For those who want to get the benefits of cannabis without smoking or otherwise using the entire plant, numerous extractions processes can get cannabis oil out of the plant. From there, manufacturers can create cannabis oil, edibles, capsules, vape products, or other items.

Essentially, cannabis extraction will get rid of the compounds in the plant that you do not want while keeping the original plant’s cannabinoids and active terpenes.

There are multiple reasons to extract cannabis oil from the cannabis plant, including improving the potency over the fresh herb. It also gets rid of the compounds that you do not want. It is also simpler to find the dosage and concentration for cannabis oil extracts than in a whole plant since more of the compounds you want (cannabinoids and terpenes) are present.

The extraction will keep the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes to the greatest extent possible. It will also remove as much of the chlorophyll, fatty acids, and waxes. The first group enhances the concentrate’s taste, potency, and smell, while the second group can be dangerous or taste bad.

Before getting into the various methods of cannabis oil extraction, keep in mind that this process is nothing new. People have been doing it for thousands of years. We have just created additional methods and refined the process in recent years. You can find records of people using hash as early as the year 900, where people would eat it. There are also many old records of cannabis tea and tinctures.

During the turn of the millennium, hash was popular throughout the Middle East. Many feel that Napoleon, along with his troops, may have brought Egyptian hash to Europe in the 1800s or so. There are records of French doctors suggesting hashish during the 1840s and evidence of a Club des Hashischins in Paris not long after. In fact, people in the United States used cannabis tinctures until 1942, and their popularity continued in the United Kingdom until 1970.

Some of the variations in the cannabis oil extraction method will depend on the plant type you use. You should choose your cannabis strain based on the desired results. If you want an extract with high levels of CBD and low levels of THC, look for that in the plant strain. The opposite is also true.

All cannabis extraction methods should start with organic cannabis grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. This prevents the presence of those chemicals in the final product.

There are two main categories of cannabis extracts, those that use solvent and those that are solventless. As the names imply, one involves the use of solvents in the extraction process, and the other does not. Production of solventless extracts will not include any foreign substances, except for water. Instead, they rely on heat, a sieve, and pressure.

Solvents will use substances like butane, propane, or alcohol. People keep discovering new solvent-based methods of cannabis oil extraction, but you should always use caution when experimenting yourself or buying oil made from a new process. The chemicals may explode during the process if done incorrectly. It is also possible for some residual solvent to make it into your final cannabis product. That is just one of many reasons to get certificates of quality always before buying cannabis products.

Hash is among the oldest products extracted from cannabis. There are several extraction techniques. Of these, the most common is to use ice water. The ice water will separate the plant matter from the trichomes containing the essential oils. The separated substances will stick together. You let them dry and press them to finish making the hash.

You can also make hash via dry sifting. Start with frozen buds that the screen will break down into tinier pieces. This separates the trichomes from the rest of the plant, having them fall through your sieve, where they press and form a hash-like consistency.

Another solventless extraction method produces kief, which are the white crystals on the cannabis flower that are small and sticky. It looks like pollen or powder and is rich in trichomes. You may also know them as the trichomes or resin glands, and they are the part of the cannabis plant with the largest concentration of active cannabinoids and terpenes. To separate the kief during extraction, you need a three-chamber grinder. The kief will end up in the bottom chamber.

Rosin is another solventless extraction method, and it only requires pressure and heat. That combination will cause the juice to run out of your hash, bud, or kief. The extract will be translucent and juicy, with a sap-like consistency. This rosin can maintain the plant’s aromatic terpenes and have potency as high as 70 percent THC.

Testing shows that rosin can effectively extract the terpenes and cannabinoids from the cannabis plant without any risk of toxic residual solvents left behind. It is popular for its simplicity and the ability to do it at home, to some extent. People have produced potent rosin extracts using baking parchment, heatproof gloves, a hair straightener, and a tool to collect it.

As the name implies, Butane Hash Oil (BHO) is made with butane. This continues the trend of using hydrocarbons like butane, propane, and hexane in extractions like corn and canola oil.

This process involves running a solvent through the cannabis plant matter. This process will cause the oils you want to come out of the plant in question. Afterward, the solution is placed in a vacuum and heated, since butane evaporates at low temperatures. This ensures that all of the solvent gets out of the extract. The extract from this process is referred to as shatter. The extract is clear and usually includes terpenes, CBD, and THC. True shatter is a harder version of butane hash oil, and it requires low terpene content to avoid a soft extract.

This process is ideal for producing extracts with incredibly high potency, such as up to 90 percent. There are, however, some hazards associated with this method. Butane burns easily while as a gas, so you must carefully manage the temperature to avoid an explosion. Also, you will need a system that recycles and removes the butane, so there is no residual butane in your extract. The process must include analytical testing to confirm no butane is present since it is harmful.

Using propane to extract cannabis oil is nearly identical to using butane. The high pressure will ensure the propane remains liquefied. Propane has a lower boiling point than butane so that the extraction can take place at lower temperatures. You still need to take precautions to ensure you remove as much of the chemicals as possible.

Several types of cannabis extraction use alcohol. These involve soaking the plant in alcohol and then removing the plant material. You then filter the liquid and remove the alcohol via a process like evaporation. Usually, alcohol extraction is perfected at the normal atmospheric pressure with carefully controlled temperatures. You need to take the process slow and steady to avoid the ethanol catching fire.

A significant challenge to this method is that the solvents used have inherent polarity. As such, it is likely to mix with the water where it would dissolve chlorophyll and other water-soluble molecules. That would be problematic as chlorophyll in the extract can lead to a bitter flavor.

A significant benefit is that you do not have to worry about accidentally leaving residual chemicals that are toxic in the cannabis extract. It also makes it easy to extract the compounds you want simultaneously.

