Hemp Terms: What You Need to Know
If you’ve been looking into CBD either as a business venture or something that you can take to find relief from your symptoms, you’ve almost definitely noticed that there’s a whole universe of terminology to know.
CBD is a pretty new industry, and with any new industry comes a whole lot of lingo that separates the beginners from the experts.
The thing is that without knowing the right lingo, you’re going to be missing out on a lot of potential benefits that this compound has to offer.
That’s because of the fact that knowing the terminology related to CBD and hemp allows you to better determine which type of product is right for you.
We know that all of the lingo can be intimidating, which is why we’re here to help.
Hemp Terms You Need to Know
We’ve created a list of the most widely used terminology related to CBD, and we’ve thoroughly explained what each term means.
By studying this list, you’ll be able to better zero in on what it is that you need from this cannabinoid, and what you should be looking for when you’re ready to make CBD a part of you daily life.
Extraction
Many hemp companies share their extraction method with consumers, and you need to know why this is so important.
There are many different ways to extract compounds from the hemp plant, but not all of these methods yield high-quality concentrates.
It’s widely believed that the CO2 extraction method is superior because of the way in which it preserves the chemical integrity of the plant material.
However, despite the buzz around CO2 extraction, High pressure processes like C02 extraction can damage the genetic makeup of the plant matter, ultimately destroying terpenes and cannabinoids that add to the entourage effect for full spectrum CBD oils.
Here at Wellicy We use a no pressure, cold, sub-zero Kosher alcohol extraction to produce whole hemp-plant extracts that have all their terpenes and cannabinoids intact.
Our Cold sub-zero extraction process maintains the integrity of the hemp plant components in the finished CBD oil, creating a clean full-spectrum extract with minimal plant material and a high CBD yield of 60%-70%.
This high yield means that we can produce high-potency products using less oil, resulting in a better taste and the entourage effect.
You may have heard that CO2 is better because it doesn’t use ethanol.
Well C02 extraction must use both C02 and ethanol in their winterization process.
Our no pressure process results in a clean oil with no left-over plant lipids and chlorophyll while keeping the natural terpene profile of the hemp maintained while ensuring all residual ethanol has been removed.
There are other solvent extraction methods such as butane or isopropyl, however, CO2 and ethanol remain the most widely used.
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract (CBD Oil)
The hemp plant is naturally rich in a wide variety of plant compounds that each have the potential to benefit the human body.
When the hemp plant is turned into a highly concentrated extract, this extract is also rich in these potentially beneficial compounds.
However, once the extract has been created, chemists are capable of isolating unique hemp compounds and removing them.
There are three types of hemp extracts: full spectrum, broad spectrum and CBD isolate.
Each name refers to the spectrum of compounds present in that extract.
So, full spectrum, as you would imagine, contains all of the compounds that are naturally in the hemp plant.
This includes 0.3% or less of THC and other cannabinoids that are unique to this plant.
And depending on the strain of cannabis used to extract, the major and minor cannabinoid levels can vary.
Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract (CBD Oil)
Another type of extract, and it contains every plant compound present in hemp with the exception of THC.
Although the amount of THC present in the hemp plant is too low to get you high, some people still prefer to not consume any at all.
Broad spectrum allows you to experience the entourage effect without the presence of THC.
CBD Isolate
The last type of hemp extract, and it contains nothing but CBD.
CBD is just one of many cannabinoids, and it’s the one that’s most abundant in the hemp plant.
It’s also the most widely studied besides THC.
While most people prefer full spectrum CBD, others find that CBD isolate gives them exactly the type of relief that they need.
Just keep in mind, since CBD is the only compound present, you will not experience the entourage effect.
The Entourage Effect
Refers to the effect that takes place when a person consumes full spectrum CBD.
Researchers believe that when all of the plant compounds natural to the hemp plant are taken together, they multiply each other’s potential benefits.
Essentially having synergistic effects on one another to enhance the overall benefits of each.
Decarboxylation
Once a hemp extract has been created, it usually goes through a process known as decarboxylation.
