Med Hemp vs Med Cann

What is the difference between medicinal hemp and medical Cannabis?

While both hemp, a term generally used to describe Cannabis grown for industrial use, and Cannabis grown for medical or recreational purposes, are from the same basic plant, the uses and traits it is grown for, strains cultivated, and specialty breeding differ pretty significantly. Most of it has to do with two things, the type of cannabinoids and terpenes present, and the growth form it takes.

Hemp is a general term used for Cannabis plants that are grown for purposes other than medical and recreational use. The difference is generally gauged by the amount of THC content in the dried plant. Hemp must be at or below the federal maximum of 0.3% THC content. Medical Cannabis has THC content above that, most often well above that number. As a rule of thumb, hemp grown under organic conditions and processed with meticulous attention to retaining compounds similar to the processing done by Vid can be called medicinal hemp or medicinal grade total sphere hemp. Hemp contains the vital cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids that may benefit your wellness and well-being*. That medicinal hemp is what we make pure CBD oil from, a wide spectrum product that contains as extensive as possible a variety of compounds as can be found in hemp.

Medical Cannabis is generally grown for the THC content in some ratio to CBD, CBN, or other cannabinoid compounds, with the THC being the primary concern and in most strains at a much higher concentration many times over than CBD. Medical and recreational growers also pay close attention to certain terpenes and flavonoids to enhance the fragrance, smell, or synergistic response the body has to particular conditions affecting what the body needs help with* including pain, neuropathy, nausea, depression, seizures, sleep issues, anxiety, addiction withdrawal, appetite, PTSD and other challenges*. Thousands of projects are ongoing to learn more each day about how medical Cannabis may help humans in healthier ways than are conventionally available. As information and studies become available, watch the Learn: Wellness News feature under our blog area on this website. We will share what we feel is well founded, substantiated, and replicable, all standards for good, solid scientific study and research.

You have our word on that.

Difference Between Hemp and Cannabis

So what is the difference between hemp and Cannabis?

Least we sound really confusing, there isn’t any, but there is… sort of.

Let us explain.

Both industrial hemp grown for total spectrum CBD oil and nearly 25,000 other uses (holy moley, yes, you read that right) and Cannabis grown for medical and recreational use are from the genus Cannabis. The industry is working hard to eliminate the term “marihuana”, “marijuana”, and others as they are not correct and were originally invented words directed at and meant as a slur to the language the words came from. That is why at Vid you will always see us refer to hemp as the plant CBD oil is extracted from, and Cannabis as either the plant when we are talking about the science of the plant, or when we are discussing the forms used for medical and recreational (where legal) purposes. Both are Cannabis, but different species look different, grow different, and have different chemical and physical makeup and properties. For example, if you tried to make rope from a plant grown for medical use, you probably would end up with something mushy, not strong, and not able to hold together and if you were really lucky, a couple of feet long. It is kind of like some people are good at playing baseball and others are great on guitar, but they are still all humans – Homo sapiens (homo – human being, sapien – wise). They look alike, but are just different.

The science of how they name things is actually pretty neat. It is called taxonomy (taxis – arrangement, nomia – distribution). A cool thing to know about Cannabis is it is part of the Order Rosales, which is just what you would guess, the group that roses belong to. Other members of Rosales are nettle, Russian olive, mulberry, elm, and buckthorn. The trait they have in common that puts them all in the same group as roses is they all bloom. The family name or next break down in taxonomy is Cannabaceae (which is where hemp gets its name, canna – cane or reed). There are over 170 members of this family, including hemp, hops (think the bitter flavor in beer, also the closest cousin to hemp) and hackberry. What makes a plant part of this family is a single seed and a petalless flower, and the plant either stands erect (upright, like hemp) or are climbers like hops. Most of the plants in this family come in both male and female plants, just like hemp. In hemp the male flowering parts are small, the female flowering parts are usually much larger, and often require darkness to begin to create flowers and if pollinated, seeds. All the hemp plants grown for Vid CBD oil are female plants grown non-pollinated. This allows more nutrition to go into the actual plant, producing a more desirable cannabinoid content and profile.

This is where a drawing showing the three primary species needs to go

The kind of plant is Genus Cannabis, but there are different kinds or species of Cannabis, such as indica, sativa, and ruderalis. They look different, just like there are a lot of different roses. Sativa plants tend to be tall, branching out in the top one-third of the plant and not heavily filled in. Their leaves tend to be long thin fingers, usually 9 in total count on a leaf, and are most likely the common picture of a “pot leaf” you envision. Sativa flowers are a lot leafier for the most part, and sativa is generally what is raised for industrial hemp and is most often heavier in CBD content. Indica plants tend to be short, fat, full, flush, and resemble fat triangular holiday trees. Their leaves are usually much fatter fingers, and much shorter in length, with seven on a leaf. The plants are often darker green as a rule. Indica flowers are fatter, you see a few little leaves sticking out, and they are often dusty looking and may have orangish, reddish, gold, lime green or purple tones. Indica varieties are often grown for medical and recreational use. Ruderalis you probably have seen in ditches, places where soil has been disturbed, or where not much else will grow. It is short, spindly, with far less leaves that most, often having three medium fingers with two very small side leaves at the base. It is also the least cannabinoid rich of the species, but has good characteristics including that it self-flowers, or does not need exact lengths of darkness to set flowers. Because of this and its ability to hold up well to variable weather conditions, it is often used in cross breeding new strains of Cannabis to strengthen the new cultivar.

