CBD has quickly become a widely-used product of the hemp plant. Doted on for its natural benefits, without psychoactive effects, many people have accepted it as a safe product to use in their health and wellness routines.
But did you know that CBD can cause unwanted side effects, and even interact with certain medications? Unfortunately, sub-par products with unreliable dosage information often find their way into the hands of consumers.
That is why it is important to know how the best CBD is made. Keep reading to learn the best methods for harvesting a high-quality, safe product.
Table of Contents
What Is CBD?
CBD is the shorthand name for cannabidiol, which is one of the active ingredients present in hemp plants. Unlike THC, CBD does not get you high. Instead, it offers a host of other benefits, like stress and pain relief.
Many people consider the use of CBD oils to be beneficial for overall health and wellness, too.
Products containing CBD are legal as long as they contain 0.3 percent or less THC. They can come in the form of many different products, from smokable flowers to foods, candies, drinks, lotions, tinctures, and so much more.
How Is CBD Harvested?
CBD gets harvested and extracted from the flowers of the hemp plant. The flowers are where the bulk of the cannabinoids are resting, which are an important ingredient in all types of CBD oil.
That means harvesting CBD is a two-part process. First, harvesting the hemp plants, and then extracting the oils.
Harvesting Hemp
The hemp plants grow until the flowers and buds reach a high level of potency.
It is best to run tests frequently near harvest to check the levels of CBD, THC, terpenes, and even pesticides and molds to make sure that the hemp is ready for harvesting.
When it is the right time, harvesters cut the hemp stalks and immediately move them to where they will undergo the drying phase. It is important to have a well-ventilated, temperature-controlled space, free of sunlight, moisture, or any contaminants.
CBD Hemp Flower
If hemp is being harvested for smokable CBD hemp flower, then it is especially important to hand-harvest, protecting the buds from any damage.
Once they are dry, they go through a curing process. The buds get sealed in airtight containers. Closing the buds in the containers stops the drying process and preserves their aromas and flavors.
Over a period of a couple of weeks to a month or more, the moisture left on the inside of the buds will travel outward, creating an even and fresh product.
Extracting CBD
Once the hemp plants have finished curing and drying, it is time to extract the CBD oils.
There are varying ways to do this, but not all are efficient or safe. CO2 extraction is widely accepted in the CBD industry as the best way to make pure, high-potency, CBD oil.
CO2 Extraction
It works by pressurizing carbon dioxide at a low temperature.
This changes the CO2 gas into a liquid that passes through the hemp plant matter. As it travels through the plant, it pulls out the oils rich with CBD.
Cold-Press Extraction
With this method, you freeze the hemp flowers and then apply enough pressure to them to force out the CBD components, including the terpenes and cannabinoids.
Even though you can use this method to get pure CBD oil, it is not preferred because it takes such a large amount of plant material to make only a small amount of oil.
Alternative Methods
There are other methods that will produce CBD oil, but they are not ideal because they often use synthetic solvents like butane or ethanol.
While they might be cheap and easy, they leave behind residues that might have negative health effects and can degrade the final product.
Winterization
Once you have CBD oil, it has to go through a purification process called winterization. This is to remove impurities like lipids, fats, or waxes.
This entails mixing the CBD oil with ethanol and freezing it. The impurities solidify and a filter separates them from the oil.
The ethanol is then removed from the solution leaving behind the purified CBD oil.
Find The Best CBD Products
While there are many products to choose from, not all of them are created equally.
If you are interested in learning more about the best CBD and other hemp products check out some of our other blog posts. We cover topics related to the cannabis industry to help you become an empowered consumer.