This involves applying a controlled amount of heat to the extract in order to activate its compounds.
Many of the plant compounds found in the hemp plant are not nearly as potent until they have been decarboxylated.
It’s just like when you want to smoke flower, if you were to simply eat a nug you would not get any of the potential benefits of cannabinoids.
However, once you light it then decarboxylation occurs and activities the cannabinoids into a form our bodies can absorb and use more easily.
Decarboxylation converts cannabinoids such as THCa into THC and CBDa into CBD.
Raw
Raw CBD is CBDA that has not been given the decarboxylation treatment.
It’s not nearly as popular as CBD that has been decarboxylated, but some users swear by it because they believe that certain plant compounds found in hemp are more beneficial when they have not been heated.
Put simply, CBD begins as CBDa and, in the natural state, there is more CBDa in cannabis than CBD, which is why decarboxylation is used in order to convert these acidic forms of cannabinoids into active forms.
Cannabinoids
There are many cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, including CBD and THC.
Cannabinoids are plant compounds that are highly unique in that they only exist in cannabis.
Cannabinoids feed the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is a system consisting of cannabinoid receptors throughout the body.
Scientists believe that CBD products can provide so much relief because of how these plant cannabinoids work with the body’s endocannabinoid system.
The human body produces endocannabinoids which work with you guessed it, the endocannabinoid system.
Phytocannabinoids which are simply cannabinoids from cannabis can be consumed to stimulate and influence your endocannabinoid system to help promote homeostasis throughout your body.
THC
One of the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, and it’s also found in the marijuana plant.
In marijuana, THC is very abundant, but in the hemp plant, there’s only about 0.3 percent.
THC is known for being intoxicating or inducing a high, but because of its low concentration in the hemp plant, a hemp extract cannot get you high.
This is also why hemp-based products are legal on a federal level, while marijuana-based products are not.
Terpenes
The other popular compounds found in the hemp plant.
Terpenes, in fact, exist in the essential oils of every plant.
They are known for being beneficial in different ways, with many having potential anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Each hemp plant has its own unique composition of terpenes, and many advanced users seek out specific terpenes for their unique benefits.
Just like CBD and other cannabinoids, terpenes are getting the attention they deserve as researchers continue to uncover their potential health benefits.
Strains
The strain of a hemp plant is determined by its terpene profile.
For instance, some strains are known for making a person feel sleepy, while others are great for providing some natural energy.
These effects come from the unique composition of terpenes.
There are lots of strains out there, but only a few are commonly used by CBD product manufacturers.
However, the demand for smokeable hemp flower is growing so many new strains are hitting the market.
When it comes to hemp strains there are Indica which typically induces a body high and used for sleep “IndaCOUCH”.
Then there are Sativa strains, are more uplifting and can provide a gentle boost of energy.
Last but not least there are hybrid strains, which are great for those who wish to enjoy the unique benefits of both indica and sativa strains, without feeling too much of one or the other.
Indica
Indica strains are known for being more calming, and they are felt more in the body.
Those who prefer Indica strains tend to be people seeking relief from anxiety, insomnia and pain.
Sativa
Are sort of the opposite of Indica strains. Sativa strains are more uplifting and can provide a gentle boost of energy.
They can also help with pain, although they are known for providing more mental effects than physical.
Many people prefer taking sativa strains during the daytime so that they don’t have to worry about feeling sleepy, which is what Indica strains are known for.
Hybrid
Are a hybrid between Indica and sativa strains.
These are great for those who wish to enjoy the unique benefits of both strains, without feeling too much of one or the other.
Get the Most out of CBD By Knowing All These Terms
So, whether you’re a business owner or a casual user, you can’t really have the best experience possible if you don’t know all of the different terms that are used.
These terms allow us to grasp the ways in which CBD products differ from each other, which is why you should study this list.
You can apply this information the next time you make a CBD purchase.
Did we miss an important term or have a question about a specific term? Let us know by dropping a comment below!
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