What hemp CBD oil is
Hemp CBD oil is a liquid that carries cannabidiol pulled from hemp plants. Hemp is Cannabis sativa with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC by dry weight under US federal law. Marijuana is the same species with more THC. The plant part, the extraction method, and the carrier oil decide what ends up in the bottle.
Hemp and marijuana are the same species
Both are Cannabis sativa L. Federal law separates them by delta-9 THC concentration on a dry weight basis. Hemp sits at 0.3% or below. Marijuana sits above 0.3%. Hemp grown for fiber or seed still produces flowers that hold CBD.
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How the oil is made
- Harvest and dry the flower.
- Extract with supercritical CO2, ethanol, or a carrier oil.
- Filter out waxes, chlorophyll, and plant matter.
- Distill to raise CBD concentration.
- Add a carrier oil such as MCT coconut oil or hemp seed oil.
- Test the batch and print the results.
Hemp seed oil is a different product. It is pressed from seeds and holds no CBD. The CBD number on a label comes from the flower extract, not the seed oil.
Types of hemp CBD oil
- Full spectrum: whole-plant extract. Holds CBD, other cannabinoids, terpenes, and up to 0.3% THC.
- Broad spectrum: full-spectrum profile with THC removed or cut below lab detection.
- Isolate: 99% or more pure CBD. No other cannabinoids, no THC, no plant taste.
THC content and the law
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act schedule. USDA runs the hemp production program, and states and tribes submit their own plans. The FDA has not approved CBD as a food ingredient or a dietary supplement. In 2023 the FDA said current food and supplement rules do not fit CBD. Epidiolex, a prescription CBD drug for two epilepsy syndromes, is the only FDA-approved CBD product. State law varies. Some states ban CBD in food. Others allow it with limits.
Label accuracy
A 2017 study in JAMA tested 84 CBD products bought online. 26% held less CBD than the label stated. 43% held more THC than the label stated. Third-party lab reports, called a certificate of analysis or COA, list CBD and THC per batch. Ask for the COA that matches the batch number on the package.
What to check before you buy
- Total CBD in mg per bottle and mg per mL.
- Serving size and servings per bottle.
- THC result from a lab, in mg/g or %.
- Batch or lot number that matches a COA.
- Extraction method, listed as CO2, ethanol, or oil.
- Carrier oil, listed as MCT, hemp seed oil, or olive oil.
How people use it
Tinctures go under the tongue and stay there for 60 to 90 seconds, then get swallowed. Gummies and capsules pass through the digestive tract. Topicals go on skin. Vape oil is inhaled. Onset and duration differ by route. No FDA dosing standard exists for over-the-counter CBD.
Is hemp CBD oil the same as hemp seed oil?
No. Hemp seed oil is pressed from seeds and holds no CBD. Read the label. The CBD amount is listed in mg.
Will hemp CBD oil get you high?
Full-spectrum oil can hold up to 0.3% THC. That level is low for most people to feel an intoxicating effect. Isolate and broad-spectrum products hold no THC or an amount below lab detection. A drug test can still return a positive result after full-spectrum use.