Tinctures are incredibly common types of cannabis oil. These are liquid concentrates produced via alcohol extraction. The alcohol will pull the terpenes and cannabinoids out without any need for heat. The lack of heat makes tinctures safer to extract than the BHO method. As a bonus, tinctures can also incorporate added flavors, appealing to those who want to enjoy cannabis without the bitter taste.

Another solvent-based extraction method is Phoenix Tears or RSO. This method is named after Rick Simpson, who created the extraction method. Start by soaking the entire plant in pure isopropyl alcohol or naphtha. This will draw the cannabinoids out. Let the solvent evaporate, and you will notice the extract is tar-like. You can then take RSO orally or choose to apply it on your skin.

Supercritical Fluid Extraction (CO2 Extraction; Solvent)

With supercritical fluid extraction, you do not need to have any chemical solvents at all, which makes it appealing to many. Instead, these extracts rely on carbon dioxide, so they are also called CO2 extraction. You compress the carbon dioxide, so it turns into a supercritical fluid. The resulting fluid will work similarly to hydrocarbons, stripping essential oils out of the cannabis plant. At the end of the process, any leftover CO2 will evaporate. You need professional, expensive equipment to complete this extraction process, so you are unlikely to find someone trying it themselves.

Thanks to the use of professional equipment, you lose less valuable material and get higher yields. That equipment also makes it possible to extract the specific compounds you want by adjusting runtime, pressure, and temperature. Cannabis oil extracted via this method does require analysis for concentrations since the same process can lead to varying concentrations.

The unique thing about this method is that the supercritical fluid combines properties of gas and liquid, allowing for the extensive dissolution of the plant matter. CO2 extraction like this is also easier to control than BHO. It even produces a cannabis extract containing additional terpenes. While BHO produces 0.5 to 3.5 percent terpenes, CO2 has a concentration of up to 10 percent.

Another method of extraction is molecular separation, also known as short path distillation or high vacuum distillation. The method lets you treat molecules using minimal thermal degradation to separate terpenes and cannabinoids from the rest of the plant. The entire process takes place in a vacuum with levels under 0.01 mm Hg.

That vacuum means that you can distill products with a high boiling point at moderate temperatures. This helps the resulting product, as you do not expose the plant to high temperatures for a long period. As a result, the compounds you want, like terpenes, experience minimal thermal degradation.

One of the newest extraction methods is live resin. You harvest the cannabis plant fresh and then freeze it right after harvesting. The method uses butane extraction as its basis, but it is different enough to be a separate method. This distinction comes from the reduction in waiting time. There is no need to dry and cure your cannabis plants before extraction as you would with other methods. That is important, as drying and curing can take as long as 70 days.

Live resin extraction can also preserve the terpenes to a higher degree than other methods. Since this method is still new, it is very rare and tends to be expensive.

Leave the Extraction to the Professionals

Even if some of the above methods seem straightforward, you should keep in mind that most require a deep understanding of chemistry. You will need a fume hood or other safety equipment for most of the methods. As such, you should not try most of them at home. There is also the risk that you will not complete the extraction process correctly and create a product that is not safe if you attempt to extract the cannabis oil yourself.

You should be able to find cannabis oil created using each of the extraction methods above, although some are much more common than others are. To stay safe when purchasing cannabis products, always make sure to choose a company that offers certificates of quality or analysis. This will let you confirm that no solvents or chemicals make it into the product and can also confirm the potency.

Common Methods of Cannabis Oil Extraction

With so many different types of cannabis oil on the market, it's helpful to know what you'll be consuming before buying.

If you have consumed any cannabis products, then you will likely appreciate the presence of lab testing. This is considered a very important part of the marijuana industry and it will definitely not disappear anytime soon. After all, there is no indication that the federal government will be creating an agency or organization to take care of lab testing in the near future.

As the name implies, cannabis lab testing involves testing cannabis in a laboratory setting to look into its properties. This is a process that all cannabis intended for consumers should undergo. The laboratories are the result of concerns regarding potential contaminants in cannabis, especially given the lack of government oversight and regulation on cannabis.

Labs that test for cannabis will include those focused on analytical chemistry as well as microbiology. They look for levels of things such as water,&nbsp;cannabinoids, and&nbsp;terpenes, all of which are supposed to be present. This allows for confirmation of things such as the potency of a strain and its potential effects.

Additionally, cannabis lab testing looks for substances that are not supposed to be present, including mold, mycotoxins, solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals.

Most cannabis&nbsp;testing&nbsp;labs will perform a range of tests to check for the full list of elements mentioned above. Each type of test will look for a certain set of results, then they are combined to get an overall image of the cannabis.

This type of testing helps determine the compounds in the sample. It involves technicians dissolving a sample then pouring it into an absorbent. Each compound in the cannabis will move at its own rate, resulting in distinct colors within the absorbent.

This type of testing measures chemicals and molecules. Technicians in a lab will use this type of test to place various compounds in a magnetic field. That field will then show the deflection rate as a spectrum.

There are several types of microbial testing that cannabis labs may use, including statistical sampling, sound assay designs and validations, and relevant microorganism testing.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)

This type of testing allows for the study of cannabis without the use of solvents. It relies on a magnetic field to measure chemical compounds and molecules. Technicians send radio waves through a sample, with a radio receiver picking them up. They measure the variations in frequency for every magnetic field, which lets the technicians see a detailed structure of the interior of the sample.

With this type of testing, technicians extract active ingredients from the marijuana by using solvents like water, butane, carbon dioxide, or ethanol. After extraction, including of cannabis oil and other similar products, technicians can determine the amount of solvent that is left behind or residual, which is in parts per million.

