Used for its virtues for more than 2500 years, cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid present in cannabis and hemp, which sets it apart from THC and therefore allows the legality of its trade. Over the past few years, CBD products have invaded the market in various forms. While its properties are recognized by the scientific community in certain therapeutic settings, it is enjoying growing success in the population for its positive impact on well-being. Today, it is possible to obtain it legally and to use it regularly to improve certain aspects of your daily life. We thus offer you a quick portrait of CBD.
Cannabidiol is a natural, non-psychotropic cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant and is abundant in hemp. It is one of the non-psychoactive compounds in cannabis. There is clinical evidence supporting the value of CBD in the treatment of certain neuropsychiatric disorders (epilepsy, anxiety, and schizophrenia). There are also many clinical cases where CBD oil and other CBD products have helped people (and pets) with many other medical conditions.
CBD oil, or cannabidiol oil, is an oil created by extracting cannabidiol from a cannabis or hemp plant. The result is an oil that contains high concentrations of CBD and can vary in levels of other cannabinoids or plant compounds. The term CBD is used to encompass many types of CBD extracts, and the use of the name has started to cause confusion. CBD oils can have a range of cannabinoid profiles and medicinal or health benefits. It can be in one of the following product forms:
There are also several types of CBD oil, including the following:
Unlike other cannabis chemicals, such as flavonoids and terpenes, cannabidiol only exists in the cannabis plant. When we talk about the cannabis plant, we mean both hemp and what people think of as marijuana. While hemp and cannabis come from the same plant species, their cannabinoid and terpene profiles are different.
As each type of plant has different chemical compound profiles, the CBD oils that come from each of the plants also have different profiles. For example, hemp plants have very low levels of THC to start with, typically 0.035% or less. So, for people who want to avoid THC, CBD from hemp may be a better option. Hemp also has a different spectrum of compounds, which means the therapeutic benefits may be different from those of other plants.
Cannabis plants produce a wider range of cannabinoids and other compounds, especially THC. Until recently, hemp growers had to grow large amounts of hemp to produce CBD oil. Now, hemp growers are cultivating PCR (phytocannabinoid-rich) hemp plants that allow for smaller crops containing higher yields of CBD.
The CBD industry has grown rapidly in recent years. With the growth of the industry and the number of companies making CBD, the CO2 (carbon dioxide) extraction method has become the most advanced and technically recommended way to make CBD oil. Although it is the most expensive of the most popular methods, it allows for the strongest, safest, and chlorophyll-free extraction. There are three types of CO2 extraction:supercritical, subcritical and semi-critical.
CO2 is usually in the form of a gas. Supercritical CO2 forms when CO2 is heated above 31.1°C and pressurized to 1071 psi. It then takes on the properties of gas and liquid (known as supercritical liquid). Typically, this process is performed using a “closed loop extractor”; a machine that has three main chambers and manipulates the states of CO2 as well as the extraction of cannabinoids and other compounds.
The process begins by putting ground cannabis in a container. The solid CO2, dry ice, is then pumped into the container and is converted from CO2 to supercritical CO2 as it enters the chamber. Supercritical CO2 passes through plant matter and extracts cannabinoids, trichomes and terpenes. The mixture is pumped into the third chamber where the contents are separated. The oil is then collected and the CO2 returned to the original container for reuse. Supercritical Oil Extraction kills bacteria, mold, and other contaminants left in CBD oil.
Solvent extractions often use low-grade alcohol, such as ethanol or isopropyl, to extract the CBD. Solvent extraction is one of the cheapest and most dangerous ways to extract CBD because the chemicals used are highly flammable. This method often dissolves plant waxes, which contain nutrients, and can also extract chlorophyll which can give CBD a bitter taste. While filtering removes chlorophyll, filtering also reduces the potency of the oil.
After harvesting, the cannabis or hemp is placed in a container where the cannabinoids are extracted. The plants are either soaked or the solvents pass through the materials, stripping the cannabinoids from the plant. Once finished, the liquid then goes through an evaporation process where it is heated and leaves the cannabinoid concentrates as an oil. In some cases, solvent residues exist after evaporation. These residues can be harmful to humans, and some studies have found traces of petroleum and other harmful substances in CBD from solvent extraction.