Over the centuries hemp has been grown for many different purposes, and humans have crossbred different plants to achieve different good traits, such as stronger fiber for rope, or softer fiber for cloth. This crossbreeding is how today’s growers achieve the “strains” of Cannabis that contain different terpenes at various levels, smell or taste differently when consumed (think roses, some smell good, some don’t, some are red, some are yellow or white or orange or pink or even green), high levels of CBD and other cannabinoids and other compounds. This has been done for the terpene and CBD content in hemp more than anything else, and some strains of hemp used for full spectrum CBD oil are as much as 40% CBD in overall cannabinoid content upon extraction.

The differences in Cannabis is also why there is a lot of misidentification done when people see plants in a flower bed or beside the road that they think are “weed”. Often it is cleome, a flower, or other wildflower, ragweed, or other plants, and only occasionally do they find the results of someone, or something such as a bird, that has errantly deposited Cannabis seed. Need cleome pict RH read

The one exception might be a state to remain unnamed where in the 1950’s the state highway department found this marvelous plant that had a great root system, would grow anywhere, would grow in sun or shade, drought or deluge, and they could get the seed dang near free from government surplus. They promptly seeded the embankments, roadway ditches, everywhere the state had to maintain right of way for erosion control and keep it looking nice. And you guessed it, they had planted the whole state in “wildwood weed.” It was hemp, but those were the days when anything hemp was illegal, and they had to tear out every plant using state prison inmates for labor. It was not before it had gone to seed, however, which hemp can do in just several short months in good soil. The soil was some of the richest in the country, and weather conditions that year were near perfect. Needless to say, the state was highly embarrassed when their mistake got pointed out, nearly a year later. Nearly 70 years later there is still an abundance of “wildwood weed” if you know what to look for off state roadway properties. Which state? We’re not telling.

You have our word on that.

Everything Hemp

Everything Hemp You Ever Wanted To Know

To really understand the big picture of why cannabidiol oil or CBD oil as a product from hemp is so important, you have to take a look at hemp’s history and what else hemp is good for. Hemp is one of the natural wonders of the world that has been attacked time and again due to the high number of products it can be used for, the availability of a clean fuel source, and its ability to help the environment. We know, that sounds pretty illogical to go after something with that many benefits, but lobbying usually isn’t logical or good for the rest of us.

Much of the attack on hemp was financial in nature, or utilized confusion and ignorance while flat out ignoring facts regarding the difference between Cannabis sativa or sub. afghanica or sub. Ruderalis or indica that is higher than the allowable > 0.3% THC (9-delta tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive agent in Cannabis) and Cannabis sativa (industrial hemp) that is < 0.3% THC and is not psychoactive. In other words, industrial hemp will not and cannot get you “high”. Hemp is one of the commodities listed in both NAFTA and GATT, and until the 2014 Farm Bill was signed in 2018, the US was the only industrialized nation in the world where it was illegal to grow industrial hemp. There are over 25,000 different products made from hemp in nearly every manufacturing niche you can bring to mind. Hemp is a green, sustainable agricultural product and the entire plant can be utilized. A valuable biofuel source, hemp’s only reason for not being used for fuel is the fact it brings higher prices as a food commodity and is in high demand, and farmers make more money selling for other purposes. There is not much to dislike or disapprove of when it comes to industrial hemp.

So what is Hemp?

Often referred to as industrial hemp, hemp is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant. Cannabis has been cultivated from wild stock for thousands of years in many parts of the world, extensively for fiber and feed. The fiber, softer than jute, makes strong rope but softer feeling cloth. There is archaeological evidence of hemp being used for spinning and weaving as far back as 10,000 years ago. Hemp cultivars grown for industrial use in feed, textiles, biodegradable plastics, paper, paint, insulation, and biofuel are important agricultural commodities in many parts of the world, and constitute primary export items from several Asian countries.

As a plant, hemp is very fast growing and industrial hemp can reach a height of 10-12’ in a matter of a few months. Tolerant of nearly any kind of soil and drought resistant in the wild, hemp has a root system that allows it to hold material in place. This ability led to it being used many places to stabilize the shoulders of roadways and in highway cuts.

Wild Hemp Was Here to Start With, Right?

Hemp has been around in the U.S. since around 1545, and is believed was brought here from Central America or the Orient. No one really knows, but we do know there are records it was cultivated in Jamestown starting in 1611. We also know that Benjamin Franklin used hemp paper for his printing presses and both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp as a farm crop on their acreages. Hemp was replaced for fiber content in textiles by cotton in the mid 1800’s, as hemp being made into fabric was labor intensive, but continued to be grown for other purposes.

It was in the mid-1800’s that medicinal uses for hemp began to arrive in the U.S. from Mexico. Sadly, it’s historical fact like so many other things from that period that medical Cannabis use coming out of Mexico and Central America tainted the policy towards hemp in later years being that it was not of European origin. Even the name commonly given the psychoactive form of Cannabis, marijuana, was derived as a cultural slur from the root languages it was drawn from. That is why the industry is working very hard to replace marijuana with Cannabis, the correct name of the plant. It is interesting to note that both “hemp” and “Cannabis” have similar words for the plant in nearly every ancient culture around the world, dating back to China, Ancient Persia and beyond.

What is the difference between hemp and Cannabis?

Both hemp and Cannabis, the term generally used to refer to Cannabis sp. containing higher levels of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC as everyone knows it, come from the same basic plant, but different varieties or cultivars. Industrial hemp has a THC level of < 0.3%, and Cannabis that is psychoactive or “gets you high” has a THC content above that number, usually substantially so. If you have a hard time picturing it, think of alcohol in an herbal or spice tincture, then a cocktail. The tincture has a tiny amount that is an ingredient used to get the oil to release from the plant material (i.e. vanilla you cook with), whereas a cocktail will inebriate you at various levels due to significantly more alcohol.