Because of the gray legal area of cannabis, where it is legal in some states but not all and illegal at the federal level, there are still no explicit standards of the level that many advocates would appreciate. Specifically, many people have called for the creation of standards that line up with those from the International Standards Organization (ISO/IEC 17025) and/or the ASTM International (ASTM D37).

Not only is cannabis lab testing a good idea for safety reasons, but it is also legally required in some states. Colorado was the first state to introduce government standards, which the legislature proposed in 2015. This led to the requirement for mandatory testing on potency and microbial presences. In the following years, Colorado expanded the requirements, also requiring testing for pesticides and residual solvents.

Although Colorado was the first state to require cannabis lab testing, it is not the only one. California, Oregon, Nevada, and Massachusetts also all require it, and this list is likely to continue expanding.

The main reason to test cannabis before sending it to the market is for safety, but there are more factors at play than this. The following are some of the most important reasons that cannabis lab testing is essential for the industry.

As mentioned, the safety of those who consume cannabis is one of the most important concerns, and it is likely the reason that led to the rise of cannabis testing, to begin with. Without testing cannabis, there is no guarantee that the products that reach consumers do not have any harmful chemicals or other ingredients. There are numerous potential contamination sources throughout the growing process, with even more along the way as the product heads to the consumer.

For example, cannabis has natural moisture, which could encourage the growth of microbes or mold. Additionally, if there are heavy metals in the soil, the roots can absorb these, leading to concentrations in the cannabis plant. Growing processes can involve the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other harsh chemicals, which may have remnants left behind in the plant.

The only way to be completely certain that none of these harmful contaminants or others are present in cannabis is to put it through lab testing. That is particularly important as the various potential contaminants have the potential to cause life-threatening issues.

Cannabis lab testing also lets dispensaries, growers, and manufacturers of cannabis-based products control the quality of their products. With testing, they can confirm that their products are of a consistently high quality, which will encourage customers to have faith in the&nbsp;company.

Customers want predictability, in terms of potency as well as quality. By being able to show consumers that their products have that consistency, whether in the lack of contaminants or the THC levels, this encourages future trust in the product. That results in an increase in brand loyalty, which benefits cannabis growers and companies.

As mentioned, cannabis lab testing is currently required in some states where medical and/or recreational marijuana is legal, but not all. This will likely change in the future, with some sort of regulation or testing eventually being required. At the latest, that would likely occur when marijuana is legalized at the federal level.

Obviously, companies must meet any current regulations, including those for lab testing. If a cannabis company in California or another state that requires this testing does not comply, they may find their business shut down.

The possibility of future regulations is also important, however, as it minimizes the disruption to a cannabis company’s processing in the future. After all, their product timeline will already account for the time spent with lab testing, so there will be minimal changes in the time it takes to bring a product to market when new regulations arrive. Additionally, undergoing lab testing now confirms that the cannabis already meets high standards. Since those are the standards that will likely be required in the future, this eliminates the need for cannabis companies to make changes to the use of fertilizers, or other parts of the process in the future.

From the perspective of a cannabis company looking to remain competitive, this is particularly important since changes can be very expensive. Furthermore, it is likely that when regulations come into place, there will be a timeline of enforcement, which could lead to rushing the process. By already incorporating testing, businesses can avoid that rush and take the time to discover which processes work the best for them while delivering the quality cannabis consumers want.

There is also the fact that when cannabis companies bring their products through lab testing, this improves the overall opinion of the industry. Given the mixed public opinions regarding marijuana, this is a very important point.

Essentially, the lab testing shows the general public as well as consumers that cannabis is safe to consume as there are no contaminants or heavy metals. This can help minimize arguments regarding&nbsp;safety, which are unfortunately common against cannabis.

Even the lab testing regarding cannabinoid concentrations can help the public opinion of the industry. After all, it shows those who are skeptical that there are controls in place so consumers know the potency of their chosen products. This can reduce the risk of consuming too high of a dose and being overwhelmed by the cannabis, which could lead to personal negative opinions in the future. It is also the perfect counter to a common argument against cannabis, which is that it can be too potent. If the potency is clear before consumption, this argument disappears.

Cannabis lab testing is also useful from the perspective of maintaining records. In terms of records, cannabis companies can have records on hand that indicate their products do not contain harmful contaminants. This could be helpful in the future if a lawsuit ever arises or someone alleges that the company’s cannabis caused harm to someone. In these situations, the records showing that the product is free from heavy metals, contaminants, mold, and more can protect the company financially as well as protect its reputation.

The lab testing can also be useful in terms of gathering data, both at the company level and at the industry level. Companies can use the data to track the consistency of potency of their strains. If a variation occurs, this may serve as an early warning that something is different. Companies can also gather data on their range of products, such as what types of strains or potencies they have the most of.

The data from lab testing can help companies sort products by highest THC concentration or highest CBD concentration, allowing them to better target consumers. Consumers can also use this information to help them find a product more quickly, or even to choose which brand to buy from based on offerings.

On a larger scale, the data from cannabis lab testing can be combined, with the permission of marijuana companies, to view relevant trends. Examples would be which areas of the country tend to have the most potent strains or the strains that feature a certain terpene in the highest prominence.

Cannabis lab testing comes into play at several key stages of the cycle, so those who use cannabis lab testing may have several different roles.

Growers will use the facilities to test crops and ensure that they are healthy and of good quality. Distributors will use the testing to protect them against false claims and to verify classification. Regulators will use the facilities to ensure that all legal requirements and regulations are being met.

Depending on where in the world you live, there will be different cannabis lab testing companies that appear. Some are larger than others, but there are very few compilations or comparisons of these labs. As such, the following are just a handful of the bigger cannabis testing labs that you may hear of.

