Hemp, CBD, and cannabis – how are they connected?

CBD is all the rage and that is so for a reason. CBD is an abbreviation of the rather complicated word “cannabidiol”. The substance has many positive effects on people’s health. Constantly, new use cases are discovered: easing pain, help with epileptic seizures, skincare, help for sick pets, and many more. CBD seems to be a real all-purpose remedy.
Some folks may wonder if they are consuming “drugs” when taking CBD. After all, CBD is made from hemp, isn’t it? With this article, I aim to eliminate those and other prejudices. I will explain everything in detail and understandably. After reading, it you will be able to try CBD with peace of mind and be all set for answering to your friends and family.
Hemp and cannabis
People in many countries have grown hemp for several thousands of years. The plant delivered fibers for ropes, fabrics, construction materials and other things.
As with most other plants, hemp has several subspecies. All hemp plants are not created equal. Botanists have specific names for each subspecies. That way, the names are more precise. Examples are “cannabis indica” or “cannabis sativa”.
At this point, we can already eliminate a prejudice. Colloquially, people tend to use the word “cannabis” to refer to intoxicants derived from hemp. The actual word is from Greek though and simply means “hemp”. “Cannabis indica” is therefore just the scientific name for “Indian hemp” and “cannabis sativa (var. sativa)” means something like “crop hemp”.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is made from the stems and blossoms of the hemp plant. The oil is rich in cannabidiol and other potent substances. CBD oil should not be confused with hemp seed oil which you can buy in health shops. Hemp seed oil is the product of pressing hemp seeds. It is rich in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Since hemp plants are not involved in the process, hemp seed oil does not contain any CBD.
Apart from CBD itself, CBD oil does contain more than 140 other cannabinoids and terpenes which give the hemp its distinctive scent and taste. Each of the cannabinoids and terpenes has its own positive effects. Those include better sleep, improved digestion or a stronger immune system. That is the case because the cannabinoids dock on to certain receptors in the human body and thus take effect.
The ingredients of the oil do work even better in concert which makes the oil all the more useful. This is called “entourage effect”.
Which forms of CBD exist?
Generally, you can buy CBD as a so-called “isolate” or as a broad-spectrum/full-spectrum oil. With the isolate, the manufacturer has filtered out all other cannabinoids, so you get pure CBD. In contrast, a broad-spectrum/full-spectrum oil still contains all or most of the other substances.
CBD isolate was long regarded as the cream of the crop. It is a crystalline white powder. Today it is mainly used in the medical field. You can ingest it by mouth or smoke/vape it. Moreover, you can dissolve it in oil and swallow the mixture. A common problem with isolate is taking the right amount. The substance is highly pure and the wrong dosage can lead to unwanted effects.
A broad-spectrum/full-spectrum oil is easier to use and dose. The CBD concentration is lower, making it simpler to dose. Finally, the trend goes towards full-spectrum oils due to the entourage effect and the better effect it has on the user. In any case, I do recommend using a high-quality full-spectrum oil.
Is CBD oil legal?
Yes, in many countries CBD oil is legal since it contains less than 0.3 % of THC (please check thoroughly with your jurisdiction). “THC” is short for “tetrahydrocannabinol” which is a psychoactive compound of the hemp plant. Most high-quality CBD oils do contain only a minimum of THC and do not make you high.
In any case, you should stick to premium CBD oils to avoid scams and bad products. On our website, we do test the best CBD oils. Save yourself time and money and stick to those.