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Scientists in Brazil just discovered something that changes how we should think about CBD.
They found it in a plant that isn’t cannabis.
Trema micrantha blume. A common shrub that grows all over South America. Often considered a weed—the kind that sprouts up in abandoned lots and forest edges without anyone planting it.
Chemical analysis confirmed it: the plant produces CBD in its fruits and flowers.
No THC. Just CBD.
The Brazilian government was impressed enough to hand the research team a $104,000 grant to figure out how to extract it and test whether it works as well as cannabis-derived CBD.
For countries where cannabis remains illegal, this could be a regulatory game-changer. A legal source of CBD without any of the complications that come with growing Cannabis sativa.
But that’s not what caught my attention.
What caught my attention is this: Nature made CBD at least twice.
Two completely unrelated plants, separated by millions of years of evolution, both produce the exact same molecule.
That’s not a coincidence.
This article explores what this discovery reveals about CBD itself—why evolution would create the same compound in different plant families, what that tells us about CBD’s biological importance, and whether Brazilian shrubs will actually replace hemp as our CBD source.
Spoiler: probably not. But the reasons why are more interesting than you’d think.
What They Found (And What They Didn’t)
Let’s start with the facts.
Who found it: Rodrigo Moura Neto, a molecular biologist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
What they found: CBD in measurable quantities in the fruits and flowers of Trema micrantha blume.
What they didn’t find: THC. Not a trace.
This matters because cannabis prohibition is largely driven by THC—the psychoactive compound that gets users high. CBD doesn’t do that. It’s non-intoxicating, which is why it’s legal in many places where THC isn’t.
But most CBD today comes from hemp, which is technically cannabis with less than 0.2% THC (in the EU) or 0.3% (in the US). Still cannabis. Still subject to regulations, stigma, and in some countries, outright bans.
Trema micrantha sidesteps all of that. It’s not cannabis. It’s not even in the same plant family.
The Plant Itself
Trema micrantha grows throughout Brazil and much of South America. It’s a pioneer species—one of the first plants to colonize disturbed soil. Grows fast, spreads easily, thrives in poor conditions.
Farmers and foresters often consider it a weed. An opportunistic shrub that shows up uninvited and takes over cleared land.
Which means it’s abundant. Cheap to harvest. Requires no special cultivation.
In Brazil, where cannabis remains illegal, this plant could provide a domestic CBD source without breaking any laws. “A legal alternative to using cannabis,” as Moura Neto put it.
This Isn’t the First Time
Here’s what makes this more than a one-off discovery: scientists had already found CBD in a related plant in Thailand.
So we’re not talking about two instances anymore. We’re talking about at least three plant species that produce CBD.
A pattern is emerging. CBD production isn’t unique to cannabis. It’s a solution that evolution has discovered multiple times, in multiple locations, in plants that aren’t closely related.
What Happens Next
The research is still preliminary. Results haven’t been peer-reviewed or published yet.
The Brazilian team has a five-year timeline to:
- Develop optimal extraction methods for Trema
- Scale up production
- Test the CBD’s effectiveness in humans
- Compare it to cannabis-derived CBD
- Navigate regulatory approval (even non-cannabis CBD needs safety studies)
So we’re years away from Trema-derived CBD products hitting shelves.
But the discovery itself—the fact that this plant makes CBD at all—tells us something important about the molecule itself.
When Nature Invents The Same Thing Twice
There’s a term for what happened here: convergent evolution.
It’s when unrelated species independently evolve similar traits because they face similar environmental pressures. Evolution finds the same solution multiple times because that solution works.
Classic example: flight.
Birds evolved wings. So did bats. So did insects.
Completely different structures. Bird wings are modified forelimbs covered in feathers. Bat wings are modified hands with skin stretched between elongated fingers. Insect wings are entirely different—chitinous extensions that don’t correspond to any limb structure in vertebrates.
Yet all three enable powered flight.
Why? Because flight offers massive survival advantages. Access to food sources competitors can’t reach. Escape from predators. Efficient long-distance travel. The advantages are so significant that natural selection favored flying in three completely separate lineages.
Eyes: Another Example
Camera-like eyes evolved independently at least 50 times in different animal groups.
Octopus eyes look remarkably similar to human eyes—lens, iris, retina, the whole setup. But they developed through completely different evolutionary pathways. Our retinas are “backwards” (light-sensing cells face away from incoming light). Octopus retinas are “forwards” (more efficient design, actually).
Yet both converged on the same basic structure because it’s really effective at capturing visual information.
Echolocation
Bats and dolphins both use biological sonar to navigate and hunt.
Bats evolved it to hunt flying insects in darkness. Dolphins evolved it to navigate murky ocean waters and detect prey.
Same solution. Different environments. Different evolutionary histories.
What This Tells Us
When the same trait evolves multiple times independently, it’s solving a real problem.
The solution is effective enough that natural selection keeps discovering it.
These aren’t lucky accidents. They’re optimized solutions to specific challenges.
Now apply this to CBD.
Cannabis and Trema micrantha are unrelated plants. Different families. Different evolutionary paths. Millions of years of separation.
