--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20250516-scientists-identify-cannabis-compound-in-brazilian-shrub/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Scientists identify cannabis compound in Brazilian shrub Publication Date: 16.05.2025, 10:00 Discovery of CBD in Trema micrantha may offer legal and cheaper alternative to cannabis-based production. Scientists in Brazil have identified cannabidiol (CBD), a key compound found in cannabis, in *Trema micrantha blume*, a widespread native shrub often regarded as a weed. The finding may offer a new, legally permissible and potentially less expensive source of the substance. Rodrigo Moura Neto, a molecular biologist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, told Agence France-Presse that his team detected CBD in the fruits and flowers of *Trema micrantha*, a plant common across much of South America. Unlike cannabis, the shrub contains no detectable levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana. “This is a plant that grows all over Brazil,” Neto said. “It would be a simpler and cheaper source of cannabidiol.” CBD has been increasingly adopted in medical contexts, including for the treatment of epilepsy, anxiety and chronic pain, though its clinical efficacy is still being researched. The identification of the compound in *Trema micrantha* could help bypass the regulatory constraints that currently apply to cannabis-derived CBD in jurisdictions such as Brazil, where marijuana remains illegal. The researchers have not yet published their results but plan to expand their study. Neto said the next phase will focus on scaling up extraction methods and assessing the compound’s therapeutic effects in patients. A related species was previously found to contain CBD in Thailand, suggesting the compound may occur more broadly across the *Trema* genus. Neto’s project has received a 500,000-real (US$104,000) grant from the Brazilian government and is expected to continue over the next five years. The global CBD market was valued at nearly US$5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach over US$47 billion by 2028, according to Vantage Market Research. Growth is largely being driven by consumer demand in the health and wellness sectors. --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.