Barcroft Media / Getty Images
When new technologies like electricity or the dishwasher took off in the 20th century, most of the people racing to adapt them had no idea what trading candles for light bulbs would do to the Earth's climate.
Researchers at the University of Hawaii have set out to make sure that doesn't happen again when it comes to a 21st century technology that has some people very excited: Bitcoin.
<p>In a study <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0321-8" target="_blank">published Monday in Nature Climate Change</a>, they calculated that if Bitcoin were adapted at the rate of other modern technologies, it would generate enough carbon dioxide emissions to push global temperatures two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in less than 30 years.</p><p>"If this takes off it will be something that we will not be able to control," study lead author and University of Hawaii Associate Prof. Camilo Mora told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-29/bitcoin-could-theoretically-put-paris-climate-goals-out-of-reach" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>.</p><p>This is because Bitcoin requires a massive amount of energy. Bitcoin is a digital currency that is only exchanged computer-to-computer. New Bitcoin enters the system through an energy-intensive process called mining that requires computers to solve difficult mathematical problems. Last year, the use of Bitcoin generated 69 million tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the emissions of Austria, <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2018/10/29/bitcoin-could-lead-climate-change-chaos-within-20-years/1810686002/" target="_blank">USA Today reported</a>. </p><p>The researchers found that if Bitcoin is incorporated into widespread use at the slowest rate of other new technologies, the planet would warm two degrees Celsius in 22 years; if it is incorporated at an average rate, we would pass that marker in 16 years.</p><p>"Currently, the emissions from transportation, housing and food are considered as the main contributions to ongoing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change" target="_blank">climate change</a>," paper co-author and University of Hawaii student Katie Taladay told USA Today. "In our paper, we show that bitcoin should now be put in the list of additional concerns."</p><p>Bloomberg, however, reasoned that Bitcoin is unlikely to catch on in the same way as the consumer technologies used as comparisons by the researchers.</p><blockquote>It would be unfair to compare potential bitcoin adoption with previous consumer-technology according to Michael Wilshire, head of strategy at Bloomberg NEF. Consumer products tend to take off when there's high unmet demand for a product or service, prices are low enough for widespread affordability and growing adoption makes the product more useful. Given the circumstances, Bitcoin is "a long way from being a universally accepted currency," Wilshire said. </blockquote><p>In the U.S., 60 percent of transactions under $10 still use cash, and there are many other cryptocurrencies vying to replace it, including options like Ethereum that are looking to forgo the energy-wasting mining process. </p><p>But the study is an important model for how we must consider new technologies in the age of climate change. </p><p>"This type of analysis should be performed when any new technology is under development," study author and University of Hawaii PhD student Randi Rollins told Bloomberg. "Being aware of the consequences of future technology development could go a long way in reducing emissions and preventing further damage to the environment."</p>
From Your Site Articles
- How Blockchain Technology Could Transform the Food Industry ›
- Bitcoin Is Not Only Unaffordable, It's Also a Massive Energy Hog ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Read More
Show Less
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By Jeremy Deaton
Bitcoin, the much-hyped cryptocurrency, made headlines recently for driving a surge in power use. Around the globe, digital entrepreneurs are 'mining' bitcoins by solving complex math problems, using supercomputers to get the job done. Those supercomputers use a ton of power, which largely comes from coal- and gas-fired power plants spewing gobs of carbon pollution.
But while hackers wreak havoc on the climate, blockchain, the bleeding-edge technology behind bitcoin, could one day help clean up the mess. Climate wonks say blockchain has a role to play in the clean-energy economy, helping homeowners sell electricity, allowing businesses to trade carbon credits, and making it easier for governments to track greenhouse gas emissions.
