful, Michelle Poindexter said. And we have that control from beginning to end.

About 15 minutes from their family farm, the Rural Route Hemp Co. extraction facility sits in the middle of Adrian, Missouri.

Since the Poindexters extract only their 10-acre hemp harvest, its a much smaller operation, with slightly different practices than Kancanna. A normal extraction at the Adrian facility uses five pounds of hemp.

Dried hemp is ground down until it resembles tea, then loaded into five-pound tea bags and put into a vat of cold ethanol.

The hemp and ethanol are agitated in a washing-machine-like contraption, which allows the ethanol to pass through all of the plant material and strip the cannabinoids out.

This extraction method uses ethanol rather than CO2. For a small operation like the Poindexters it doesnt require too much ethanol and the equipment is relatively inexpensive as compared to Kancannas high-volume extraction machines.

The ethanol mixture passes through a filter to remove all plant material. Then, the ethanol must be evaporated to leave a crude CBD oil.

At Rural Route Hemp Co. this happens in two stages to ensure all of the ethanol is boiled off.

Similarly to Kancanna, a big scientific looking boiler heats the ethanol to its boiling point, and a vacuum sucks the evaporated ethanol, which is then cooled back into a liquid on coils, allowing the ethanol to be reused in future extractions.

The heat from this process decarboxylates the cannabinoids, which is essential to the effectiveness of oil.

The Poindexters and their crew will continue the refining process until all of the ethanol has evaporated off. Then, the crude oil will go into a short path distillation unit, which will pull out remaining other trash (plant material, chlorophyll etc.).

Once the color has changed and all of the trash has been pulled off, someone will switch the flask to start collecting the clean CBD.

The longest part of the process is waiting for their third party tester in Colorado to receive, test and send back the samples. Missouri testers charge almost twice the amount to test, so its cheaper for the Poindexters to ship it to Colorado, where hemp testing is done more regularly and therefore less expensively.

Third party testing is a crucial part of both Rural Route Hemp Co. and Kancanna products. It ensures there are no trace chemicals or unwanted materials in the oil, and that a bottle claiming 1,500 milligrams of CBD, actually has that amount.

Every batch of hemp that comes into this facility is independently, third party tested for, not only for potency, but also for heavy metal contamination, pesticide contamination, microbial contamination, Cannady with Kancanna said. If its anything but non-detectable on any of those, we reject it, (but) chances are, its still going into the supply chain somewhere.

Quality producers like the Poindexters and Kancanna want FDA approval because it will weed out the people who dont follow good CBD practices and are just looking to make a buck.

As Cannady said, that contaminated product is still going into the market somewhere. FDA regulation would keep that from happening.

Luke Poindexter said right now, the industry is like the Wild West.

FDA control would not only standardize CBD practices, but also make the botanical extract available as a food additive, or pharmaceutical product. For producers like the Poindexters and Kancanna, it would mean more entities buying their extractions.

Full blown FDA approval for food additives, pharmaceuticals, I mean, thats when this crop will really be able to take off, Luke Poindexter said.

Then, maybe, all those barns full of 2019 harvested hemp could finally be emptied.

But the FDA doesnt seem quite ready to steward the CBD market.

As of today, the FDA has one, approved usage for CBD.

In 2018, it approved Epidiolex, a CBD based drug used for the treatment of seizures associated with rare and severe forms of epilepsy.

Several months ago, the FDA published the Cannabis-Derived Products Data Acceleration Plan, which aims to work with state and local programs to better collect and evaluate data on cannabis-derived products.

The collection and evaluation of this data would be the next step to FDA approval.

So far, the plan has identified challenges to data collection related to online commerce of cannabis-derived products, product usage, buyer motivation and the current cannabis-derived product supply chain.

According to the plan, the FDA wants to understand these elements, as well as further evaluate potential safety issues of CBD (and other cannabinoid) products before it grants approval and builds a regulatory framework.

The fragmented and dynamic CDP (cannabis-derived product) market, with hundreds of small manufacturers selling products online, is rife with potential quality and safety concerns, the plan read. The FDA needs a better understanding of the quality and safety systems that are currently in place across the overall supply chain from origin, manufacturing, and distribution to consumer usage.

The FDA is also concerned with potential side effects from long-term use of CBD and other cannabis-derived products. The FDA assures that the study of and consideration of cannabis derived products is met with the same standards it would bring to any other product.

