CBD 101

In this blog post, we are going to go through the in's and out's of the world of CBD. There is so much out there that it is easy to get lost in the crowd of information and misinformation. B&B Botanicals is here to set the record straight and report the truth to give the public as much information as possible.

Welcome to B&B Botanicals CBD 101

Let's start with the biggest questions that most people have about Hemp and CBD products. These questions have been asked by customers, searched on google, and heard from around the cannabis and hemp industry.

1. What is CBD?

A: CBD (scientific name: cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid that is prevalent in Hemp plants. Cannabinoids are plant based chemical compounds that are extracted from Hemp and Cannabis plants. CBD is non-intoxicating, so it does not result in a  high when people consume it, unlike THC. 

2. Is CBD legal?

A: With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, Hemp and its extracts and derivates were legalized at a federal level. Certain legal thoughts contradict this claim due to the fact that the FDA claims through the Investigational New Drug application (IND) that GW pharmaceuticals has conducted with it's wildly over-priced cannabinoid based drug, Epidolex. This is one of the most important pieces of information that the public needs to be aware of. Mainly for the fact that we need to have as much public support for the legislation that would cement CBD as a dietary supplement and subject to the DSHEA regulations, rather than give the whole cannabinoid industry to Big Pharma, and shut out small businesses around the country.

These are some of the most important Cannabis related bills in Congress right now. 

• HR 8179 - To legalize and regulate CBD as a dietary supplement. 
• S. 2227 - The MORE Act, which decriminalizes cannabis on a federal level
• HR 1595 - The SAFE banking act, to give cannabis businesses access to banking

We need all the support we can get to help improve the Cannabis an Hemp Industries for businesses and consumers. Contact your representatives! Make your voice heard! Thank you for any and all support!

3. Will CBD show up on a drug test?

(B&B Botanicals is going to give it to you real here, where 99% of the industry will not answer this question correctly. This is because the public deserves the truth.)

A: IT IS POSSIBLE, YES! CBD can possibly show up on a drug test, especially if you are ingesting a Full Spectrum Hemp Product that contains 0.3% THC or less. Cannabinoids like CBD and THC are lipophilic, which means they get absorbed easily in fat cells. This means CBD and THC can get stored in fat cells, which can build up over time and cause a positive or false positive drug test. The other massively new piece of information, is that in the presence of strong acids (much like our stomach acids), cannabinoids like CBD can be converted into other cannabinoids, possibly even THC. So even though we ingest CBD, some amount of it can be converted into THC either by oxidation in the finished product, or through a chemical reaction in the presence of a strong acid. Ever heard of Delta-8 THC? It is made by taking CBD isolate and putting it through a chemical process to change the molecular structure into a different cannabinoid.

This is why we here at B&B Botanicals does not recommend the ingestion of any cannabinoid based product if you are subject to drug tests. The chances may be very small that you fail a drug test, but it would not be fair to tell you that it is just not possible. If you want to use CBD products and have to take a drug test, we recommend trying Topical products, as long as they are not advertised as being transdermal. Transdermal products can enter into the bloodstream just like ingestible products.

4. Do CBD products contain THC?

A: CBD products have to contain either 0-0.3% THC to be considered legal by the standards set by the  2018 Farm Bill. Depending on the type of CBD used, some products will have absolutely no THC in them, and some will have up to 0.3% on a dry weight basis. So it is important to know what type of CBD extract is used in the product. See next question for more on this topic, and check the 3rd party tests to see if there is any detectable THC level in your products.

5. What is the difference between Full Spectrum CBD, Broad Spectrum CBD, and CBD Isolate?

A: Full Spectrum CBD is the 1st step in the extraction process of Hemp after it is harvested. Full Spectrum Crude Oil contains the whole spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, lipids, and other plant base compounds present in the Hemp plant. Full Spectrum Oil is generally a dark shade of gold/brown, and has a very hempy/herby taste. It is known to be the most effective form of CBD in products due to the Entourage Effect of having all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and lipids from the hemp plant. Full Spectrum products do contain 0.3% or less THC, so they are not a good option for anyone that has to take a drug test.

The 2nd step in the extraction process results in Broad Spectrum CBD Oil. Broad Spectrum CBD is created from Full Spectrum Crude. The Full Spectrum goes through a heated distillation process to remove the THC, which also removes most, but not all of the terpenes and lipids as well. In the end what is left is a golden yellow oil that is know as broad spectrum distillate. Products made with Broad Spectrum are popular because they still contain other cannabinoids like CBG and CBN, but have no detectable levels of THC. They are a good middle ground between CBD Isolate and Full Spectrum CBD.

CBD Isolate is exactly what it sounds like. CBD, and CBD only. In fact it CBD Isolate will test at 99.9% pure CBD if made by a high quality manufacturer. It has no other cannabinoids, no terpenes, no lipids, just pure CBD. This is one of the most popular ways to use CBD in products because it is easy to formulate with, has the benefits of pure CBD, and always never contains any THC.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

Broad Spectrum CBD Distillate

CBD Isolate

 

6. How do I can I tell if I am getting a quality CBD product?

A: You must find a company that goes above and beyond to show that the follow certain guidelines to produce and market high quality product. This is what to look for in a CBD company or brand:

• They have a basic business characteristics.
• Physical location, phone number, website, contact information, and good communication.
• They 3rd party test for potency, purity, and transparency.
• This proves their products have accurate labeling for the amount of CBD advertised.
• Generally will have QR codes on packaging that take you to the 3rd party tests.
• High quality and/or organic ingredients.
• Is a cGMP manufacturer or works with cGMP certified manufacturer(s) 
• This is to ensure that all steps have been taken to show there are safeguards in place in all areas of operation with the consumers safety and product quality in mind.
• Have policies directed at customer satisfaction (Online and Brick and Mortar).
• Refund, Replacement, Privacy Policies.
• Have real people working in the company, and shows the faces of the owners or employees.
• Not some phantom brand on the internet that may really be in China selling products with no CBD in them at all.

This is what B&B Botanicals prides itself on being able to offer to our customers - High quality products that have high quality ingredients, are 3rd party tested and cGMP manufactured, and are designed with our customers safety and satisfaction in mind!

7. What is the difference between Hemp and Marijuana?

A: Hemp and Marijuana both fall into the scientific genus of Cannabis Sativa. Think of them like cousins, who were bred for different purposes. Industrial hemp was bred for its fiber and other industrial purposes, along with some hemp being bred for high CBD content (generally around 10-18% CBD). Industrial hemp can be made into clothes, food, concrete (hempcrete), plastic, fuel, fiber, cars, supplements, fiber, paper, and much, much more. Marijuana was bred specifically to have a high THC content, generally anywhere from 10-30% THC. It is used as more of a medicinal and recreational plant due to its high THC content.

8. Why are CBD products so popular?

A: CBD products, in general, are so popular because they interact with the endocannabinoid system. This is something that we will discuss at length in another blog post, because it is such an important topic that we can spend days discussing. Another reason why CBD is so popular is because it does not get the user "high" while having other potential beneficial qualities. Athletes, doctors, veterinarians, chiropractors, massage therapists, moms, dads, grandmothers, and everyone in between have all taken to using CBD products across the country, causing the massive surge in popularity in CBD products. Try CBD products today if you are interested to see what all the hype is about. 

Check out bandbbotanicals.com for high quality, 3rd party tested CBD products that come with free shipping!

Thank you for reading this blog post, we hope you learned something new! Check back here for more great information on all things Hemp and Cannabis! Have a great day everyone!

Written by: Alberto Bercich (Owner of B&B Botanicals)