<p>To understand how it all works, let's start with a quick explanation of <a href="https://blockgeeks.com/guides/what-is-blockchain-technology/" target="_blank">blockchain</a>.</p><p>Typically, if you want to send someone money over the Internet, you need a third party to validate that transaction. That party, typically a bank, certifies you are not trying to send the same money to two different parties simultaneously, or otherwise trying to deceive the system. Blockchain allows users to do business directly with each other without involving a central authority like a bank.</p><p>In this instance, blockchain acts like a digital ledger that simultaneously exists on every computer belonging to the same network, and the ledger is updated with every transaction. Because the ledger exists everywhere all at once, it is incredibly difficult to hack. Because it belongs to everyone, all the information is verifiable, though the privacy of individual users is preserved.</p><p>Since users don't need a bank to validate their transactions, they can do business faster without the help of a bank. Additionally, there's no need to staff up and maintain all the personnel and infrastructure costs associated with a bank. These are the chief appeals of blockchain—security, speed and savings. The exciting part is that blockchain can be used to authenticate transactions of any kind. That's where climate change comes in.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzA5MjMxNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2OTQ3NzAxOX0.4J3QJ0VPK79hgxlDubsr0q31CpLwReXuDGZYqmpvrCo/img.jpg?width=980" id="7feb6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b764fec1e5405bc0c5796b6033bce062" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">A wind turbine</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Pexels</small></p>
<p>A major obstacle to addressing climate change is that our energy system is highly centralized, while the technologies we will need to cut carbon pollution, by and large, are not. Currently, most people buy electricity from a coal- or natural gas-fired power plant. As the price of solar panels <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/solar-and-wind-how-low-can-they-go-f55dcaec9deb" target="_blank">continues to drop</a>, more people will generate their own electricity from rooftop solar.<br></p><p>Rooftop solar owners want a way to sell their surplus power. Currently, in many places, they can sell that electricity back to the power utility, but this undercuts the utility's core business of generating and selling electricity. In parts of the country, utilities have gone to <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/the-things-some-utilities-will-do-22e27a9eea77" target="_blank">great lengths</a> to curtail this practice.</p><p>Brooklyn startup <a href="http://lo3energy.com/" target="_blank">LO3 Energy</a>, however, is a company that cuts out the middle man, using blockchain to make it possible for rooftop solar owners to <a href="http://grist.org/article/in-brooklyn-you-can-now-sell-solar-power-to-your-neighbors/" target="_blank">auction off</a> their surplus power to an apartment down the block. "Traditionally, your money really goes towards large corporations. The generating stations probably are located a distance away," Scott Kessler, Director of Business Development at LO3 Energy, told Nexus Media. "Now you can make sure that's staying local."</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="78f5719ef1cd007e243c664dd3dd44b4"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e1eXv2Q2i-g?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
</p>
<p>Blockchain could also be used to simplify carbon trading. A <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/china-is-preparing-to-launch-the-world-rsquo-s-biggest-carbon-market/" target="_blank">growing number</a> of countries—and a handful of <a href="https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/capandtrade.htm" target="_blank">U.S.</a> <a href="https://www.rggi.org/" target="_blank">states</a>—have set up cap-and-trade programs. Governments put a cap on carbon pollution and then auction permits that allow businesses to generate a certain amount of carbon pollution. If a company pollutes less than its permit allows, it can sell the rest of its allowance to another firm.<br></p><p><a href="https://www.ibm.com/us-en/" target="_blank">IBM</a> is working with <a href="http://www.energy-blockchain.com/" target="_blank">Energy-Blockchain Labs</a>, a Chinese firm, to <a href="https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/51839.wss" target="_blank">streamline</a> China's carbon trading scheme using blockchain, allowing businesses to transfer allowances directly to each other without needing a government to verify those transactions. Blockchain makes the whole process transparent, allowing regulators and businesses to monitor transactions.</p><p>"Blockchain technology is expected to become an important means for effective control of carbon emissions, which is of great significance to China, the world's largest source of carbon emissions," said Cao Yin, Chief Strategy Officer of Energy-Blockchain Labs.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzA5MjMyOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTE5NzY0M30.cu5UsB-z5ZlYVvARgrjsw0zKmlZCZIlXxF-H9XQp3ug/img.jpg?width=980" id="bbe4f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4845762f54de87abad6150037cdbd03b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Shanghai, China</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Pexels</small></p>
<p>Carbon trading is just one example. Blockchain is being used for everything from <a href="https://www.smithandcrown.com/sale/wepower-token-sale-renewable-energy-crowdfunding-trading-blockchain/" target="_blank">crowdfunding</a> renewable energy projects to <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40479414/can-personal-carbon-trading-take-off-on-the-blockchain" target="_blank">creating apps</a> that incentivize people to use less energy. The possibilities are nearly limitless, but experts don't expect a revolutionary transformation overnight.<br></p><p>"Bear in mind that most things that could be done with blockchain technology could also be done with centralized computer systems, too, so the real question is whether blockchain offers a more efficient, or more democratic, way of doing these things," said Brett Scott, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heretics-Guide-Global-Finance-Hacking/dp/0745333508" target="_blank">The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance: Hacking the Future of Money</a>. "There are a lot of organizations right now feeling that they need to say something about blockchain tech in order to show that they are considering new innovations. You should be critical-minded when reading these claims though."</p><p>It remains to be seen how blockchain will be deployed. The technology is in its infancy. But experts say it could be used to track emissions, cut pollution and sell clean power. At every turn, it could make that work cheaper, faster and more transparent.</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/blockchain-secret-weapon-in-the-fight-against-climate-change-45c4a47e849d" target="_blank">Nexus Media</a>.</em></p>
From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Read More
Show Less
CBD, one of the many compounds found in the cannabis plant, has been getting a lot of attention recently. Some of it good and some of it bad. Increasingly, people in the UK are turning to CBD oils for help in relieving pain, anxiety, sleep and a host of other health issues.