FDA continues to encourage industry and remind them of their responsibility to develop the needed data, aligned with FDAs current data standards, to ensure products are safe, reads the Cannabis-Derived Products Data Acceleration Plan.

Members of Congress have pushed the issue forward and presented the CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act of 2021 which would authorize the regulation of food containing CBD and direct the FDA to crafting regulation over the industry with its implementation in food products.

Aside from the impact FDA approval would have on the industry, it could have a profound impact on the people who use CBD products for pain relief.

Wendy Scott has been living with the painful effects of ankylosing spondylitis (a rare and severe form of arthritis) for the past 30 years. The condition affects her large joints, making it difficult to do everyday tasks like, opening a water bottle or putting a log on the fire.

In October, she started using CBD tinctures and relief creams to treat the pain, because ordinary anti-inflammatories and steroids caused Scott to have stomach bleeds.

Its totally changed my quality of life, Scott said. It was really dark, and now theres a great deal more light. I can enjoy myself a lot more not 100% pain free by any means but it has gone down from nines and 10s as far as pain goes, down to sevens and sixes.

The products she uses dont come cheap. And because its not an FDA certified drug, her insurance doesnt cover the several hundred dollars worth of CBD products she uses in a month.

I would like to be able to see those things covered just like you would any regular medication, Scott said. I dont think (CBD) is exorbitant, but when youre on a fixed income, it definitely makes it a little bit more challenging.

Martin and the Poindexters said many of their customers use CBD for pain relief like Scott. But no matter how effective a product might be, the brands are prohibited from making any claims about the benefits.

Rural Route Hemp Co. has found success in selling products at in-person events. They still cant make claims, but they can let the products speak for themselves by offering customers a sample.

Just getting out to events and getting in front of people theyll rub a little bit (of CBD salve) on at the beginning of the event, and then theyll circle right back around and buy it because it works that well and that quickly, Michelle Poindexter said.

She also has to rely on customer reviews and published studies that tout the benefits of CBD for online promotion. If she makes a claim, or says the wrong thing in a social post, she said Facebook removes it.

If the Rural Route Hemp Co. makes a claim about a product on its website, its credit card processor would shut down.

Kancannas retail line, Butler Hemp Co., faces the same problems.

Ultimately, with this not being regulated yet by the FDA, you cannot make any claims, Martin said. So thats hard. We may know that a certain blend of cannabinoids that we make is phenomenally good for sleep, (but) I cant tell anybody that.

Despite all of the challenges and potential risks in the industry, CBD has grown to an estimated $4.6 billion market just since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp.

Martin said Kancanna continues to research uses for other cannabinoid extractions. Most recently, the company started pulling cannabigerol (CBG) for its digestive benefits.

Hes spoken with food and beverage companies who are interested in making CBD products as soon as its FDA approved.

And thats just looking at the future of the cannabinoid side of the industry, not to mention endless possibilities of hemp fiber and grain.

I hope that the government, whether its state or federal, really starts supporting this crop and gets behind that to put some grants out, put some funding out, and (for) some of the banks and lending institutions make it easier for people to access funding to actually take this crop into the next level, Martin said.

Next: Highway to Hemp returns next month to look at manufacturing with hemp fiber.

Cami Koons covers rural affairs for Kansas City PBS in cooperation withReport for America. The work of our Report for America corps members is made possible, in part, through the generous support of theEwing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

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3 Ways CBD May Help You Lose Weight, According to Experts Eat This Not That – Eat This, Not That

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CBD has exploded in popularity for a range of reasons. It's primary use and selling point is that you can use it to deal with anxiety, of course. But Nature and Bloom CBD expert Andrea Chapman points out that it can also potentially enhance your concentration and have a whole host of other mind and body benefits including potentially helping you tolose weight.

However, before we get into the potential weight-loss benefits of CBD, it's important to note that the research on CBD is still in its early stages. Plus, Dr. Lewis Jassey, DO, Medical Director at Leafwell, correctly offers a few points to keep in mind before you buy or try CBD.

"Products containing CBD and THCV aren't legal everywhere, so you must check legality before purchasing or using them," Dr. Jassey says. "CBD also isn't regulated by the FDA, so you must be careful what products you put in your body because they could contain potentially dangerous chemicals or additives. Only buy organic products that provide third-party testing results."

Finally, Dr. Jassey advises: "Always talk to a doctor before going on a weight-loss journey because it's possible any CBD or marijuana products could interact with other medications you're taking."

