It can be challenging to understand products that seem similar, but there are a few key differences between CBD and hemp.

The passing of the 2018 Farm Bill allowed for farmers to grow industrial hemp. The legality of cultivating and selling hemp-derived products for commercial use brought immediate growth in the industry. Hundreds of products, such as hemp oil and CBD oil, became available to the masses. But with such a sudden surge of compounds like CBD and hemp available came confusion about the differences between the products.

First, it is important to know that CBD is actually a chemical found within the hemp plant. Comparing CBD to hemp would be like comparing milk to dairy. The two compounds come from the same plant family but they each come from different species within it.

CBD is extracted from different parts of the hemp plant, or any cannabidiol-rich cannabis strain. Before being processed, the product is then heated after being extracted in order to activate the CBD and other cannabinoid compounds found in cannabis. The result is a concentrated CBD extract, which is usually mixed in with a carrier oil and sold as CBD oil. Hemp oil, also known as hemp seed oil, is extracted from only the seeds of the hemp plant.

The main difference between CBD and hemp is the cannabinoid content. Both products come from the same plant, but hemp plants contain a significant amount of CBD, while hemp seeds do not.  Since CBD is extracted from different parts of a mature plant it contains cannabinoids, so when ingested the user can feel the effects of it.

Hemp is cultivated for a number of reasons, such as for food products, skincare, and natural remedies for diseases. CBD does not have any psychoactive effects and is ideal for mental health. People often take it for its therapeutic benefits such as anxiety relief, pain management, or for its anti-inflammatory properties. Hemp plant seeds are nutritious and contain healthy fatty acids, making hemp oil ideal for its nutritional and anti-inflammatory benefits and most commonly found in supplements and skincare products.

Hemp and CBD are often words used interchangeably, and even though they come from the cannabis sativa plant and can both be used topically or ingested, it is important to know the differences before using or introducing them into your kitchen.