<p>While CBD is gaining in popularity, and more products are becoming available on the high street and online, there is little scientific research to back the claims made by CBD product manufacturers. That's why if you're going to buy CBD oil it is important to understand what you're purchasing and to choose products from brands that lab test their products and make the results available to customers.</p><p>To help you find the best CBD oil available in the UK, we've done all the hard work and created a list of the best CBD oil brands and products that are available online for you to choose from.</p><p>To create this list of CBD oil producers and sellers, we've:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Spoken with over 100 different producers</li><li>Tested over 50 products for potency, quality and accuracy of labelling</li><li>Tried every product on the list</li></ul><p>It is important to note that the details for the products listed here are not intended for diagnosing, treating, curing or preventing any particular disease. If you take prescription medicines you should speak to your GP or other healthcare professional before you take CBD oil about possible drug on drug interactions.</p><p>In this buyer's guide to CBD oils in the U.K., you'll find:</p><ul class="ee-ul"> <li>A list of the brands we trust most</li><li>A price comparison chart to help you find the best value CBD oil</li><li>The potential benefits that you can derive from CBD oil</li><li>CBD dosage recommendations.</li><li>How to pick the best CBD oil for your needs</li></ul><p>CBD oil works differently for everyone and just because something works well for a friend or colleague doesn't necessarily mean it'll be as effective for you. Fortunately, there are many options out there to choose from. The CBD market is growing fast, however, quality can vary between brands, which is why we have conducted our own research to compile a list of CBD products that we think are the best.</p><p>We've tested CBD oils for taste, consistency, cannabinoid profile, value, and accuracy of lab test results to compile our list of the best CBD oils available online today.</p><p>We update our list each month as we test more brands and find new products our readers may like. Our readers also provide feedback on the brands they've tried and like or don't rate so much. We take our readers' feedback into consideration when we make our Buyer's Guides.</p><p>We also work directly with many of the leading CBD brands to bring you their latest offers and discounts, so it's worth checking back to see how you can continue to get the best value CBD oils for your money.</p><h2>The Best CBD Oils in the U.K.</h2>
<h2>Price Comparison </h2><p>The key numbers to look at are the cost of CBD per mg (how much you're paying for your CBD) and the mg of CBD per mL (how much CBD you're getting per milligram). Where possible, compare each brand's 1,000mg product. It's worth bearing in mind that a higher strength bottle may be more cost effective in the long run. </p><p>For instance, Eir Health's 30ml 3,000mg bottle works out at £0.04 per milligram and delivers 100 milligrams per millilitre. So if you're looking for a higher strength bottle which will last you, paying slightly more initially would be beneficial. It's worth bearing in mind that a higher strength bottle may be more cost effective in the long run. For instance, Eir Health's 30ml 3,000mg bottle works out at £0.04 per milligram and delivers 100 milligrams per millilitre. So if you're looking for a higher strength bottle which will last you, paying slightly more initially would be beneficial.</p><h2>What is CBD oil?</h2><p>CBD is short for cannabidiol and is a chemical compound found in all varieties of the cannabis plant. CBD oil has become popular in recent years due to changing worldwide legislation. In the UK specifically, there were several high-profile medical cases relating to medicinal cannabis and the treatment of children with epilepsy and other health conditions. CBD is the non-psychoactive component of cannabis and, it's thought, the primary cannabinoid that interacts with the body's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoid_system" target="_blank">endocannabinoid system</a>. This system promotes homeostasis, or balance, and regulates physiological and cognitive functions such as mood, appetite, and how we feel pain caused by inflammation.</p><p>CBD oil is produced using a range of extraction methods, including CO2 or ethanol extraction, and then added to a carrier oil, such as MCT coconut oil, to create a tincture with a broad range of possible health benefits. CBD oil is just one form that this cannabinoid can be found in and is different to hemp seed oil, which is generally used as a dietary supplement for the essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals it imparts. Hemp seed oil is produced by cold pressing hemp seeds and creating a dark coloured oil with the nutrient-rich composition described above. CBD, on the other hand, is extracted from the flower and leaves of hemp plants.</p><p>CBD is wildly popular for its potential therapeutic effects, which some clinical trials and animal studies have found to help with a number of symptoms and conditions that CBD may help alleviate, including:</p><h3>BENEFITS OF CBD OIL</h3><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Chronic pain</li><li>Nausea</li><li>Migraines</li><li>Appetite</li><li>Seizures</li><li>Psoriasis</li><li>Inflammation</li><li>Insomnia</li></ul><p>The most common health and lifestyle issues that people turn to CBD oil for are:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Anxiety – CBD oil has been found to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-anxiety" target="_blank">relieve symptoms of anxiety</a> in people in several small studies. This is not restricted to one form of anxiety as social anxiety, generalised anxiety, panic attacks and some forms of depression have all been found to be relieved with CBD oil. It's thought that this is achieved by changing the way the brain reacts to anxiety.