That said, here are some expert claims about CBD and how it may help you lose weight. For more, don't miss The 21 Best Weight Loss Tips of 2021, According to Experts.

"CBD works with other cannabinoids to potentially activate many receptors, such as endocannabinoid and serotonin. This may play a role in weight loss or other critical metabolic functions," according to Medical News Today.

Nataly Komova, RD, nutritionist and fitness expert for JustCBD, broke things down further, telling Eat This, Not That!, "CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, and based on the available studies we can expect its promising potential on both lipid and glucose metabolism through the action on various receptors."

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Danielle Edenworth, a health and fitness expert with HealthyLand, explains that while "influencing both the body and the brain," CBD "aids weight loss by suppressing appetite" and "transforms white fat into brown fat, which aids in calorie burn."

Komova also noted that "CBD might be effective in alleviating the symptoms of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes."

Related: Eating at This Time Can Lower Your Diabetes Risk, New Study Says

"To be honest, when it comes to losing weight, CBD is not your number one product," Chapman says. "It's true that CBD can boost your metabolism and benefit you in that area, however, it still depends on your body, since not every system is compatible with the regular use of cannabidiol as an ingredient."

Granted, Chapman also notes that you can still use CBD in your diet due to its health benefits, but "can't always expect it to work as an essential calorie-burner."

Bottom line: CBD may offer some weight loss benefits, but they won't work for everyone. What does? Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity, practicing good sleep habits, and reducing stress as much as possible.

To find out more about CBD, be sure to read What Happens to Your Body on CBD.

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CBD Oil Market Size, Share 2022 Global Industry Trends, Growth Drivers, Demands, Business Opportunities and Demand Forecast to 2029 – Digital Journal

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The top cannabis research studies of 2021 – Leafly

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With the spread of cannabis legalization, the need for further research into this highly regulated plant has also increased. Government funding and private investment is expanding, and global research is providing insight into cannabis basic characteristics and its medicinal potential, and is helping to overturn widely held beliefs about its harms.

Here are five of the top cannabis research articles from 2021.

Soon after people started appreciating CBDs therapeutic effects, many wondered: Will it also work on our pets?

Anecdotal reports have piled up from owners of epileptic or anxious dogs, or those suffering from chronic pain, of the benefits their dogs have experienced from CBD. Theres less empirical evidence for CBDs therapeutic benefits in dogs than in humans, but the number of studies of CBDs benefits in veterinary medicine are amassing.

In a recent study from Italian scientists, shelter dogs were administered CBD oil for 45 days and measured for aggressive behavior against their human handlers. All dogs in the CBD treatment group tolerated CBD well and didnt display any adverse effects.

Dogs treated with CBD showed a reduction in the number of aggressive behaviors, and benefits were most pronounced after 45 days of exposure. Stress-related behaviors were not impacted by CBD in this particular study.

Although the strength of these conclusions is limited by the studys small sample sizeonly 12 dogs per groupand poorly balanced group assignment, it reveals a potential new therapeutic use for CBD for our beloved pets. One can imagine that many hard-working shelter employees, veterinarians, and volunteers would appreciate these benefits of CBD.

Related

The science of CBD and cannabis for cats and dogs

Most non-opioid pain medications work by reducing inflammation. Inflammation activates a specific set of sensory cells that send signals to the brain and activate a network of brain regions that together, promote the sensation of pain.

Pain is commonly reduced by blocking inflammation at the source of injury, but it can also be relieved by disrupting the brains pain processing network. An ideal pain treatment would dampen inflammation and disrupt pain processing in the brain without causing opioid-like dependency, but blocking pain processing in the brain has proved to be challenging or fraught with adverse consequences.

CBDs pain-relieving benefits have long been attributed to its anti-inflammatory effects. However, Iranian neuroscientists recently discovered that CBD also reduces pain by acting in a small brain region, the nucleus accumbens, which is involved in the processing and response to pain.

The group injected CBD directly into the nucleus accumbens of rats, limiting its effect to the brain, and measured their pain sensitivity following a pain-inducing procedure. Rats treated with CBD showed reduced pain sensitivity, even though inflammation at the site of injury wasnt blocked.

Their findings are impactful because they reveal that CBD may reduce pain by acting directly in the brain, and not just by reducing inflammation at the site of injury. This study reveals the need for further investigation of CBDs efficacy in treating chronic pain conditions where pain no longer results from inflammation but from dysfunctional nerve signaling or brain processing.

