Hemp is a cannabis plant that is commonly commercially harvested for its various parts. It’s a taller plant so it’s typically harvested outdoors. The stalks of the plant are often used for clothing and building materials, the seeds can be used in food or cosmetics, and the flower is harvested for its cannabinoid content.

Hemp consists of high CBD concentration levels. As a reminder, CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid that carries very low amounts of THC (typically less than 0.3%). THC is the compound that makes people feel “high” and is psychoactive. With less than 0.3% THC in all of our products, you can be sure to get the full scope of wellness benefits without the “high” feeling. The 2018 Farm Bill allows hemp to be excluded from the Controlled Substances Act. The Farm Bill allows hemp to be grown and harvested, and CBD to be sold to the public.

Marijuana is a cannabis plant that is harvested for people to consume. Marijuana is known for its relaxing, euphoric, and psychoactive properties. Unlike hemp, the only “job” of marijuana is for people to consume it and feel its effects. The THC content in marijuana is much higher than its CBD content. Marijuana has been classified as a Schedule 1 substance since the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. Marijuana is illegal.

Marijuana or Cannabis is a plant with two classifications: Sativa and Indica. Both marijuana and hemp come from this plant genus. Marijuana can be a member of both Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica species, but hemp only belongs to the Cannabis Sativa species. Because hemp and marijuana can both come from the Cannabis Sativa plant they tend to have some similarities. Marijuana and hemp, however, are not the same thing.

Oils coming from hemp must contain 0.3% THC or less to be considered a hemp-derived CBD oil, whereas marijuana-derived CBD oils will have 5-30% THC in them. Anything hemp-derived is legal in the U.S., but every state can create their own laws around hemp-derived products. Even though some states have legalized marijuana for both medical and recreation use, it is still considered a federal offense if marijuana is possessed, sold, consumed, or cultivated.

Hemp-derived CBD can be labeled as a dietary supplement and found in local stores and online, whereas marijuana-derived CBD can only be found at dispensaries (both medical and/or recreational).

CBD (a.k.a cannabidiol) is a chemical compound found in a cannabis plant. Specifically, CBD is found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. This plant and it’s healing capabilities can be traced back hundreds of years. CBD is just one of the hundreds of phytocannabinoids (a molecule found in the cannabis plant).

CBD is closely related to tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which is the compound that cannabis is most famous for. Unlike THC, CBD does not make you feel “high” due to it’s different effects on the body than it’s THC counterpart. Because CBD is non-psychoactive and has therapeutic benefits makes it very popular.

Most of us know that the cannabis plant produces tetrahydroannabinol (THC), but did you know it also contains around 100 other cannabinoids and they all serve a specific purpose?

Some of the other cannabinoids in this spectrum include cannabidiol and cannabinol. Together, all of these different cannabinoids make up the cannabinoid system. Since other compounds in the cannabinoid spectrum may have a synergistic effect, many patients could be missing out on potential benefits by using CBD-only medicines.

Like most plants found in nature, the cannabis plant contains a plethora of active molecules that make it what it is. In an effort to enhance CBD’s healing properties, scientists have attempted to draw out single molecules or characteristics from this plant (an example would be CBD isolate).

Studies have shown, however, that these singled out products are less effective than the plant as a whole. The cannabis plant is a very intricate plant and by consuming all of the parts at once, you are getting all the good effects that nature intended. The idea that consuming all the components of the cannabis plant, rather than singling out a certain molecule, is often referred to as the entourage effect.

Scientists attempted to isolate the CBD molecule on its own and found that users had to find a specific dose (a.k.a. sweet spot) in order to feel CBD’s healing properties the most. Anything more or less than their sweet spot dose resulted in little to no healing effects from CBD. When performing this same test with full-spectrum CBD, scientists found that the healing properties of CBD were felt at various dosage points.

When you consume full spectrum CBD, you are also consuming a range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and phenolics. These “ingredients” when consumed together help fill the gaps that your endocannabinoid system may be experiencing without you even feeling it.

Additionally, many of the issues CBD can help with are not a one size fits all. By consuming all of these parts at once, they work on combating the various elements of the imbalance. Another advantage is that by consuming full-spectrum CBD it’s more likely that the CBD will be able to travel to all the parts of your system that need it. Studies have shown that CBD-isolates often wear off before even getting to the part that needs it the most.

CBD can help with a wide range of illnesses (but not limited to) support for: healthy joints & mobility, normal inflammatory response, healthy sleep cycles, sense of calm from everyday stressors, healthy recovery from exercise overall wellness, and more.

One of the main ways CBD interacts with the body is by replicating the effects of the compounds already present in the body known as endogenous cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are a part of the natural endocannabinoid system that already exists in the body. The endocannabinoid system is vital in many physiological processes in the body such as our mood, how much energy we have, immune function, how we feel pain, how we feel hunger, and much more.

You might be wondering what happens to the body when there are imbalances in our body’s natural endocannabinoid system? The short answer: disease. Studies have found that with every disease there is supporting evidence that the endocannabinoid system is not functioning properly on its own. With the addition of compounds such as CBD and THC, the endocannabinoid system is able to function more normally than without those compounds.

