Since CBD can be extracted from what’s considered “industrial hemp,” it can now be legally purchased in most states. But CBD is also present in cannabis sativa. The fact that CBD is present in both plants begs the question: is hemp-extracted CBD different than cannabis-extracted CBD?
Hemp is a specific variety of cannabis sativa, so it’s not like they’re completely separate in the first place. The chemical makeup of CBD will be the same, no matter where it came from. However, the way the CBD is extracted and manufactured differs depending on whether it was from hemp or cannabis. CBD is much more abundant in hemp than in cannabis plants, so it’s simply more economical to source CBD from hemp in most cases. Because of this, hemp-derived CBD tends to be more common.
Even though the majority of the cannabinoids in hemp are CBD, there are trace amount of THC. In order to be considered industrial hemp, the plant must contain less than 0.3% THC, and so does the final product on the market. For pure CBD without any other cannabinoids, look for a CBD isolate. Full-spectrum CBD products with trace amounts of THC are more likely to have been extracted from cannabis, but they can be made from hemp as well.
CBD derived from hemp is not to be mistaken with hemp seed oil, also a popular topical ingredient. Hemp seed oil does not contain any CBD or THC, and is used more for it’s nourishing and moisturizing properties. Hemp seed oil doesn’t offer many therapeutic benefits like CBD does.
So there you have it—hemp CBD and cannabis CBD have the same chemical makeup and provide the same effects. Hemp-derived CBD is more common, simply because it has a larger presence in hemp and there are less legal ramifications associated with hemp.