</li><li>Pain – CBD oil for pain is another area that anecdotal evidence and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">limited medical studies</a> show people may find relief. CBD may help reduce inflammation in the body and therefore, relieve pain. Chronic pain, back pain and generalised pain have all been shown to be relieved with CBD oil.</li><li>Sleep – Falling asleep and staying asleep for longer periods may be <a href="https://www.health.com/mind-body/the-best-cbd-for-sleep" target="_blank">enhanced with CBD oil</a>. Both direct and indirect benefits for sleep can be derived from CBD oil. An oil or edible form of CBD can help to calm the mind (indirect) and in some cases, taking CBD can make the user drowsy (direct).</li></ul><p>While there are a wide range of benefits that may be derived from CBD oil, the MHRA – which stands for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and is the equivalent to America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – has taken the stance that unless a CBD product has been approved as a medication it cannot make any medical claims on its packaging or in its marketing. This means producers need to hold a product licence to legally sell, supply or advertise them as medicine in the UK. However, no licences for selling CBD oil as a medicine have been granted by the MHRA to date. The MHRA advises people to speak to their GP or other healthcare professional if they are considering taking CBD products.</p><h2>Is CBD oil legal in the UK?</h2><p>Yes, but there is some confusion. In the UK and EU, CBD products are completely legal, as long as they have been derived from industrial hemp and contain no more than <a href="https://www.medicpro.london/cbd-regulation-laws-uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1mg of THC per product</a>. But the general advice is that UK CBD oil should contain no more than 0.01% THC, as current testing standards may not be able to detect 1mg of THC.</p><p>It has been reported that CBD Oil in the UK with no more than 0.2% THC is legal but this only applies to the cultivation of hemp and not CBD oils, which are hemp derivatives. Also, any THC contained in CBD products must be difficult to separate from the rest of the product. There are two exceptions to this law; one for Sativex, a 50% CBD and 50% THC product approved by the MHRA as a medication for treating multiple sclerosis symptoms, and for the prescription of cannabis derived medicinal products by specialist clinicians. The second exception came into law in November of 2018 after several cases were brought to court requesting the use of medical cannabis products to alleviate severe epileptic symptoms in two children. </p><h2>CBD strength and concentrations</h2><p> Concentrations of CBD in oils vary from 1mg of CBD per millilitre to 50 or 400mg per millilitre.</p><p>If a bottle has 1000mg of CBD in a 10ml bottle, this means that 100mg of CBD is dissolved in every 1ml of liquid. You can work out the number of milligrams of CBD in each millilitre by dividing the milligrams (weight) of CBD by the millilitres (volume) of the bottle; for this example, that's 1000 divided by 10 which works out at 100mg per ml.</p><p>Many UK-based brands highlight the percentage of CBD in their products, such as 5% or 10% CBD. This simply refers to the weight of the drug by volume measured in grams in 100 millilitres. Using the example above, we need to convert 1,000 milligrams to grams, which is 1 gram of CBD, that's our weight. And as the bottle is 10ml, we divide 1 gram by 10 millilitres, and multiply by 100 to get our percentage, which is 10%.</p><h2>How to dose with CBD oil</h2><p>Advice on how much CBD oil you should take varies. It's almost impossible to find a definitive answer based on clinical guidance so people need to experiment in order to find out what works best for them. It's wise to start with a low dose and work your way up to find a dosage that works for you. Understanding different product types and labelling will help you to properly measure the amount of CBD to take.</p><p>Because dose guidelines are limited, it's best to start low and work your way up to a dose of CBD oil that works for you. One resource we've found suggests starting at 1 – 6mg of CBD per 10lbs of body weight. This would mean an <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11534042" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">average UK woman weighing 11 stone</a>, could take anywhere between 15 – 92mg of CBD per dose. This could be broken into smaller doses throughout the day instead of taking all in one go.</p><p>Typically, 10ml works out to approximately 200 drops. Using the same example above, we know 1ml contains 100mg of CBD. That would mean to take 100mg of CBD you would need 20 drops of the CBD Oil. We got to that number by dividing 200 by 10. To get 15mg of CBD you would need to take only 3 drops.</p><h3>What is the correct CBD oil dosage?</h3><p>How to take CBD and the concentrations for each does will vary depending on the condition you are looking to find relief from. For example, if you're taking CBD oil for anxiety, regular, lower doses seems to be appropriate. CBD oil for sleep calls for a single, higher dose no more than an hour before bed. That's not medical advice, that's what we've gleaned from people who use CBD products.</p><p>Dosing is the most common question people have about CBD oil and other products. It's also the question we're most often asked. We cannot overstate the fact that there is no one definitive answer.</p><p>With that being said, here is a typical dosing guide to help you get started:</p><h2>CBD Oil Dosing Guide</h2><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Symptom Severity</p></td><td><p>25-50lbs</p></td><td><p>50-85lbs</p></td><td><p>85-150lbs</p></td><td><p>150-240lbs</p></td><td><p>240+lbs</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mild</p></td><td><p>6mg</p></td><td><p>9mg</p></td><td><p>12mg</p></td><td><p>18mg</p></td><td><p>22mg</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Medium</p></td><td><p>9mg</p></td><td><p>12mg</p></td><td><p>15mg</p></td><td><p>22mg</p></td><td><p>30mg</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Severe</p></td><td><p>12mg</p></td><td><p>15mg</p></td><td><p>18mg</p></td><td><p>27mg</p></td><td><p>45mg</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>How your body reacts to CBD is different to everyone else. The reason to take CBD is also personal to you – some people want to feel relaxed, others are thinking of a daily supplement to boost their health. CBD oil capsules can give your body a steady supply of cannabinoids to absorb over the course of the day. Oils will have you feeling the effects faster, but they still take time a small amount of time to work their way into your system (usually somewhere between 5 and 20 minutes). If you don't feel the effects immediately, don't take more. CBD can have an accumulative effect so wait a while before re-dosing.