Ask any patient out there that has utilized CBD and they will likely tell you not all types of CBD are created equal. After reading this article it’s likely that you will also agree. There are many different reasons why this is. In this article, we will take a closer look at the many different aspects that come in to play regarding the quality and efficiency of CBD. If you’re new to CBD and want to learn how to know the differences in the CBD products available today, you’ll want to read this article.
The first thing you need to know about when it comes to the differences in CBD and CBD products is the different places that CBD can be derived from. Depending on where the CBD comes from affects many things from potency, effectiveness, purity, quality, and even legality. Let’s look at the different places that CBD can come from.
CBD from Marijuana
CBD or CBD products that are derived from a cannabis (marijuana) plant are only legal in certain states in the United States. This is unlike CBD or CBD products from other sources as you will see below. This is because CBD that is derived from cannabis is only allowed in states that have legalized medical cannabis. Alternately they are semi-legal in some states that have enacted CBD only laws, and even some of those have extreme restrictions.
CBD that is derived from a cannabis plant however is considered to be much more concentrated than CBD that is derived from hemp. That’s because CBD derived from cannabis contains 100,000 ppm (parts per million) and other sources are much less concentrated. CBD from cannabis is typically made through the extraction of oil from the buds of a high CBD strain of cannabis. Cannatonic, ACDC, Dancehall, Charlotte’s Web, Ringo’s Gift, or Remedy are a few of these high CBD strains.
CBD from Hemp
The legality of CBD derived from hemp is still a very grey area under both state and federal law. According to the 2014 Farm Bill hemp plants that contain less than .3% THC in their buds or flowers are defined as “industrial hemp.” This is under section 7606 of the bill. Industrial hemp plants are legal to be grown and manufactured into products such as CBD oil. CBD derived from “legal” hemp is much less concentrated than CBD from cannabis containing only 25 ppm.
Industrial Hemp CBD vs. CBD Derived from High CBD Cultivar Flower
When it comes to where your CBD comes from, if it comes from hemp it’s even more crucial that you know the source. This is so that you know the quality of the product you’re receiving. You see, some hemp derived CBD products are made utilizing CBD that came from a cultivar of hemp that is high in CBD. The products are made utilizing the buds of the hemp plant. This is similar to how CBD from cannabis is derived from the buds. Other CBD products that are derived from hemp come from what is considered to be industrial hemp. These cultivars of hemp may contain CBD however it is not highly concentrated and many times these products are made utilizing the seeds, stalks, and even roots of the plant.
Different Types of CBD
Now let’s look at another aspect when it comes to CBD products. The second important thing is the specific type of CBD. The two types of CBD are Full Spectrum CBD and Isolated CBD. Let’s take a high-level look at the differences between the two.
Full Spectrum CBD is Highly Concentrated but is it Legal?
Full spectrum CBD products whether it is oils, topicals, tinctures or some other variation, contain more cannabinoids than just CBD. These other cannabinoids such as THC, CBN, CBC, and CBG, however, are typically present in lower concentrations than CBD. Full spectrum CBD is believed to be much more efficient at providing medicinal benefits. This is due to the entourage effect that having multiple cannabinoids, as well as terpenes present, provides.
When it comes to full spectrum CBD products it’s important to pay attention to the terpenes that are present. This is due to the fact that terpenes also offer their own set of unique benefits, but for some, they could cause complications as some individuals react adversely to certain terpenes.
Isolated CBD is Legal But is it Effective?
Now let’s take a look at the other type of CBD. The next type is isolated CBD which is sometimes referred to as CBD isolate. Isolated CBD is just what it sounds like. It’s CBD that’s been isolated from all other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids when extracted from its source. This form of CBD provides many benefits. It however isn’t considered to be as medicinal as full spectrum CBD. If you’re concerned about consuming CBD and failing a drug test, products made from CBD isolate are the safest option. Check out our blog for a more in-depth article regarding the two different types of CBD.
As you can see there are some major differences in the 2 types of CBD. This is also true regarding the sources from which it can be derived from. Having knowledge pertaining to these aspects is crucial for those looking to utilize CBD for its potential medicinal attributes. As cannabis laws continue to be reformed, research on CBD in its many forms will continue to grow. There are already several scientific studies from different countries around the world that solidify and validate the many anecdotal stories of CBD’s efficiency as a medicine.
We hope that this article helped you gain more knowledge surrounding CBD. As you can probably see after reading this article, not all CBD is created equal.