CBD in France: A Market Analysis

Updated January 15, 2024

Written by

The information provided in our articles has undergone a thorough research process by a team of writers, editors, legal advisors, and medical experts to guarantee accuracy. Only reputable sources have been cited.

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent and relevant data, the content is consistently evaluated against current scientific literature and expert recommendations.

France is one of the oldest and most ethnically diverse countries in the EU. It is a nation that has profoundly influenced human civilization through its culture, wine-making, philosophy, arts, music, and politics. It is also one of the most prospective markets for starting any business. Thus, considering France is a must if anyone wants to expand their CBD business in the EU.

France has been initially a bit reluctant to legalize it when it comes to CBD business. There is a cause for concern. France has a significant problem with illegal drugs, and French authorities were worried that CBD might somehow promote the use of illicit cannabis. However, finally, French authorities understand that it is not the case and CBD is a safe and beneficial health product.

First Off Is CBD Legal in France

Though there have been many ups and downs in the nation, CBD is finally completely legal in France and has very clear laws.

Like in many nations, the road to CBD legalization in France has not been smooth. France has been quite reluctant to allow broader use of CBD. Initially, it even disapproved of CBD import from other EU member states. Further, France has been slow to allow CBD sales in stores.

In 2019, when the European Commission regularized the CBD market by classifying it as a Novel Food, French authorities remained hesitant. As a result, some individuals got into trouble for importing CBD products. This led to prolonged lawsuits that CBD importers ultimately won. And finally, the highest court in France ruled that people can import and stores can legally sell CBD in the country.

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Some of the lawsuits related to the actions of French authorities even reached the European Court, which ultimately helped legalize CBD not only in France but the rest of the EU zone. In addition, the European court ruled that French or other EU member states should not ban the import of CBD products that were legally produced in other member states.

So, now France is fully following the European Commission norms. It means that CBD oil for ingestion must get novel food authorization, and then it can be sold legally in the nation. Authorized or registered CBD products can be sold freely by the stores.

Here it is vital to understand that one can receive novel food authorization in France or even in other EU member states. This means almost no legal hurdles for CBD products legally produced in other EU nations.

When it comes to topical CBD products, they do not need novel food authorization. Similarly, hemp oil is not a novel food and can be readily imported and sold in the nation as a food product.

Can I Bring CBD Into France

As already mentioned, one can bring CBD into France without any significant issues if the product has been legally produced in other EU member states.

Of course, the product must have undergone novel food authorization by the European Commission’s department of food safety and authority. If one is unsure about what novel food is, one can learn more about it on the website of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) website.

From a business point of view, getting this authorization is far easier if the product has been produced in EU nations. However, the procedure is much more complex for those making CBD products outside the EU zone, as there are more significant concerns about the safety and purity of such products.

For those looking to get into the CBD business in France quickly, white-label products from reputed European CBD manufacturers could be an excellent option. It is because such a manufacturer can provide all the necessary advice and documentation needed for the novel food authorization.

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CBD Market Analysis: How Does the French Market Stack Up

France is definitely one of the most attractive markets for healthcare products in the EU zone. If anyone is serious about doing CBD business, France should be on the top of their list. It is one of the biggest CBD markets in the region. Moreover, the acceptability of CBD products in France is excellent.

Although data regarding the CBD market size is still not very reliable, nonetheless, experts estimate that the total CBD market in France stood at about 131 million Euros in 2020. This makes France one of the largest CBD markets in the EU zone, perhaps only next to Germany.

At present French CBD market is dominated by ingestible CBD products, that is, CBD oil and CBD capsules. However, there is a significant market for vaping products, too.

France has dominated the global cosmetics market and fashion industry. Thus, though the CBD cosmetics market in the country is small, it may change considerably in the coming years.

Experts project that the French CBD market will grow at about 250% each year till 2030, which sounds fantastic. Moreover, there is a reason to believe that this trend will continue as France is a 2.5 trillion economy and has a population of above 60 million. Thus, it is one of the most perspective markets for CBD.