Keep in mind that many of these lab testing facilities make it easy to send and receive samples, so you do not have to be near them to make use of their services.

How to Start a Cannabis Lab Testing Facility

As the cannabis industry continues to grow, many entrepreneurs wonder how they can take advantage of the growth of marijuana, including its spreading legalization. One of the potential ways to do this is by opening your own cannabis laboratory for testing. Keep in mind that getting the necessary equipment and permits will be a sizable investment, but it is a reasonable option. There is also the fact that most cannabis lab testing facilities could easily be converted into another type of testing facility or lab if the marijuana testing did not work out.

If you are interested in opening a cannabis lab testing facility, take some time to see what you would need to do before you decide whether it makes sense for you.

Before you can even consider opening a cannabis testing lab, you need to consider the local laws. Look at your state’s regulations as they vary by jurisdiction. You may need an ISO/IEC accreditation that outlines the calibration and testing requirements. You may need specific state&nbsp;cannabis license, to have quality control and quality assurance programs in place, to have Standard Operating Procedures outlined, and/or to adhere to fire codes and standards.

Remember that these requirements are still evolving, so always ensure you look at the most recent relevant information.

You will also need to find employees for your cannabis testing, just like you would with any other business. You are unlikely to find many candidates with experience testing cannabis, but you can look for recruits that have experience with other types of analysis and testing. Focus on those with experience completing the type of tests you plan on using.

You may need to be prepared to offer higher compensation than in some other industries since there are still fewer people looking for jobs in the cannabis industry than roles to fill. At the same time, you are unlikely to have a large budget. Even so, you will need to do some research so you can create a compensation package that will attract the relevant talent.

You will also need to have a range of equipment for your cannabis lab. The most common pieces of equipment that you will need include gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry (MS). You may also want additional equipment, depending on the type of testing you plan to complete.

Of course, you will also need other lab-related items, such as work areas, fume hoods, lab tables, lab carts, casework cabinets, marijuana cabinets, eyewash stations, flammable gas alarm systems, and emergency showers. Then there is the matter of other furniture, such as desks to complete paperwork and basic office supplies.

You should also have a solid business plan for your cannabis lab. Use it to outline the general description of your company, your products and services, your marketing plan, your operational plan, your financial plan, and more.

Cannabis lab testing is the process of testing cannabis before it reaches the consumer. This testing allows for confirmation of things such as terpenes and cannabinoid content or potency. It also allows growers, distributors, and consumers to confirm that there are no potentially harmful compounds present, from chemicals to contaminants. Lab testing is primarily a matter of safety, but it can also help companies ensure the quality of their products and contribute to the overall reputation of the cannabis industry. For now, cannabis lab testing is performed mainly by independent companies as there is no oversight body across the country.

What to Know About Cannabis Lab Testing – Its Usefulness and More

Is the cannabis you're consuming actually what it claims? What standards are there? Who are the major labs testing?

THC is the main psychoactive component and one of the cannabinoids found in cannabis. But you may not realize that there are various types of THC. Take a closer look at delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC to see how they are similar and different.

Most people who only know about a handful of the cannabinoids found in cannabis will be aware of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, abbreviated as delta-9-THC. When most people use the term THC, this is the specific cannabinoid they mean.

Delta-8-THC is an analog of THC that has neuroprotective, analgesic, appetite-stimulating, anxiolytic, and antiemetic properties. Most importantly, it has a reduced psychotropic potency compared to delta-9-THC.

There are our major cannabinoids in dried cannabis, including both delta-9-THC and delta-8-THC. Delta-8-THC, however, has very low concentrations, typically around 0.01 percent, in the dried flower.

Compared to delta-9-THC, delta-8-THC only has a few atomic bonds that are different. Although less strong, it is still potent and offers a “high.” The effects also tend to be less sedative. It is also important to note that concentrations of delta-8-THC in cannabis are much smaller than those of delta-9-THC.

Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are psychoactive, but delta-9-THC is slightly more psychoactive. Research agrees that comparing the strength of delta-8-THC to delta-9-THC in terms of potency would give you a 2-3 ratio. This makes delta-8-THC more potent than THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin). THCV is about 25 percent as potent as THC and gives the energetic “high” to certain strains.

Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC have the same number of atoms in their molecular structure. The difference is where the double bond is positioned on the molecule, with “delta” indicating the location of that double bond.

If you look at where delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC end up in the body, you will not spot many differences. Both have the same primary landing site, which is CB1 or cannabinoid receptor 1. This receptor is responsible for sleep, pain, movement, mood, and other functions.

The difference comes from the fact that delta-8-THC can also connect to CB2 or cannabinoid receptor 2. CB2 is part of the immune system’s communication.

Using delta-8-THC or delta-9-THC will give you similar reactions, including the psychoactive effects, pain relief, and being relaxed. The difference is that the slightly reduced potency of delta-8-THC tends to make users feel more clear-headed and lucid. It also tends to have more of an energetic feel to it than delta-9-THC.

Most people who use delta-8-THC also report that they do not notice a loss of focus or productivity when using it. By contrast, a loss of productivity or focus is common with delta-9-THC users.

You will hear descriptions of people who have used both types of THC. They indicated that delta-8-THC gave them a less impaired “high” and that they were clear-headed, engaged, and without anxiety or fogginess.

Some studies in rodents indicate that delta-8-THC increases acetylcholine. This is a brain chemical responsible for memory and learning. Experts believe that acetylcholine deficiencies contribute to cognitive and memory issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease. As such, delta-8-THC may eventually provide a treatment or prevention strategy for these types of conditions.

