Since 2018, hemp containing 0.3% or less THC is federally legal and can be added to products intended to be consumed orally, such as tinctures. Additionally, it can be extracted directly from marijuana plants.
Hemp and marijuana both fall within the Cannabis sativa cultivar family; however, each has unique cannabinoid profiles and chemical makeups. Hemp-derived CBD can be added to many food and supplement products for an enhanced experience.
Legality
Hemp-derived CBD is legal in Minnesota, yet the specifics of how it’s used remain vague. To be sold legally in Minnesota, hemp-derived CBD must be added to products suitable for human or animal consumption, and third-party testing to verify it does not contain mold, residual solvents, pesticides, fertilizers or heavy metals.
Minnesota laws allow products containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC – an innocuous component of cannabis plants – for legal sale. They may also include terpenes which give marijuana its distinctive dank or skunky aroma and provide other flavors and scents.
Federal law grants states the autonomy to determine how much delta-9 THC they allow in hemp products; however, these must meet Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act requirements (FD&C). New York and Connecticut have banned synthetic THC produced from hemp plants while Montana prohibits selling delta-9-THC products with less than 1 milligram per serving.
Safety
CBD is non-psychoactive and does not lead to a similar “high” as THC does, nor does it exhibit any addiction-like properties or have any known negative side effects.
People have long been growing hemp for its versatile uses in rope, sails and other products. Hemp and marijuana both originate from the same plant (Cannabis sativa), but with very different cannabinoid profiles: hemp plants are typically bred to contain high concentrations of CBD while marijuana produces large amounts of THC.
Hemp products with less than 0.3% THC may be sold legally in most states; those containing higher concentrations remain illegal under federal law.
FDA-regulated products containing CBD or cannabis or hemp-derived compounds must undergo third-party testing to ensure they contain only trace levels of mold, residual solvents, pesticides, fertilizers and heavy metals. Furthermore, consumers are entitled to access test results. Thankfully, The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp with only trace amounts of THC from its definition as marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act.
Extraction
Hemp plants contain only trace amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Instead, hemp plants are specifically grown for their CBD content and must contain no more than 0.3% THC according to Iowa law.
Hemp-derived CBD can be extracted using various techniques, with supercritical CO2 extraction being the best approach in terms of purity and potency for producing products that are both safe and effective.
Ethanol extraction is another popular way to access CBD extracts, though its quality and potency may be lower than with other techniques. In ethanol extraction, plants are chilled down to near-freezing temperatures before being mixed with polar solvents such as ethanol to “extract” their cannabinoids and terpenes before producing crude oil products with limited potency.
Hemp-derived CBD can also be dissolved into oils, fats or alcohol for use in producing tinctures, soft capsules and beverages. Furthermore, hemp-derived CBD can also be combined with other ingredients to produce unique products such as protein shakes or baked goods.
Uses
Hemp CBD products that have minimal or nonexistent THC can be legally sold and used to address an array of issues, from broad spectrum hemp extracts and isolate to pure CBD derived without other cannabinoids or terpenes present. Such products have different effects than THC-rich cannabis or marijuana products.
Marijuana contains more THC than hemp plants, which produces the psychoactive feeling of being “high.” CBD does not cause intoxication and does not create any “high” when taken orally.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of CBD in alleviating symptoms like nausea, pain, anxiety and seizures. CBD works by activating receptors in the Endocannabinoid System – an intricate system that regulates bodily functions and emotions – with one such study showing two to threefold decrease in drug cravings for participants who took CBD instead of a placebo pill.
