You know what CBD is. It’s a chemical compound that is commonly extracted from the cannabis sativa plant. It has been shown to react with the mammalian endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a group of cell receptors found in the brain and central nervous system. It helps regulate numerous biological functions, including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory. CBD can have various effects on numerous parts of the human body, with little or no side effects.
Now:
How is CBD extracted?
CBD can be extracted in a number of ways. Oil and alcohol extractions are the most common. Some companies use olive oil to separate cannabidiol from the plant. This is an inexpensive method that retains other desirable properties of the plant, but also results in a more perishable end-product. Extractions from alcohols like ethanol last longer, but may destroy the plant’s waxes, eliminating their beneficial properties; this method is the most common for CBD vaping e-liquids. Carbon-dioxide (CO2) extraction is considered the best and purest method, but it’s also the most costly. The equipment needed for carbon-dioxide extraction is exponentially more expensive than what’s needed for oil or alcohol extractions.
Some companies use plant-based extracts from the hemp variety of cannabis sativa, since it has a high concentration of cannabidiol and a low concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive element of cannabis. Other companies are using naturally isolated CBD, so as to avoid psychoactive ingredients completely.
There isn’t a “right” or “wrong” extraction method to use. There are advantages and disadvantages for all methods of extractions and different characteristics are considered desirable for different cannabidiol products.
