Why Should You Buy CBD From a Master Cannabinologer?

Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, can seem almost miraculous. It can ease general aches and chronic pain. It can help relieve symptoms of common health problems like inflammation, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. For many, it's also a welcome, natural alternative to pharmaceuticals.

Unfortunately, many CBD manufacturers don't always deliver quality, traceable products.

Enter Cristina Madruga, EVO3's executive vice president and master cannabinologer. Madruga ensures that Houston-based EVO3 produces reliable CBD oils and topicals from hemp seed to consumer use. EVO3 produces some of the best CBD products for anxiety.

As a chemist and certified cannabinologer, she's developed proprietary formulas and quality assurances for EVO3 products. While Texas and other states continue to formalize official CBD regulations, working in-house lets Madruga control and test all EVO3 goods.

EDGE spoke to Madruga about cannabinology, her work at EVO3, and her predictions on how CBD is revolutionizing the wellness industry.

EDGE: Let's start with a few basics. What should we know about CBD, and how is it different from marijuana?

Madruga: Hemp versus marijuana plants – they're both cannabis sativa, so the only real difference is the that the THC level in hemp is very, very low, or "trace," less than a third of a percent.* Not enough that you would feel a psychological effect from THC. You could drink our whole extra-strength bottle of CBD oil and still not feel "high."

CBD balances the effects of THC. If you're in a state where both are legal, and you take THC and CBD at the same time, you're not going to feel as high as if you had just taken that THC. They're partners, but they're also opposites in a lot of ways. CBD can reduce anxiety, but THC can induce anxiety. CBD also can mitigate the effects of THC.

What does a master cannabinologer do?

A cannabinologer has been trained in the science of cannabinoids. We are trained by medical and science professionals and are invested in data and ways that cannabinoids, CBD, and related products will continue to develop and change.

At EVO3, the biggest thing that sets us apart is that we make our own CBD products. A lot of companies are buying products that somebody else made, putting a label on them, and selling them as their own. The EVO3 difference is that we're in full control over what goes in our products, and we guarantee every single product we put out.

How does EVO3 get and make its CBD?

We provide local farmers in Arkansas with hemp seeds of our choice (the T2 and Red Cross strains) and give them growing guidelines to follow in order for us to buy back the crops within the legal limits of THC. The hemp needs to pass specific tests for pesticides and heavy metals. All of our hemp is 100-percent organic and American-grown. We have everything tested before it comes into our warehouse, so there's no risk of cross-contamination.

Then we press the hemp for oil and purify it to remove particles like chlorophyll that you don't necessarily need. During that purification process, that's where we lose a lot of our terpenes, which are natural compounds in cannabis flowers that are responsible for aroma, flavor, and additional health benefits.

When we press oil that is "full spectrum," it has trace THC. Then there's a second purification process we do for our THC-free CBD "broad spectrum" oils, where even more components are lost. I look at the profile of the source hemp's original molecules, evaluate what was lost in purification, then rebuild our oils.

I've formulated a custom blend of more than 30 different terpenes and nutrients that are in that original hemp but were lost, that we blend back into our oils to make them more whole, more complete. When you take our EVO3 oils, you're able to absorb more of that CBD.

Why should EDGE readers consider EVO3 CBD products instead of other brands?

We have a huge commitment to quality, we're not just chasing the money. It's about healing. Everything is built on trust. On our website, you can see all the information about every single product. We test every batch. We want you to feel safe and comfortable knowing what you're taking. We're very transparent.

I'm very proud of the products that I make, I'm very proud of what goes into them, and also what doesn't go into them. I don't add any artificial colors, additives or flavors. Hemp, on its own, is not a very popular flavor. Our mint CBD oils are flavored with oil from mint leaves, plus a tiny bit of stevia, a natural diabetic-safe sweetener in our flavored oils. Our orange CBD oils are made with orange oil derived from orange peels.

Does consuming CBD come with any health risks or side effects?

For anyone interested in CBD, consult with your doctor. CBD is safe and natural, but there are a few considerations. CBD inhibits the P45 enzyme in the liver, just like grapefruit. There's something called the "grapefruit test," where if you're on any medication that says you can't have grapefruit, you also shouldn't take CBD. If CBD is something you need and feel passionately about, you should talk to your doctor, and they can help you make the best decision.

Are you developing other products?

Our name comes from our parent company, EVO3 Olive Oil, meaning "extra virgin organic olive oil." This fall, we're planning to launch our CBD-infused extra virgin organic olive oil. It's a finishing oil, so you wouldn't cook with this oil because the heat would burn the cannabinoids. Just drizzle about a tablespoon at the end.

The olive oil is something that I recommend for someone who is, in a sense, already living in the CBD lifestyle. Our CBD oils and topicals should work for most people. The olive oil would be in addition to what you're already using.

What do you think the future holds for CBD?

I feel like this is going to revolutionize the way we look at medicine. CBD works with your endocannabinoid system, your master regulatory system. On a cellular level, you have cannabinoid receptors in every single cell in your body. Your endocannabinoid system talks to your immune system, it talks to your cardiovascular system, to your reproductive system, to your nervous system. Cannabis has been illegal here for so long that it hasn't been heavily studied in the United States; Israel is actually where a lot of research has been done.

Right now, CBD is really in its infancy. But I believe we're going to see medicine revolutionized by the discoveries we start to make in working with CBD and looking at it in a new light. The better we understand ourselves, the better we're able to heal ourselves.

*Broad spectrum products are recommended for those requiring drug tests for employment, though all of EVO3's full spectrum products are within federal guidelines.

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