</p><h2>Use your head</h2><p>If you want to take 50mg of CBD and buy gummies containing 10mg each, consider the amount of sugar you'll also consume to get your CBD dose. Remember you're looking for a supplement, not a sugary snack. Choose the product that makes the most sense in regard to the dose of CBD you wish to take.</p><p>It's also worth considering price. If you find oils that declare 500mg of CBD for £15, yet everywhere else is selling the same for £50, ask yourself a few questions. Is it likely that the cheaper brand has found a way to lower the cost of growing, extracting and packaging their CBD that the others haven't? It's more likely that the cheaper brand is making bogus claims or misleading you in regards to the quality of CBD in their product? Check online guides, research brands, read a comparison list, and do your homework so you are sure you are purchasing the best CBD products for your individual circumstances.</p><h2>How to buy the right CBD oil online</h2><h3> Consider how much you want to spend</h3><p>Before you purchase CBD oil online, you should consider how much you're comfortable spending. Products can be expensive, so setting an upward limit can help you narrow down the selection and find something that works for you, without breaking your budget. </p><h3>Check the test results</h3><p>The best CBD products and brands show third-party test results on their websites, or sometimes send them to you if requested. There are a few points you should look out for when viewing test results that can help you decide which brand is best for you. </p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Batch numbers – Some brands are fastidious about testing and you can check individual batch numbers for products. This lets you follow a crop from soil, to lab, to bottle. Test results should be recent, within the last quarter is good, within the past year is acceptable, anything more is less helpful.</li><li>Cannabinoid strength, potency and terpene levels – A recent UK study by the <a href="https://www.thecmcuk.org/cbd-in-the-uk-further-update" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Centre for Medical Cannabis</a> found 62% of UK CBD mislabelled. Checking on test results can help you confirm the CBD, THC and other terpene levels found in products.</li><li>Heavy metals and pesticides – Hemp sucks up whatever is in the soil. This can compromise the quality of CBD products and is why we like established brands that use land free from pesticides and heavy metals, as opposed to pop-up brands that may source their product from growers using unproven ground. Test results should show the heavy metal content of CBD products is below the safe threshold.</li><li>Solvents and bacteria – All CBD products should be free from solvents and manufactured in clean facilities that are free from bacteria such as salmonella.</li></ul><p>If you are making a purchase via the Remedy Review website, you can find Certificates of Analysis for the brands we list <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/seal/tested-products/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><h3>Check to see what kind of CBD extract is used in the product</h3><p>CBD products in the UK fall into three different categories: Full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Full and Broad-spectrum CBD oils are thought to have greater therapeutic benefits as the multiple cannabinoids work together. This is known as the 'entourage effect'. Experts we have spoken to support the idea of 'whole-plant therapy'. Some people may prefer CBD isolate if they are subject to drug tests through work and so on.</p><h3>Consider the taste</h3><p>Some people can stand the taste of hemp. The earthy green flavour can be a turn off. Some CBD oil products have milder hemp flavours or natural additives that mask the hemp flavour to make them more palatable. </p><h3>Shop around</h3><p>While you need to be aware of scammers, there are a lot of great brands that care about their product and customers. In terms of taste and strength of product, you may find it helps to try a range of brands to find the one that suits your personal preferences best.</p><h2>FAQs</h2><h3>Is CBD oil safe?</h3><p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a<a href="https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/5.2_CBD.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> report in 2017</a> stating that there was little potential for abuse of CBD. Furthermore, they recognised the potential therapeutic benefits that could be derived from CBD for treating a wide range of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, cancer and diabetic complications, along with general pain, anxiety and depression.</p><h3>Does CBD get you stoned?</h3><p>No. CBD is the non-psychoactive component of cannabis. THC is the compound that has a psychoactive effect when taken in large enough doses (more than the 0.2% found in CBD products). Someone would need to smoke a CBD joint the size of a telephone mast to feel any psychoactive effects. CBD products allow people to get beneficial cannabinoids into their system to help their body function better, without becoming 'high' or 'stoned'.</p><h3>How long does CBD oil last?</h3><p>This partly depends on how quickly your body processes CBD and also the kind of CBD product you use. 6 – 8 hours is generally the length of time CBD oils will provide a noticeable effect.</p><p> Some products, like capsules are considered a daily supplement that needs to be taken over a period of time for it to reach its potential. Other kinds of CBD are faster acting and stronger; these types of products are better for specific issues such as social anxiety, problems with public speaking, or irregular and unexpected pain or discomfort.