Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil | What is the difference?
Over the last few years, CBD Oil has surged into the public consciousness, beginning in earnest in 2018 with the UK legalisation of medical cannabis. While people’s conceptions around Cannabis have changed immeasurably in the last five years, much confusion has arisen around the industry. In this article, we are going to tackle what Hemp Oil is, its difference to CBD Oil and why you probably don’t actually want to buy it.
What exactly is Hemp Oil?
Hemp Oil is quite a confusing and vague term for many consumers. In reality, it occupies a nether ground in between two clearly definable products: Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil. It is neither one nor the other. Yet, rather confusingly it is sometimes marketed as CBD Oil and sometimes as Hemp Seed Oil!
What is CBD Oil?
To clearly explain what Hemp Oil is, we must first clarify what exactly CBD Oil is.
CBD – also known as Cannabidiol – is a chemical found in the Cannabis plant. Widely touted for a number of potential health benefits, it is used in medicines, food supplements and drinks in the UK. CBD Oil (not Hemp Oil) is the wellness product that has surged in popularity over the last few years.
CBD is made from the leaves of the Cannabis plant, where there is an abundance of the compound, via an extraction method. It is then formulated with a carrier oil, such as hemp seed oil or MCT, to increase absorption into the body. As a result, it has been given the name CBD Oil.
What is Hemp Seed Oil?
Hemp Seed Oil is produced from the seeds of the hemp plant usually by cold pressing. Often unrefined, this oil ranges from light to dark green in colour and has a nutty flavour. It is a form of vegetable oil, like sunflower or rapeseed oil, and can be used in cooking or raw, as a part of a dressing. Furthermore, it is naturally lower in saturated fats than other oils, such as olive, coconut or sunflower.
It is also made from the same plant as CBD. Varieties of Cannabis Sativa that are low in THC are also called Hemp, or Industrial Hemp.
In Europe, Cannabis Sativa plants with THC levels below 0.2% are the only legal strains of Cannabis. As a result, all CBD Oil and Hemp Seed Oil in Europe are made from hemp.
However, there are very low levels of CBD in the seeds. So, oil made from the seeds should not be used as a substitute for CBD Oil.
What is the Difference between Marijuana and Hemp?
As stated, both CBD and Hemp Seed Oil are made from the Cannabis Sativa plant, also known as Hemp. Hemp is naturally low in THC, unlike the other main species of the Cannabis plant, Indica.
Cannabis Indica is commonly referred to as Marijuana, as it contains a large THC content. It is the THC content in Marijuana that has made Cannabis so commonly associated with being smoked. THC is a psychotropic compound and creates a ‘high’ effect. Whereas, CBD does not.
This is an important distinction. CBD Oil should not contain any THC, as it is illegal in the UK. Always check with your CBD brand that they have third party lab tests on their website, to confirm its products are THC-free.
Why are People Selling Hemp Oil?
Hemp Oil is often a counterfeit alternative to CBD Oil and it is likely to just be made from hemp seeds. In the US, federal restrictions remain in place on CBD Oil. So to bypass these laws, many manufacturers label their products alternatively, as an oil made from hemp.
Similarly, Instagram, Facebook, Google and Amazon have restrictions on advertising or selling CBD. So again, companies call their products Hemp Oil to avoid being banned.
Why You Don’t Want to Buy Hemp Oil
Unfortunately, the Hemp Oil market is incredibly unreliable and unregulated. Many customers purchase these products believing them to be the same as CBD Oil. Instead, they receive a very expensive and small bottle of Hemp Seed Oil. As previously mentioned, oil made from seeds contains very little CBD.
Once a brand has mislabelled its product, there is very little point in actually going into the expensive and time consuming lengths required to produce a high quality CBD Oil. As a result, if you want to buy a CBD product, you should buy a CBD Oil. Likewise, if you want an oil for purposes like cooking, you should buy Hemp Seed Oil.
Where Can I Buy the Best CBD Oil?
CBD Oil is quite common in stores all over the UK. Award winning Dragonfly CBD is stocked in some of the biggest and best loved supermarkets, pharmacies and retailers in the UK. Use this handy search tool to find your local Boots, Tesco, Sainsburys or pharmacy stocking Dragonfly CBD. Alternatively, you can buy Dragonfly CBD online, with an exclusive range of products, with next day delivery available.