<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1159836">A 1975 study</a>&nbsp;explored the impact of delta-8-THC on rats with cancer. They discovered that the cannabinoid shrank the tumor size. That same study also showed dose-dependent reductions in tumor growth and size from delta-9-THC, a decrease in tumor size from CBN, and no changes from CBD. In other words, delta-9-THC reduced growth while delta-8-THC not only reduced growth but also shrank the tumors.

A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7776837">1995 study</a> in Jerusalem involved giving kids between ages 3-13 with hematologic cancers delta-8-THC. They had previously received different treatments for their disease. Before and after chemo, the kids received the delta-8-THC treatments, which successfully prevented nausea and made side effects negligible. This shows the promise of delta-8-THC, even though the study is now old and had a small sample size of just eight patients. The research did repeat the experiment for 480 treatments, with a 100-percent effective rate.

Some people claim that using delta-8-THC could help them overcome hangovers, with some clinical science supporting this claim. The ability of delta-8-THC to help with hangovers likely comes from its combined ability to provide energy and reduce nausea. Because of its slightly reduced potency compared to delta-9-THC, using it for hangovers can leave you clear-headed.

Most of the THC extracts that you find on the market today will feature delta-9-THC. Unless the extract specifies otherwise, you should always assume that the THC within it is delta-9-THC.

However, some companies are creating extracts or distillates of delta-8-THC. This is growing in popularity as a way to get the same benefits of delta-9-THC extracts but with reduced psychoactive effects.

One of the companies offering a delta-8-THC extract is Oleum. This company makes the product via thin-film distillation, which is fractional distillation. The process isolates delta-8-THC by controlling scientific equipment, vacuums, and temperature. It developed a process that lets its team convert delta-9-THC into delta-8-THC. The process also lets it isolate and purify cannabinoids by getting rid of undesirable compounds, like impurities and solvents.

The unique method used by Oleum lets it create a much more concentrated delta-8-THC product than other available products. Most of the dried cannabis flower you come across will have less than 1 percent delta-8-THC. As such, companies that want to create a higher concentration need to convert, isolate, extract, and refine the dried cannabis flower. In the case of Oleum’s AquaTek D8 Distillate, the product contains 58 percent delta-8-THC. It also has 7.9 percent delta-9-THC and 0.35 percent CBD.

The company does not include any additives or preservatives in this product. Instead, the ratios come about naturally based on the starting material and the processes that the dried cannabis undergoes. The company also keeps each distillation specific to a particular strain. This lets it record the resulting concentrations and profiles so it can create consistent products in the future.

Another one of the many companies offering delta-8-THC products is Evolab. Those who use its product report slightly reduced psychoactive effects as well as having more energy compared with vaporizing delta-9-THC. According to Ecolab, delta-8-THC is more upbeat, productive, and energetic than delta-9-THC.

A quick online search will show you numerous other products that focus on delta-8-THC. Just some of the other companies offering these products include Empire Experience, Marley Naturals, and C&amp;D Farms. More are likely to keep arising.

One of the common themes among companies that offer products with delta-8-THC is that they will convert some of the delta-9-THC in cannabis into delta-8. Without this step, the concentrations of delta-8-THC would be too low.

The most common method of converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC involves using a spinning band distillation system. You start by extracting and winterizing crude cannabis oil. Combine this with 4 percent acidic alumina silicate. You then distill the cannabis oil, collecting the resulting THC distillate as normal. The combination of the boiling heat flask with the acidic alumina silicate will cause a change to the THC’s molecular structure. This method leads to a conversion rate of 90 to 95 percent at a minimum.

Of course, you should not try converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC yourself. This is something that requires professional equipment and chemicals that could be dangerous if used incorrectly. You do not want to hurt yourself during the process. You also do not want to create a dangerous substance instead of delta-8-THC accidentally and then ingest it.

Even with the increase in the availability of delta-8-THC products, it is much easier to find delta-9-THC. This starts with the fact that delta-9-THC appears in cannabis in higher concentrations. That means that if you smoke marijuana or consume a cannabis edible, you will automatically ingest higher quantities of delta-9-THC than delta-8-THC.

From there, the number of product offerings of each is not equal. Since delta-9-THC appears in cannabis in higher concentrations, it is easier for manufacturers to create products that include it. Nearly any product on the market that says it contains THC will have delta-9-THC. By contrast, delta-8-THC requires special care to increase its concentration since cannabis plants naturally have such limited quantities.

Even so, the two are among the four major cannabinoids found in cannabis. This means that cannabis has them in higher concentrations than other cannabinoids. In other words, simply smoking cannabis will give you more delta-8-THC than it would most other cannabinoids, although you will still get more delta-9-THC.

Experts feel that delta-8-THC has a great deal of potential. It provides similar benefits to delta-9-THC, such as pain reduction and nausea relief, but is more stable and efficient. The reduction in the potency of psychoactive effects can also make it useful in the future, especially in applications when people do not want the psychoactive components.

The main reason that delta-8-THC is so important is its potential benefits. Experts believe that like delta-9-THC, it can stimulate appetite, relieve pain, enhance memory, protect the brain from inflammation and stress, reduce anxiety related to stress, and help with vomiting and nausea.

Experts believe that delta-8-THC could help people with inflammatory brain conditions, nausea, mood-related problems, loss of appetite, cancer, anxiety, and dementia, among other conditions.

The reduced potency also makes it a strong choice for those who cannot get full symptom relief with just CBD and need a small quantity of THC to help. This benefit plays off the entourage effect, which is how CBD combined with THC can frequently produce better outcomes than just CBD alone. That applies to everything from pain relief to nausea.

Some people will even notice that adding delta-8-THC to delta-9-THC produces the entourage effect. This would let you spend less on the cannabis products you take or take smaller quantities while getting enhanced effects.