The Top 3 CBD Manufacturers in France

As now the legal status of CBD is clear in France, many companies are jumping into the CBD business in the nation. Some of the CBD producers in the countries are:

NOTO

It is an organization that produces mostly THC-free CBD products. It has quite a diverse range of products, and the company focuses a lot on various health conditions like CBD for improving sleep, helping with menstruation pain pains, post-menopausal syndrome, and more. The company also produces products with added terpenes.

Divie

Yet another budding company with an excellent product range of CBD oil products comes in excellent packing.

Essentia Pura

Yes, we can help start a CBD business in France. We are based in Slovenia. However, Essentia Pura is a pan-European company with extensive experience in assisting businesses that want to enter the CBD business in any part of the world.

Essential Pura can help businesses of any size. We have our own in-house CBD extraction and CBD-based product manufacturing. However, we also produce CBD extraction machines and provide the necessary technology or expertise for startups.

If you are interested in starting a CBD business in France or any part of the world, just contact us.

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5 minute read

CBD Market Analysis: Spain

Updated January 15, 2024

Written by

Legally reviewed by

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent and relevant data, the content is consistently evaluated against current scientific literature and expert recommendations.

The CBD market in the EU, including Spain, has been booming for the last decade, yet it remains chaotic as ever. It means that market information is still very sketchy. There are varying views about the total market size.

Thus, there are conservative reports that estimate that size of the European CBD market is perhaps close to just half a billion Euros. On the other hand, there are more encouraging reports estimating that the size of the CBD market is probably already above two billion euros.

When it comes to the information regarding the market of individual countries, it remains even more unclear. However, this creates a significant problem for businesses planning to invest in the CBD market.

There are many reasons for different kinds of information. The CBD market has, till now, lacked clear regulations. Thus, there has been a lack of information about CBD sales in individual markets. However, with the introduction of Novel Food Regulation in the EU, things will change. Entering the CBD market may become tougher, but the market will become more organized.

For those looking to start a CBD business in Spain, it would be encouraging to know that it is a thriving market that is bound to grow quickly. Thus, Spain must be on the radar for anyone looking to start a CBD business.

First Off Is CBD Legal in Spain

Yes, CBD is completely legal in Spain. Moreover, Spain has a long history of using cannabis, unlike other EU nations. Additionally, the warm weather of Spain is also suitable for hemp cultivation.

However, there is much disinformation about the legality of CBD in Spain, and there is a reason. Spain is not a centralized nation like many other EU nations. In 2022, 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities formed Spain.

The existence of autonomous communities means that the way CBD business regulations may vary significantly in the different parts of Spain.

Till 2019, CBD products could be readily sold in Spain as food additives. However, since then, with the introduction of Novel Food Regulation by the European Commission, the market has become more regulated.

The introduction of Novel Food regulations does not mean that CBD is not legal anymore. It merely means that any CBD product must be pre-authorized or registered as a Novel Food in any of the EU member states.

Authorization of CBD products as Novel Food is a bit challenging and time-consuming process. This has led to the decline in CBD business in most EU nations. But then this decline is just temporary. In the end, it will result in a better-regulated market. Only high-quality CBD producers will stay in the market as they are able to fulfill all the requirements needed for the Novel Food authorization.

Here it is vital to understand that CBD products for topical use and hemp seed oil products can still be readily sold without pre-marketing authorization. It is because topical CBD is not for consumption, and hemp oil is not a Novel Food in the EU.

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Can CBD Be Taken to Spain

Yes, one can take CBD to Spain, both for personal and commercial use. However, one would need to comply with specific laws. These regulations in Spain are in line with EU-wide requirements.

It means that legally produced CBD product in other EU member state is also legal to import or sell in Spain. Additionally, the product must have Novel Food Authorization in the country of production.

