CBD oil and other CBD hemp products have taken the nation by storm. CBD oil seems to be advertised everywhere, along with the many benefits that is claimed to come from this product. But what is CBD oil, where does it come from, and how does this extraction process work?
CBD stands for cannabidiol. CBD can be derived from the flower of the marijuana or hemp plant, which is the cousin of the marijuana plant. Hemp is a term that is used to classify varieties of cannabis that contains 0.3% or less of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content while marijuana plants are cannabis plants that contain high concentrations of THC. THC is the chemical responsible for the high sensation that marijuana gives. CBD and THC both interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system, but they have very different effects. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning that it doesn’t produce the high or sense of euphoria that is associated with THC. CBD is used to help many conditions such as seizures, inflammation, pain, nausea, migraines, and anxiety. A few side effects that have been reported are nausea, fatigue, and irritability. Currently, the FDA foes not regulate the safety of CBD oil and other products.
With CBD containing the same chemical that creates the high of marijuana the question of legality has become a topic of debate. In 2018, President Trump passed the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill), which removed hemp as a Schedule I substance and reclassified it as an “agricultural commodity.” This bill states that if CBD is derived from hemp and adheres to the guidelines of the farm bill it is legal. The guidelines are as follows:
- The hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC
- The hemp must adhere to the shared state-federal regulations
- The hemp must be grown by a properly licensed grower
Since CBD can be derived from hemp and from marijuana, does that mean that CBD derived from marijuana is also legal? The answer to this depends on the state that you live in. In some states, where marijuana is legal, CBD derived from marijuana is also legal. Others also allow marijuana-derived CBD usage under certain conditions, such as a specific medical condition, and some states strictly prohibit it. Therefore, in most areas you will find that CBD is advertised as a hemp product or hemp derived. Before using these products, you would want to look up your state’s laws and regulations.
So how is CBD oil produced? If you are familiar with common extracts found in your local grocery store such as vanilla extract, CBD is produced in a similar way. Extraction is the process that removes the CBD from the hemp flowers. There are a few different methods that can be used to extract the CBD, these include with the use of alcohol, carbon dioxide, and butane or propane.
One of the most common extraction methods relies on solvents such as alcohol with the most common being ethanol. Ethanol is a common food preservative and additive. The cannabis is soaked in the ethanol using an alcohol extraction machine and the plant material is lifted. The liquid is then filtered, and the ethanol is evaporated. This method has a low risk of leaving toxic chemicals in the final extract of cannabis. This method is also one of the more affordable methods that is being used. Some common solvents used for extraction include:
Carbon dioxide can also be used to extract this material. A series of chambers and pumps expose the carbon dioxide to high pressure and heat turning it into liquid and gas. One chamber will hold the carbon dioxide while the second holds the hemp plant. The carbon dioxide is pumped from the first chamber to the second which breaks down the hemp to extract the oil. Once the components are extracted the carbon dioxide is condensed with the oil in a third chamber. The gas is then evaporated leaving the oil. This process requires equipment that is more expensive then other methods. However, because the carbon dioxide that is remaining evaporates from the product it can produce a purer oil than other methods.
The final method of extraction we will feature is the use of butane or propane. This method produces butane or propane hash oil. This process begins with the plant and liquid butane pressurized in a heated system, much like in the carbon dioxide method. A vacuum is then used to remove the butane and lift it from its liquid form. It is then turned into a vapor making it easier to remove from the hash oil. This method is considered one of the riskiest because butane and propane burn easily when it is in the gas state. This must be monitored closely to avoid any dangers of the gas exploding. This can cause the process to become costly.
Once the extraction is complete you are left with CBD oil that can be used as is or put into a variety of different products. With this product becoming more and more popular it has been estimated that the US market alone could grow to $20 billion by 2024. Contact your ChemCeed Sales Representative to learn more about the products that are available for use in extraction.
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