The best thing about delta-8-THC is that it may offer an alternative to delta-9-THC for those who react poorly for some reason. Although the difference in potency is slight, this may be enough to make delta-8-THC a possibility without negative reactions for those who have poor reactions to delta-9-THC.

Unfortunately, cannabis’s Schedule I classification makes it nearly impossible to research delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC in the United States. This means that experts cannot conduct clinical studies with humans, holding back the advances in using these types of THC.

Considering that both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC have products now available and ongoing research, it is natural to wonder about other delta-THCs. Scientists know that delta-1-THC, delta-2-THC, etc. exist but they are not that important for humans. This comes down to the location where those compounds’ chemical bonds occur. It is chemically impossible for humans to be affected by these other delta-THCs. As such, you should not expect to hear about them anytime soon.

Delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are incredibly similar, with slight differences in chemical structure. When most people discuss the THC found in cannabis, they refer to delta-9-THC. This is the better-known type of THC, and it is present in larger concentrations in cannabis. Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are present in higher quantities than most other cannabinoids, as both are considered in the four major cannabinoids. Even so, there is a vast difference in the quantities present.

While delta-9-THC is typically present in cannabis in full percentages, delta-8-THC is only present in fractions of a percent. This makes it harder to find delta-8-THC products as manufacturers must increase the concentration. They achieve this through various methods, including converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC.

Either of these two forms of THC produces similar benefits, like pain relief and a “high,” but in different ways. Delta-8-THC is a bit less potent and produces a “high” that lets you keep your clear head.

The bottom line is that delta-8-THC is still less known but holds a great deal of promise in treating a range of conditions.&nbsp;

Delta 8-THC Vs. Delta 9

Did you know there are various types of THC? Find out the differences between Delta 8 vs Delta 9 THC.

CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol, a natural compound found in cannabis. This is the non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, and it has numerous applications, from relieving pain to minimizing the risk of seizures. CBD offers the same benefits that people experience from marijuana, but without the “high” that can interfere with school or work, or cause positive drug tests.

CBD is present in both hemp and cannabis plants, specifically the stalks, flowers, and seeds. CBD is one of over a hundred cannabinoids found in cannabis, and it is the most prominent. To make CBD oil, manufacturers extract the cannabidiol from the plant before diluting it in hemp seed oil, coconut oil, or another carrier oil.

You can find CBD in hemp, a plant that has almost no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or none at all. Hemp is also commonly used for creating textile products as well as fibers. You can also find CBD in cannabis plants, and those versions may contain THC.

As mentioned, CBD does not have any psychoactive effects, but THC does. THC is the cannabinoid responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana. Since CBD can come from hemp that does not contain THC or from cannabis that does contain it, the levels of THC in CBD can vary. CBD products will always state their THC levels or a limiting description, and you can easily find THC-free CBD products.

CBD Works With the Endocannabinoid System

Humans can enjoy the benefits from CBD because of its ability to interact with the endocannabinoid system. This system is crucial for regulating our immune system response, pain, sleep, appetite, and other functions. Neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids bind to the nervous system’s cannabinoid receptors to help with the system’s functionality. The cannabinoids in cannabis, such as CBD, function in a manner similar to those endocannabinoids, producing benefits.

There are dozens of potential applications of CBD, including pain relief and minimizing the risk of seizures. Taking cannabidiol can relieve the following symptoms, which are part of a long list of conditions.

One of the most commonly used benefits of CBD is for pain relief. This is particularly true in the case of pain due to inflammation, such as in the case of arthritis. CBD can help multiple types of chronic pain. Different studies show it helps with neuropathic and inflammatory pain as well. Specific studies have shown promise for CBD in treating the pain linked to multiple sclerosis as well. In those cases, the CBD helped with muscle spasms and walking.

The pain relief benefit of CBD is nothing new as humans have been using marijuana for pain relief since at least 2,900 B.C. based on records.

Many people who experience nausea also experience relief thanks to the consumption of CBD. CBD also tends to produce quicker relief than pharmaceuticals that come in pill form, as there is no need for the body to digest the pill.

There is also extensive evidence that CBD can help treat seizure disorders. This includes both epilepsy and general seizure disorder. Patients of all ages suffering from seizures can experience relief from CBD. As such, some states approved medical cannabis or CBD use by adolescents as a way to prevent seizures.

Notably, CBD has helped those with some of the worst childhood epilepsy syndromes, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. This is important because not only are the conditions severe, but they do not typically respond to traditional treatments. Multiple studies show that CBD can either dramatically reduce the seizures of patients with these conditions or stop them entirely. The FDA even approved a cannabis-derived medication, Epidiolex, for treatment of these conditions.

In addition to treating seizures, CBD has shown other neuroprotective properties, including the ability to reduce symptoms related to multiple sclerosis. Those with multiple sclerosis have experienced reduced muscle spasticity thanks to a combination of CBD and THC.

There are also early studies that show promise for using CBD to slow Alzheimer’s disease. These studies indicate that CBD may help stop neurodegeneration in those patients.

Recent research also indicates that those who suffer from heart problems may experience improved health heart with CBD. One study showed that CBD could help reduce blood pressure. This is important since high blood pressure can cause metabolic syndrome, stroke, and heart attacks. Researchers guess that this may be due to the ability of cannabidiol to reduce stress and anxiety, as those factors are related to heart health.

It is also common for those who suffer from anxiety or depression to experience relief when taking CBD. Both anxiety and depression can have a life-altering impact, both mentally and physically. Depression is the world’s biggest contributor to disability, according to the World Health Organization.

CBD offers an excellent alternative to traditional pharmaceutical drugs used to treat anxiety and depression. Those drugs are known for side effects like agitation, insomnia, headaches, sexual dysfunction, and drowsiness. Certain medications for anxiety and depression are even addictive. By contrast, CBD is non-addictive and comes with almost no side effects.