If any other EU nation has not authorized the product as a novel food, one can still take it to Spain, but one would need to apply for Novel Food Authorization locally in Spain.

It generally means that if someone is bringing CBD produced by some good manufacturer in the other parts of the EU, then bringing or selling that product in Spain will not cause significant issues. It is because the manufacturer located in another EU member state would readily be able to provide all the necessary documents needed for legally selling CBD in the country.

However, bringing CBD from outside the EU region may pose a greater challenge. It would mean that one must first register the product as a Novel Food in the nation. This pre-marketing authorization may take some time, but then one can legally sell CBD products in Spain.

Spain’s CBD Oil Market Size

When it comes to the CBD oil market size, it is quite challenging to estimate under present conditions. It is because, since the introduction of Novel Food Authorization, there has been a decline in the number of CBD products readily available. However, this does not result in a decline in CBD sales.

Thus, estimates say that the CBD market in Spain maybe somewhere around 20 million Euros. However, some think it may be much higher, as lots of CBD sales remain unaccounted for in the country. In addition, people are readily able to buy CBD from other EU nations in Spain, where the controls over CBD products are less strict. Thus, the actual market size might be even 3-4 times higher than these estimates.

Most estimates also show that explosive growth in the CBD market will continue for the next several years, or perhaps up to 2030. Thus, CBD business experts believe these are the best times to start a CBD business in Spain when the market is still very nascent.

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The Top 3 CBD Manufacturers in Spain

Since Spain is relatively a warm nation, its weather conditions are pretty suitable for hemp cultivation. As a result, there are many large and small CBD producers in Spain.

CBD Spain Medicinal Food SL

CBD Spain is one of the oldest CBD producers in the country, and they have been active since 2010. It is a company that both grow cannabis and extracts CBD. It has a much focus on full-spectrum CBD.

Granjacia Hemp Farms

It is another Spain-based company with massive hemp farms and CBD production. They especially focus on growing or cultivating hemp for other organizations on a contract basis. Additionally, they have a significant range of topical CBD products.

Essentia Pura

We are not precisely Spain based company as we are located in Slovenia. However, unlike Spain-based companies, our focus is not on hemp cultivation but rather on crafting the best CBD products for pan-European needs. We can offer CBD isolate, broad-spectrum distillate, water-soluble CBD products, and more. We offer both white labeling and private labeling services.

We can help you get started with your CBD business in Spain and beyond.

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6 minute read

Is CBD Legal in Finland?

Updated January 15, 2024

Written by

Mag. Nejc Rusjan, MBA

CBD Business

Legally reviewed by

Valentin Mis

Author

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent and relevant data, the content is consistently evaluated against current scientific literature and expert recommendations.

Finland is an EU member nation with high happiness index and a vibrant economy. Moreover, it constantly outperforms many other EU nations on different indexes like freedom of speech, healthcare, access to education, ease of doing business, and so on. Thus it is good to know about CBD in Finland.

Thus, no surprise that this large Nordic nation with a population of just a little above 5 million people always respects and follows the EU norms. It means that, like most EU nations, CBD is legal in Finland.

In fact, there has also been an increasing demand in the nation for legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. One of the ruling parties, The Green League, is at the forefront of demanding the legalization of recreational cannabis use.

When it comes to the public attitudes towards CBD and cannabis in general, they are mixed. Illegal drug abuse is a significant problem in Finland. Finland also has among the highest drug death rates in the EU region. Thus, some worry that too much liberalization might have negative consequences for Finnish society.

A Short History of Cannabis Laws in Europe

There have been many ups and downs when it comes to the European relationship with cannabis. Like most of the world, cannabis use was mostly legal or poorly controlled in Europe till the 19^th century. However, by the mid of 20^th century, its use became illegal in the whole of Europe.

However, in the late 20^th century, many people started demanding the legalization of cannabis, especially those living with chronic pain. Thus, in the early 21^st century, many countries legalized the use of medical cannabis. However, medical cannabis is sold strictly by licensed pharmacies and dispensed only based on doctor’s prescriptions.

