Are CBD and Hemp the Same Thing?

Many people are wondering if CBD and hemp are the same thing. It’s easy to confuse hemp with the cannabis plant that has psychoactive effects and used in the production of hashish. Hemp oil, CBD and psychoactive marijuana all come from the cannabis sativa plant. There are many strains of cannabis that will determine the plant’s CBD and THC levels. Also, the part of the plant used, such as stalk, leaves and flowers are factors in the use of the cannabis.

The cannabis plant is one of nature’s most sustainable plants because of its many uses over the centuries. Dating back to the 17th century, cannabis has been used for medicine, rope, clothing and nutrition. What’s important to know is that there are so many strains and types of cannabis. The plant can grow on the side of the road, carefully cultivated by a home grower in potted plants, or be carefully cultivated in commercial greenhouses and outdoors for its medicinal properties whether for optimal CBD or THC content, terpene profile or just for industrial purposes. 

Hemp oil, often mistaken for CBD oil, is derived from the seed of the plant while CBD oil can be cultivated from stalk, leaf and flower. Consumers often mistaken CBD oil for hemp oil. CBD is cultivated from extraction while seeds are cold pressed for hemp oil.  Hemp oil, like CBD is high in antioxidants and good for skin care, cooking and even paint.

It’s important to know that some CBD marketers may call their CBD products “hemp oil” to circumvent FDA compliance. This is one very good reason to purchase CBD products from credible resources and to make sure CBD products are third-party rated by a credible laboratory or entity. You want to be sure you’re getting CBD, not hemp oil.

CBD oil is a concentrated and active compound known as a cannabinoid. There are 480 compounds known in cannabis; 66 of them are cannabinoids which are closely related compounds. The difference among these compounds are determined by their extent to which they are psychologically active. CBD is not known to have psychological effects though current research suggests CBD may reduce pain, inflammation and anxiety. On the other hand, THC and other cannabinoids are known to be psychologically active to varying degrees.

CBD is the most abundant cannabinoid, contributing up to 40% of cannabis resin. CBD may also have anti-anxiety properties that could lessen the psychoactive effects of THC. So a cannabis plant with a higher amount of CBD may reduce the intensity of the effects of the THC, which decreases the potency of the plant.

There is so much information available and there are a lot of CBD brands and products on the market. When looking at the difference between CBD and hemp oils the main differences are with the part of the plant that they come from and the benefits for which they supply. Hemp oil (hemp seed oil) is nutritious and great for cooking, supplements for skin care products. While CBD is added to skincare products, CBD works with your endocannabinoid system to bring balance to your body.

https://www.healthline.com/health/hemp-vs-cbd-oil#4

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/etc/cron.html

https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/check-out-hemp-across-human-history-in-this-timeline