Studies have found that consuming CBD before public speaking can reduce anxiety as well as discomfort and cognitive impairment. Other studies, mostly focused on animals, have also shown that CBD has effects similar to those of antidepressants.

Some studies suggest that taking cannabidiol may be able to reduce the psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia and other types of mental disorders.

Multiple studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, indicate that CBD can help people with insomnia fall asleep and then stay asleep.

Not only is CBD non-addictive, but it also shows promise in treating addiction. CBD can slowly modify the brain’s circuits involved in drug addiction. Studies with rats indicated that CBD could reduce heroin-seeking behavior as well as morphine dependence.

Many of the previously mentioned problems that CBD can help with are common symptoms associated with cancer. Specifically, it is common for cancer patients to experience nausea, pain, and vomiting. While there are medications available to treat these issues, they have varying effectiveness and typically come with side effects. By contrast, CBD can relieve those symptoms without side effects in most cases. It is even sometimes able to overcome pain or nausea that prescription medications cannot relieve.

There is also some evidence that CBD can help treat acne, reducing its presence. Cannabidiol could reduce the production of sebum as well as inflammation, both of which contribute to acne. Studies have found that treating acne with CBD can be effective and safe, although most studies so far were done in test tubes, not with humans.

In studies with mice, CBD was able to help prevent diabetes, showing promise for its ability in a similar role in humans.

Some very early research shows that CBD may even be able to prevent the spread and growth of tumors. Animal studies and test-tube studies showed this in relation to lung, colon, brain, prostate, and breast cancer. While scientists conduct more research, it is best to stick to traditional tumor treatments that are proven effective.

There are multiple methods of consuming CBD to take advantage of its benefits. This lets patients choose the method they prefer as well as their ideal concentration.

Tinctures are CBD oils combined with alcohol. Patients of almost any age can use CBD tinctures, which you can take alone.

You can easily find a topical product infused with CBD. These typically combine the CBD oil with beeswax and natural essential oils. They can also include other ingredients common in lotions and creams. Topicals are a good choice for those who suffer from chronic pain and want to target specific areas for relief.

Just like there are edibles containing cannabis, there are also edibles with just CBD and no THC or other substances. You can find these already made, with the most common form being gummies. Alternatively, you can make your own CBD edible using tinctures or oils. Just keep in mind that if you make your own edibles, it will be hard to control the dosage in each serving.

Edibles are a strong option for those who want long-lasting benefits, although the effects take longer to start.

If you live in a state where medical or recreational marijuana is legal, you can smoke cannabis to take advantage of its CBD content. If your goal is to take advantage of cannabidiol benefits, consider a strain that has a high CBD percentage. Common examples include Charlotte’s Web, Arianna, and AC/DC.

There is no evidence that CBD shows any potential for abuse or dependence, according to the World Health Organization. This makes it incredibly appealing, especially as an alternative to prescription medications that do come with a risk of addiction.

CBD very rarely comes with side effects, although some are possible, depending on the individual. Side effects can include irritability, weight changes, appetite changes, diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue.

CBD might also interact with certain medications, so you should discuss any potential drug interactions with your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking cannabidiol. One example of this is that it may increase the level of Coumadin, a blood thinner, in your blood if you are taking that medication. It can also increase the levels in your system of certain other medications.

The biggest safety concern about CBD is that the FDA does not regulate it. This is due to the FDA classifying cannabidiol as a supplement and the fact that the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements for purity or safety. This means that you need to do your research before buying a CBD product to confirm that it is safe.

Because of the lack of FDA-regulation, you should always opt for CBD products that offer third-party test results. This is very common among the most reputable CBD product manufacturers, so it should not be hard to find a product with the relevant tests. Whenever possible, choose products that have Certificates of Analysis from independent labs, including purity, concentration, and ingredients. Testing from the company itself is better than nothing but not ideal.

You can usually find cannabidiol in most areas of the United States and many other countries around the world. CBD is illegal federally, but the federal government gives each state the ability to make it legal. As such, each state has its regulations and laws related to CBD, ranging from complete bans to complete acceptance. Middle-ground situations include allowing CBD products without THC or with THC limits, requiring special permission, or age limits.

Unfortunately, the legality of CBD is currently confusing, and it can even vary based on whether the CBD comes from marijuana or hemp.

The decision of whether you should try using CBD is a personal one. CBD tends to be an excellent option for most people, providing benefits like pain relief, stress relief, and treating symptoms of some disorders. Additionally, the extremely low risk of side effects combined with the possibility of getting CBD without THC makes it very appealing.

Unless you are taking a medication that interacts with CBD negatively or you have a medical condition that puts you at a higher risk of side effects, there is no reason not to try CBD. You can try it once and see how you react to decide whether to incorporate it into your daily or weekly routine.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural substance found in the cannabis plant. It is non-psychoactive and can provide relief from a range of symptoms and disease with minimal to no side effects. Due to the lack of side effects, those with a range of conditions could potentially benefit from trying CBD.

What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

You have likely heard of CBD, but that does not mean you have a clear understanding of what it is.

Have you ever wondered why buds in strains like&nbsp;<a href="/strains/indica/granddaddy-purple">Granddaddy Purple</a>, <a href="/strains/indica/grape-ape">Grape Ape,</a>&nbsp;<a href="/strains/indica/purple-urkle">Purple Urkle</a>, and <a href="/strains/indica/purple-kush">Purple Kush</a> are purple?&nbsp;The quick answer is that some strains turn purple due to a pigment called anthocyanin. However, there are several other factors that can influence the purple coloring in cannabis strains, including the plant's biology, genetics, and even the climate it's grown in.