Yet both produce cannabidiol.
The question: What problem is CBD solving that two completely different plant species would independently evolve to produce it?
The Plant’s Perspective: What’s CBD For?
We tend to think about CBD in terms of what it does for humans. Pain relief. Anxiety reduction. Sleep support.
But plants didn’t evolve CBD for us.
They evolved it for themselves.
Protection Against UV Radiation
CBD and other cannabinoids absorb ultraviolet light.
This protects plant tissues—especially flowers and developing seeds—from UV radiation damage. Think of it as botanical sunscreen.
Cannabis evolved in Central Asia, likely in high-altitude regions with intense UV exposure. Producing cannabinoids in the flower clusters (where seeds develop) protects the next generation from radiation-induced DNA damage.
Trema micrantha grows in tropical and subtropical Brazil. Near the equator. High UV exposure year-round.
Same problem. Same solution.
Defense Against Herbivores
Cannabinoids deter insects and animals from eating the plant.
THC has particularly strong deterrent effects—the psychoactive high is unpleasant for most animals. But CBD contributes to the plant’s overall defensive chemistry as well. Bitter taste. Potential toxicity to certain species.
Interestingly, CBD is non-psychoactive, which means it doesn’t deter pollinators the way THC might. It protects the plant without interfering with reproduction.
Both cannabis and Trema face heavy herbivore pressure. Tropical environments in South America. Mountain valleys in Central Asia. Both crawling with insects and browsing animals.
Antimicrobial Properties
CBD has demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal properties.
This protects the plant from pathogenic infections—particularly important in humid environments where fungi thrive.
Brazil’s tropical climate is perfect for fungal growth. Plants that can produce their own antimicrobial compounds have a survival advantage.
Cannabis likely evolved in areas with seasonal humidity. Same selective pressure.
Stress Response
Plants produce cannabinoids in response to environmental stress. Drought. Temperature extremes. Physical damage.
It’s part of the plant’s stress management system—a way to mitigate damage and increase chances of survival under harsh conditions.
Both cannabis and Trema are pioneer species that colonize disturbed or marginal land. They face stress regularly.
Why CBD Specifically?
Of all the possible defensive compounds plants could produce, why did both cannabis and Trema converge on CBD?
Because it’s effective. It provides broad-spectrum UV protection, herbivore deterrence, and antimicrobial defense without being metabolically expensive to produce.
And crucially: it’s non-psychoactive. Doesn’t interfere with pollination. Doesn’t make the plant’s reproductive parts inaccessible or unappealing to the insects and birds that spread pollen and seeds.
The convergent evolution argument: If CBD provides these advantages, and if Trema faces similar environmental pressures to cannabis, it makes evolutionary sense that Trema would also evolve to produce CBD.
CBD isn’t random. It’s a solution to specific biological problems that multiple plant species face.
Why Plant Defense Molecules Work In Humans
Here’s where it gets interesting for us.
We have cannabinoid receptors throughout our bodies.
CB1 receptors: Concentrated in the brain and nervous system.
CB2 receptors: Concentrated in the immune system and peripheral tissues.
This system—the endocannabinoid system—existed long before humans started using cannabis. It evolved to respond to compounds our own bodies produce.
Our Own Cannabinoids
Anandamide. Named after “ananda,” the Sanskrit word for bliss.
And 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol).
We produce these endogenously. They regulate pain, mood, appetite, immune function, memory. They’re neurotransmitters and immune modulators that our bodies use to maintain balance.
The endocannabinoid system isn’t there to interact with plant cannabinoids. It’s there to interact with our own internal signaling molecules.
The Evolutionary Accident
Plants evolved CBD to protect themselves from UV radiation, herbivores, and microbes.
Humans evolved an endocannabinoid system for completely different reasons—internal regulation and homeostasis.
By coincidence, plant cannabinoids happen to interact with our receptors.
Why? Molecular mimicry. CBD’s structure resembles our endocannabinoids enough that it fits our receptors and modulates the system.
Not as directly as THC does (which binds to CB1 receptors and causes psychoactive effects). CBD works more subtly—it modulates the endocannabinoid system rather than directly activating receptors. This is why CBD has effects without being intoxicating.
This isn’t unique to cannabinoids. Caffeine mimics adenosine (which regulates sleep/wake cycles). Nicotine mimics acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter). Many plant compounds interact with animal biology by accident of molecular structure.
Why This Matters for Trema CBD
If Trema produces the exact same molecule as cannabis—same molecular structure, same chemical formula—it should interact with human endocannabinoid receptors identically.
Source doesn’t matter. The molecule is what counts.
CBD from cannabis = CBD from hemp = CBD from Trema micrantha.
The universality of CBD: This discovery suggests CBD isn’t a “cannabis thing.” It’s a molecule with broad biological utility that nature has discovered multiple times.
And if our bodies respond to it, that’s not because cannabis is “magic.” It’s because the molecular structure happens to fit our receptors.
The Practical Reality Check
So should we all get excited about Brazilian shrubs replacing hemp as our CBD source?
Not so fast.
