Let’s get right down to it: Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are NOT the same thing. CBD oil contains CBD (cannabidiol); hemp seed oil does not. CBD oil is used for medicinal, health, and general well-being purposes. Hemp seed oil is used for food and beauty products. It’s really just a more nutritious version of a standard bottle of olive oil–not something you would take to alleviate pain.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people who don’t know that. There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the difference between the two. It’s important to know this difference before shopping for CBD products. That way, you don’t make the mistake of purchasing a cooking product when you’re really seeking a pain reliever. Let’s clear up the confusion and explain the differences.

Both hemp seed oil and CBD oil are derived from the hemp plant, but different parts. CBD oil is made from material extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stalk of a hemp plant. Hemp seed oil is made from the seeds of hemp plants. Keep that in mind while shopping for CBD products; some companies out there claim their product contains CBD taken from the seeds or the root of the cannabis plant. As we just discussed, CBD is not found there— only in the flowers, leaves, and stalk.

The CO2 extraction process to extract CBD is highly scientific. Extraction allows specific chemical compounds to be pulled from the hemp plant. It’s actually the same process used to extract caffeine from coffee beans to make decaffeinated coffee. Once extracted, the CBD is formulated into an oil, placed in a capsule, blended into beauty and skincare products, or crumbled into a powder to dissolve into food or drinks.

Like we said earlier, hemp seed oil is made from the seeds of the hemp plant. It even says so in its name! Hemp seeds contain absolutely zero CBD or THC. To make hemp seed oil, hemp seeds are pressed in a cold-press machine until the oils are squeezed out. The process is similar to making squeezed orange juice, and it’s a lot cheaper and simpler than the methods used to extract CBD.

CBD oil offers medicinal benefits, while hemp seed oil offers nutritional benefits instead. Hemp seed oil provides a variety of vital fatty acids and antioxidants that are hard to find in a majority of foods. It also revitalizes nails, skin, and hair. Recognized as a superfood, it’s commonly found in salads and other healthy dishes. It is a highly popular nutritious supplement.

So how do two totally different oils get mixed up so often? A lot of confusion between the two is due to terminology misuse throughout the years. For example, due to the general unawareness of the CBD industry, the terms “CBD” and “cannabidiol” are sometimes prohibited in companies and on product labels. As a result, terms like “hemp oil,” “hemp oil extract,” and “hemp extract” are used to replace the terms “CBD,” “hemp-based CBD,” and “hemp-derived CBD.” Naturally, people started to get confused about which term meant what. Gradually, people started accidentally interchanging the terms. Of course, more confusion, right?

Don’t stress. Our blog educates you and informs you with everything you’ll need to know to make your CBD journey easier. After all, you have a right to know.

Did you know George Washington was pro-hemp? In fact, the U.S. grew and cultivated the plant without issue until the 1930s. During the 1930s, marijuana prohibitionists campaigned to criminalize marijuana. Their lack of knowledge of the cannabis plant family led to the criminalization of both marijuana and hemp. Today, legislators are finally realizing what separates marijuana and hemp: the former gets you “high” while the latter does not. Hemp is used to produce clothing, paper, dietary supplements, and much more. Recently, hemp farming has seen a tremendous increase due to the growing use of CBD products. (If you’d like to learn the differences between hemp and marijuana, see our blog post “Curious about CBD?”).

A BREAKTHROUGH FOR FARMERS

There’s never been a better time for hemp farming. Farmers everywhere are talking hemp. The prices around hemp used to produce CBD (cannabidiol) are impossible to ignore. Numerous hemp farmers in Colorado are reporting charging between $35-$40 per pound for their hemp. Further research shows farmers speculate future hemp prices will land between $8,000 per acre and $50,000 per acre.

Every farmer knows different crops present different challenges. When it comes to hemp, though, farmers are limited in resources and knowledge. How much water do hemp plants use? What will operating costs amount to? Thankfully, questions like these can be answered by organizations dedicated to hemp farming education. Groups like Hemp on the Slope and Chimney Rock Hemp provide farmers with everything they need to know about hemp farming.

REAL STORIES FROM REAL PEOPLE

Farmers across the U.S. are reaping the rewards of hemp. Some farmers are using the plant as an additional diversifying crop, while others have replaced their entire operation. Take these farmers in Tennessee, who have successfully shifted from tobacco to hemp. Or look at the story of Jason VonLembke, a Colorado rancher who transformed his 14,000-acre cattle ranch into a hemp farm. The greatest success story comes from another Colorado farmer, Ryan Loflin. Loflin is considered “the first U.S. farmer since the 1940s to plant and harvest industrial hemp.” Rocky Mountain Hemp, Loflin’s farm, is running strong and continuing to grow.