Follow the Money Trail, and You Will Find How Hemp Was Pushed Out of Business

The problem is that both industrial hemp and Cannabis used for recreation look somewhat alike. This “looks like, must be” misidentification was part of what led to a sweeping ban by the federal government in the days post Prohibition when “maryjane” became an alternative high of choice. Between 1914 and 1933, 33 states passed laws regulating industrial hemp production, some being fueled by visions of drug crazed poster images and others through stiff lobbying from industries fueled by cotton, petrochemicals (polyesters, Dacron, rayon, etc.) timber (paper) and others with a financial interest in stemming the production of hemp.

So why was hemp made illegal in 1937?

The increased pressure against drug use supposedly led to the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, whereby any medicinal or other use of hemp had to be done through a licensed pharmacy or drug store, and was labeled and heavily taxed as such. Cannabis extracts were a common additive to things like cough syrup, considered much safer than what it replaced like laudanum (opium), cocaine, and high levels of other opiates. The psychoactive agent in Cannabis, THC, was grouped with narcotics, which interestingly at the time did not include many opium products, cocaine, and other highly addictive and physically damaging materials. It is worth note that testimony was given in Congress that the industrial hemp plant and hemp seed contained little to none of the drug components of “marihuana”. History notes the Act was pushed through, with little attention paid during hearings or to research presented.

Evil Mary Jane poster goes this para Films such as “Reefer Madness” were financed by religious organizations and put in movie theatres across the nation. From early on, the pressure against industrial hemp and marijuana in general were financial and prejudicial in nature, and both were used as a means to go after ethnic groups and indigenous people, down to the names given the material and who was arrested for possession once it was outlawed. Due to this weed insanity, the US infrastructure to process Cannabis completely disappeared, and now processing facilities, machinery, and other industrial equipment have to be redeveloped, tested, and built to handle this fast growing segment of Agribusiness.

Hemp For Victory

Industrial hemp got a big boost, however, during WWII when there was a shortage of material to make rope, and “Hemp for Victory” campaigns were pushed by the War Department. 400,000 pounds of industrial hemp seed was distributed to farmers to grow hemp for rope and textile use in the war efforts. By 1958 the industrial hemp industry had effectively been killed in the US due to unwillingness to recognize the biological differences in varieties of the same plant. This would be like outlawing roses because one variety had wicked thorns, and others were thornless.

It is interesting to note that two of the biggest attacks against industrial hemp came from the newspaper industry and magnates that controlled the press, and the American Medical Association. Wealthy industrialists ranging from Mellon, Hearst, and duPont all spent a lot of money killing off hemp as competition for timber, and thus, newsprint production. Later studies have shown industrial hemp does not have sufficient cellulose content to be viable as a paper source. Meanwhile, physicians, who were being required to establish the tax and pharmacies to collect and submit same from the Marijuana Act much preferred to prescribe codeine, cocaine, and opium, largely unregulated at the time, and which they claimed was safer than marijuana. The truth was, it was easier and less paperwork.

Hemp is a Sustainable Product – Good for the Environment and Economy

Hemp is proving viable for construction materials and biofuel now. Cement, plastics, lumber, flooring, insulation, and other materials are being heavily researched and companies launching to provide materials made from hemp. It is not a fad, it is a sustainable resource that provides a good product at a fair cost, unlike timber and even some recycled products. Hemp is sustainable and has a low environmental footprint while acting as a carbon sink for CO2. Hemp can be farmed with the same equipment farmers currently own that plant row crops, and it is a crop that will grow where irrigation or an abundance of water is not available.

Hemp processing does not take large plants and expensive resources to process, either. Many small processing facilities could be set up across the US in rural farm predominant areas, giving a boost in jobs to the local economy while helping the local farms with a valuable cash crop that improves their soil at the same time. Hemp is naturally pest resistant, uses few soil resources, and is great at controlling erosion. For American farmers, hemp is a golden crop of green – money green.

What all is hemp used for besides CBD products or hemp oil?

Besides all the good stuff listed above, hemp is highly utilitarian for both biofuel and building materials. Energy efficient to produce and process, hemp’s structure provides insulation and is naturally somewhat mold and fire resistant, making it ideal to explore for construction materials. The fiber is also extremely strong and resilient, and holds up well under torque.

Biofuel from hemp seed oil is actually not a new idea. Henry Ford, when inventing his Model T, designed it to run on gasoline or hemp based fuels. The discovery of large deposits of crude oil early in the 20thcentury squashed the hemp fueled vehicle approach, again from big money. Hemp biofuel is seeing a comeback. An interesting attribute of hemp, given our current soil and groundwater toxin issues, is that hemp does phytoremediation, taking up toxins in the root system and converting or holding them, thus cleaning soils directly to the roots and no further. Hemp was successfully used to clean up radioactive fallout and waste in Chernobyl, Russia, and is proving valuable in areas where soil and water supplies have been subject to dangerous spills, trash and waste disposal, mining dumps, and where other difficult to clean conditions exist. A natural solution that is inexpensive like hemp is far better than more chemicals being added to the equation.

Industrial hemp can also be grown for the most part with few chemical additives. Hemp takes in a tremendous amount of CO2, much more than trees are able to, and thus “scrubs” air to make it cleaner. It also returns 70% of the nutrients it uses back into the soil, a higher number than most crops. Studies have shown that hemp seed oil converts at 97% when turned into diesel, or can be turned into hemp biodiesel or methanol/ethanol (hemp gas). Since a big challenge from pesticides is the subsequent endocrine disruption that occurs in humans, a plant that not only binds toxins but can be safely converted to a clean burning fuel source that does not create hydrocarbons and high levels of ozone while cleaning the air and requires little to grow is a pure win-win from our perspective.

