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The two come from different parts of the cannabis plant and therefore have different uses and benefits. However, it’s easy to confuse the two and brands happy fruit delta 9 do not make it any easier for customers to tell the difference, sometimes on purpose – sometimes not. Sadly, some label their products with just that in mind to trick consumers, which is why it is important to always read the ingredients list on the back of any product you may be interested in.
Do NOT let marketing tactics fool you. Unfortunately, there are a number of brands cynically cashing in on the popularity and cannabis trend by making false claims that their products contain CBD when they actually contain none. Some brands are calling hemp seed oil cannabis sativa oil, which is actually quite deceiving.
To make sure marketers aren’t taking advantage of you, be sure to always check the product label**. If you’re looking to benefit from CBD make sure you are purchasing a product that clearly states it contains CBD in the ingredients, not just on the front label! (that’s where they fool you). We encourage you to read the labels, ask all of the questions, know the facts, and make sure you know what you are buying before you purchase.
When looking for CBD keep your eyes out for the following terms: CBD, hemp CBD, and phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) hemp oil (hence the confusions). Phytocannabinoid-rich hemp oil DOES indeed contain CBD, which is why it’s important to do your research and ask questions!
Just a few years ago, cannabis was better known as marijuana, hemp was considered a fiber, and only a small fraction of people in the United States had ever heard of CBD. Over the last few years, it seems CBD has launched to stardom in the world of health and wellness. From professional athletes and celebrities to busy moms and retired grandparents, thousands of people are jumping on the CBD bandwagon and touting its benefits.
Although CVS and Walgreens just recently announced plans to stock their shelves with CBD products soon, indicating a more mainstream shift, many consumers have lingering questions and concerns about the illustrious compound.
Ironically, cannabis can produce low levels of THC with extremely high levels of CBD and still be considered cannabis, but by law, hemp crops producing more than .3% THC must be destroyed. Additionally, it takes much more plant material to produce hemp-derived CBD products than cannabis-derived CBD products. On average, most hemp crops only produce about 10 per cent CBD by volume, while some varieties of cannabis produce as much as 20-25% CBD.
Although hemp can be legally planted and grown all across the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has yet to create a full set of regulations regarding how the product can be marketed and sold. In fact, in a recent statement, Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the FDA announced it could take years for the agency to come up to speed and issue rules and standards for the cultivation, extraction, and sale of hemp-derived CBD products.
In the meantime, consumers need to be educated and diligent. From the FDA’s perspective, lack of regulation means products may be mislabeled, contain more THC than intended, or worse, contain toxins or contaminants which could contribute to worsening health problems. All of which are valid concerns.
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is just one of the hundreds of naturally-occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant. Named cannabinoids, scientists and researchers have been studying these compounds in cannabis and hemp for several decades. In fact, as one of the most studied cannabis compounds to date, CBD was initially discovered in the 1940s. Research intensified in the late 80s when Israeli scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system, which exists in every vertebrate animal on the planet, even fish!
Just as would-be chemists found a way to make K2, or spice-a synthetic, man-made version of cannabis, some products on the market today may also contain a synthetic CBD. Often sourced from Asia, some companies are trying to skirt the legal conundrum of CBD by using a fake chemical compound which resembles CBD. These kinds of products are extremely dangerous. Forbes reported last year, 52 people in Utah became ill after ingesting a fake CBD product. How do you avoid synthetics? Always ask where the company sources their hemp. If they won’t tell you, be skeptical.
Now that we’ve defined what CBD is, and what it isn’t, the next step to successfully navigating the aisles of retail sales is understanding the difference between the various products. CBD products come in many forms, each with their own unique properties. Learning how the different products work, can help you determine which is the right product for you. When we take a vitamin, supplement, or drug only a portion of the dose ends up in our body. The amount of the substance that our body actually absorbs is called bioavailability. Different types of CBD products have different levels of bioavailability.