Cannabis has evolved over the years, transitioning from a demonized substance in the 1930s to a celebrated medicinal and recreational marvel since 1996.
Today, people enjoy cannabis in various forms, including dried marijuana, oils, tinctures, and balms, thanks to its numerous potential benefits for both leisure and health.
What's particularly intriguing is how CBD oil and hemp seed oil have emerged as champions of overall well-being, even convincing skeptics to embrace cannabis. So, what sets these oils apart, and how can they improve your life?
At GreenIVe, we aim to shed light on the misunderstood aspects of this versatile plant, helping readers explore the facts and discover how cannabis can positively impact their lives. Let's dive in.
What Are The Differences Between Hemp vs CBD?
While cannabis science is complex, we'll simplify it. Cannabis contains 540 compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (from marijuana/Cannabis indica, which causes a "high") and CBD (from industrial hemp/Cannabis sativa, non-intoxicating and used in various products).
Hemp and marijuana are both Cannabis sativa but differ significantly. Only marijuana has large amounts of THC (up to 30%), enough to cause a high; hemp has less than 0.3%. The major differences between CBD and THC will be explored further.
Hemp is unlike CBD and marijuana because hemp oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant. These seeds, with pressed, do not contain any cannabinoids. Hemp is more of a nutritious oil and does not rely on cannabinoids to provide health benefits.
Where Do They Come From?
Hemp oil comes from hemp seeds, while CBD oil can be extracted from both hemp and marijuana plants. However, since there are still places that consider marijuana illegal, you’ll find that the majority of CBD products you get from the market are made from industrial hemp.
How Are They Made?
CBD oil extraction involves using methods like CO2 extraction to liquefy CO2, enabling it to absorb hemp's flavors, oils, and CBD from hemp plant parts.
Liquid solvent extraction involves soaking chilled hemp in butane, alcohol, or ethanol, followed by filtration and low-heat evaporation to create a concentrated extract.
In contrast, hemp seed oil is derived from cannabis seeds via cold-pressing. The process involves cleaning, deshelling, and processing the seeds in a cold-press machine, followed by filtration to produce clear, food-grade hemp seed oil with no CBD.
What Are The Types of CBD Oil?
Here are 3 types of CBD oils — each addresses different needs and user levels. To learn which one is right for you, we delve into each of them a little deeper:
Full-spectrum CBD, or “whole flower CBD,” has all the naturally occurring substances found in cannabis, including up to 0.3% THC. The full spectrum works best with the endocannabinoid system.
Similar to full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD typically has cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids but no levels of THC.
Isolate CBD is pure CBD minus all the other cannabinoid compounds in its full-spectrum and broad-spectrum counterparts.
What Are The Hemp vs. Marijuana Differences
Understandably, because hemp and marijuana look so similar, it’s hard to distinguish the two. Hemp is a type of cannabis that has 0.3% or less THC content by dry weight, while marijuana has more than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
For lack of a better distinction, experts simply categorize the two as Hemp is a type of cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high, while marijuana is a type of cannabis plant that does.
Do I Need a Medical Marijuana Card To Buy CBD?
The short answer is no.
You won’t need a medical marijuana card when buying CBD products with no THC or with THC content less than 0.3%. You will, however, need a medical marijuana identification card issued by a registered practitioner if you’re buying CBD products with more than 0.3% THC.
Currently, there is only one FDA-approved CBD product. The Food and Drug Administration is performing more research into the effects of CBD and the therapeutic benefits it can provide.
Are The Plant Chemicals The Same (CBD vs THC ratios)?
CBD and THC compounds, when combined, produce potential therapeutic effects for specific needs. Hemp contains neither CBD nor THC, so this is out of the question. Unfortunately, this means that there is no straightforward answer for either marijuana oil or CBD oil.
However, CBD: THC ratios that are considered “legal” or don’t require a medical marijuana card are 20:1,18:1, 15:1, or anything with significantly higher levels of CBD than THC. These ratios are also present in most CBD products you can buy in stores today.
On the other hand, most marijuana strains contain a ratio of 1:18 (and sometimes even going beyond 1:20). But a growing trend among marijuana growers has been palpable these days: They are breeding varieties with even higher THC and lower CBD content.
What Products Are CBD and Which Are Marijuana-Based?
CBD became everyone's go-to for relief before most U.S. states legalized marijuana. But now that weed has become more accessible, the list of not just CBD but also marijuana products continues to get longer.
Here are the most common CBD, marijuana, and other cannabis products on the market today:
CBD:
- Oils
- Gummies
- Edibles
- Topicals, such as creams, lotions, ointments, and balms
- Capsules and pills
- Vaping liquids
- Mist sprays
- Pet products
Marijuana:
- Flowers or buds
- Leaves
- Cartridges
- Concentrates
- Extracts
- Edibles
- Topicals, such as creams, lotions, ointments, and balms
- Oral pills, tinctures, and oils
- Inhalers
Which Type Is Better or Delivers Better Results?
Choosing between hemp and marijuana depends on personal preference and tolerance to side effects. Both have reportedly assisted with physical and mental health, relaxation, and general wellness, but they also come with respective side effects.
Marijuana can induce a strong "high," potentially impairing motor and mental capabilities even when used as medical cannabis. In contrast, high doses of hemp products, like CBD oil, can cause drowsiness. Given these considerations, GreenIVe recommends hemp-based products because of their versatility and fewer complex side effects.
Summary
CBD is not a one-size-fits-all approach to better health and wellness. When choosing between CBD oil, hemp seed oil, and marijuana for health and wellness, it’s important to know what your needs are.
Increase your omega-acid intake, and try our hemp-derived CBD products. If you’re looking for relief and relaxation, speak to your healthcare provider about whether CBD oil or medical marijuana might assist with your symptoms and needs.
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