Hemp is legal now, right?

Hemp was a very important crop in the history of the US, providing fiber for fabric, paper, animal feed and bedding, food, oil, rope, and many other uses. For a period of time in US history, farmers were required to plant a certain amount of hemp on their farms if they participated in certain other government programs. When hemp was made illegal, it hurt a lot of American farmers and pushed a lot of business overseas, because the primary needs for hemp remained, like rope and oil, so we ended up having to import hemp products instead of our farmers growing hemp for them and keeping the jobs here.

Industrial hemp is finally legal to grow again in the U.S. after decades of effort to get the US Department of Agriculture and various other government agencies to differentiate between hemp and Cannabis forms that contain higher THC content. Hemp, or Cannabis, used for medical and recreational purposes is only legal to grow in states that have made medical and/or recreational Cannabis legal, or a number of states who are working with the Department of Agriculture on test plots for commercial application. Since hemp is still listed on the federal Controlled Substance Act, that alone has made it a challenge for farmers who have their state’s green light to grow test plots, but must buy seed out of the country, or find a carrier that will transport it, fearing the other not up-to-date branches of government will go after them.

All the hemp used for wellness* products at Vid comes from plants grown in the most environmentally sensitive manner in states where it is completely legal to grow the crop. We know that plants grown in the U.S. generally have much less chance of being exposed accidentally to chemicals, do not have the carbon footprint like materials shipped from overseas, total spectrum CBD products made by Vid are legal to use in all fifty states.

Hemp is Good for the Economy

Besides the fact that hemp is sustainable and environmentally smart, hemp is also good for the US economy. It is known that with hemp now legal to grow again, and with the significant increase in production the last five years, the hemp industry has added a lot of jobs and money into the US economy.

The initial guestimate when the 2014 US Federal Hemp Farm Bill was signed late last year was that hemp would add about $76,000,000 into the US GNP. Colorado alone just passed one billion dollars in money flow from legalized Cannabis. The US had $1.1 billion dollars pass through the hemp industry last year alone, and estimates are the figure will more than double by 2022 to $2.6 billion. The legalized Cannabis dispensary industry did $9 billion alone last year. Estimates of the number of jobs created are around 211,000, nearly 65,000 during just 2018. Hemp in all its forms is good business, and big business.

The infrastructure for things like hemp fuel and building materials has to be reestablished after six decades of it being illegal to grow this important agricultural crop in the US. With the vast increase in planted acreage, over 76,000 acres last year, industrial hemp production employment will surpass dispensary employment significantly in a very short time. Hemp may be the shot in the arm that American farmers need to stay competitive in the world market and keep their farms in the family. We hope so.

You have our word on that.

Isolate

CBD Isolate …what is it?

CBD isolate is chemically refined CBD that has none of the other cannabinoids, flavonoids, or other helpful components that work in union to provide the best chance of optimum results for your wellness*. Often sold as a colorless crystal, reconstituted in a carrier oil, or mixed with what is labeled hemp extract, hemp terpenes, or other compounds, it often is isolated through strong chemical extraction and heat distillation. Any blend needs to be examined carefully as upon further inspection many of them are not accurate on their ingredients, residuals, what they are mixed with, and the source of the terpenes often added.

Is Isolate Safe to Use?

CBD isolate gained some popularity after several world sports agencies dropped it from the “doping list” of illegal drugs for athletes to use for performance enhancement. There is still some controversy as research continues about whether or not it should classify as a performance enhancing “drug”, but the arguments revolve around it being a “natural” product. Honestly, it is probably more risky to consume isolate than many things, as it is a very strong component that misused can be dangerous. It takes such tiny amounts that few people have the proper equipment to weigh what is needed and end up far over exceeding safe dosages.

Isolate is refined through harsh chemical applications to get it into that colorless, crystalline state. There is strong evidence showing vaping pure isolate damages respiratory tissue, and due to the miniscule amounts that are even close to “safe” and virtually un-measurable without expensive titration equipment (and few processing plants own, let alone Joe mixing in his garage), our stand is it simply is not safe. Isolate can cause respiratory and other damage when taken above recommended doses via vaping equipment. Temperature control and accurate measurement with a cross-checking system for weight needs to be in place. Our recommendation is to use a product from Vid-CBD that is total spectrum and safe.

You also need to know that burning pure isolate can deoxylate it sufficiently to change it into THC, meaning you can get a buzz, which is why some people choose to use it over other compounds. You would test positive on a drug test per all reliable data and research. If you are in a fully recreationally legal state, or have a legal medical Cannabis card and a prescription, you would most likely be ok. If you are not, and do not, it could be a problem. It is also nearly impossible to control or regulate the conversion, so you truly have no idea how much of what you have created you are consuming.

How does it compare to wide spectrum CBD oil?

Isolate is not wide spectrum and does not offer any entourage effect, any other cannabinoids, no terpenes, no flavonoids, or anything else in it that research is finding are so critical as to how the entire spectrum of over 485 compounds found in Cannabis work together to provide benefit*. Our feeling is that isolate, used for pharmacological preparations dealing with life threatening illnesses, needs to be left strictly to the professionals and has potential for those purposes, as shown by recently approved epilepsy drugs. We do not feel it is safe, or advisable for the average consumer, however. It burns at a flash point that can change the chemical composition, and depending on what it is processed with or blended with, it can convert to acetyl compounds that cause serious damage to respiratory tissues and can lead to hospitalization and permanent injury.

