Do You Know Your CBD?

Though CBD is popular and almost ubiquitous, most people know very little about where it comes from and how it’s made. As a natural product used for self-care, we thought you should know a thing or two before you shop.

Cannabidiol Explained

What and Why?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in the hemp plant. It is a member of the phytocannabinoid family. Phytocannabinoids are plant-based compounds that work naturally with specific receptors in the human body. These receptors are part of the ECS, or endocannabinoid system, which maintains homeostasis, or balance. The ECS helps to regulate appetite and physical sensation, support cognitive function, and stabilize mood.

CBD is extracted from the hemp plant and then added to a variety of common household supplements – capsules, tinctures, massage oils, gels, greams and even chewable gummies.

CBD? THC? Are they Different?

CBD is Not Marijuana

You may be surprised to know that hemp and marijuana are both from the plant, whose scientific name is Cannabis sativa. The ratio of active compounds in the plant determines the difference between the two. Cannabis bred specifically for low THC content is called hemp. Conversely, cannabis bred for high THC content is commonly known as marijuana. 

Legally, the two plants are separately defined by the Federal Farm Bill of 2018, which establishes “Industrial Hemp” as a Cannabis sativa plant with a THC concentration below 0.3 percent by weight. Your products are manufactured using American hemp that meets this classification. 

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Is it Good? Is it Safe?

Quality Matters

Hemp is a bioaccumulator. That means it can absorb soil contaminants in its environment, including pesticides or heavy metals. This is common with hemp imported from countries that have loose agricultural regulations. If your CBD product doesn’t have lab testing available to confirm the absence of these contaminants, its quality and provenance are likely to be suspect. You should only buy CBD products that use domestic hemp and are tested by independent, ISO-certified labs.

At Beyond Botanicals, we put Transparency on a pedestal. It’s one of our core values, and it guides every effort we make in presenting the best possible CBD products. When we pair you with a manufacturing partner, you’ll have access to all the testing necessary to prove your product’s quality. 

What it is, and What it Isn’t

Hemp Oil

Hemp oil is short for hemp seed oil, which is an oil pressed from only the seeds of the hemp plant. This oil is very popular and used in supplements, natural foods, and cosmetics, but it does not contain CBD.

Hemp oil does not mean CBD oil, so if you see claims like “200mg hemp seed oil” as opposed to “200mg CBD”, you’re being led astray. CBD should come from the flowers of organically grown hemp cultivars that are high in active cannabinoids, and professionally extracted to ensure purity and potency. 

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It’s Affordable, But it’s Fake

Synthetic Products

Quality CBD comes from reputable suppliers who can provide proof that they meet the necessary legal and regulatory requirements for operation. If a brand makes no mention of how their crop is grown, doesn’t provide test results, or sells variations on “Delta” or “THC” products, you may be buying lab-made cannabinoids processed with any number of solvents, which can also contain harmful byproducts. In some cases, illnesses have been reported from consumption of synthetic cannabinoids. Beyond Botanicals works with manufacturers who use only plant-derived cannabinoids, made from organically grown American hemp.

Varying Levels of Quality

Solvent Extraction

Solvent extraction is the most widely accepted way to extract CBD from the hemp plant and involves using compounds like hexane, propane, CO2, or ethanol to dissolve plant components into solution. This method can leave residual solvents in the CBD oil if not performed properly, and many of these solvents are known carcinogens.

While CO2 extraction is the absolute cleanest method, it also leaves behind a moderate amount of the desired cannabinoids. Used properly, organic alcohol solvents extract the highest amount of active cannabinoids without leaving solvents behind in the finished product.

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