CBD can be consumed in a variety of different ways. It’s important to note that no two people experience CBD the same, so this part takes a bit of trial and error. Some important questions to answer when choosing a method of CBD consumption would be: How quickly does it kick in? How much should I take? What parts of my body will be affected? How long will it last?

By orally ingesting the CBD oil, the CBD is absorbed directly into the blood vessels. We recommend placing a few drops under your tongue and letting the oil sit in your mouth for a few minutes before swallowing. People have experienced the CBD oil taking effect in as little as 15-30 minutes. People have also noticed that the CBD seems to have left their system after 6-8 hours. Although there is little evidence to show that CBD has any negative effect on other medications you might be taking, we always suggest consulting your doctor prior to taking any CBD.

If you’re taking a capsule or a gummie, it will take a bit longer to break down and get into your blood vessels.

Topical products have the ability to go to work immediately and provide fast relief.

It’s important to understand that different products are absorbed differently, therefore the response time varies. They also carry different potencies which can determine how much relief you feel and how long it lasts.

The human body produces its own type of cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. These are crucial to regulating important functions including sleep, mood, pain control and immune response. When endocannabinoid production isn’t sufficient, it can result in serious health conditions. That’s when phytocannabinoids such as those in the cannabis plant can fill the gap in humans, by replacing what the body isn’t producing or not producing sufficient quantities of.

The cannabis plant contains more than 100 compounds (or cannabinoids). 

The human body has a vast network of receptors, called the Endocannabinoid System. It’s believed that endocannabinoids exist in nearly every living organism on earth. The purpose of this system is to help our body stay balanced and in good overall health, even when external factors and lifestyle choices diminish our wellbeing. CBD and other cannabinoids fit into the receptors of the Endocannabinoid System, helping the body keep us in good health by supporting many of the body’s physical processes.

Among (many) other locations, endocannabinoids have been found in abundance throughout the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells, and their activity has been documented to regulate such things as cell-to-cell communication, neurogenesis (new cell production), and even the promotion of apoptosis, which is the death of malignant cancer cells and other non-productive cells through “programmed cellular suicide.” Given their presence across nearly every cell and tissue type in the human body, you might imagine that endocannabinoids (and their corresponding receptors) have influential control over every aspect of both the body and mind, which is a truly amazing concept to consider in terms of the potential health benefits of cannabis.

In fact, the endocannabinoid system is so prevalent throughout the human body that it has been described as a “bridge between body and mind” that is potentially “the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health.”

In other words, even though the endocannabinoid system performs dozens and dozens of different tasks inside the body, it ultimately has one singular goal: to make sure that every bodily system is functioning healthily, efficiently, and in tune with other systems.

One of the best examples is how it works to heal tissue after an injury. When a specific site becomes damaged (i.e. injured), anandamide and 2-AG (these are the body’s main endocannabinoids) are known to decrease the release of sensitizers from the site of injury, which thereby prevents excessive nerve cell firing (i.e. minimizes pain) and also prevents immune cells from releasing inflammation-inducing substances.

So you might be wondering, “if every human being has their own endocannabinoid system, then why do we even need cannabis?”

What do you suppose happens when there’s a deficiency of endocannabinoids, and/or the Endocannabinoid System is not functioning properly in the body? If you guessed that any number of things can go wrong (either physically or psychologically), then you’re right.

The entourage effect can maximize the therapeutic benefits of CBD. Each cannabis plant has hundreds of different chemicals. Out of all of these chemicals, there are about 100 compounds that are cannabinoids. Other compounds like flavonoids and terpenes can also be found within the plant.

Flavonoids: Cannabis flavonoids are called quercetin and may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant effects.

Terpenes: Terpenes are known for their use in aromatherapy to improve mood and restlessness.

Because all the cannabinoids are present, users tend to experience what is known as the entourage effect. This means all the different cannabinoids, terpenes and botanical compounds work together, boosting each cannabinoid effect and creating a more effective supplement with increased therapeutic benefits.

With all of the other cannabinoids included in the hemp plant, science may begin identifying additional benefits. While some CBD users prefer isolates because it’s easier to consume large amounts of CBD at once, we believe the entourage effect offers more benefits to our users long term and want to continue to balance and treat the whole body.

The purpose of CBD extraction is quite simple; to end up with CBD and the full spectrum of cannabinoids in a highly concentrated form to make it suitable for human consumption.

At The Healing Cowgirl, our farm uses the finest CO2-based process that guarantees the highest quality extract, every time. This process uses air to extract hemp. By doing this we ensure that our products are 100% raw hemp and 100% free of dissolving chemicals. The process is clean, safe and leaves no negative impact on the environment.

In simple terms, CO2 cannabis extraction uses pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2) to pull CBD (and other phytochemicals) from the plant. CO2 acts like a solvent at certain temperatures and pressure, but possesses none of the dangers. While it is safe and effective, it also involves expensive equipment which freezes the CO2 gas and compresses it into a supercritical cold liquid state.

This efficient process allows us to process a greater amount of our hemp, more quickly and produce extract when we do.