The purpose of pure, organic CBD oil is to gain the natural gift of the entourage effect and how the entire group of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes work together. There are no known serious side effects, no addiction issues, no tissue damage that results from use of complete spectrum hemp extract. Vid-CBD oil is an organic product that has a wide range of the components found in the hemp plant. Why use something less that can easily put your health at risk, and does not provide what your body needs for wellness*?

You have our word on that.

How CBD is Consumed

There are many ways to add Cannabidiol Oil to your daily routine, including:

Smoking CBD

involves actively combusting, or burning, the CBD oil. There are reasons to do this, but most of them center around not having equipment to do otherwise, you are adding it to something else to smoke, or you are looking for the chemical alteration that occurs when you burn/combust CBD isolate. Smoking is a relatively fast method to notice the effects of the full spectrum CBD, usually about 15 minutes or so. Combusting will nearly always loses many terpenes and other important compounds in your oil, since most people who smoke it combust it combined with other leafy products. CBD oil combusted in this manner also gives off an odor. That means it burns at about 2,000oF. While you may get fairly predictable results, you will not get the best results combusting or smoking the oil. Usually the effects are shorter lived, and are about the same level as you get from edibles. Remember if you choose to smoke, that smoke is carcinogenic. If you do decide to smoke, make sure your pre-rolls tell you exactly what the other ingredients are, and the dosages. If you choose to smoke, you may need to re-medicate sooner than with other methods. Smoking is also not nearly as efficient a delivery method as vaporizing.

Vid does not recommend smoking CBD oil due to the carcinogenic nature of smoke and the creation of other chemicals during the combustion process. If you have any respiratory issues, smoking can irritate your throat and lungs, and it is not advised. Always consult with your doctor about the best delivery method for you.

Vaporizing

involves the heating of CBD at a low temperature just until it vaporizes and allows the user to inhale the tiny vapor droplets directly into their lungs. Most people vape by use of a wide variety of pens (that look very similar to an e-cigarette but do not produce the smoke and converted chemicals that potentially cause issues) made for straight CBD hemp oil, a concentrate that is like sticky wax, a dried out concentrate referred to as “shatter” that resemble fragments and very thin chips, and CBD infused additives that can be combined with other e- and vape liquids. Temperature control is very important when using this method as many of the terpenes have a very low volatility point, in other words, they get too hot very fast and disappear literally into thin air. The terpenes are most of what creates the various flavors that people are seeking in a vaping experience. There are advantages as a delivery system if done right, as vaping vaporizes the CBD and makes it very bioavailable in your respiratory system, very quickly, from instantly to 5-10 minutes, depending on the person. The effects crest at about 15 minutes and last several hours.

A CBD pen

used for vaping is about twice as efficient a delivery method as smoking CBD, and so far research supports that it is far less harmful to you than smoking, as long as it is not mixed with other agents that may burn differently or turn into other, more potentially harmful chemicals. Since the vaporization process eliminates combustion, the challenges are reduced significantly. Vaporizing the full spectrum CBD may lose some of the terpenes, but certainly retains many more than smoking. The vapor is much more cooling and soothing, and even some asthmatics can tolerate the vaporization process. It is important to use quality equipment when using vaporization so there are no chemicals created from the heating of the container, i.e. plastics, coatings, etc. There are also some vaporization units that resemble an aromatherapy diffuser, but they tend to not be as efficient a delivery system.

Since vaping is such an involved topic that is specialized, please refer to Vaping CBD for information about

CBD Vape Cartidges

CBD Cartidges

CBD Prefilled Cartidge

CBD Vape Juice

CBD e Liquid

CBD Concentrate

CBD Vape Pens

CBD Pods

CBD Oil Vape Pen

CBD Vape Oil

CBD Disposable Vape Pen

CBD Oil Vape Pen Starter Kit

where we can adequately go through the details, materials, and equipment for vaporization.

Edibles

There are many ways to consume full spectrum CBD oil besides having to use it straight up without a chaser. Some people want to share the health benefits, relaxation, or perking up capacity* found in full spectrum CBD oil. Since there are no known side effects and allergies are rare, you can experiment with adding CBD hemp oil to any number of consumable items without too much concern. Due to the very small amount needed, in nearly all instances there will be no change required in a recipe. When you consume edibles infused with CBD, it takes longer for the whole spectrum of compounds to affect you, as it has to pass through the digestive tract into the stomach and intestinal tract, and then is acted on by the liver. Each of these systems in the body had endocannabinoid receptors and does some uptake, but it is spread over time and over different receptors. Due to this, edibles tend to take 45 minutes to several hours to take effect, and if taken with other food, it may reduce the uptake overall. Edibles may be more relaxation inducing, too, due to the various types of endocannabinoids encountered on their journey. Due to the slower absorption rate, edibles may effectively deliver on the entourage effect for 6 or more hours.

Edibles are an extremely popular method of delivery, though. Among the various consumable items that we know people have tried, make, or are making for sale online and at your local CBD store are:

 

Straight up

Use your organic CBD oil and add it to smoothies, your water (spring or filtered water is best), on your salad, in your sandwich, dripped on your pizza, mixed into yogurt, partake in a parfait, dropped on to your soup if not too hot – you get the idea, nearly anything. When you mix up a smoothie, remember to make it a CBD shake for the added wellness benefits*. A couple things to remember – especially the terpenes in full spectrum CBD hemp oil are sensitive to being volatile, or gassing off and disappearing, at some fairly low heat levels. It is suggested that you do not use your pure CBD oil in food or beverages straight off the burner or poured out of the pot. While most of the cannabinoids and other components will be ok, you could lose some of the entourage benefits of full spectrum components and especially terpenes if the mixture, liquid, or item is too hot.

