How is CBD produced?

Thinking of producing CBD? Then you've come to the right place. Available in a variety of forms, CBD or Cannabidiol is becoming increasingly popular. This renewed interest is due to CBD's antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. It is used to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, panic attacks, inflammations, contractures, neuropathic pain and other conditions. pathologies. This non-psychotropic substance is one of the cannabinoids (molecules that act on the body's cannabinoid receptors) and is contained in cultivated hemp. Here's how it is produced.

It is important to distinguish the extraction of CBD from the oils derived from the seeds. To better understand this difference, read our article on CBD hemp oil.

Growing the hemp plant

Today, there are different types of cannabis and cannabinoids. Hemp is one of these and is often confused with marijuana. Hemp is grown industrially to produce CBD. Marijuana, on the other hand, is exploited for its large flowers containing high levels of THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol. The CBD and THC are both derived from the cannabis plant. However, unlike THC, CBD is neither addictive nor narcotic.

The culture of hemp plants containing virtually no THC is permitted by law. The accepted THC content is less than 0.2 %. This threshold may be revised to 0 % for finished CBD products, a point which is part of the current debates around concentration levels and thresholds, discussed in more detail in an analysis dedicated to the challenges of cannabidiol levels. However, to produce top-quality CBD, you need to carefully select the hemp plant from which the substance will be extracted. The variety chosen must come from a quality strain, be genetically stable and grown in suitable soil. The soil should be a homogeneous mixture of silt and sand with a pH of between 6 and 7.5.

Once planted, the hemp used to produce CBD needs to be watered regularly and generously, while ensuring that the soil is well aerated. The choice of location also plays a major role in the development of a hemp plant. The plant should be placed in a sunny spot for at least 12 hours a day. If you follow these recommendations, each plant will reach maturity after 4 months.

Producing CBD: extraction and processing into finished products

There are several possible methods for extracting CBD from hemp plants. These include CO2 extraction or supercritical extraction. This is the most effective and widely used method for obtaining all the CBD contained in cultivated hemp. It requires the use of carbon dioxide, which becomes liquid under the effect of an increase in pressure. The liquid CO2 obtained is then used to extract the CBD without heating the plant. This process can also be used to manufacture CBD RAW products, containing CBD and other cannabinoids.

CBD can also be extracted using the oil extraction technique. This involves heating the buds of the hemp plant. This produces a larger quantity of the substance, with a higher concentration of CBD. Another extraction method uses alcohol. Simply soak the buds in alcohol to dissolve the CBD. The paste created after the alcohol has evaporated can then be processed. Once the CBD has been extracted, it is processed into different forms for different uses (find out what CBD resin is). The most common is CBD oil, obtained after diluting the extract in a carrier oil.
CBD extracts can also be incorporated into modern time-release solutions, such as CBD patches, which use a cutaneous application.
CBD can then be offered in the form of oils, crystals, e-liquids, infusions, creams, etc. CBD flowers grown under glass, etc.
Certain parts of the hemp plant can also be used without complex extraction, in particular for the preparation of hemp oil.’CBD hemp infusions, a gentler, more traditional form.
These methods of cultivation, extraction and quality control are now applied by a number of specialist French brands, such as Nobilis Product, recognised for the traceability of its products.