How Is CBD Oil Made?

Research is finding that CBD oil, which is short for cannabidiol oil, offers users a number of positive effects.

But how exactly is CBD oil made? In other words, how are the positive aspects CBD cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant, only to be placed in high-quality CBD oil products that are then offered to consumers for sale? The answer begins with the hemp plant itself.

For the CBD oil to be high in quality, the industrial hemp plant it is extracted from needs to be high quality as well. This starts with planting hemp plants that are genetically stable and come from a good strain, and growing them in the right type of soil.

Ideally, this soil should have a pH that is somewhere between a 6 and a 7.5. It should also be well-aerated, have an almost even mixture of sand and silt, receive ample amounts of water, and, preferably, have access to full sun for 12 or more hours per day. [2]

Because it is difficult to determine or control soil-based standards in other countries, it is always advisable to choose a CBD oil that comes from industrial hemp plants grown within the United States. This ensures that proper regulations have been followed, resulting in a higher quality hemp plant, whether it comes from the cannabis sativa variety or cannabis indica.

Once the cannabis plants have matured, which generally takes around four months, it is time to harvest the plants. For plants grown specifically for CBD oil and other types of CBD products, this harvesting typically occurs during the early to middle fall, giving the cannabinoids ample time to reach peak levels.

After the marijuana plants have been harvested from the fields, the next step is to extract the CBD. There are a couple of different extraction methods available for pulling cannabis oil from the hemp plant itself. Let’s go over two of the most common now.

The CO2 in supercritical CO2 extraction—also known as supercritical fluid extraction, or SFE—stands for carbon dioxide and involves taking this colorless, odorless gas and exposing it to extremely low temperatures and high enough pressure to change its form so it becomes a fluid.

The cannabis plant is then exposed to this liquid form of CO2, which is capable of dissolving certain plant materials. This causes a release of the active hemp compounds into the solvent, which is then passed through another chamber that is also temperature and pressure controlled to better separate the cannabinoids and terpenes before turning the CO2 back into gas form. [3]

While some believe that CO2 extraction is the superior CBD extraction method, using an ethanol extraction method can help create a CBD oil that is the perfect combination of CBD and terpenes, complete with a trace amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). That’s why Spruce chooses this method, extracting CBD with moonshine.

It should be noted that industrial hemp means that the plant itself cannot have more than 0.3 percent THC. Therefore, the final product supplies the healthful effects of CBD without also creating any of the psychoactive effects typically associated with medical marijuana.

With ethanol extraction, Kind seeds explains that the raw cannabis plant material is soaked in ethanol or a similar alcohol, such as moonshine, to pull the desired cannabinoids from it, after which the liquid is completely filtered out. This leaves behind CBD-rich oil that contains minimal amounts of THC, making it the perfect oil extraction for a high-quality CBD product.

At this point, the CBD oil is ready for placement within an actual product. For instance, sometimes this hemp extract is placed in tinctures, where users consume it by placing a dropper of CBD oil under the tongue and letting the body absorb the cannabis oil from there.

Others prefer to inhale their CBD oil via a vape pen, though many health experts warn that this method of CBD oil consumption may not be as safe as was once thought. This is especially true for individuals who have pre-existing lung conditions, due largely to the toxic substances often added to CBD vaping oils. [4]

By having a better understanding of how CBD hemp oil is made, you also gain a clearer picture of why it is so important to choose a product that uses only the best plants, grown in the best soil, and that extracts CBD oil using the best methods.

When you do this, you can have a high level of confidence that your hemp oil will offer more positive effects without the risk of negative side effects. This is when you know you have a winning, pure CBD oil.

 

 

Sources:

[1] Kubala, J. “7 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil (Plus Side Effects).” Healthline. Feb 26, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits

[2] “How to Grow Hemp (What You Need to Know About Growing CBD Hemp).” CBD School. Accessed Sep 19, 2019. https://www.cbdschool.com/how-to-grow-hemp/

[3] Bennett, P. “What Are CO2 Cannabis Extracts and How Are They Made?” Leafly. Accessed Sep 19, 2019. https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-are-co2-marijuana-concentrates

[4] “The Pros and Cons of Vaping CBD Oil.” CBD School. Accessed Sep 19, 2019. https://www.cbdschool.com/vape-cbd-oil-pros-and-cons/