CBD Beverage Additives

there are mixes out there to fix up your water with hemp extract and flavoring agents. Again, some may be the real thing, but many are not. Check your ingredient label to make sure you are not getting chemicals, dyes, stabilizers, high fructose corn syrup, or other things you may or may not want mixed into your drink. This is especially important since water is critical to your healing, and increasing clean, healthy water intake helps the entourage effect overall.

CBD Infused Butters, Soft Cheeses, and Oils

Since cannabinoids and especially CBD are oily compounds, they need an oil to bond with for the best bioavailability. This allows your body to absorb more of the cannabinoids, cannaflavins, and terpenes. Many people mix full spectrum hemp oil extract into pure, organic butter, soft cheese, and even healthy oils like hemp oil, olive oil (check to make sure it is real olive oil and not a blend), avocado, or some nut oils to maximize your benefits. If you also use turmeric, it, too, needs an oil to be best bioavailable, so mixing with coconut oil, a little black pepper and CBD gives you a 1-2 punch for wellness and well-being*.

CBD Dessert Items including CBD Cookies, Brownies, Cake, Pie, Cake Pops

All jokes about Alice B. aside, what a better way to end a healthy meal or sneak a snack, than something infused with healthy CBD oil. Hemp oil works well included in cakes, cookies, pie, cake pops, and other snack items. If the item is baked, you may want to add it to the frosting if there is any, or after the item is baked and cooled if you want to retain the maximum strength and components for all the wonderful parts that make up the cooperative entourage effect in your body.

Sweet Tooth Time! You will see all kinds of CBD Candy from CBD Gummies for sale to CBD Caramels to CBD Chocolate to CBD Infused Caramel Corn to Chocolate Covered Nuts with CBD to CBD Hard Candy to CBD Lollipops to Truffles and even Peanut Butter Cups

Whew! You would think we like candy! Well, we do, human beings have a natural attraction to sweet flavors. CBD works really well in sweet items as it helps with the natural, herbal flavor of the oil. One important thing is please, remember this is a medicinal supplement product. This is not sit down with a bag and polish it off watching movies. And if you have little ones around, you need to keep your candy stash secure from the kids. You would not want your children to consume gummy multiple vitamins by the handful, nor do you want them to consume CBD infused gummies that way. While it probably would be safe, it probably would give them a tummy ache and give them a sweet rush.

Snack foods such as nuts, granola, health bars, trail mix, dried fruit, popcorn

or if you are like us, dip for your carrots and celery. Follow the same rules as dosage instructions. Too much, too fast, and you could be too asleep on your couch. Seriously, though, this is a great way if you are hiking, outside enjoying an athletic activity, or other activity to make sure you get a micro-dose to offset lactic acid buildup and potential for a stiff muscle or two*.

Coffee, tea, cocoa, and juice

Just like a smoothie, you can add your dose to the beverage of your choice. Some people do have some “dry mouth” from CBD hemp oil, and while it is usually minor, it is a reminder that we all need to drink more water. (We do explain elsewhere about “dry mouth” as it actually is proof the cannabinoids are present and doing their thing to signal your systems how to respond – see Tummy Talk.) Remember to make sure the beverage is not too hot so you don’t lose any of those superfood terpenes wafting off in the delicious steam with the terpenes from the tea or cocoa, or just drizzle it on your whipped cream with a little healthy cinnamon added. Mmmm.

CBD Gum

Chewing gum is a great way to get a very exact dose of pure spectrum CBD oil into your daily routine. Watch for more information being released soon by Vid on this exciting product with no additives, artificial chemicals, or sweeteners in several concentrations. Natural flavoring and sweeteners make this a good alternative when you want to be sure of your dosage and do not want extra calories or ingredients from other forms, or are short on time and want a gradually delivered dose on the run.

Hemp butter and nut butters

are a terrific way to get the extra healthy oil you need to work with the cannabinoids to help them be more bioavailable. Make sure to check the ingredient label on any product of this kind to make sure what is in it, and how it was manufactured. As a rule, cold pressing is always healthier for the oils of nuts, and organic butter (as in dairy) is best.

CBD Honey and CBD Honey Sticks

we cannot think of a sweeter way to enjoy your full spectrum hemp oil than CBD honey infused with pure spectrum cannabinoid extract. Add it to your smoothie, enjoy a honey stick as a quick pick me up, and enjoy a natural, healthy food combination that is easy for your body to digest and utilize.

CBD as an ingredient with other herbs or compounds in a supplement

offers synergistic as well as increased bioavailability with CBD oil products. Of particular note are compounds of CBD with turmeric, ginger, ashwagandha, schizandra, and other adaptogenic herbs that help the body adjust and increase immune response*.

CBD Water

is a bit of a misnomer as CBD is an oil and does not mix with water. HPN uses a sonicator system to create mixtures of the oils after all extraction methods in our facilities. This is a high frequency sound wave system that creates tiny particles that evenly disburse in an oily liquid, assuring consistent concentrations and balance of all the cannabinoid, terpene, phenols, and flavonoids throughout the full spectrum hemp oil. This system does not damage, destroy, or loose through off-gassing any of the components. You will see companies stating they have water soluble CBD. This is simply not possible. What they might have, if they have the equipment and laboratory access, is CBD that has been surrounded by nanoparticles of water. In order to achieve this, often multiple steps that involve temperature, pressure, and chemicals have to be used to create this artificial “molecule” out of polymers (usually a non-toxic plastic or resin) of water. Vid’s researchers do not feel it is good or necessary to create an unnatural form for the body to try to break down and utilize when Mother Nature does it so well to start with.