Since doctors are constantly monitored for prescribing cannabis, and pharmacies also have to maintain much documentation, it would be correct to say that the use of medical cannabis is relatively uncommon. Nonetheless, it is worth understanding that one can get medical cannabis through a doctor’s prescription in most Europe, including Finland.

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However, soon researchers realized that not all cannabis extracts are harmful. They understood that CBD is quite good for health. It is non-mind-altering and safe. Thus, most countries started legalizing CBD in the early 21^st century.

Thus, in 2018, the EU realized the need for a unified approach to CBD. It then included CBD (cannabidiol) in a Novel Food Regulation, which came into implementation in early 2021. This EU-wide regulation helped legalize the CBD in most of Europe.

However, when it comes to the legalization of recreational use of cannabis/marijuana, things are still in the early stages. Nonetheless, Malta is the first EU nation to start taking steps to legalize recreational cannabis use. And thus, it is expected that many EU nations might legalize even recreational use of cannabis/marijuana in the coming years.

What Drugs Are Legal in Finland

There is no recreational drug that is legal in Finland. There may be several reasons for it. Traditionally, Finnish people have been reluctant to demand the legalization of any drugs. Moreover, Finland has some of the highest death rates due to illicit drug use among young adults.

Hence, possession and use of any drug are illegal in Finland, including hash, marijuana, amphetamines, and so on. A person would be fined or even imprisoned for possessing these drugs in the country.

However, Finland does allow the medical use of some drugs, including cannabis. However, any such medication must be first registered with FIMEA (Finland Medical Agency) and can only be sold in specialized pharmacies and strictly on a prescription.

So Is CBD Oil Legal in Finland

Yes, sales and use of CBD oil are completely legal in Finland. The good thing about the nation is that it is quite good at following and implementing EU regulations. Since the European Commission has legalized CBD and has set a clear pathway for the approval of CBD products, Finland also follows the same path.

CBD oil is readily available in Finland with no legal restrictions. One can buy CBD oil from corner stores, pharmacies, and even online shops. But, of course, it must be free from psychoactive substances, which means that THC content must be less than 0.02%.

How to Start a CBD Business in Finland

In recent years the way of doing CBD business has changed significantly in Finland and the EU. For example, when CBD became legal in many European nations a few years back, one could generally import CBD in a country like any other food item.

However, from March 2021, one can only import or sell CBD in any EU nation, including Finland, after getting Novel Food approval from European Commission. It means that there are some regulations in place.

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One would need to submit the product’s dossier to the Finnish Food Authority along with a certificate of analysis of the product. The authority may also ask for finished product samples for testing purposes. This procedure is to prove the safety, purity, and potency of CBD products in the country.

However, here it is vital to understand that if the product is produced legally in any other EU nation and it has received Novel Food Authorization in the country of production, then one can import CBD product directly into Finland without any need for other permissions. This is because documents regarding Novel Food Approval from one EU nation are valid in all the member states.

However, those producing CBD products outside Finland would need to apply for the Novel Food Authorization with the Finnish Food Authority, but of course, only if they have not done so in any other EU nation.

On the other hand, if they have received the authorization of any of the EU member states, then a copy of those documents is enough for starting a CBD business in Finland.

It is vital to understand that Novel Food Authorization is only needed for CBD oil or CBD-containing products, but not for hemp seed oil. Therefore, one can readily sell hemp seel oil in Finland without many legal hindrances.

The EFSA has put the Novel Food approvals on hold, but it is still possible to buy and sell CBD products without the Novel Food approval.

There are many online as well as offline shops in Finland selling CBD products but as normal food products. This means that selling CBD products in Finland is possible¹, just make sure you don’t make any health-related claims regarding your CBD products.