Related

What is CBD oil? A beginners guide to cannabidiol extracts

By knowing the events through which injury or disease causes brain damage, therapies can be designed to limit damage.

Recently, Brazilian scientists tested the protective effects of CBD against stroke damage in rats. CBD administered 30 minutes prior to a stroke and then several hours after protected against brain cell loss, structural damage, and resulting memory impairment.

While CBDs protective benefits have yet to be systematically tested in human clinical trials, these exciting results highlight the potential benefits CBD may have for high-risk patients, such as those at-risk for stroke or heart attack.

In a separate study, Spanish scientists investigated THCs protective and restorative effects in demyelinating disease. Myelin is an insulating substance that promotes faster electrical signals within our cells. The destruction of myelin, as seen in diseases like multiple sclerosis, slows the rate of communication in the nervous system and causes a range of impairments. Unfortunately, there currently arent effective strategies to recover myelin once its destroyed.

Excitingly, this study showed that THC boosted remyelination by promoting activity of cells called oligodendrocytes, which are responsible for myelinating nerve cells, improving behavioral function in a mouse model with demyelinated injury.

While there are several more steps needed before these findings could impact clinical practice, THCs ability to promote remyelination provides exciting mechanistic support for previous reports of patients with demyelinating diseases who have benefitted from cannabis.

Related

What is the endocannabinoid system and what is its role?

There are numerous widely held, but unsubstantiated, beliefs about the negative effects of cannabis use. These claims often stem from studies comparing cannabis users against non-users, but the studies do not provide a causal link between cannabis and supposed negative outcomes.

Some myths include that adolescent cannabis use can lead to psychosis or an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. Others say that cannabis makes you lazy and leads to poor physical health.

Instead, its possible that these outcomes can be attributed to genetic or familial influences, which may lead people who are already at risk for developing psychosis or are less likely to exercise to also use cannabis.

For better insight, scientists can study twins, thereby controlling for genetic and familial factors, since twins often have similar DNA and are exposed to the same home environment.

Two recent twin studies may overturn some of these widely held negative beliefs. In one study, the effects of adolescent cannabis use was assessed later in life, as adults, specifically, whether psychosis was experienced as an adults. The association between cannabis and psychosis went away when comparing within cannabis using and non-using twins.

This argues against a causal link between adolescent cannabis use and the development of psychosis. Instead it suggests that genetic or familial factors affect the brain in a way that increases risk for developing psychosis while similarly promoting behavioral patterns that lead to higher levels of adolescent cannabis use.

A second twin study using a similar approach failed to find a causal link between weekly cannabis use and exercise engagement or physical health characteristics. Instead, the scientists concluded that lower levels of exercise engagement, heart rate, and exercise, were better explained by genetic factors and familial behavioral patterns than by adolescent cannabis use.

Hopefully these studies will force us to reconsider therapeutic interventions to target them at the correct causes.

Related

What are cannabis terpenes and what do they do?

Cannabis characteristic smell comes from terpenes, and its the combination of terpenes that gives each strain a unique odor.

The origin of the plants familiar skunk-like smell, common across most fresh bud, was unknown until a team of scientists at California-based terpene company Abstrax Tech identified its origin.

The culprit, 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol, was identified using a series of advanced chemical isolation and identification methods and confirmed through a controlled grow experiment. Levels of this compound increase substantially during the end of the flowering stage and reach their peak during curing.

However, 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol doesnt stick around for longits levels drop substantially after only 10 days of storage. This high volatility explains why the skunk-like smell is strongest when smoking fresh cannabis, and why it alluded detection in terpene isolation experiments until now.

Given its structural similarity to compounds found in garlic, there are opportunities to further explore its health benefits alongside other prominent terpenes, such as caryophyllene.

Josh Kaplan

Josh Kaplan, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Western Washington University. He is a passionate science writer, educator, and runs a laboratory that researches cannabis' developmental and therapeutic effects.

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Opinion: Russia and China Threaten the Peace on Land and Sea – The Maritime Executive

Posted: at 5:00 am

Courtesy PLA Navy

PublishedJan 6, 2022 4:19 PM by The Strategist

[By Peter Jennings]

As 2021 dragged to an exhausting end, the international strategic outlook remained bleak.

Authoritarian regimes are threatening conflict in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The key democracies look distracted, internally riven and unwilling to defend the global order they originally designed.

It wasnt meant to be this way. The formal dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26 December 1991 was supposed to usher in an era where liberal democracies would flourish. Instead, 2022 may be the year in which democracies operating in a rules-based international order will face their toughest test.

