Where does CBD Oil Come From?

The mysterious question many non-CBD users frequently ask is: Where does CBD oil come from anyways?

 Before we dive into the vast and complicated world of CBD’s origin, it is important to understand what CBD oil is. CBD oil comes in a multitude of forms. For example, there are CBD oil extracts, capsules, topicals, softgels, edibles, and more.

What does CBD Stand for?

According to Dr. Peter Grinspoon of Harvard Health Blog, “CBD stands for cannabidiol. It is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is generally derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant.”

 That said, CBD is a chemical compound found in cannabis sativa plants. CBD oil, however, is the concentrated product of the cannabis sativa plant. CBD is one of over a hundred identified compounds, called cannabinoids, in the cannabis plant. CBD is actually the most prominent cannabinoid in hemp; although, recently breeders of hemp plants have started to intentionally breed hemp to extract other non-intoxicating chemical compounds, such as CBC and CBG. In different genetic plant varieties of cannabis, CBD accounts for more than 65% of its extracts.

CBD Versus THC, What’s the Difference? 

Producers extract CBD from certain cultivars or varieties of cannabis. Specifically, manufacturers and growers of CBD extract it from hemp cultivars which, due to federal regulations, in order for CBD to be Federally Legal, CBD oil must contain less than 0.3% THC by law.

 CBD, and related non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBC, CBG and CBDA, are not to be confused with THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or more commonly known as THC, is the intoxicating chemical compound (and most abundant) of what we know as “marijuana.” Marijuana gives users the hallucinogenic and intoxicating properties responsible for the “high” users experience.

 Although CBD and THC are entirely different from one another, there is still plenty of stigma surrounding hemp and compounds such as CBD, CBC, CBG, etc.

 While the confusion is somewhat understandable since they come from the same plant, CBD oil does not induce an intoxicating high like THC. We hope by educating the general public about where CBD comes from, we can help end this stigma towards these chemical compounds.

 CBD comes from female cannabis crops, in both hemp and marijuana, but is found more abundantly in hemp than marijuana. Like THC, CBD is found in the trichomes of the hemp plant which are most prevalent in the flowers, and can sometimes extend to the leaves.

 Some people believe that CBD oil found in Hemp comes from the stalks or seeds of the cannabis plant. While technically this is true, CBD found in these areas are too inefficient and expensive to extract.  In particular, the seeds of the Hemp plant have negligible amounts of CBD.

 Some people tend to confuse where CBD comes from, because European methods for growing hemp and extracting CBD are quite different from how we grow CBD in the United States. In Europe, hemp fibers are abundant, and thus crops are grown for the fibers, where the hemp fields have thinner stalks compared to American plants.

Hemp Versus Marijuana 

Today, in America, hemp is grown to look more like marijuana, which is why people often confuse the two plants. The plants look alike because they are both cannabis species, and are both grown for the flower where CBD and THC are produced. However, the two varieties have different functionalities because they are grown for different cannabinoids.

 Instead of thinner stalks with tiny flowers like those found in European hemp, US grown hemp is bushy, with thick stalks that can support their heavy female flowers (or colas). Growing hemp in this way allows for increased CBD oil concentrations, normally between 8% to 15%, which provides increased revenue for farmers and is more efficiently extracted in the pilot scale extraction facilities available in the United States.

 Overall, CBD comes from the flowers of the hemp plant and is most abundant in the plant when grown for all female plants. Beyond that, the concentration of CBD in the plant depends on the cultivars or genetics that a farmer is using, as these ratios can vary greatly. In addition, these ratios are essential for determining if a plant is federally legal or only legal in a medical or recreationally legal cannabis state.

Conclusion

When choosing a quality CBD oil product, be sure to look for a reputable retailer like Palm Organix that sources their CBD from USA High Quality Hemp, 3rd party tests their CBD products, offers great customer service and ships CBD oil products for free.  

The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.