How many products can be made from cannabis?
The plant is the raw material for over 5,000 types of products with the potential to serve 21 different sectors of the economy
By Sechat editorial team with information from ascom
Cannabis is a much richer plant than one might imagine, going beyond CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). It is estimated that there are over 50,000 types of uses derived from the plant, with more than 5,000 types of products that have the potential to serve 21 different sectors of the economy. No wonder at least 90 countries around the world are undergoing legislative changes to accommodate its use.
“The legalization of cannabis goes beyond medicine. The pharmaceutical industry, for example, explores the antioxidant properties of the herb in various segments,” points out Kathleen Fornari, CEO and co-founder of Anna Endocannabinoid Medicine, a Brazilian startup created to streamline access to medicinal cannabis in the country.
With the opening up to cannabidiol-based medicines, several industry giants have also started producing CBD cosmetics, especially in the United States, including L’Oreal, Tresemmé, and Avon, from the Brazilian Natura, with the facial oil Green Goddess. In fashion, it is already possible to find clothing made from the stalk and fibers of hemp, which originates from cannabis sativa. Since 2013, Levi’s has been using the raw material for selected items.
"Cannabis is already the fifth most valuable agricultural crop in the United States, and it continues to rise year after year. It is imperative that our government stops viewing the plant as something to be prohibited; we should see it as the precursor to a new industrial revolution, this time green and sustainable. It’s all we need," emphasizes Lorenzo Rolim da Silva, president of the Latin American Hemp Association (LAIHA).
Hemp is also present in various other markets. The multinational Colgate already produces toothpaste made with oil from the plant's seeds. In the automotive industry, Ford is one of the manufacturers that already has cars with hemp-based structures, considered superior to fiberglass. Additionally, in 2021, the International Automobile Federation authorized cars built with the plant's fibers in Formula 1.
According to the report Cannabis - Research, Innovation, and Market Trends, released in 2021, which outlines the landscape and assesses trends in the sector in scientific and business realms, the segment is expected to reach a global gain of $55.3 billion by 2024. Of this number, Latin America alone is expected to account for $824 million.
Currently, only 23 products are regulated by the National Health Surveillance Agency, with nine of them based on cannabis sativa extracts and 14 on CBD.