Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools
Sections
You are here: Home Focus As EU countries pursue CBD production, the US is key for CBD isolate and superior plant genetics

As EU countries pursue CBD production, the US is key for CBD isolate and superior plant genetics

05 May 2019, 20:06 CET

European countries are all following in the steps of the US, legalizing the use of CBD cannabidiol. The Netherlands, UK, Malta, Greece, Spain are all countries with big ambitions in this industry. But as many learn, it takes more than green soil to produce a superior end-product.

One US wholesaler of CBD isolate, Industrial Hemp Partners (IHP) is frequently consulted by European producers who seek to obtain the right plant genetics and CBD isolate, which is required to produce full-spectrum CBD oil.

Below we will discuss elements that are considered crucial to manufacture CBD in a way that will lead to a satisfactory long-term outcome: which is that the consumer may end up buying uncontaminated products that will actually meet the purpose for which it was intended: which is to aid wellness.

How CBD is Made

When it comes to CBD, quality matters and when it comes to quality, everyone in the supply chain must be proven to be meeting quality standards. In relation to CBD, quality means non-GMO, organically grown and chemical-free extraction.

Total quality management of CBD production begins with non-GMO organic seeds of high-CBD content hemp that are grown in areas that are free from radiation and soil that is free from toxins. Then the plants are raised without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Only organic fertilizers are used to feed the plants and, in many cases, there is no need for pesticides. The result is organic hemp. The farmer then watches closely until the hemp is ready for harvesting, i.e. when the CBD content is at its highest. Harvesting is done fast. The floral biomass branches are cut off and thoroughly dried in a covered well-ventilated barn. Alternatively, hemp is allowed to dry in the field as the farmer stops watering it. Dried hemp is then sent to CBD factories.

The CBD factory inspects the hemp for the presence of mildew and tests it for CBD content. The higher the quantity of CBD, the better the price paid to the farm. Then the factory sets out to extract CBD from the dried plant matter. One way is to soak the plant matter in ethanol or butane and then pouring out the ethanol or butane and allowing the rest of it to evaporate. Then the residue is CBD which is then filtered to remove waxes and other plant matter. The problem with this method, which is the most used at the present moment, is that the resulting CBD contains traces of the chemicals. This method is only safe if grain-made ethanol is used.

Another method is the use of liquid carbon dioxide. CO2 is cooled and pressured until it becomes liquid. The resulting liquid CO2 is a solvent. When plant matter is immersed into liquid CO2, CBD and other compounds are extracted. The mixture is then forced through a separator which channels the plant extract to one chamber and then recycles the CO2. The plant extract is then filtered to remove other compounds leaving pure CBD. This is a very clean process and the resulting CBD is free from any toxins.

Why Quality Matters

Consumers may wonder why the CBD industry has to worry about the quality of CBD. Quality matters. Already the industry has had problems with CBD that is produced in Asia that has been found to contain toxins which can harm consumers. They probably use conventional farming methods with the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. It is a cheaper method of hemp production but the resulting CBD is tainted. are cheap.

Still: questions may remain in the minds of consumers: Why do farmers care that they grow only non-GMO organic hemp? And why do CBD manufacturers care what method of CBD extraction they use? The answer lies in the intended use of CBD which is medicinal. CBD must meet the highest expectations of its consumers without adding any new problems brought by toxins.

First, when consumers buy CBD, which is quite costly, they want to make sure they did not buy snake oil. This is a basic quality requirement: when a bottle says CBD, it must indeed contain CBD inside otherwise the contents will not work.

Secondly, consumers want to make sure that the CBD that ends up in their bodies is entirely free from THC or it contains less than 0.3% THC. If the level of THC is too high, some consumers may end up failing drug tests. Also, their performance at work may be impaired by the THC which has psychoactive effects. In this case, quality matters.

Third, high quality CBD is free from toxins. CBD is intended to treat various health problems so adding toxins to people's bodies that are already overloaded with toxins will defeat the purpose. Therefore, only non-GMO organic seeds are selected and grown organically, i.e. free from agricultural chemicals. The result is hemp that is free from any harmful chemicals. When the CBD is extracted, it too must be free from toxins.

Fourth, high quality CBD is free from radiation. Even the quality of the place and the soil matters because if the farm is close to a source of radiation spillage, the hemp will absorb the radiation, which will then be found in the resulting CBD. Such radiation will find its way into people's bodies and cause havoc. If the farm is free from radiation, the resulting hemp and CBD are both free from radiation. When people ingest, inhale or apply topically the CBD extracted from such hemp, they guaranteed safety from radiation.

Fifth, the amount of CBD in a product matters because it affects how well a product performs when ingested or applied topically or inhaled. Low level CBD can never offer the same level of health benefits as high level CBD. Therefore, with time, as consumers become more knowledgeable, they will look only for high level CBD in order to maximize their benefits.

Sixth, high quality CBD is full spectrum CBD with zero THC. This is manufactured using whole plant extracts which ensures that the extract contains the full range of terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids that work synergistically with CBD to provide a much better benefit than pure CBD. While people focus on CBD isolate, they forget that isolates do not have the synergy enjoyed by full spectrum CBD and therefore they are "cheaper" material compared to full spectrum CBD.

Example Products Made from High-Quality Non-GMO Certified CBD

TerraVida

Consumers looking for high quality products should consider the range of products made by terravidaonline.com. Terravidaonline.com is very particular about the quality of the CBD products that they sell. They have relationships with the farmers who grow, harvest and process organic hemp. They provide proof of quality tests performed by independent laboratories in order to satisfy customers that the CBD product is what it claims to be with low THC and high levels of CBD and free from impurities. ZERO THC is increasingly more available and popular.

Terravidaonline.com performs whole plant CBD extraction (from mature stems, stalks and flowers of industrial hemp plants). The result is full spectrum CBD which they then use to create products such as this Hemp Extract Oil Natural Tincture which contains 2500MG of CBD. This tincture, that is made with full spectrum CBD mixed with coconut MCT oil, is easily absorbed by the body. The advantage of this product is that it contains CBD as the major ingredient plus other naturally occurring cannabinoids (such as CBN and CBC) and other compounds found in hemp. The other naturally occurring compounds work synergistically with CBD and enhance its effect in the body.

This tincture is very popular with CBD consumers because it can be used in many ways such as pain relief, anxiety relief and to beautify the skin. Another reason why it is popular is that there are product versions with little THC as well as with ZERO THC, so it will not affect the brain and it will not affect drug tests in case of the latter product.

Users simply place a few drops under the tongue as instructed or apply it to the skin and they are on their way to better health. They can also add this product to foods or beverages or take softgels and capsules as an easy way to experience its health benefits.

Conclusion:

Whether European countries will become lead exporters of CBD remains to be seen. If a lasting impact will be made on local markets, to the extent that people will rely on CBD to replace certain mainstream pharmaceuticals – may well depend on how much effort goes into quality assurance. The UK regulators will have zero tolerance for THC products, with many governments taking a similar stance. Therefore, ZERO THC products will take the lead.

Document Actions
Weekly Diary

The Week Ahead no. 623
Waste framework directive - microplastic pollution - agriculture situation and Ukraine - Multilateral Investment Court

→ EUbusiness Week archive

Subscription options