For those looking to start a CBD business in Finland, perhaps the best bet is to start a business with CBD products made in the EU at the moment. Importing from non-EU states may be challenging due to uncertainties surrounding the legal framework, which should be taken into account when starting a new business.

To summarize: yes, CBD is legal in Finland. One can buy and sell CBD legally in Finland, as EU law does not consider CBD as a narcotic². However, one should only buy or sell CBD products legally produced in the EU, with THC within the permissible limits.

If you intend to start a CBD business in Finland, contact us, our experts can help you get started.

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CBD Oil for Seizures Use, Benefits & Side Effects

Updated January 15, 2024

Written by

dr. Preet Sal SB

CBD Health Benefits

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent and relevant data, the content is consistently evaluated against current scientific literature and expert recommendations.

If someone searches the internet for CBD health benefits, they will find much information about how CBD can help with pain, anxiety, insomnia, skin conditions, inflammation, mood issues, and more. However, it is difficult to believe that these are not the reasons doctors would prescribe CBD to patients.

Interestingly enough, doctors are more likely to prescribe CBD products to manage rare diseases or conditions that are highly challenging to treat. Some of these conditions even do not respond to medical drugs.

Thus, doctors are more likely to prescribe CBD for rare diseases like Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis – these are all rare diseases characterized by difficult to control seizures.

It is quite difficult to believe that much of the high-quality clinical research regarding the use of CBD (cannabidiol) and other cannabinoids is on their ability to help with seizures. Additionally, pharmaceutical manufacturers are also exploring its role in other brain disorders.

Therefore, no surprise that there are already US FDA and EMA (European Medical Agency) approved drugs based on CBD that can help lower seizures in some brain disorders. A drug called Epidyolex is the first of its kind approved for clinical use for managing seizures.

CBD for siezures or epilepsy

What is a Seizure?

A seizure is a condition in which various body parts start moving or shaking uncontrollably due to faulty electrical activity in the brain. Not only that but they are also associated with changes in consciousness.

What is worrisome is that most seizure illnesses are first diagnosed in early childhood, and they continue to affect a person for the rest of their life. It means that there are also other issues of brain development in many conditions.

Another challenge is that seizures are a sign of multiple brain ailments. It means that they may occur not only due to epilepsy, one of the well-understood brain disorders but also due to other conditions like brain tumors and so on.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD is a short name for cannabidiol, one of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. CBD is among the most abundant cannabinoids among various cannabis plants. The cannabis plant also contains THC, a mind-altering substance. However, unlike THC, CBD does not cause euphoria. It is not addictive and is safe for regular and prolonged use.

For several decades, the use of cannabis extracts was illegal due to specific health concerns. However, later researchers realized their mistake. They understood that most of the side effects of cannabis extract are due to a compound called THC. Thus, using cannabis extract low in THC (below 0.3% or THC-free) does not cause ill effects.

Since now the use of CBD has gained popularity, researchers have also understood how it works. Their studies show that CBD work by influencing the so-called endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the human body. ECS contains a network of receptors and substances affecting them.

Further, they know that there are at least two kinds of receptors in the ECS system those are CB1 and CB2. Among these receptors, CB1 receptors are more common in the brain. Most CBD effects like the ability to reduce pain and anxiety and control seizures are related to its influence on CB1 receptors in various brain centers. Of course, it is pretty likely that CBD work in other poorly understood ways, too.

How Do I Use CBD Oil to Treat Seizures?

When using CBD oil to control seizures, it is vital to understand that just any kind of CBD supplement will not work. It is because many of the commonly sold CBD supplements have a very low dosage of cannabidiol or CBD.

Studies show that an effective dose of CBD for controlling seizures is 2.5 mg per kg of body weight taken twice daily. If such a dosage fails to help and does not cause any side effects, one may increase the dosage to 5 mg/kg twice daily. One may gradually increase the dosage to a maximum of 12.5 mg/kg twice a day.

