Hemp Oil vs. CBD Oil: What You Should Know

What the 2018 Farm Bill Meant for Hemp and CBD

Since 2013, farmers and ranchers have weathered a 50% drop in income. The Farm Bill came about as a result of a mounting farming crisis in the last decade. The bill itself seeks to crack down on corporate farming in order to help support family farms and restore measures like supply management (which curbs over production), and repair pricing policies, among other measures. Notably, the Farm Bill also incorporates the farming of industrial hemp and hemp for hemp-derived CBD. As a result, the manufacturing and sale of hemp-derived CBD products has skyrocketed on the national market.

On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed the Farm Bill (H.R.2) into law. The farm bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs various agricultural and food programs. The most recent farm bill covers farm commodity revenue supports, agricultural conservation, trade and foreign food assistance, farm credit, research, rural development, forestry, bioenergy, horticulture, and domestic nutrition assistance. Typically renewed about every five or six years, the farm bill provides a predictable opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural and food issues. With this version, we saw the legalization of hemp.

Though hemp has been legalized, it has been met with several stipulations: hemp cannot contain more than 0.3% THC, or it is considered non-hemp cannabis, a state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only occur once the Secretary of the USDA approves the state’s plan, and lastly, while the Farm Bill legalizes hemp, it does not create a system where people can grow it as freely as basil or your garden variety vegetables.

Hemp Oil vs. Hempseed Oil vs. CBD Oil: Know the Difference

CBD oil is made from the leaves, flowers, and stalk of the hemp plant—the only part of the plant where cannabidiol is found. Hemp oil, or hemp seed oil, is made from hemp seeds, meaning there is little to no CBD content. Each type of oil offers its own health benefits. You may have seen small bottles of Hempseed oil on the market, but buyer beware, hempseed oil does not contain any CBD. Hempseed oil is extracted from the seeds of industrial hemp, and while it is beneficial for cooking your favorite cut of steak, it has none of the same benefits of hemp-derived CBD oil. Another key difference is that by regulation, pure hemp oil can have no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by volume, whereas oil made from industrial hemp has no cannabinoids present whatsoever.

Ingredients to Look For

The best way to determine if a product is CBD oil or hemp oil is to look at the ingredients listed on packaging. If the package doesn’t clearly include the words “hemp oil” or “hemp seed oil,” look for “cannabis seed oil” or “cannabis sativa seed oil,” which are the scientific names for hemp oil. To look for purely CBD products, you must find ingredients like “cannabidiol” or “CBD.”

Health Benefits of Hemp Oil

Hemp oil and CBD oil both show promise in enhancing one’s health, but in different ways. Hemp oil is often looked to for its nutritional power, due to its healthy fats and mineral content. There have also promising studies on its effect on skin disorders and PMS symptoms.

Benefits of CBD Oil

CBD is sought for its range of health benefits, which include relief from physical discomfort, normal inflammation and trouble falling asleep as well as trouble staying asleep. For those who are sensitive to THC and its intoxicating effects, CBD offers the power of the cannabis plant without psychoactivity.

CBD Oil for Trouble Falling Asleep

CBD can also help you sleep better, as determined by several studies. In one study, CBD showed promise for inducing deeper REM sleep, while another found that taking CBD oil helped with stress and provides calm for both mind and body.

Ready to Start Your CBD Journey?

Whether you’re trying to alleviate discomfort or normal inflammation, reduce stress, or get a good night’s sleep, there is a plant-based option out there for you. The next time you’re trying to decide between hemp oil vs CBD oil, consider your options and choose what you think will be best for you. We recommend always checking the ingredients on the packaging and consulting with a healthcare professional. If you are ready to try Hemp-derived CBD then look no further than Papa & Barkley’s Releaf CBD line, available to ship nationwide.