</p><h3>Can I take too much CBD Oil?</h3><p>You need to be careful about taking anything that will affect your health and if you are taking other medication, you should definitely discuss how CBD might interact with them, with your GP or healthcare professional. That said, most experts agree it is impossible to overdoes on CBD and even the World Health Organisation has published a report stating CBD is non-toxic and safe to use.</p><p>If you do take a very high dose of CBD, you may experience dizziness, lethargy, nausea, dry mouth and diarrhoea, but this will pass as your body processes the dose you have taken.</p><h2>Other types of CBD products</h2><p>This page covers most of what you need to know about CBD oils. If you're in the states, we also have this helpful list of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/organic-cbd-oil-2648638251.html" target="_blank">organic CBD oil brands</a>. There are lots of CBD products on the market, and each have their pros and cons.</p><p>If you're interested in CBD gummies, topicals, capsules or anything else, check out our additional online guides to find out all about the CBD product that interests you most.</p>
Evopure
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg1MDQwNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzA2NDI2MH0.Nwo2EIEVTFl-mOKsv6d5zbuAVaLSE1UcQt8OM9kgKlA/img.png?width=980" id="ca347" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e496974371274f0a4a8a1a065ab4f974" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Evopure CBD drops are independently tested and they offer a line of broad spectrum hemp oil in multiple concentrations. As a bonus, all of their oils are extracted from organically grown EU hemp on farms that use sustainable farming practices.</p>Medterra
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg1MDQyOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjY0NTQ4MH0.A-l2N48AH9WbtAcda23u9mGkApQ0P-hZspeijEYPuXQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="63055" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="098043eda1668f423e05431eb03f86bc" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Medterra's tinctures are made using CBD isolate, so they only contain CBD and are free of other cannabinoids, including THC. Since these products are isolates, they also have the added benefit of no flavour, which is a great option for anyone looking for CBD oil without the bitter, "earthy" taste.</p>Love Hemp
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg1MDM5NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNDIyNTM4MX0.Tvw5Z-fGbrO68n5ZjRutQemVtx4glk7fJkJ_7114HVk/img.jpg?width=980" id="b4a9b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="85bff89af578ae878b5a708acc908ce5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>If you're looking for a tasty CBD oil, there are various flavours available at Love Hemp, including natural, peppermint, and orange. Their CBD products are also certified THC free, and have a precise amount of CBD for easy dosing. Love Hemp is the leading CBD brand in the UK and for good reason, we haven't found a better product for the price.</p>Blessed CBD
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg1MDM5Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjY3NTk4OX0.MK5ISeIYtNR303XNjGmMT7F5VNNAxgw5bvzDvIUoVEM/img.jpg?width=980" id="83217" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4bb866de0a96f4d0fb4296ce58b04eff" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>As the most popular tincture from Blessed CBD, this 1,000mg formula is potent and full-spectrum, but still contains less than 0.2% THC. This family run business spent 12 months searching for the best hemp source, eventually settling on a hemp extract from organically grown, non-GMO, hemp plants in Colorado. This ensures that each drop of CBD oil contains rich cannabinoids and terpenes for enhanced effects. We didn't find one negative review online, which speaks volumes for the quality and effectiveness of their products.</p>Eir
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg1MDQzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NDg0NTgyMH0.Bjw1exO0AZZ_BEvo-ApB5mI6t6rc-n_rhzQWUIu647c/img.jpg?width=980" id="364d5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="74a6a6c46e8a01ff4d798b64ffea16e9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>For a tincture with a high potency, the No. 30 CBD oil from Eir Health contains 3000mg of CBD in one 30mL bottle. This equates to 100mg per serving, and is packed with a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes that come from organically grown European hemp plants.</p>From Your Site Articles
- Best CBD for Dogs 2020 - Organic CBD Oil for Pets - EcoWatch ›
- Best CBD Oils of 2020: Reviews & Buying Guide - EcoWatch ›
- CBD Oil: What You Need to Know - EcoWatch ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Read More
Show Less
Blockchain technology could solve food safety and fraud by enabling immediate traceability to the point of origin. Shutterstock
By Sylvain Charlebois
There has been a lot of noise on cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin of late. While some suggest cryptocurrencies are a fraud, others believe them to be the next biggest economic revolution the world has seen since the internet. Bitcoin has brought to light blockchain technology, which offers great potential for food safety and verification in the agrifood sector. Yet it is far from being the panacea for a range of issues affecting the industry—at least for now.
<p style="">
Simply put, <a href="https://theconversation.com/demystifying-the-blockchain-a-basic-user-guide-60226" target="_blank">blockchain</a> technology is a way of storing and sharing information across a network of users in an open virtual space. Blockchain technology allows for users to look at all transactions simultaneously and in real-time. In food, for example, a retailer would know with whom his supplier has had dealings. Additionally, since transactions are not stored in any single location, it is almost impossible to hack the information.
