CBD Oil Vs Hemp Oil: What’s The Difference?

Hemp extract, CBD oil, hemp oil, CBD tincture, full-spectrum oil—what do they all mean?

There’s a lot of terminology being thrown around in the CBD industry these days, and this can make it difficult to know just what type of product you’re buying and what kind of CBD you need. What is the difference between CBD oil and hemp oil? Do marijuana and THC have anything to do with them? How do you know just what it is you’re getting in each bottle?

Let’s take a look at the answers to these questions to find out more about CBD oil and hemp oil.

What’s Makes CBD Oil Different to Hemp Oil?

Understanding the difference between CBD oil and hemp oil is a bit complicated. It’s a little like asking if beer and alcohol are the same things. We know that beer is alcohol, but alcohol is not always beer. And what about non-alcoholic beer?

CBD oil and hemp oil are sometimes the same and sometimes different. It depends on the source of the CBD and the content of the oil.

To put it simply, if a CBD oil product is made by extracting cannabinoids from the hemp plant, then that CBD oil is also hemp oil.

If CBD oil is extracted from a different plant (marijuana), then it would not be considered hemp oil.

If a hemp oil product does not contain CBD, then this hemp oil would not be considered CBD oil.

Still confused? Don’t worry. To understand this better, we need to look closer at where CBD oil and hemp oil come from.

CBD Oil vs Hemp Oil: Where Do They Come From?

CBD oil and hemp oil both come from the cannabis plant. But, while hemp is a type of cannabis plant itself, CBD is a type of cannabis compound found within various cannabis plants (its full name is cannabidiol). This is where the confusion arises.

We’ll break it down for you.

There are three different species of cannabis, two of which are used around the globe for recreational and medicinal purposes: Indica and Sativa. These cannabis species are also split into two more categories based on their THC content (THC is the cannabis compound that gets you “high.” It is also an illegal drug in the USA). These two categories are:

Marijuana: Cannabis that contains high levels of THC (illegal)
Hemp: Cannabis that contains less than 1% THC (a legal industrial product)

Now, let’s take a look at all these plants under a microscope.

Cannabis plants in both categories contain over 100 different compounds called cannabinoids, many of which interact with our bodies to produce a range of effects. THC and CBD are both cannabinoids.

Modern technology allows us to use advanced extraction techniques to take certain cannabinoids out of cannabis and put them into pills, creams, edibles, and—you guessed it—oils.

When CBD is extracted from any type of cannabis and infused into a carrier oil, we call this CBD oil.

When CBD is extracted from hemp, this CBD oil is also hemp oil.

When CBD is extracted from marijuana, this CBD oil is also marijuana oil.

So, as you can see, there is sometimes a difference between CBD oil and hemp oil, and sometimes, there isn’t.

Note: CBD oil extracted from hemp is legal in all 50 states, but CBD oil extracted from marijuana is illegal at a federal level. Some states have legalized marijuana recreationally and/or medically, so you may be able to find CBD oil extracted from marijuana in these places. Before traveling across state borders, make sure you know if your CBD oil is hemp-based or marijuana-based to avoid legal trouble.

When Hemp Oil isn’t CBD Oil

Above, we saw that CBD oil can sometimes be hemp oil and sometimes not. But, hemp oil can also sometimes be CBD oil and sometimes not.

Hemp is a popular industrial product that is used to make much more than just CBD. Other types of hemp oil have been around for a long time, and many of them do not contain CBD. This means that just because you’ve found a hemp oil at your local pharmacy or cosmetics shop does not mean that you’ve found CBD oil.

In order for hemp oil to also be CBD oil, it must contain a significant amount of CBD. There is no established amount of CBD that must be in a type of hemp oil for it to be considered CBD oil, but producers of CBD oil always clearly indicate how many milligrams of CBD are in a bottle.

If you find a bottle of CBD oil that does not clearly display the amount of CBD within, we don’t advise purchasing it.

