The hemp industry may be wildly successful at the moment, but many people who are taking an interest in CBD still feel that they’re in the dark due to the enormous variety of terms that are used to explain the differences between the many products that are on the market today. In order to begin a CBD regimen that’s catered to your individual needs and goals, it’s important that you understand what you should be looking for when shopping for hemp goods.
Most Common Terms
The following is a list of the most commonly used terms for which people come across while exploring the world of CBD. By understanding what the terms below mean, you’ll know how to buy the product that’s most capable of giving you the hemp experience that you’re seeking out.
Cannabis:
Cannabis is a genus that includes marijuana and hemp. The term “cannabis” is used to describe both of these plants frequently, so it’s important to know when the term is being used to describe hemp, and when it’s being used to describe marijuana.
Hemp:
Unique from marijuana in a number of ways. Its chemical composition is quite different, with CBD being its leading compound. The biggest distinction between the two has to do with its legal status. Marijuana is illegal on a federal level because it contains a high level of THC, while hemp has only a trace amount (0.3 percent).
CBD:
The leading compound in the hemp plant. CBD is a cannabinoid, and the terms “CBD” and “hemp” are often used interchangeably for marketing purposes. It’s important to know that CBD is just one compound in the hemp plant, and many products on the market that are labeled as “CBD” contain other hemp compounds as well, which we will be getting into later.
THC:
A psychoactive compound that’s abundant in marijuana, but present in trace amounts in hemp. THC is also a cannabinoid, and besides its psychoactive effects, it can have some pretty useful properties as well.
Cannabinoids:
Refer to a class of compounds that are abundant in hemp. Cannabinoids exist elsewhere in nature but are nowhere close to the hemp plant in terms of volume and variety. The hemp plant has about 100 unique cannabinoids, including CBD, THC, CBN, CBC and CBG. Each one has its own individual properties, and CBD is easily the most popular one that occurs in hemp.
Endocannabinoid System:
A bodily system that processes cannabinoids for the purpose of homeostasis. It consists of cannabinoid receptors that interact with the cannabinoids that exist in cannabis.
Terpene:
Another class of compounds found in hemp, and all other plants for that matter. They have unique properties of their own and provide the flavor and aroma of a plant.
Flavonoids:
The other desirable compounds that seem to boost the synergistic properties of cannabinoids.
Strain:
The strain of a hemp plant refers to the unique chemical composition that it possesses. Different strains can have different levels of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, meaning that each strain can provide slightly different effects.
Full Spectrum:
A type of hemp extract. When the plant material is run through an extraction process, all of the compounds that naturally occur in the plant material are left intact. This means that a person will receive the full variety of compounds in hemp, which can allow for the plant’s natural synergistic properties to be in full effect.
Broad Spectrum:
Another type of hemp extract. To be called broad spectrum, it must be free of THC and contain at least a small variety of cannabinoids and terpenes, including CBD.
Isolate:
Refers to a type of extract that contains only one compound that occurs in hemp, which is more often than not CBD.
Whole Plant:
This is another term used to describe full spectrum hemp products.
CO2 Extracted:
Refers to the way in which the hemp compounds were extracted from the plant material. It’s one method for extracting those compounds, and it’s considered the best because it yields a cleaner and more chemically stable product.
Delivery Method:
Refers to the way in which the compounds are delivered into the body. Different delivery methods include ingestion, topical absorption and inhalation. Each delivery method absorbs at its own unique pace, meaning some delivery methods work quicker than others, while some provide effects for longer than others.
Bioavailability:
How efficiently the compounds absorb fully into the body. The goal is complete bioavailability, as this means that the full dose of CBD that you’re taking is getting absorbed.
Lab-Tested:
Means that the hemp product was tested by a third-party lab. This is crucial because this is how a company proves to consumers that their product is legitimate, high in quality and free of harmful impurities.
Milligram Strength:
Basically, a CBD product’s potency level. It simply reflects the number of milligrams of pure hemp extract that exist in the formula.
Water Soluble CBD:
Relies on nanotechnology to alter the droplets in order to make them water soluble. This increases bioavailability and allows for a more versatile product.
CBD Flower / Hemp Flower:
These two terms mean the same thing. CBD flower/hemp flower is simply the flower that’s picked from the mature hemp plant. It’s most commonly smoked.
Organic:
Most of us know that organic tends to mean better for us. What many don’t know is that hemp is unusually capable of absorbing toxins from the surrounding soil, which is why organic hemp is widely considered superior to that which is conventionally grown.
Final Thoughts:
Next time you’re looking to get the most out of that CBD experience; customized according to your unique needs and preferences, knowing the industry lingo is imperative. Otherwise, you could end up choosing a product that doesn’t provide those potential desired results.