Three CBD Facts To Know Today

With an ever-growing presence in the United States, it's important to get a grip on the facts of cannabidiol. Lot's of strange myths come up when discussing this substance and its education that will save us from the dogma of gossip.

With many big-box retailers getting into the CBD trade, education on these subjects is ever more important. Strap in for a bit of trivia on this marvelous subject. 

1. CBD Oil Is Not The Same As Hemp Oil

CBD oil is an oil that contains Cannabidiol. CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant and usually combined with a base oil (often olive, coconut or MCT). 

Hemp oil is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant and should not contain CBD, or any other cannabinoids. Hemp oil is associated with its own list of health benefits, like coconut oil. It's more of an industrial product than anything else. The uses are not specifically associated with CBD but the vast majority of media agencies are using the word synonymously with CBD. 

Hemp oil is taken most often as a nutritional supplement due to the plant stalks concentration of fortified vitamins. 

2. CBD Is In A Legal Gray Area

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived products on a federal level. 

With regard to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), CBD oil from hemp is no longer a Schedule 1 controlled substance or drug. Per section 10113 of the Farm Bill, hemp cannot contain more than 0.3 percent THC by weight.

However, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has not legalized CBD for sale as a supplement. The agency has stated it wants more information on CBD and time to consider how it might regulate the production, marketing, labeling, distribution and dosage recommendations. Different cities and counties are up in arms as various regulations come to pass. City ordinances will be up to local residents to change until the stigma against CBD and Cannabis is able to change. 

The FDA is becoming more involved as time passes. 

The FDA recently issued a statement from commissioner Scott Gottlieb  M.D., clarifying the next steps for evaluating the regulatory pathways for CBD. They’ve also scheduled a public hearing on May 31, 2019, and have made it easier for researchers to conduct studies on CBD. 

It’s clear that the FDA is waiting to assess more data before approving CBD overall. But the dominos seem to be falling after years and years of the divide on this subject.

3. CBD extraction has two major types

Most CBD is extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stalks of the cannabis plant via solvent or heat extraction methods.

The first method, solvent extraction, uses solvents to separate the compounds from the plant. On the high end, CO2 (Carbon dioxide) is used as the solvent. One version uses chemicals like ethanol, butane, kerosene, etc.  are used as the solvent. 

In the second method, steam is used to extract oil in a gentle and effective way as well. 

The extraction method directly impacts the quality of the oil you purchase. Hemp is a plant full of amazing elements but those beneficial compounds are delicate. When creating a premium, full spectrum oil, it’s essential to extract CBD, and other plant compounds, without causing damage during the process. 

If the cannabinoids or terpenes are destroyed or damaged, then the product will have less efficacy or will require added flavors to mask the taste. This is why coconut oil is a proper medium, as the taste of a bad extraction can't be masked as easily. If you experience off-flavors in your CBD, then it's easy to know that something is wrong. 

As always, reviewing third part testing results is an accurate way to know how and what is extracted in your CBD. 

CBD is finding its way to consumers in many forms.

As the hype around CBD increases, consumers are finding a wide variety of ways to consume it. The most common forms of CBD products include oils, tinctures, cosmetics, topical creams, gummies, chocolate, powder, and off-the-shelf beverages. You might also come across food and beverage establishments adding CBD to cocktails, coffees, and shakes.

We hope these bits of trivia have been helpful. Please share if you think this would help educate a consumer on CBD. Happy Information Friday!