Typically, the lowest amount of CBD you’ll find in a 30ml bottle of hemp oil is 250mg.

CBD oil and Hemp Oil: What’s in the Bottle?

Now we know that if you’re interested in buying CBD oil, you need to know which cannabis plant it comes from. But, whether you buy CBD oil made from hemp or marijuana, it’s good to know what else is in the bottle.

Cannabis contains over 100 different compounds, and most types of CBD oil don’t just contain CBD.

We’re going to look at two different types of CBD oil made from hemp extract (we’re not going to focus on marijuana-based CBD oil, as this oil usually contains higher levels of THC and is not legal at a federal level).

Full-spectrum CBD hemp oil: Full-spectrum oil contains a variety of cannabinoids (not only CBD) as well as terpenes (natural aromatic oils found in cannabis). Full-spectrum blends may contain trace amounts of THC.
CBD isolate hemp oil: CBD isolate oil contains only CBD.

Full-Spectrum CBD oil is the most popular choice among consumers and producers, as studies have shown that taking a full range of cannabinoids together is more beneficial than taking CBD alone. If you choose a full-spectrum oil, the vast majority of what you’ll be taking is CBD, but low levels of compounds such as CBDA, CBG, CBC, and others. Each of these additional compounds brings its own benefits.

So, why take CBD isolate oil? There are many benefits to taking CBD, and it helps relieve a number of conditions. For this reason, some may want to take CBD on its own to help with a particular condition.

Another popular reason for choosing CBD isolate oil is for its lack of THC. Those who suffer from severe anxiety may be triggered by even the trace amounts of THC in full-spectrum oil. Also, those trace amounts of THC can appear on a drug test, so those who are subject to screening may want to opt for CBD isolate oil.

Choosing the Right CBD Oil

The differences and similarities between CBD oil and hemp oil are clear, but that doesn’t mean that each type of CBD hemp oil is the same.

Every hemp strain is a little bit different. They all contain different levels of various cannabinoids, different terpenes, and have slightly different effects. To choose a CBD oil that is pure, effective, and safe to use, pay attention to these factors:

Hemp source: Always find out where the hemp used to make the CBD oil comes from. Most reputable companies will tell you exactly where they get their hemp.
Cultivation: How was the hemp grown? Look for organic non-GMO hemp grown outdoors under natural sunlight for the best CBD oil.
Extraction: The way in which CBD and other cannabinoids are extracted from hemp determines the amount and quality of extract that ends up in the bottle. The best extraction methods are supercritical and subcritical. Extraction without heat is preferred, as heat can destroy fragile cannabinoids.
3^rd-party testing: CBD products are not yet regulated by the FDA, so you need to rely on 3^rd-party lab results to ensure the displayed levels of CBD and cannabinoids in your oil are accurate. Reputable companies have all of their oils tested and post the lab results on their websites where they are easily accessible. Companies that do not provide access to lab results should be avoided.
Carrier oil type: The extract from the hemp plant is not an oil itself. To make CBD oil, hemp extract must be added to a carrier oil. The best carrier oils are high in good fats. Examples include olive oil and coconut oil. As CBD is fat soluble, taking it with a fatty carrier oil will help it absorb into your system more easily.
Packaging and shipping: Even if your CBD oil is made and tested according to the highest possible standards, poor shipping and packaging can damage the oil and reduce its efficacy. CBD oil bottles should be thick and dark to shield the oil from light contamination. Also, they should not be left in a hot place (like a mailbox) for too long. Your CBD company of choice should offer 2-4 day shipping by a reputable shipping agency.

If you are having trouble finding a source of CBD that you consider trustworthy, check out the reviews on our site. We’ve looked at CBD producers across the industry and chosen only those with the highest standards to showcase to our readers.

The hemp oil vs CBD oil debate is one that arose mainly from confusion. As CBD and all of its benefits are only just being discovered by most, we hope to clear that confusion up so you can enjoy all the benefits of natural CBD and find the relief that you deserve.