A beginners guide to CBD products: hemp or cannabis?

What is CBD oil and its effects when obtained from cannabis, are CBD products legal in Spain, why is full spectrum oil better.

What is CBD photo

The demand for CBD oil is constantly growing as more investigations prove its healing abilities and relaxing effects. Still there are heated discussions around CBD: if it is allowed by law in Spain or not, how it is produced and what is appropriate form of usage.

Cannabis and hemp are primarily related to drug use but that is going to change. In this article we explain how cannabidiol (CBD) works, describe the features of production from hemp and how it differs from cannabis and answer the most burning questions concerning legal issues and the production process.

What does CBD stand for?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural component of some species of plants, namely hemp and cannabis.

What is CBD used for?

CBD oils and capsules are particularly popular, they can be ideally integrated into everyday life. The individual dosage by pipette allows the range of droplets to be adjusted to your own needs. The capsules prove to be a practical companion, especially on the road or when travelling.

Cosmetic products based on CBD are also gaining popularity as useful properties are well absorbed through the skin. Especially with regard to certain skin diseases and inflammations they may be recommended as complementary treatment.

Does CBD oil get you high?

The immediate answer is ‘No’.

Those seeking the curative CBD oil properties are usually bothered by possible hallucinogenic effects. That's why we will delve into how CBD differs from THC.

Information provided on THC obscures benefits of CBD. THC is a substance produced from the cannabis plant that has psychotropic properties related to sedation, euphoria, relaxation, hallucinations, delusions, and more.

As far as THC and CBD have the same origin the question arises, "Can CBD products be treated as a drug? Taking in account that THC products are illegal almost everywhere on the planet, this question is of major concern.

Some crucial facts:

  •   CBD is a totally legal product when distilled from industrial hemp.
  •   hemp for CBD manufacturing is grown for its firm stems and low THC levels, so it is impossible for you to get high from such products.

CBD can also be obtained from marijuana. In this case, THC percentage as well as CBD levels can vary considerably depending on the supplier, and the legality of the product may be different in each jurisdiction. All responsible companies test their output for heavy metals, molds, and cannabinoids.

Does CBD oil really work?

It is widely acknowledged that CBD has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and anticonvulsant impacts.

This cannabinoid provides a complex influence on human’s body and performs these healing effects. The interaction of CBD with endocannabinoid as well as modulating systems results in improving metabolism, mood, immunity and provides mental health benefit.

CBD oil  proved to mitigate the symptoms  of such disorders as Crohn's disease and inflammation in the gut. Athletes and active people are also turning to CBD oil to help reduce muscle pain after periods of exercise.

Benefits of CBD without THCBenefits of CBD without THC

 

Is CBD oil safe?

Scientists claim that CBD oil is absolutely secure to use for people of various ages. As it has proved to have a major healing impact, CBD oil received the approval of the WHO (World Health Organization) in December 2017.

It is important to remember that CBD (cannabidiol) oil has manifold effects and reactions of people can be different. It depends on a scope of factors, in particular how old the person is, what is his/her weight and general health condition.

The main point is how the body will absorb the substance of cannabinoids.

CBD oil and full spectrum CBD oil: is there a difference?

Usually two types are distinguished: isolates and full spectrum extracts. Although isolates offer higher levels of CBD, full spectrum extracts contain many other advantages that act synergistically with cannabidiol.

Full spectrum CBD oil means that it was extracted from the whole plant and usually contains a carefully measured amount of hemp's most potent cannabinoid, THC, although not in sufficient quantity to produce any psychological effect.

Full-Spectrum CBD vs Isolate CBDFull-Spectrum CBD vs Isolate CBD

What is the difference between CBD oil and cannabis oil?

The underlying reason for the cannabis effect lies in the THC component. Affecting CB1 receptors this cannabinoid causes special psychoactive impact on the human nervous system. The way CBD influences the body is somewhat different, in other words it doesn’t get you high.

The main purpose and hype around CBD is that this ingredient can be withdrawn separately from THC, and thus the hallucinatory sensations can be eliminated. Is CBD extracted from cannabis? From the commercial point of view marijuana does not contain enough CBD components to allow producers benefit so industrial hemp is used.

For recreational purposes THC is separated from cannabis to receive THC- and CBD-rich extract. However, the resulting product is cannabis oil, not CBD oil.

 How to make CBD oil?

There are a few techniques to obtain and separate CBD oil. Frequently used approach is extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide. In addition, decarboxylation, i.e. the conversion of the carboxylic acid into the pharmacologically active cannabinoids, is necessary before and/or after extraction.

Pure CBD is released by the following means:

  •   Extraction or isolation
  •   Synthetic production

Co2 distillation is one of the most frequently used processes. It is particularly popular because of its low environmental impact and lack of toxicity. Nonetheless, it is also considerably more expensive than other manners.

In addition, the following production methods are also available:

  •   Ethanol extraction
  •   Hydrocarbon extraction
  •   Oil extraction

Is CBD legal in Spain?

In Spain, CBD has not yet been added as a food additive to the "list of authorised food supplements" of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS).

This list sets out the vitamins and minerals permitted for human consumption by Spanish law, and the CBD is not defined in Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament.

Summary

When choosing between CBD oil derived from hemp or cannabis be aware of the distinct THC levels and legal issues. Usually manufacturers pull CBD from hemp for commercial purposes. At the same time scientific investigations have shown that THC can have truly curing abilities but still this cannabidiol is prohibited by law in most countries. Cannabis oil can be a powerful remedy for stress and insomnia and widely acknowledged for its psychotropic effect.

Maria Garcia, Cannabis activist and editor of Cannabis Guide Barcelona

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Maria GarciaInstagram icon

Cannabis activist and editor of Cannabis Guide Barcelona

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