Many folks know about CBD oil and its attendant benefits for themselves and their canine friends. Sadly, not many know about how this popular product is made. Therefore, this article will shed light on the process involved in making CBD oil.
However, before we take you through the manufacturing process, it is essential you understand the difference between marijuana and hemp. Although both are forms or types of the plant known as cannabis, the percentage level of a particular cannabinoid (the chemical compounds found in cannabis) varies.
This compound is known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and over 0.3% of this cannabinoid is found in marijuana. On the other hand, hemp has less than 0.3% of this compound. THC is responsible for the psychoactive nature of marijuana. Therefore, since hemp has less amount of it, it is not psychoactive.
As a result, hemp is legal in the 50 states of the United States of America. Whereas, marijuana is only grown in some states that have allowed it to be grown for recreational and medicinal purposes only.
Hence, cannabidiol (which is also a cannabinoid) is extracted from hemp and not marijuana, and the steps below will show you how this is done…
Hemp Planting – Step 1
The seeds of the plant are first of all tested to confirm if they are herbicide-free. This is to ensure the purity and quality of the plant that will be gotten when it is mature.
You can plant hemp closely together with just about 4-inch space apart. Hence, the yield is more even if the land isn’t large. Furthermore, their high biomass production makes this plant a good source of regenerative agriculture. Click here to read more about regenerative agriculture.
The best planting time for hemp is around May (3rd week) and June (1st week). Once it is planted, it grows fast and will sprout up in just 60 days.
Hemp Harvesting – Step 2
Once the plant is fully grown, the extraction of cannabinoids begins. The major area of focus is the flowering parts as the highest concentration of cannabinoids are found in the trichome’s resin glands.
The harvesting occurs during October in most cases. A plant sample is sent to the department of agriculture of the state in which the plant is grown for testing and clearing before full harvesting can begin.
After harvesting, the curing process is carried out for three to four weeks. Curing is the process of air drying out the harvested plants in an area that is well-ventilated.
Immediately after the four weeks are completed, the flowers are removed from the hemp plants. They are then transported to the manufacturers that will carry out the extraction of the cannabinoids.
CBD Extraction – Step 3
The procedure of taking out CBD from hemp and converting it to a form that can be used is known as extraction. There are 3 major extraction methods, and they all produce different results. These extraction methods are discussed briefly below…
Oil Extraction
This method is popular because it is a DIY method that anyone can perform with the right knowledge. All you need to do is heat and cook hemp in oil like olive oil, coconut oil. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y87yxZsDQTs to learn how to make CBD oil at home.
Ethanol Extraction
In this extraction method, the manufacturers soak the plant in alcohol that has a high-grain concentration. This method has become the most common and most effective in the industry.
Carbon Dioxide Extraction
As you might have guessed, CO2 is used in isolating cannabinoids under very low temperatures. Extremely cooled condensed CO2 cools which extracts cannabidiol oil. The extraction is done without remaining any form of residue or chemical.
This method is not commonly used because of the need for heavy equipment. Nevertheless, the end product is always very safe and effective due to the clean process it passed through.
CBD Oil Creation – Step 4
After the extraction process is complete and a pure CBD form is acquired, other ingredients like carrier oil and flavoring are added to it. Some carrier oils that are used include hempseed, orange, and coconut oil. The oil and flavoring help in removing the earthy or hempy taste that some CBD products have.
It is at this point special attention is given to create CBD oil for dogs, cats, and humans by adding unique flavoring and ingredients that are suitable for all.
Laboratory Testing and Packaging – Step 5
All quality CBD oil must pass through testing by a third-party laboratory. Whenever any batch is produced, this testing process must be done. The lab will test for both purity as well as potency.
The production of cannabidiol oil is a tedious process that takes time which is why some manufacturers try to skip some of the steps and processes so that they can quickly make a profit. When they do so, they intentionally push the products into the market without this sort of testing because they know the product will be below standard.
Therefore, any CBD product that doesn’t have a third-party testing certificate should not be patronized. Such products are not good and can be harmful to your dog.
After the product has been proven to be okay, it is then packaged in different ways before being distributed for purchase.
Conclusion
In the article above, we have explained the basics of the CBD oil manufacturing process. However, the main manufacturing requires a lot of mechanisms and equipment. Of the three methods discussed above, only one of them can be done at home.