There is little research at this time showing any consumer advantage in this process. It is, however, valuable to deliver certain components or individual cannabinoids to particular types of endocannabinoid receptors for treatment of some difficult to treat medical conditions currently being researched. Save your money, get yourself some really pure spring water and put your dose in it and enjoy. You will get the full spectrum of the available components in the hemp oil as well as one of your glasses of water today. We promise it is a lot better for you, unless the doctor tells you to take something he is experimenting with. And please, use a recyclable or reusable container. We sure don’t need more plastic washing up on our beaches or floating in our beautiful oceans.

Body Products abound as CBD products

that help in so many ways. One of the first recognized uses for CBD topical products was CBD cream for pain relief and shampoo and conditioner. It is thought that the various elements in full spectrum CBD help alleviate scalp issues, and help strengthen and “feed” the hair follicles. Pain cream is another area of much work in testing and application, and many self-reporting citizen scientists have stated good to great results, fast, with pain creams. HPN offers several forms of CBD topical cream and pain cream, as well as child strength and a CBD muscle rub for recovery from working out or overdoing it.

Among the many products for “exterior” body use are:

CBD Anti-itch cream

CBD Cream/Body butter

CBD Lotion

CBD Muscle Rub

CBD Patches

CBD Salve

CBD infused Soap

CBD Hair conditioner

CBD Lip Balm

CBD infused Massage Oil

CBD Pain Salve or Ointment

CBD Roll-On

CBD infused Shampoo

CBD Natural Sunblock

Many of the topical application products have other ingredients. It is always a good idea to read the labels carefully to make certain that the compound is natural, organic, does not have artificial chemicals, fragrances, or stabilizers, or other things you do not want to move directly through your skin into your bloodstream. This is very important, as CBD binds directly with endocannabinoid receptors and may produce direct, but not as distinct for the overall body, responses as to full spectrum CBD. This is especially advantageous if your dosage makes you sleepy.

Cannabidiol oil

which generally is cannabinoid oil with all the other good stuff thrown in, is a natural oil and is highly compatible with the human integumentary, or skin and it’s layers, system. Many people report that full spectrum CBD topical cream helps alleviate psoriasis, eczema, and other skin irritations, helps clear the sebaceous glands (and thus, acne), and make skin softer and more supple. The response to topical application of CBD infused products tends to be rapid, helping to reduce inflammation and a range of other concerns*. In states where allowed, many therapists are now using CBD oil massage to help clients relax more fully and to condition skin. All HPN topical products are carefully formulated and we vet all suppliers of auxiliary materials used to compound our body products.

Pet Products

are one of the most exciting research areas at the moment for full spectrum CBD. Animals tend to heal with natural products well, and in ways we do not always understand. There are CBD chews, CBD treats, and CBD supplements available for dogs, cats, livestock, and adjusted doses of full spectrum CBD oil may be used for wellness with many animals. In particular CBD oil is looking promising for use with arthritic pets, to help them move easier and in more comfort*. You most often will see CBD for Dogs, but most animal products can be used between species. Always consult your veterinarian before giving any supplements of any kind to your pet or livestock. Some species have particular negative reactions to things you would not imagine, so always talk to the veterinarian first.

Full Spectrum CBD Hemp Oil

generally is oil containing as complete as possible a profile of all available cannabinoids, cannaflavins (flavonoids), phenols and terpenes contained in the industrial hemp plant. Vid-CBD utilizes the entire aerial plant, leaves, stems, hurd (stalk) and flowers. We take extreme care to process our totally organic hemp in highly controlled, sterile laboratory processing conditions, with third party laboratory analysis posted to our website for each batch. Our organic CBD oil is blended with MCT – medium chain triglycerides from coconut oil to provide product stability, improved bioavailability, and to be able to provide exact concentration standards so you know exactly what you are getting in every product we sell.

Wide spectrum CBD oil is generally used as an oil, often in spray form, as a mixture you take sublingually (under your tongue), or added to food or beverages. There are a lot of forms you will see CBD listed as being manufactured, processed, and CBD oil for sale direct or where you can buy CBD oil online. When you go to buy CBD oil it is worth the time to read what each of these forms is, since there seems to be a lot of confusion in the marketplace about what they are, and how you tell what you are getting, especially regarding concentration levels.

Atomizers

are the “real” vape pens for CBD concentrates. A CBD pen consists of chambers that are usually quartz glass, ceramic, or stainless steel and a mouthpiece, plus a heating coil generally made from titanium, quartz, or ceramic that heats the concentrate and vaporizes it into tiny droplets without producing smoke. It is thought to be a safer method of ingestion than smoking as no carcinogenic compounds are created. Most units allow you to regulate the coil temperature to maximize access to the full spectrum of terpenes and other compounds in the concentrate.

CBD Capsules

usually gelatin capsules that have an inert or herbal material (sometimes hemp) that has been infused with CBD, or some are lecithin based oil infused with CBD. Helpful for dosage control, they take longer to take effect due to having to dissolve in the stomach and process through the intestinal tract. Capsules is often confused with the use of the term for soft gel or pillow shaped “pills” filled with CBD oil and often a carrier such as MCT or lecithin it has been blended into. Soft gels are an advantage for consumers who dislike the herbal natural flavor of wide spectrum CBD oil.

CBD Concentrate

 is a sticky, gummy, often firm concentrate oil, usually from the flower. Depending on how concentrated and what compounds are in it, it may be crystalline in nature and very hard. Often used to capture the most terpene content, concentrate is mostly used in vaping equipment or smoked, which then loses some of the terpene content. It can sometimes be consumed directly but may upset the stomach according to some self-reporting researchers.