Why This Discovery Is Exciting
On paper, it’s compelling:
- Potential new CBD source
- Legal in countries where cannabis isn’t
- Abundant and easy to grow (it’s considered a weed)
- No THC complications
- Potentially cheaper production
But Here’s the Reality
The timeline is years away.
This research is 5+ years from completion. Results aren’t peer-reviewed or published yet. Extraction methods need development. Human trials are required. Regulatory approval is needed—even for non-cannabis CBD sources.
Hemp already exists.
We have established cultivation practices for hemp. Decades of research on extraction methods. Known cannabinoid profiles. Regulatory frameworks (EU novel food applications, US Farm Bill). Thousands of studies on safety and efficacy.
Hemp CBD is standardized, tested, and consistent.
Trema CBD? Unknown cannabinoid profile. Untested. Experimental.
Quality Control Considerations
Full-spectrum hemp CBD contains CBD plus other beneficial cannabinoids (CBG, CBN, CBC) plus terpenes that work synergistically. The entourage effect.
What’s in Trema’s full spectrum? Complete mystery until researched.
Will Trema produce other beneficial cannabinoids? Unknown.
Will it produce any problematic compounds that need to be removed? Unknown.
Regulatory Uncertainty
Just because Trema isn’t cannabis doesn’t mean instant regulatory approval.
In the EU, it would need novel food applications. In the US, FDA approval. Safety studies are required regardless of source.
This could take a decade to navigate.
Economic Reality
Hemp infrastructure exists globally. Supply chains are established. Extraction facilities are optimized for hemp.
Trema would require building entirely new supply chains. Extraction methods would need optimization (different plant, different chemistry, different challenges). Investment would be required for an unproven source.
Dr. Hemp Me Position
We’re not switching to experimental Brazilian shrubs when we have a reliable, tested, regulated hemp source.
Novelty doesn’t equal better.
Established equals safer, more consistent, and available now.
The Real Significance
So if Brazilian Trema won’t replace hemp anytime soon, what does this discovery actually prove?
Three Key Takeaways
1. CBD is biologically important
Not just “cannabis hype” or marketing spin.
Nature values this molecule enough to evolve it multiple times in unrelated plant species.
That suggests genuine biological utility beyond human use. CBD solves real problems for plants. It wouldn’t have been naturally selected repeatedly if it didn’t work.
2. CBD and THC are distinct compounds
Trema produces CBD without producing THC.
This is proof—at the molecular level—that these are separate compounds with separate functions.
It undermines the “CBD is just a gateway to THC” argument. It reinforces that CBD has its own effects independent of psychoactivity.
Plants can evolve to produce one without the other. They serve different purposes.
3. Source matters less than molecule
CBD from cannabis = CBD from hemp = CBD from Trema.
Molecular structure determines effects. Origin story doesn’t change biochemistry.
Quality and purity matter. But whether the CBD came from Cannabis sativa or Trema micrantha doesn’t change how it interacts with your endocannabinoid system.
What It Doesn’t Prove
Let’s be clear about limitations.
This discovery doesn’t prove that Trema CBD is better than hemp CBD.
It doesn’t prove we should abandon cannabis/hemp as CBD sources.
It doesn’t prove CBD works for every condition (effectiveness is still being researched).
And it doesn’t prove all plant-based CBD is equal (quality control is still essential).
The Evolutionary Argument for CBD Legitimacy
When you’re deciding whether to trust a supplement, one useful question is: “Has nature tested this?”
CBD has been tested by evolution. Multiple times. In multiple plant species. Across millions of years.
That’s not proof of medical efficacy in humans. But it’s a strong signal that this molecule has genuine biological activity.
Evolution is brutal about what works and what doesn’t. Traits that don’t provide advantages get eliminated. Traits that help survival get amplified.
CBD kept showing up. In different plants. Different continents. Different environmental contexts.
Nature wouldn’t have bothered producing it multiple times if it didn’t matter.
Nature’s Stamp of Approval
Brazilian scientists found CBD in an unexpected place.
A common shrub. A weed. Not remotely related to cannabis.
But this discovery tells us more about CBD than it does about Trema micrantha.
It reveals that CBD is a solution nature has discovered multiple times. Not once by accident in cannabis. Multiple times, independently, because it works.
Convergent evolution is nature’s way of saying “this is effective.”
When birds, bats, and insects all independently evolved wings, it meant flight was worth evolving toward. When multiple animal lineages developed camera-like eyes, it meant that structure was highly effective for processing visual information.
When multiple plant species evolved to produce CBD, it means this molecule solves important biological problems.
The Practical Takeaway
We don’t need to wait for Brazilian weeds to be researched, regulated, and brought to market.
Hemp-derived CBD is established. Tested. Available now.
Same molecule. Proven source.
The Philosophical Takeaway
CBD isn’t unique to cannabis.
It’s a biologically significant compound that evolution deemed valuable enough to create independently in at least three plant species we know of.
Whether it comes from cannabis, hemp, or South American shrubs, the molecule matters.
And that molecule has been nature-tested across millions of years of evolution.
Nature made CBD at least three times that we know of. Maybe it’s time we paid attention to why.
