Q: What are some government legalities around CBD?

A: The FDA considers hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids (like CBD) to be food-based products. With few legal restrictions on their importation, the production and consumption laws existing in the United States and in most of the industrialized world deem it legal.  Hemp CBD oil products are legal to consume, sell, and possess in all fifty states. Hemp products, depending on country origin, are exempt from the marijuana and THC laws in Schedule I of the DEA.

In 2004 a landmark Federal Ruling in favor of the Hemp Industry Association (HIA) vs. the DEA occurred, in which it was stated that “non-psychoactive hemp is not included in Schedule I.  The DEA has no authority to regulate drugs that are not scheduled, and it has not followed procedures required to schedule a substance. The DEA’s definition of “THC” contravenes the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress in the CSA and cannot be upheld.”

So, if CBD comes from a domestic Hemp farm, it is legal, and exempt from marijuana and THC laws. THIS IS NOT TRUE FOR NEARLY ALL CBD PRODUCTS CREATED FROM THE MARIJUANA PLANT!

Q: How does CBD interact with our body and is it safe?

A: All humans have what’s called an Endocannabinoid system. We actually produce different cannabinoids in our bodies! We have two major cannabinoid receptors, the CB1 and the CB2 receptors, and these receptors are found in the brain, the nervous system, the immune system, and in all major organs, as well as scattered throughout our bodies.

The effect of CBD on these receptors has been well researched and shows that CBD’s stimulate the production of our own internal cannabinoids, and leads to strengthening our whole Endocannabinoid system. It is well established in the medical community that these nutritive
substances play a critical role in protecting cells against disease, boosting immune function, protecting the brain and nervous system, and relieving pain and disease-causing inflammation, among other things. Cell membranes in the body are naturally equipped with cannabinoid receptors which, when activated by our endocannabinoids, and various other nutritive substances, protect cells against viruses, harmful bacteria, etc…

It has been well documented that human breast milk is an abundant source of endocannabinoids, (cannabinoids made by our bodies). Hemp is the ONLY known abundant source of cannabinoids, outside of our own bodies.  Our cannabinoid receptors are also activated when these cannabinoids are introduced.  The Endocannabinoid system is intricately linked to our nervous system and immune system, as well as our brain and digestion.

As a result, by stimulating and strengthening our body’s Endocannibinoid system through the introduction of CBD, there may potentially be a wide range of beneficial effects. Wikipedia does a good job in great detail, explaining CBD and its effects on the Endocannabinoid system: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoid_system

Q: Is a standard hemp seed oil the same as a CO2 hemp extract?

A: Absolutely not. Standard hemp oil, which can be found very cheaply at a grocery store, is a much different product than hemp extracts (not from seed). Standard hemp oil is produced by cold pressing the seeds, whereas a quality extract is a supercritical CO2 extraction of the hemp plant itself, not the seeds. Regular hemp oil is considered to be a great nutritive food, but it doesn’t have the naturally occurring terpenes, cannabinoids and other components that our extracts have.

Q: What is Rick Simpson Oil and how does it differ from Hemp Oil?

A: Rick Simpson Oil actually refers to a method of extraction, NOT a specific product. The Rick Simpson method can be used with any number of different strains of marijuana, so the THC and CBD content is always varying greatly. The Rick Simpson oils are typically produced by filling a cylindrical glass or stainless steel canister and flooding the canister with a solvent — usually butane — that strips the plant matter of its cannabinoid-containing oils. The resulting mixture of psychotropic plant oil and chemicals is then purified to remove traces of the solvent.

One common method of butane removal includes boiling it off in a hot water bath, while another involves the use of a vacuum pump and vacuum chamber to lower butane’s boiling point, pulling butane from the oil.  This unregulated and sometimes very dangerous practice has created enormous amounts of awareness regarding the benefits of cannabinoids. Countless testimonials show that when done correctly, and in a controlled environment, this method can produce a safe and effective oil.

Unfortunately, it has also created lots of confusion and misunderstanding due to its lack of standardization. With multiple strains being used, and knowing that the amounts of cannabinoids differ from plant to plant and the ratios of THC/CBD are totally inconsistent, it results in a lack of potency and consistency. Trace amounts of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, as well as butane and or other solvents can often reside.

The levels of THC are 99% of the time too high to be legal on a Federal level, or in states where marijuana is still illegal. Needless to say, for most people this is not a very good option.

CO2 Hemp oil extraction of stalks, stems and seeds is a much safer and healthier approach. CBD Hemp Oil comes from hemp that is naturally high in cannabidiol (CBD), so the safer oil extraction processes will consistently have a high amount of CBD and only trace amounts of THC. Seek out products which are lab tested where CBD content (%) is consistent and true (verified by a 3^rd Party Laboratory)!

Q: What is CO2 extraction and what are the different types?

A: CO2 extraction is a process that uses pressurized carbon dioxide to extract the phytochemicals from a plant. CO2 at certain temperatures and pressures acts like a solvent, without the dangers of actually being one. It is the most expensive extraction method, and is widely considered the most effective and safest plant extraction method in the world.

Subcritical (low temp, low pressure) CO2 extractions take more time and produce smaller yields than super-critical, but they retain the essential oils, terpenes, and other sensitive chemicals within the plant.

Supercritical, (high pressure, high temperature) CO2 extraction process on the other hand can damage most terpenes and heat sensitive chemicals, but can extract much larger molecules such as lipids (omega 3 and 6), chlorophyll, and waxes.

A truly full-spectrum CO2 extract includes first performing a subcritical extraction, separating the extracted oil, and then extracting the same plant material using supercritical pressure, and then homogenizing both oil extracts into one. In the essential oil industry, an extract made using this specific process is referred to as a CO2 Total.

Q: How do I learn more about CBDs?

A: There is a tremendous amount of information available online.  We highly encourage you to do your own research. We have also provided a number of educational website links and videos within our site for our users to visit and become better informed.