CBD Oil for Dravet Syndrome

Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare form of epilepsy that is often diagnosed during the first year of life in a relatively healthy adult. However, science knows that this condition occurs due to a genetic mutation in the SCN1A gene. Thus, the condition is incurable.

There are frequent and prolonged seizures lasting for anywhere between 5 minutes to even half an hour in the disease condition. It also causes an increase in body temperature. In addition, the disease condition is associated with a slowdown in a child’s development.

What is bad about the conditions is that the disease starts so early in life, and it is a diagnosis for the rest of your life. Moreover, it isn’t easy to treat with modern medications. Thus, doctors would prescribe multiple medications to control seizures in the condition. However, even three anti-epileptic drugs may fail to control the conditions completely in some children.

Now studies show that adding CBD to the treatment may help control the severity of seizures in many cases. Thus, one may add cannabidiol or CBD to the DS treatment starting with 2.5 mg/kg twice daily and gradually increasing to a maximum dosage of 10 mg/kg approved for the condition.

CBD for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous Sclerosis (TS) is another rare genetic disorder that can cause seizures. It is a condition in which multiple non-cancerous tumors grow in various body parts. In some cases, these tumors may develop in various parts of the brain, causing different mental health issues and seizures.

Studies show that adding CBD to regular medical treatment may help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in the condition.

Like DS, EMA recommends starting CBD for seizures treatment by using 2.5 mg/kg twice daily and gradually increasing to a maximum of 10 mg/kg if needed. Generally, if the minimum recommended dosage fails to work, one may increase a dose by 2.5 mg/kg on a weekly basis. However, the maximum allowed dosage is 10 mg/kg for the condition.

CBD in siezures or epilepsy

CBD Oil for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Unlike DS or TS, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is a sub-type of epilepsy. It is epilepsy that begins in early childhood, mainly between the age of 3 to 5 years. Like usual epilepsy, seizures begin with stiffening of muscles uncontrollably (thus causing seizures). Seizures may occur in sleep or when awake, thus causing a child to fall.

Doctors classify it as an “epileptic encephalopathy.” It means that there is also a brain inflammation in the condition. As a result, it can considerably influence the cognitive development of a child. About one in four children diagnosed with epilepsy has this sub-type of epilepsy.

In some children, doctors may struggle to control seizures even by using multiple medications, and in such resistant cases, adding CBD to the treatment may help. EMA recommends starting with 2.5 mg/kg twice daily of CBD along with other medications. If it does not work, one may increase the dosage of CBD for siezures by 2.5 mg/kg a week to a maximum of 12.5 mg/kg twice daily for the condition.

What are the Side Effects of CBD oil?

CBD is relatively safe. However, it is worth understanding that doctors recommend using CBD when multiple drugs fail to help control seizures adequately. It means that a child would most likely use CBD and 2-to 3 other anti-epileptic drugs. This, of course, significantly increases the risk of various side effects.

Fortunately, the side effects of CBD are mild and transient. Nevertheless, it may cause issues like drowsiness, sleep issues, tiredness, unusual fatigue, reduced body weight, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues.

Here it is worth understanding that side effects are not a cause for discontinuing the treatment until or unless these adverse effects are severe. Many of these side effects might be due to other medications used to control seizures rather than CBD. However, if these issues worsen on using CBD, one should consult a medical specialist.

What are the best supplements for Seizures?

When using CBD for seizures, most high-quality CBD supplements would work. However, here it is worth noticing that children often need a massive dosage of CBD twice daily. Thus, one should only choose a product containing considerably high amounts of CBD.

For example, if a child weighs 20 kg and requires 5 mg/kg CBD to control seizures, a single dose would be whooping 100 mg. Subsequently, the daily need for CBD would be as high as 200 mg (as CBD must be given twice daily). Hence, it would be good to buy a product that contains 2000 or even 3000 mg of CBD. Unfortunately, there are very few CBD products with such a high amount of CBD. Hence, finding a supplement to control seizures may be a bit challenging.