After several decades where Western military forces focused their efforts on largely unsuccessful counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations in the Middle East, we face the alarming prospect of state-on-state conventional conflict in several regional trouble spots.

Russias massive build-up of military forces on the borders with Ukraine and Belarus creates the potential for serious conflict during the next few months. A full-scale invasion of Ukraine past the contested eastern provinces would be the most catastrophic but perhaps least likely outcome.

More likely scenarios include Russia overtly moving forces into Ukraines Donbas region, which has been controlled by Moscow since the 2014 invasion using local proxy forces and covert Russian military.

Russian President Vladimir Putin then might seek to establish a land bridge between Donbas and Russian-occupied Crimea, widening a front from which Russia could attack deeper into Ukraine.

Putin also could also deploy forces into client-state Belarus, threatening the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from the north, but also putting Russian forces directly on the border with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

At this stage, the US and NATO have no appetite for a military response. In early December, US President Joe Bidentold Putinin a virtual meeting that, if Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States and our European allies would respond with strong economic measures.

Beyond that, there were vague promises to provide additional defensive materiel to the Ukrainians and fortify eastern NATO allies. Putin has largely been given a green light for military operations and Biden has kept a low profile on the issue for weeks.

This month, the US, NATO and Russia will negotiate on demands from Putin that, if agreed, would severely constrain Americas capacity to defend Europe and would strengthen the position of Russias more proximate forces. The US cant accept Putins demands but also wont offer more than token military support to Ukraine. February may be the month when Russian military operations commence.

What lessons could Chinese leader Xi Jinping take from Putins high-risk military posturing? The Beijing Winter Olympics will end in late February. With that charm offensive over, we should expect that Xi will redouble the Chinese Communist Partys attempts to assert its control over Taiwan and its longer-term goal for strategic dominance in Asia.

China and Russia have become increasingly close since the Russian takeover of Crimea in 2014 and Beijings annexation of much of the South China Sea by island building to establish military bases in the same year.

Xi is copying Putins international playbook. Both leaders take big international risksconsider Russias military intervention in Syria and Chinas authoritarian crackdown in Hong Kongboth have championed vast and rapid military build-ups, and both threaten the use of military force to press for Western acquiescence.

Frankly, the strategy is working. Ukraine matters more to Russia than it does to the US and Western Europe. The South China Sea matters more to Beijing than it did to Washington, at least in 2014. Autocratic bluff and brinkmanship can and do produce democratic backdowns.

Imagine a 2022 scenario where Beijing closes the Taiwan Strait to sea traffic and declares the East and South China seas no-fly zones because they are sovereign Chinese territory. Xi could then build up a huge air and amphibious assault force on the Chinese coast adjacent to Taiwan.

Beijing could activate a propaganda campaign and its own agents in Taiwan, calling for the reunification of the rebel province under CCP control and claiming that the US is threatening Chinas security by providing military assistance to Taipei.

This would be a Chinese replay of Putins tactics over the Ukraine. What would Biden do? If the US response was to threaten economic sanctions but leave military action off the table, Xi could well conclude that reunification of Taiwan with China by bluff and coercion is worth trying.

The analogy breaks down because Taiwan is more central to the core of Asian security than Ukraine is to Western Europe. Taiwan under CCP control is an existential threat to the security of Japan and to Americas military dominance of the Pacific. By contrast, Russian control of Belarus and eastern Ukraine adds to NATOs problems but is not a strategic game-changer.

Here are two more strategic woes likely to unfold this year. North Korea is facing a crisis of domestic economic collapse brought on by international sanctions because of its nuclear-weapon and missile development.

Kim Jong-uns erratic leadership was marked last year by unexplained disappearances and weight loss that could be linked to serious health issues. A challenge to his leadership would have profound consequences for the stability of the regime.

North Korea manages crises by trying to export them. Expect further missile and nuclear tests designed to extract sanctions softening from the US.

In our nearer region, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will continue to lead his country to the brink of disaster by building ties of dependence with Beijing. The proposed Chinese police presence wont be the last concession China will seek from Sogavare in return for bankrolling his government.

You know Canberra has a real problem on its hands when the political leadership goes quiet. Of course, this is a matter for the Solomons government, but Australia will have no intention of allowing a Chinese proxy to emerge in the Coral Sea. Think back to 1941. This is a game-changer to our security.

Peace on earth? Not in 2022.

