Non-drug varieties of Cannabis sativa plants, known as industrial hemp, have been used as a source of food, fibre and vegetable oil for thousands of years. The two main oil products from industrial hemp, known as hemp seed (or hemp) oil, and cannabidiol (or CBD) oil, are derived from different parts of the plant and used for different purposes.
Hemp seed oil
Hemp seed oil is a deep green oil obtained by pressing the seeds from non-drug strains of hemp plants. These strains have naturally low levels of cannabinoids - substances that interact with your own endocannabinoid receptors. The hemp seeds used to make food supplements are raw, the oil is cold-pressed, and certified organic and non-GMO.
Hemp seed oil is considered a healthy, nutritionally-balanced oil, as it provides a high level of monounsaturated fats, and the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (55%), and alpha-linolenic acid (16%) with a low level of saturated fat (9%). Hemp seed oil provides the optimum balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, and just one tablespoon (15ml) provide the daily requirement for essential fatty acids.2
Hemp seed oil is also used in the kitchen for its nutty, earthy flavour. Hemp seed oil is great to drizzle over food, add to salad dressings or to use in dips and pesto sauce. As hemp seed oil has a low smoke point, don't use it for cooking or frying.
Hemp seed oil is also used to make soaps, skin lotions, shampoo and bio-fuels.
Cannabidiol oil
When conducting your own research on industrial hemp you will have come across CBD. But what is it and what does it stand for? Cannabidiol, or CBD is a substance classed as a cannabinoid, which is extracted from the flowers and leaves of non-drug strains of industrial hemp. These strains have been bred to produce naturally high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) but very low levels of the psychoactive cannabinoid (THC) found in medical marijuana. As cannabidiol is oil-soluble, it is combined with oils (eg olive oil, coconut oil, hemp seed oil) to produce cannabidiol oil for optimum absorption into the body.
CBD is not psychoactive and does not produce a 'high' but it does have beneficial effects. Cannabidiol oil is increasingly used as a food supplement to promote general feelings of well-being.
Neither hemp seed oil nor cannabidiol oil contain significant levels of the psychoactive substance, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is found in marijuana. Both hemp seed oil and cannabidiol oil are therefore legal to take and are rapidly growing in popularity.
Do not use CBD during pregnancy or breastfeeding
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