If you want to start producing CBD products specifically aimed at managing seizures, you can contact us. We can help you come up with an optimal solution.

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Hemp Oil: A Comprehensive Guide

Updated January 15, 2024

Written by

dr. Preet Sal SB

CBD Health Benefits

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent and relevant data, the content is consistently evaluated against current scientific literature and expert recommendations.

People are using CBD or hemp oil for all the conceivable reasons these days, from skin health to managing anxiety. There are even some CBD-approved medications like to control resistant forms of epilepsy in children or manage symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Along with this, one should not forget that people also use cannabis for recreation.

There are so many different terms used to describe various cannabis products that it may become utterly confusing for consumers. Sometimes it becomes almost impossible to understand the difference between the two products.

So, is CBD oil and hemp oil the same? Well, maybe, but usually not. So, how to know when CBD oil and hemp oil are the same and when they indicate quite a different product? This comprehensive guide will clarify all the concepts so that consumers can always choose the right kind of products.

To start with, one must know that both hemp and marijuana are plants of cannabis species. However, marijuana is high in mind-altering THC and thus used for recreation or to produce licensed medications. Its cultivation is highly regulated.

On the other hand, hemp is a variety of cannabis low in THC. It is mainly used for industrial purposes, producing fiber, animal feed, and legal CBD oil. All the parts of this plant are usable. It means that both hemp oil and CBD oil are from legally cultivated hemp.

hemp seed oil

What Is Hemp Oil & How Does it Differ from CBD Oil?

Since both hemp oil and CBD oil are from the legally cultivated hemp (low THC cannabis species), it may be difficult to understand the difference between them.

So, let’s clarify the things: CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant’s stalk, flower, and leaves. In contrast, hemp oil is from hemp seeds only.

Hemp seeds are naturally free from THC and CBD. Therefore, it means that hemp seed oil does not contain any CBD at all. However, to confuse the consumers, many online sellers intentionally omit the word “seed” and thus mention the term hemp oil. Hence, it is vital to understand that usually, hemp oil and hemp seed oil are the same things and are CBD-free products.

On the contrary, if the oil is from other parts of the hemp plant like leaves, flowers, or stalks, it will be rich in CBD and other cannabinoids, thus called CBD oil.

So, consumers need to remember that CBD oil contains CBD and may or may not contain other cannabinoids. However, as a rule, hemp oil does not contain any CBD until or unless the product explicitly mentions that it contains CBD.

So, if you search amazon.com for hemp oil and find products containing 500 000 mg or 1 000 000 mg of hemp oil, it merely means that it contains just a hemp oil and does not contain any CBD. These manufacturers intentionally write the amount of hemp seed oil in mg (milligrams) to confuse the consumers. So that consumers may perceive it as a product containing massive amounts of CBD, so beware of such products.

The moral of the story is that, when buying any CBD product, always make sure that the product explicitly mentions the CBD amount in the pack or each serving.

What Is Hemp Oil Used For?

So, hemp oil generally means hemp seed oil that is free from CBD. Hence the question arises why anyone would use it anyway?

Well, there are multiple reasons to use hemp oil. It is good to visualize hemp oil as an entirely different product from CBD. Hemp oil is appreciated mainly due to its content of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that it mostly contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are omega-6 and omega-3 in a 3:1 ratio. This ratio is quite good for health, lowering inflammation and helping reduce the risk of metabolic disorders.

Additionally, it is exceptionally rich in antioxidants, especially various tocopherols. It is especially rich in γ-tocopherol, which may further contribute to its metabolic health benefits.

It means that hemp oil, like fish oil or krill oil, is good for heart health, lowering cholesterol, improving mental health, preventing neurodegenerative disorders, boosting eye health, slowing down aging, reducing inflammation, etc.

One may consider it an excellent, vegan-friendly oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.

hemp seel oil is legal in EU

Is Hemp Oil Legal?