Anthocyanins are pigments that can appear red, purple, blue, or black, depending on their pH. They are a type of flavonoid, which are molecules that develop in plant tissues as a result of chemical reactions. Anthocyanins are found in many plants, including blueberries, raspberries, black rice, flowers, and cannabis. In cannabis plants, the presence of anthocyanins is responsible for the coloration of purple strains. These pigments form during the final stage of a cannabis plant's flowering period, when the levels of chlorophyll begin to decrease. In strains with high levels of these pigments, the purple coloration becomes more pronounced as the plant matures.

In addition to causing purple coloration in some cannabis plants, anthocyanin also has evolutionary benefits for plants and health benefits for people. It's an antioxidant, which means it can improve overall immune system and bodily health in humans.

Since anthocyanin is present in so many different plants, it must have an evolutionary purpose, right? It actually has two main purposes.

The first is increasing the ability to attract pollinators to the plant, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Anthocyanins can also convince some harmful insects that the plant is unhealthy or dangerous, discouraging potentially harmful insects from visiting or destroying it.

Secondly, anthocyanins protect the photosynthetic tissue in plants from extreme light conditions.

The climate where the cannabis plant grows has a very strong impact on whether the anthocyanin in the plant causes it to turn purple. Specifically, the climate must change as the growing stages of the plant do.

As the growing cycle comes to an end, the concentrations of anthocyanin increase as daylight exposure decreases.

Cooler temperatures also play a role in increasing anthocyanin production, especially when combined with cool lighting.

The caveat here is that these limits to daylight and lower temperatures must come at the end of the growing cycle. During the early development of cannabis, it needs to have a warmer climate. For best results, these changes should be applied just a few weeks before harvest occurs.

To provide a frame of reference, consider that the growing temperature that allows for the best results when growing cannabis will be from 22°C to 25°C (71.6°F to 77°F ). That being said, cannabis plants can still photosynthesize and grow at temperatures of 15°C (59°F). Even so, you should try to keep the temperature in your grow room above 20°C (68°F).

You can also drop the temperature in the grow room when it is night. Only do this when the plants are in the flowering stage. You could ideally drop the temperature to about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), just overnight. This should maximize your chances of getting the purple you want from the cannabis plant without harming it. You would want to reduce the temperature nice and slow, as this helps prevent shocking the plants.

If you do choose to drop the temperature this low at night, pay extra attention to your plants. Remember that these lower temperatures will be stressful, so you may have to deal with a color that is not purple if you want your plant to be healthy. You should always prioritize the health of the plant over the color.

PH levels also play a role in anthocyanin production, which leads to the production of purple. Research conducted in 2006 and published in the Pakistan Journal of Nutrition discovered that higher pH levels tend to kill off anthocyanins.

As such, those who want to encourage the purple coloring on cannabis plants should opt for pH levels that are either neutral or a bit acidic.

Creating the Right Environment Artificially

Assuming you grow your cannabis indoors, then you can make the appropriate climatic changes to encourage the production of anthocyanin and the change of color to purple. All you have to do is ensure you control the lighting properly, taking care to make the appropriate changes a few weeks before harvest.

At this point, consider opting for blue lighting. That color light has a lower temperature, which will encourage anthocyanin production.&nbsp;

Not all cannabis plants will automatically turn purple if they grow in the right conditions, such as lighting and climate. Some genetic factors are also incredibly important.

Essentially, the strain must be able to produce high anthocyanin levels. You can tell whether this is the case for a given strain by doing some quick research online or looking at photos to tell its color.

When creating a hybrid or looking at information about a hybrid strain, having a parent plant that has high anthocyanin levels increases the chances of the child strain having the same.

Some examples of purple strains that are incredibly popular include Blueberry, Granddaddy Purple, Purple Urkle, Purple Trainwreck, Purple Kush, Blackberry, Blueberry Kush, and Purple Haze.

In addition to the potential for purple cannabis buds, the presence of anthocyanin can also cause red or blue hues to appear in the plant. This typically occurs via the same process as the plant turning purple. It simply does not occur to the same extent, resulting in the plant not turning completely purple.

There are also various shades of the purple color. The intensity of the purple depends on the anthocyanin levels, but all purples tend to be visually appealing.

The variations between purple, blue, and red typically occur due to differences in the pH level that the plant gets exposed to. Acidic environments tend to give you pink or red buds, while purple tends to occur in environments with a neutral pH, blue occurs with a higher pH, and yellow occurs in alkaline conditions. However, those distinctions all assume that the plant in question contains high anthocyanins.

If you are curious about the other colors of cannabis later in their growth cycle, specifically the yellow and earthy gold, these are due to carotenoids. As with plants that turn purple, cannabis strains that turn gold or yellow will do so near the end of the growth cycle.

There are also some other theories floating around of how to get your cannabis strains to develop anthocyanins or turn purple, but the above are the only ones that are proven to be true. Some of the others can be downright harmful to your plants.

One popular theory you are likely to come across is that depriving the cannabis plants of oxygen will help them turn purple. You should not try this method. Limiting your plants’ access to oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide will not get it to change color. All that will happen is damage to your plants and a potentially ruined harvest.

There are also rumors that you can freeze your cannabis to turn it purple, and this is not only untrue but also not good for the plant. This suggestion typically involves either using ice water flushes or flash freezing the cannabis.

Doing this will likely change the color of the plant, but not in a healthy way. Instead, this method is likely to do more harm than good. Suddenly exposing your cannabis plant to an extremely cold temperature will cause stress. If this does not kill your plants outright, it would likely at least lower the THC content, which you probably do not want.

What Makes Weed Turn Purple?

Ever wonder where purple weed gets its color from? Find out what compound is responsible.

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