</p><p style="">
For consumers, blockchain technology can make a difference. By reading a simple <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/the-curious-comeback-of-the-dreaded-qr-code/" target="_blank">QR code</a> with a smartphone, data such as an animal's date of birth, use of <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/antibiotics">antibiotics</a>, vaccinations and location where the livestock was harvested can easily be conveyed to the consumer.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image" style="">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2MzQyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTE4Njc5NX0.1gu17Jqk7Kus29GT3WzwnLqb9-SVXOMYePn_9bgYXPQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="c8be2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4f49baaeededd72644e1ce513f048a40" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Yaxi Hu, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, developed a test to identify foreign animal parts in ground beef in 2016. Blockchain technology could help to improve the process of tracing food to its origin in real-time, greatly reducing the need to test the product. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">The Canadian Press / Handout, Paul Joseph / UBC</small>
</p><p style="">
<strong>Food Safety</strong><br>
</p><p style="">
Blockchain makes a supply chain more transparent at an all-new level. It also empowers the entire chain to be more responsive to any food safety disasters. Massive organizations such as Nestlé and Unilever are considering blockchain technologies for that reason.
</p><p style="">
Walmart, which sells 20 percent of all food in the U.S., has just completed <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/24/wal-mart-regaining-grocery-share-from-competitors-at-accelerating-rate.html" target="_blank">two blockchain pilot projects</a>. Prior to using blockchain, <a href="http://fortune.com/2017/08/22/bitcoin-ethereum-blockchain-cryptocurrency/" target="_blank">Walmart conducted a traceback test</a> on mangoes in one of its stores. It took six days, 18 hours and 26 minutes to trace mangoes back to its original farm.
</p><p style="">
By using blockchain, Walmart can provide all the information the consumer wants in 2.2 seconds. During an outbreak of disease or contamination, six days is an eternity. A company can save lives by using blockchain technologies.
</p><p style="">
Blockchain also allows specific products to be traced at any given time, which would help to reduce <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/food-waste">food waste</a>. For instance, contaminated products can be traced easily and quickly, while safe foods would remain on the shelves and not be sent to landfills.
</p><p style="">
<strong>Preventing Fraud</strong>
</p><p style="">
However, it will work only if the data at the source is accurate, as current practices in the industry are much more open to human error. Much of the compliance data is audited by trusted third parties and stored either on paper or in a centralized database. These databases are highly vulnerable to informational inaccuracies, hacking, high operating costs and intentional errors motivated by corruption and fraudulent behavior.
</p><p style="">
Blockchain operates anonymously, so <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/themixingbowl/2017/10/23/the-blockchain-of-food/1" target="_blank">mistakes would be traceable</a> to individual culprits. Considering recent <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-scientist-lauded-for-catching-food-cheats-1.3850156" target="_blank">food-fraud</a> scandals in Canada and elsewhere, this feature is not trivial. Blockchain technology provides a method with which records are kept permanently.
</p><p style="">
Most importantly though, it facilitates data-sharing between disparate actors in a food value chain. Many retailers have sold fraudulent food products unknowingly. With the use of blockchain, those days could come to and end.
</p><p style="">
<strong>Faster, Fairer Payment</strong>
</p><p style="">
Blockchain will allow everyone to be paid more quickly, from farm to plate. Farmers could sell more quickly, and be properly compensated as market data would be readily available and validated.
</p><p>
Blockchain technology could represent a legitimate option for farmers who feel compelled to rely on marketing boards to sell their commodities. The use of blockchain could prevent price coercion and retroactive payments, both of which we have seen across the food supply chain.
</p><p style="">
Blockchain technologies could "<a href="https://qz.com/326569/the-uberization-of-the-economy-is-really-about-building-a-better-trap-for-ideas/" target="_blank">Uberize</a>" the agrifood sector by eliminating middlemen and lowering transaction fees. This can lead to fairer pricing and even help smaller outfits desperate to get more market attention.
</p><p style="">
<strong>Limits of Blockchain</strong>
</p><p style="">
Our current traceability systems need work, and blockchain technologies could be the evolution they need. Given its architecture, blockchain technology offers an affordable solution to both small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and large organizations. However, there are noteworthy limitations.
</p><p>
The amount of information which can be processed is limited. Since all of the information would be out there and accessible, several contracts between organizations would need to be secured for some level of confidentiality to be retained. How to balance confidentiality with transparency would need to be worked out.
</p><p style="">
The agrifood arena is filled with secrets. Blockchain technology as it is currently being deployed would be problematic for many food companies. For many, blockchain is just a solution looking for a problem. Simply put, some companies, like Walmart, have more power and influence over other companies within the same supply chain.
</p><p style="">
<strong>Marketplace Confusion Limits Participation</strong>
</p><p style="">
In addition, blockchain is really in its infancy and most people are uncertain about its potential. The innovation in blockchain architectures, applications and business concepts is happening rapidly. It's a decentralized, open-source organism which is challenging to grasp for many, including governments.
