Marijuana CEO: 'Many of us are cannabinoid deficient'

The growing interest in cannabis and cannabis-derived products has sparked uncertainty and concern over the industry’s lack of regulations. On Thursday, the FDA held a hearing that looked deeper into the science and safety concerns that surround marijuana and CBD.

Medical Marijuana Inc (MJNA) CEO Stuart Titus is optimistic about the effects that cannabis-derived products have on humans.

“We have a very large self-regulatory system in our human bodies called the internal or the endogenous cannabinoid system,” Titus told YFi AM (video above). “And basically since cannabis has been removed from our diets for the past 80-plus years, many of us are cannabinoid deficient, and thus we start taking a nice supplementary-size serving of CBD. Many people are moving to a much higher level of overall health and wellness.”

Titus added that CBD as a dietary supplement “will support the internal endogenous cannabinoid system and very large self-regulatory functions that really exist throughout the human body.”

‘People are feeling better’

Nearly 7% of Americans use CBD as a supplement, according to a study conducted by Cowen & Co. The market is predicted to reach $16 billion by 2025, bringing American consumer use to 10%.

“Many people are moving to a much higher level of overall health and wellness,” Titus said. “People are feeling better. They’re sleeping better. We see all kind of anecdotal reports coming in. And certainly this is leading us into further clinical study and research.”

Titus also remarks that “many of us are cannabinoid deficient,” since the cannabis has been out of our system for more than 80 years, and emphasizes the push for dietary supplements.

“We think the dietary supplement aspect can exist quite nicely in a very peaceful harmony with the pharmaceutically developed version.” he says. “By, you know, getting these essential and vital nutrients into the body, all of a sudden the body's performing well and moving to a much higher level of health and wellness.”

Many consumers have said that they have had less anxiety and better sleeping patterns since starting to consistently use CBD. Titus points out that the distinction between marijuana and CBD is that “some people now consider CBD to be nonintoxicating. It's kind of the difference between that and THC.”

Jennifer is a Production Assistant for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @shankerjennifer

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