Learn CBD 101
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is a natural oil which is extracted from the flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant (formally known as hemp plant). It is used by people all over the world for a variety of purposes. Because of the positive experiences with the healing powers of the plant, CBD has been finding its way into a variety of products, from tinctures and drops to CBD-infused edibles and CBD balms, as well as a wide range of cosmetics. CBD oil is even becoming popular among pet owners who wish to help their pets live healthier lives.
- Raw CBD Oil vs. CBD Concentrate
When the essential oils of the hemp plant are first extracted, the resulting product is considered raw hemp extract. This raw extract can be put through a series of filtration and distillation processes to remove unwanted compounds, such as waxes and chlorophyll, and produce various classes of oils differing in purity and CBD content. These refined oils are referred to as CBD concentrate or CBD distillate.
- Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Raw PCR hemp extract contains terpenes (aromatic compounds) as well as other cannabinoid compounds similar to CBD. Because it retains the natural balance of cannabinoids and terpenes found in the original plant, we refer to these products as full spectrum oils.
- Broad Spectrum CBD Oil
Broad spectrum CBD oil is very similar to a full spectrum oil. Full spectrum CBD oil, as we mentioned, retains the original concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes found in raw PCR hemp extract. Broad spectrum CBD oil also contains these concentrations of beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes but has all trace amounts of THC extracted. This is ideal to ensure there is no THC in the CBD products.
- CBD Isolate
CBD can also be isolated and purified. Pure CBD is known in the industry as CBD isolate. In their pure form, and at room temperature, cannabinoids are solid crystals. Purified cannabinoids are colorless and odorless. CBD isolate can be consumed directly or used as an additive in other preparations such as edibles and beverages; however, it is devoid of the beneficial terpenes and other cannabinoids found naturally in the plant.
- CBD-Rich Oil/Phyto cannabinoid-Rich (PCR)
Another term you may hear is CBD-rich oil. This term is generally used to label a CBD oil which has gone through some initial filtration and distillation steps to remove unwanted compounds such as chlorophyll and waxes. The resulting product has a higher concentration of CBD than the raw extract, hence the term CBD-rich oil.
- CBD-Infused Oil
The term CBD-infused can be used to describe either a product which has been infused with purified CBD isolate or a product which has been infused with a CBD-rich, full spectrum or broad spectrum concentrate. A properly labeled product will specify which ingredients were used. If the ingredients include “CBD isolate,” then the product is not full spectrum. If the ingredients include “CBD-rich hemp oil (or extract)” or “full/broad spectrum CBD oil,” then obviously you’re getting a full/broad spectrum product. It’s important to know which is in a product because they produce different effects.
To summarize, there are a variety of products which contain varying levels of CBD as well as other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Hemp seed oil — Oil produced from hemp seeds, does not contain CBD.
Raw industrial hemp extract — A low-quality source of CBD oil.
Raw PCR hemp extract — A high-quality, full or broad-spectrum product which is rich in CBD and contains the naturally occurring compounds in hemp, including cannabinoids and terpenes.
CBD concentrate or distillate — A full spectrum or broad-spectrum product from which unwanted compounds have been removed.
CBD isolate — Purified CBD that does not contain other beneficial terpenes and cannabinoids.
CBD-rich oil/Phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) — Either full spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD concentrate or oil infused with CBD concentrate.
Broad spectrum oil — An oil rich in CBD and the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes present in hemp EXCEPT for THC.
CBD-infused — Generally refers to a product infused with pure CBD, but is also used sometimes to refer to a full spectrum product.