How is CBD made ?

What is CBD

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid extracted from hemp plants. In recent years, CBD has been steadily gaining in popularity due to its multiple therapeutic benefits of reducing stress and anxiety, combating sleep disorders, and relieving chronic pain.

CBD is also known as a "natural" substance.

On the other hand, CBD should not be confused with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the molecule responsible for the psychoactive and addictive effects of hemp. CBD is considered a narcotic product in France and in the majority of European countries, and is therefore prohibited for sale and consumption. One of the main conditions for CBD-based products to be legal is that their THC content is less than 0.3%.

For its part, CBD does not cause any adverse effects or any form of addiction. In fact, the WHO (World Health Organization) has confirmed that CBD is a substance that is safe for health and has enormous therapeutic potential.

What is the manufacturing process of CBD ?

To make CBD, you need to grow hemp plants with THC levels below 0.3%. Nevertheless, growing hemp is not an easy task and only professional growers are able to get the best yields. Indeed, growing hemp requires a lot of patience, experience and know-how. First of all, you should know that there are 3 main types of cultivation: outdoor, greenhouse and indoor.

The Outdoor Culture

Outdoor cultivation, also known as outdoor cultivation, is certainly the oldest and most traditional method. It is also the most natural method since it consists of letting the plants grow outdoors, with little human intervention.

In outdoor cultivation, hemp plants are subject to weather conditions and many factors that are nearly impossible to control. Ecological and economical, outdoor growing is satisfied with its natural environment. Flowers from outdoor cultivation are robust and abundant.

The Greenhouse Culture

Greenhouse growing, or growing in a greenhouse, is similar to outdoor growing. The only difference is that the greenhouse helps protect the plants from the weather and pests. Thus, Greenhouse cultivation uses natural sunlight and creates a microclimate favorable to the proper development of hemp plants.

The advantage of this method is that the grower has more control over the various parameters of his crop. Even with little equipment at his disposal, the grower can enjoy abundant yields and a high-quality end product.

Indoor growing

Indoor growing refers to growing indoors. Today, it is one of the most popular methods because it allows you to keep control over all the parameters of the culture: lighting, temperature, humidity, water pH, etc. On the other hand, this method of cultivation requires a great financial investment, but also a lot of knowledge and patience.

The advantage of this method is that it allows you to obtain a final product of optimal quality. Generally, the effects and flavors of CBD from an Indoor culture are superior to others. The disadvantage is that it is very greedy in electricity because of the artificial lighting. Therefore, it is less economical and ecological than other methods.

How to create a suitable environment for CBD cultivation.

No matter how you choose to grow it, CBD plants need an environment that is conducive to their growth and flowering. The first thing to do is to choose a good quality soil that is rich in micronutrients. Using good quality soil avoids adding chemical fertilizers along the way. This is also a key point in achieving an environmentally friendly crop.

Although growing CBD is a big investment, it is important to keep in mind that every element counts for the good development of the plants. To obtain quality flowers, nothing should be left to chance: the soil, water, pots, lights, etc.

What are the different methods of CBD extraction ?

The manufacturing process doesn't stop there. Before it can be consumed, CBD must be extracted from the plant. There are different techniques for extracting CBD after harvesting.

The extraction process is not the same.

CO2 extraction

CBD extraction with CO2 is considered the most qualitative, but also the most complex method. Only performed by professionals in the field, CO2 extraction is also called carbon dioxide extraction or supercritical extraction.

Conducted in an industrial manner, this extraction consists of collecting all of the CBD and other cannabinoids from the plant, without denaturing their properties and without adding any chemicals. To do this, CO2 is transformed into a liquid state through high pressure, which allows the cannabinoids to be separated from the other components present in the plant material without damaging it.

Finally, the mixture of CO2 and cannabinoids is sorted by pressure reduction. Thus, the CO2 returns to the gaseous state in order to be recycled. What remains is high quality CBD, ready to be consumed or accompanied by other cannabinoids. For example, it is possible to preserve all the cannabinoids to make Full Spectrum CBD. This type of CBD allows you to benefit from the entourage effect and maximize the benefits of the plant.

Chemical solvent extraction

Many producers choose chemical solvent extraction to make CBD. This technique involves soaking the plant in a chemical solvent and allowing the product to work until it evaporates to create a sort of paste.

The most commonly used chemical solvent for this method is ethanol because its function is to dissolve the molecules. In herbalism, this type of extraction is often used to collect the active principles of plants with medicinal properties. This allows in particular to make mother tinctures.

For this extraction, only the flowers should be used and not the entire plant because they contain more CBD. Before performing the chemical solvent extraction, the hemp flowers must be decarboxylated, i.e. heated to about 100 degrees to activate the cannabinoids.

Vegetable oil extraction

Vegetable oil extraction is the cheapest and easiest method to perform. The disadvantage is that it is achievable on a small amount of CBD because only the flowers of the hemp plant must be used. Therefore, a large amount of buds are needed to obtain CBD.

This type of extraction can also be done with butter. In any case, this method is little used by professional manufacturers since it does not allow to process large quantities. To carry out an extraction with oil or butter, it is enough to use the fat like a solvent, because CBD is liposoluble. All vegetable oils work for this method, as long as they resist high temperatures. This is particularly the case with coconut oil.

As with the previous extraction method, CBD flowers must be decarboxylated by cooking at about 100 degrees beforehand. Note that this technique does not preserve all the cannabinoids in the plant, only the CBD. After having heated the oil containing the flowers during a few hours, CBD binds to fats. To finish the operation, the mixture must be cooled and filtered to eliminate the residues of vegetable matter. Finally, a kind of CBD oil or butter is obtained.

Making your own CBD, is it legal ?

Certainly, the sale and consumption of CBD is allowed in France, but the cultivation of CBD is reserved for professionals. Cannabis cultivation is subject to strict rules and growers who choose to make it their business must follow European regulations.

Even if you choose a CBD strain that contains less than 0.3% THC, you are not allowed to grow it in your bedroom or garden, whether for therapeutic or personal use.

The law is formal: individuals are prohibited from growing cannabis in their homes under penalty of imprisonment and a fine of several million euros.