As one of the most sought-after supplements globally, CBD is fast rising on the ladder of success. The success is due to the discovery of the benefits and uses of the revolutionary specimen. And most importantly, it alleviates these generational problems – physical pain, insomnia, stress, and anxiety. But certain misconceptions still surface.

On average, the cannabis plant contains more than 60 naturally occurring and active compounds known as cannabinoids. Also known as CBD, Cannabidiol is one of the active ingredients in the plant. The unique compound gets its name because it acts on cannabinoid receptors which affect the entire body system. CBD, coupled with being non-intoxicating, is the second most abundant compound in cannabis. 

With differing chemical properties, mode of cultivation, and use, marijuana and hemp are offspring’s of the mother plant – Cannabis sativa L. Therefore, they are the two classes of the plant. Fabrics, ropes, oils, and foods are the main products of the cultivation and growth of hemp. However, marijuana has a high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – a psychoactive ingredient that populates buds and flowers. Comparatively, both hemp and marijuana have THC levels of 0.3% and 20%. 

Back in time, the early men were the ones who discovered the many benefits and differences between hemp and marijuana. The plants have garnered popularity among the young and the old of both genders to render many health benefits to them.

How Are CBD Products Made?

CDB products are as simple to produce as they are to use. The primary sources of extraction are marijuana and industrial hemp plants. Several offshoots of CBD are extracted from the stems and stalks of industrial hemp plants (cannabis plant with 0.2% THC or less) for legal purposes. After cultivation, the plants get transported from the field to the extraction facility. 

Hemp oil is the primary source of the isolation of CBD. Through a chemical process, hemp oil extraction takes place, which further reveals a vast range of cannabinoids. The best methods of extraction are non-flammable CO₂ extraction or solvents. In the final product, the FDA prefers the extraction with CO₂ because it minimizes solvent residues. 

CBD can be extracted using solvents such as ethanol and Carbon (IV) Oxide (CO₂). They are the two primary solvents used in extraction because they offer the cleanest pathway for CBD extraction that suits human consumption.

CO₂ extraction is the more popular method. While it uses smaller quantities of hemp, the mechanism filters the plants through a series of chambers in a controlled environment of temperature and pressure. This sophisticated extraction method involves subjecting the plants to varying temperatures and pressures, leading to the isolation of cannabis with 90% efficiency.  

Ethanol extraction, the alternative method, involves introducing solvent ethanol to the plant to isolate the cannabinoids. Unlike CO2 extraction, it produces a high volume of full-spectrum extracts. More so, the solvent also removes unwanted components and impurities such as chlorophyll from the plant. After extraction, the hemp plant undergoes a further step called chromatography. The chromatography stage removes undesirable phytochemicals in the desired cannabinoid. Because cannabinoids such as CBD interact strongly with the chromatography column, the substance travels slower than other plant materials such as chlorophyll (which interacts poorly with the column). After distributing the components, cannabidiol and other terpenes are isolated for further use.

Furthermore, oil products of CBD undergo decarboxylation. Simply put, decarboxylation involves heating the cannabinoids into a particular form that allows the immediate interaction of the cannabinoids with the endocannabinoid system. This process makes the CBD compound more usable and absorbed by the system. After decarboxylating the extracted oil, it is converted from CBDA (where A represents the acid) to CBD (successful removal of the acid). By doing so, the substance is ready for bio-sorption. Although the decarboxylated oil does not have a favorable taste, it is suitable for direct consumption. Also, the oil can be mixed with another oil such as coconut or hemp seed oil, converted into capsules, and hardened into an isolated form for everyday consumption.