You don’t need to be working in the cannabis space to realize CBD is everywhere these days. You do, however, need to know the different kinds of CBD and what they all mean for you and your body, especially if you plan on using them.
Today CBD is being infused into everything from moisturizers and lotions to coffee, chocolate, beer, and even lube! While it’s legality is somewhat of a gray area, as long as it contains less than .3% THC, you’ll be able to find it in states that aren’t yet fully legalized. Of course there’s still much research to be done on this wonderful all-natural component of cannabis, but there’s no denying its many health and wellness benefits—benefits that millions of people are currently enjoying throughout the world, many for the first time ever.
Unfortunately, with the rise of CBD’s popularity has also come a rise in false health and benefits claims, many of which have yet to be substantiated. In addition, with so many kinds of CBD popping up in so many different types of products, it can often be hard to distinguish between them and discern which is best for you. Thankfully, there are only two main types of CBD to really concern yourself with—cannabis and hemp.
Cannabis CBD, also known as full-spectrum CBD, is derived from the entire cannabis flower and contains THC, terpenes, and other cannabinoids and flavonoids of the plant. This full-spectrum CBD is often the preferred kind, as it allows the body to take advantage of all of the plant’s full synergistic components, bringing to life what many refer to as the “entourage effect,” where all the natural ingredients of the flower work together to provide maximum effect. Full-spectrum cannabis CBD is also the purest form of CBD available and the least likely to contain any unwanted chemicals and/or pesticides.
Hemp CBD, on the other hand, comes from the actual hemp part of the cannabis plant—specifically, the seed and stalk rather than the leaves and flower. As such, it lacks many of the beneficial components found in cannabis CBD. In addition, regulation of industrial hemp (where hemp CBD comes from) has been rather laxe, with no one really checking to ensure hemp CBD is free of harmful ingredients like pesticides, bacteria, heavy metals, residual solvents, and other unwanted contaminants. This is different from most cannabis CBD, which usually lists out all its ingredients, dosage, and sourcing per each state’s specific cannabis laws, ensuring a cleaner and purer CBD.
Although both cannabis and hemp CBD are low in THC, the difference in the amount of actual CBD they contain is rather substantial. While hemp CBD usually has low traces of CBD (typically around 3.5%), cannabis CBD can have up to 20%. It’s this higher concentration that makes CBD truly beneficial in the treatment of many severe health disorders. A good way to look at it is to think of hemp CBD as more of a health supplement or vitamin and cannabis CBD as a pharmaceutical-grade medicine. They both offer benefits, but one clearly offers more than the other.
The takeaway from all of this should be to always exercise caution when purchasing CBD, especially when the label reads hemp CBD. While many products clearly state whether their CBD comes from hemp or cannabis, there are still way too many that don’t. Thankfully, one way to tell is your location. Because hemp is currently less legally scrutinized than THC, you’ll find most non-legalized states selling a hemp-derived version of CBD as it’s super-low THC makeup essentially makes it legal, whereas most legalized states will be carrying full-spectrum cannabis CBD since they don’t have to be concerned about any such legal ramifications.
Either way, as long as you know where it’s coming from, CBD offers a ton of great health and wellness benefits that are certainly worth checking out. We currently offer a small selection of CBD products in our Health section on The Shop, with many more to come in the months ahead. Stay tuned and happy hunting!