Peter Jenningsis the executive director of ASPI and a former deputy secretary for strategy in the Defence Department. A version of this article was published inThe Australian. It appears here courtesy of The Strategist and may be found in its original form here.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

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A Biohacker Implanted 50 Chips in Their Body to Become …

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A transhumanist has spent the last 14 years implanting over 50 chips, antennae, and magnets into their body to become a cyborg.

Lepht Anonym has carried out these operations with no anesthetic and no guarantee of safety.

"I'd like to say I did it because I follow a grand tradition of self-experimenters in science, or that it was because practical transhumanism is more than a philosophy to me (it's my life), but at least partly, I did it for kicks. I just wanted more senses; still do," Anonym wrote in their blog, Sapiens Anonymous.

"Lepht Anonym is a faceless, genderless British biohacker. It lacks both gods and money, and likes people, science, and practical transhumanism," they also wrote.

Some will label them a cyborg, but to transhumanists, they're "posthuman."

For now, Anonym prefers another term a "grinder," meaning a hybrid of both human and machine.

Transhumanism is a movement that aims to transform the human condition by developing technologies that enhance physical, psychological, and intellectual capabilities a posthuman is someone who is able to achieve this transformation.

The roots of transhumanism can be found in cyberpunk literature.

If you're not familiar with novels from this genre, you may be familiar with its movies or video games, like "Blade Runner" or "Cyberpunk 2077."

On Anonym's blog, they mention "Neuromancer" as the first book they loved, a science fiction novel by William Gibson. It portrays a future in which technology has had an impact, often negative, on the social and/or cultural paradigm.

The movement has its own jargon, which you may have seen already in this article. For example, Lepht considers themself a biohacker, a biohacker being someone who modifies their body using tech in order to make it function differently.

Anonym describes themself as a practical transhumanist. Some transhumanists prefer to stick to the theoretical side of the movement, but Anonym uses chips, antennae, and other devices to actually "hack" their biological systems.

On their blog, Lepht keeps a record of their surgical implants. The first was in 2007 when, with the help of a friend, they inserted a chip into their hand so they could use their palm to pay instead of a credit card.

The operations are extremely painful, and since doctors won't help, they can't use anesthetic. Anonym doesn't mind the pain, however.

All their operations have had two goals to find out what devices can help humans go beyond their physical and mental limits and to improve themself if possible.

Anonym wanted to acquire an extra sense. To achieve this, they went through several operations to insert magnets into their fingers. These are activated by small coils of wire connected to external sensors such as infrared detectors, and allow the biohacker to sense the distance between their hands and objects.

They're not the only biohacker with special powers. As CNN reported, artist Moon Ribas implanted seismic sensors in her feet to record earthquakes as they happen around the world. Ribas is a choreographer and a dancer, and she feels her body is more connected to the Earth thanks to technology.

Practical transhumanism has its critics. Some feel that modifying the body in this way, especially considering the pain involved, is just madness.

Anonym doesn't expect anyone to follow in their footsteps they said that the blog is there simply to leave a record of their successes and failures and that they understand the effects these operations can have on their body.

Not being a doctor has certainly posed some problems.

In 2019, at an event for biohackers in the United States called GrinderFest, Anonym presented an experimental device: a "pirate box" with a chip, USB storage, and WiFi antenna.

"Users just connect to it via their phone or PC and they can download/upload files, anonymously chat," they wrote in their blog.

With the help of colleagues and volunteers, the device was placed in their upper right arm. It hurt more than they expected.

Months later, in January 2020, Anonym declared that the experiment had failed. They knocked the implant against a cab door, and their arm became so swollen they had to go to the emergency room.

Anonym said: the doctors "clearly thought this was an utterly bizarre thing to have done, and immediately admitted me for removal. They insisted it be removed and at this point a hole had opened up over one corner of the device, through which a lot of nasty goo was issuing, so I went with their opinion and let them take it out."

Anonym had nerve damage from the procedure, which resulted in them losing strength in their right hand.

"So, cautionary tale. don't put enormous devices in your arms, folks," advised Anonym.

There have been mixed responses to Lepht's posts, with some people finding inspiration in them.

By 2016, their blog had surpassed 600,000 visitors and had become a key reference for aspiring biohackers and transhumanists.

Anonym has also inspired works of fiction, like the cyberpunk graphic novel "Metal Made Flesh."

They aren't interested in fame, however, and they were clear that their goal is to make life easier for other biohackers in the future.

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