</p><p>
In food, innovation is always desirable until it becomes real. Once it manifests itself, guards go up. Some organizations are moving ahead while others wait to see what happens. The marketplace is currently fueled with confusion due to the Bitcoin phenomenon, which is labelled by many as being irrational and ridiculous. Cryptocurrencies allow for transactions to occur while using blockchain technology, but it remains just an option.
</p><p>
Nevertheless, the most important challenge for blockchain technology remains participation. All parties must adopt the technology in order for it to work. In food distribution, not all companies are equal and some can exercise their power more than others.
</p><p style="">
A successful integration of the blockchain requires the engagement of all participating organizations. Walmart's blockchain will likely be successful because it's Walmart. But thousands of companies do not have the same clout.
</p><p style="">
Blockchain technology in agrifood has potential but it needs work. Industry public leaders should embrace blockchain as an opportunity and should be added to a digitalization strategy currently affecting the entire food industry. Transparency, productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of the agrifood sector could be enhanced.
</p><p style="">
Nonetheless, research should look at how to generate evidence-based blockchain solutions to democratize data for the entire system before we get too excited.
</p><p style="">
<em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-blockchain-technology-could-transform-the-food-industry-89348" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
</p><script async="async" data-counter="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/89348/count?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" id="theconversation_tracker_hook" src="https://theconversation.com/javascripts/lib/content_tracker_hook.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Read More
Show Less
Trending
Bitcoin's insane price hike to more than $15,000 on Thursday has left me thinking one thing: I'll never be able to afford these things, so why should I care?
But while bitcoin-money lines the pockets of early investors and digital currency speculators, the rest of the planet is suffering. As it turns out, bitcoin is sucking up a whole lot of energy.
<p style="">
<a href="https://digiconomist.net/bitcoin-energy-consumption" target="_blank">According</a> to Alex de Vries, who tracks the industry on the site <a href="https://digiconomist.net/" target="_blank">Digiconomist</a>, each bitcoin transaction consumes 250 kilowatt hours of power—or enough to run the average American household for <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/ywbbpm/bitcoin-mining-electricity-consumption-ethereum-energy-climate-change" target="_blank">about a week</a>. In all, the entire bitcoin network consumes an estimated 32 terawatt-hours a year. That's
<a href="https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bitcoin-uses-more-energy-than-ireland#gs.pl2vz=o" target="_blank">more than</a> the electricity consumption of at least 159 other countries, including Ireland and most African nations.</p><p>
And the network isn't exactly running on clean, green
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewables</a>. </p><p style="">“Bitcoin's biggest problem is not even its massive energy consumption, but that the network is mostly fueled coal-fired power plants in China," De Vries noted.
</p><p style="">
So why does a bitcoin—a weightless digital currency you can't exactly hold or touch—consume so much energy?
</p><p>
Well, first you have to understand that the world has a finite supply of 21 million bitcoins. Then, to “mine" one of these bitcoins, a computer must solve a complex cryptographic puzzle. As the number of bitcoins dwindle, the puzzles get more and more challenging to solve, and thus these computers need more and more energy to run.
</p><p style="">Companies mine bitcoins with large warehouses full of noisy, energy-sucking servers that are built just for the task. <a href="https://qz.com/1055126/photos-china-has-one-of-worlds-largest-bitcoin-mines/" target="_blank">For instance</a>, the coal-powered Ordos bitcoin mine in China consists of eight buildings filled with 25,000 mining machines. Their daily electricity bill costs a staggering $39,000.</p><p>
Ultimately, if bitcoin or other digital cash forms become our mainstream currency as some predict, this could come at the peril of the planet's health.
</p><p>
Proponents, however, argue that bitcoin's environmental footprint doesn't have to continue on this upsetting trend. As Elaine Ou, a blockchain engineer at Global Financial Access,
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-12-07/bitcoin-is-greener-than-its-critics-think?utm_content=view&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-view" target="_blank">wrote</a>:
</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">
What's more, bitcoin's consumption won't necessarily keep rising as it has. Data centers, for example, have gotten a lot better. Not long ago, the Department of Energy was predicting that their electricity use would double every five years, and Google was getting slammed for consuming enough to power 200,000 homes. In recent years, though, the centers' total electricity use has flattened even as their number has kept growing. As it turned out, better cooling and power management technology improved efficiency. Bitcoin miners are no less motivated by profit, so it stands to reason that they will seek to become more efficient and employ the cheapest energy available, which generally means hydroelectric plants and other renewable sources.
</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">
It's easy to criticize bitcoin for being wasteful. But so are many things in life, including airplanes, commuting to work and Sunday Night Football. A return to subsistence farming could drastically reduce our carbon footprint, but sometimes using energy to improve our quality of life is worthwhile.
</p><p style="">
Still, if bitcoin continues its exponential rise, we'll have to make this currency much greener soon.
</p>
Read More
Show Less