Plants contains a variety of natural chemicals compounds known as phytonutrients that give them their color, flavor and smell. These compounds are also responsible for the medicinal properties and health benefits found in many plants. The plant Cannabis sativa, better known as marijuana, is no different. There are hundreds of natural compounds found within the Cannabis sativa plant. These include cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant much the same way carotenoids are found in carrots.
There are over 80+ known cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. These include THC, CBD, CBC, CBN, CBG, THCv, CBDv, THCa, CBDa. The most famous and researched cannabinoid is THC, or Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is better known for its psychoactive component that most users equate with getting high. But THC has an extensive list of medicinal benefits as well. CBD or cannabidiol is the second most active ingredient in the cannabis plant next to THC. It too has a lengthy list of health benefits. In addition to THC and CBD, there are many other cannabinoids and plant compounds with health benefits.
Medical marijuana is bred to offer a wide range of medicinal benefits from all the cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. But what if you want to take advantage of the health benefits of cannabis where medical marijuana is not legal? Or what if you don’t want to get high? Industrial hemp offers these options. Technically, marijuana and industrial hemp come for the same plant – Cannabis sativa. However, industrial hemp was produced for many uses and contains only trace amounts of THC (<0.3%). Because hemp contains such small amounts of THC, these hemp oil products are non-psychoactive.
Hemp derived CBD (Cannabidiol) oil was created to provide all the beneficial health properties of the cannabis plant without the psychoactive component of THC. Although the therapeutic effects of CBD hemp oil are more pronounced when combined with THC, it does contain other cannabinoids and chemical compounds that work together to produce therapeutic effects on the body. Full-spectrum CBD hemp oils include all of the cannabinoids found in the plant, along with essential vitamins, minerals, Omega fatty acids, flavonoids, chlorophyll and terpenes.