It is essential to understand that hemp oil, which means hemp seed oil is a completely different product from CBD oil. It would be good to visualize hemp oil as a healthy, vegan-friendly, edible oil. Thus, it does not share many traits with CBD oil, except that both are extracted from the same plant but from very different parts of the plant.

Europeans have traditionally not consumed CBD or various parts of the cannabis plant as a part of a regular diet. Thus, regulatory bodies classify CBD and related products as novel food. Something Europeans started consuming after 15 May 1997.

On the contrary to CBD and related products, Europeans have used hemp industrially for ages, and they have also consumed hemp seed oil. Virgin hemp seed oil is not a new food product for Europeans, and it has been a part of the regular diet in some parts of the continent.

Since hemp oil is neither novel to Europeans, it is naturally free of CBD and THC, which means that it is entirely legal to import, produce, sell, and consume hemp seed oil in the EU. Therefore, it does not pose any health threat to the population and is a healthy food product with many health benefits.

Does Hemp Oil Contain CBD?

In practice, hemp oil is just a short term used for hemp seed oil, which is naturally CBD free. It does not contain any cannabinoids. Like any healthy vegetable oil, it is rich in polyunsaturated fats having an excellent ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, high content of tocopherols, and other antioxidants.

It may contain CBD in traces only due to cross-contamination. Or it may contain CBD if it has been added to it intentionally. Thus, if hemp oil does not mention the total CBD content, it means that it is CBD-free.

It is true that CBD oil is also extracted from hemp, but to differentiate the two products, oil extracted from hemp stalk, leaves, and flowers is not called hemp oil and is instead called CBD oil.

Moreover, it is worth understanding that extracting oil from leaves and stalks is completely different from seed oil extraction. One may even extract seed oil through cold pressing or applying pressure. However, extracting oil from other plant parts needs the use of special techniques like CO2 extraction, hydrocarbon extraction, and more.

Does Hemp Oil Cause Weight Gain?

If someone uses hemp oil as a health supplement, it is not likely to cause weight gain, as one would consume only a few drops or milliliters of it a day.

However, quite like other healthy vegetable oils, hemp oil is safe to consume in more significant amounts. It is worth understanding that oils have twice more calories per gram than carbs or proteins. It means that consuming any oil in large quantities will ultimately lead to obesity.

Moreover, it is worth knowing that although hemp oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, it is also rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which are more likely to cause weight gain when consumed in larger amounts.

How To Extract Hemp Oil from Seeds

It is pretty simple as hemp oil is extracted like any other vegetable seed oil with the help of cold pressing. It simply means applying massive pressure on the seeds to extract oil. The whole process is done at room temperature.

What is left of the seed after oil extraction, hemp cake, is also used to create food supplements and animal feeds. It is because hemp cake is rich in protein, dietary fiber, and other nutrients.

Extracting oil from the seed is much simpler than CBD oil extraction from leaves or stalks. It is because seeds, once dried, mainly contain oil and have a very low moisture level. Leaves and stalks, on the other hand, had a low oil content and high moisture. Moreover, one needs to separate CBD from other oils. Thus, requiring the use of more specific techniques like CO2 extraction or hydrocarbon extraction, and so on.

To conclude, though both CBD oil and hemp oil are by-products of the same plant, nevertheless, they are entirely different products. Thus, manufacturers extract CBD or other cannabinoids mainly from cannabis plant leaves, stalks, and flowers. However, the source of hemp oil is the seeds of the plant.

Moreover, hemp oil or hemp seed oil is naturally CBD and THC free. Hemp oil is mainly a source of essential fatty acids like omega-3 fatty acids and thus has a very different kind of health benefits when compared to CBD oil. Additionally, extracting hemp oil, selling, and importing it is it is legal almost in all the nations. Unlike CBD oil, hemp oil is not a novel food, which means that starting a hemp oil business does not require much documentation.

If you want to know more about hemp seed oil, contact us.