Archive · 2020-06-23

Hemp and nicotine: consider the following when you contemplate the best choice for your situation. The cannabis industry has long been a pioneer in the medical field and CV Sciences Inc.’s recent patent approval furthers that tradition. The hemp based product helps stave off nicotine cravings to combat smokeless tobacco addiction. The product helps put hemp back in the spotlight as researchers continue to find new ways to utilize cannabis, CBD, and hemp. 

Cannabis, Hemp and Nicotine

The focus on the nicotine and hemp industries has heightened in the last few decades, primarily due to new innovations and new found technologies. E-cigarettes and cannabis vape pens have been interlinked due to their similar structure and use. Nicotine, a chemical found in products such as cigarettes, is indisputably connected to health issues. Smoking tobacco is considered the most preventable cause of death in the United States and is linked to about 90% of lung cancer reports in the United States. The conversations around nicotine, cannabis and hemp as they relate to health concerns are still in development.  Smoking rates have been declining in the US and the use of vape pens is rapidly on the rise. Many new studies have been done on the subject due to this increase in vaping. Although the concept was first created in 1920s, the first fully realized e-cigarettes were created in 2003, when propylene glycol solution containing nicotine could successfully vaporize. Since then e-cigarettes have skyrocketed in popularity, particularly in the 2010s. According to studies, 80 percent of those in the Millennial generation had tried vaping or electronic cigarettes, and teens in middle and high school have been increasingly vaping with over 3.6 million kids using e-cigarettes in 2018.  

Smokeless Tobacco: A Safer Option?

Smokeless tobacco may seem like a safer option but it is known to contain 28 carcinogens, including very high levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), and as it still contains nicotine, it is highly addictive. TSNAs are known to be some of the most potent carcinogens present in chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco smoke. At the end of last month, CV Sciences, Inc., a pioneering supplier and manufacturer of hemp cannabidiol products received its formal Notice of Issuance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent covers methods of treating smokeless tobacco addiction by administering pharmaceutical formulations containing CBD and nicotine. This issuance is a great stride in the industry and a huge win for the furtherance of research and development. CV Sciences, Inc.’s initial drug candidate (CVSI-007) contains nicotine and CBD to support the abatement of smokeless tobacco use and addiction. With USPTO's formal issuance of the patent, CV Sciences will continue developing its products as the company seeks approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commercialize the world's first and only FDA-approved treatment for smokeless tobacco addiction.

Making a Shift between Nicotine and Hemp

Outside of CV Science Inc.’s efforts to make hemp mainstream, hemp is rising in popularity. Since hemp is bred for fiber, not resin it doesn’t produce as much of the psychoactive THC as cannabis making it an appealing alternative in medicinal applications. Furthermore, removal from the Farm Bill Schedule I drug list in 2018 has helped hemp in rewriting its image and removing the stigma around its production. Due to its low THC content and CBD focus, hemp growers and businesses proclaim it helps reduce anxiety and stress. Cannabis and hemp growers alike are hoping for a shift from addictive nicotine based cigarettes and e-pens to cannabinoid contained vapes and rolled joints.    CBD and cannabis related companies have been working on the medicinal properties of the plant, looking at ways it can help people move away from unhealthy habits. The worldwide smokeless tobacco addiction treatment market is estimated at more than $2 billion and this number is looking to continue to grow. CV Science Inc.’s development aims to help us understand addiction and how our ever-mysterious endogenous cannabinoid system can be leveraged in the fight against it. To further secure themselves as pioneers in the industry, CV Sciences has also filed corresponding patent applications that will allow them to seek similar patent protection in other key markets throughout the world. While it is a big step for CV Science Inc., it is also a big step for the rest of the industry. This will bring more validity and positive attention to a much misunderstood industry, and much needed funding for ever-evolving research and study. Stay in the know by joining us for a CannaCon event in your area.