CBD Crumble

is another name for CBD Wax, a dried and left to crackle and crumble early extract that is consumed by dabbing (a dab is any form of concentrate that must be vaporized) usually in some sort of vaporization equipment. It has a distinct, waxy texture and feel to it, as well as a distinct flavor and taste. Crumble should not be consumed directly. Crumble, wax, and shatter most often are created with butane hydrocarbon extraction, in order to reduce the oils and to remove any extraneous materials. Previously thought safe, crumbles, waxes and shatters that are dabbed on a hot article or smoked, rather than vaporized, are under scrutiny for hydrocarbon and carcinogenic compounds that may be created.

CBD Extract

is any type of oil and/or CBD compounds removed and then mixed, dried, or other- wise processed. It may be a final product but more often than not is mixed with some sort of carrier oil to stabilize for storage, make it more bioavailable, and most importantly, to be able to standardize concentrations.

Full spectrum hemp oil

Hemp oil that contains the full, wide spectrum of all available cannabinoids, cannaflavins (flavonoids), phenols and terpenes, carefully extracted by methods that do not employ any temperature that can affect terpene content, alter the raw cannabinoid content, or artificial chemicals or solvents used that alter the chemistry of the oil. Readily bioavailable, begins to process immediately with sublingual use, and it is probably the closest to what could be called “active CBD oil” in its most basic form.

Hemp extract from aerial parts

generally refers to hemp oil that is extracted from the entire aerial components of the industrial hemp plant. This includes flower, not just the leaves and hurd, or stem. Some companies separate their flower to sell separate, but this significantly reduces the variety and intensity of the spectrum of available compounds, especially terpenes and cannaflavins (flavonoids) that end up in the full spectrum hemp oil. All HPN products are made with all aerial (above ground) parts of the hemp plant. This is an important distinction for two reasons, the one listed above, and the fact that hemp has a high level of phytoremediation as one of its talents. This means that hemp takes pollutants, chemicals, radiation, industrial waste, and other things you do not want in soil out of the soil and stores the gunk in the root system. While HPN grows all Vid hemp on organic, been that way for a very long time if not always, ground, we know that making sure our plants are harvested and separated correctly, with no root mass, gives us even purer product.

Hemp oil

is the rather generic name applied to many products ranging from CBD extract to hemp seed oil to biofuel oil to whatever it seems to fit. This is why HPN has worked hard for standardization of terminology among all producers so the public knows what they are purchasing and using. Hemp seed oil and hemp oil are very different if you are talking hemp seed oil cold pressed from hemp seed containing zero cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids, or hemp oil, which does. Make sure to read labels thoroughly, because unscrupulous sellers will say one thing, and bottle another, and often are very evasive in what they say.

Isolate

is the colorless, crystalline form that purified CBD takes on when it is “isolated” from all the other compounds. Isolate is best used in medicine under medical supervision only. It is a very strong, potentially dangerous material if used incorrectly or in high dosage, and very few private people own the expensive titration and laboratory equipment needed to measure out the miniscule doses that are within medically suggested ranges. CBD isolate will not provide the entourage effect, will not effectively bind cannabinoids to the endocannabinoid system, or provide most of the desired and sought effects full spectrum CBD is reputed to offer. It is produced by harsh chemical reaction, and is usually reconstituted for use by athletes for recovery from exercise induced fatigue, or as a vaping product. Vid strongly urges you to only consider isolate after careful investigation and talking to your physician for advice. You will never see a pure isolate product offered by Vid-CBD as our research indicates it is not overall safe, and does not offer the benefits we seek to offer our customers.

CBD Joints, known as pre-rolls or blunts some places

are Cannabis cigarettes. They are formed and pre-rolled for convenience, sometimes with just CBD oil on the paper but usually in tandem with some form of leafy herb, including industrial hemp leaf, to make rolling and smoking easier. If hemp is used, the joints are below the federal maximum THC allowable content of 0.3%. Joints are probably the least efficient delivery method to access the cannabinoids and other components in total spectrum hemp oil. It also adds the additional issue of smoke, which does convert some chemicals to those creating carcinogenic effects. That said, if someone tells you they are lightin’up a doobie, it is not the little needy guy in Harry Potter and it does not have a Brother, but you can bet they are older than dirt.

Oil

as it refers to hemp are lipids and fat-based trichomes held in the cells and glands of the hemp plant. If other words, plant fat that is sticky, aromatic, and crystallizes easily from a thick, clear state. This is fat we like, and no need to put them on a diet.

CBD Pills

are another name for gel caps, or CBD capsules. Most often when referring to CBD pills it is a referral to oil filled gel caps or nanoparticle water solutions.

Pure spectrum hemp oil or Pure Spectrum CBD

 are terms used similar to full spectrum, but are not defined in the industry. Generally used to talk about organic cannabinoid oils using the full aerial plant that provide a wide assortment of compounds from hemp, grown and produced under organic methods.

Therapeutic grade

has no legal definition, but has come to mean a grade of oils or essential oils that are as pure as possible with no fillers, additives, synthetic ingredients, harmful components, and that offer efficient, high levels of bioavailability of all components.

Shatter

is one form of dab material hemp extract concentrates are made into. It is translucent, generally a pale green or yellow, red, or amber-brown color, and breaks into tiny pieces, hence “shatters” when it is used. The translucency has nothing to do with purity, rather, with how it is manufactured. Shatter is primarily used for smoking and vape style consumption.

CBD Spray

is one form cannabidiol/cannabinoid extracts come in for daily use. It is made by suspending CBD or hemp extract in Vitamin E, olive oil, or other oils, sometimes with fatty acids blended in for viscosity and shelf life, and is administered from a spray bottle into the mouth and swallowed. It is a convenient and easy way to use CBD oil as a supplement.

CBD Tincture

refers to a compound or extract that is mixed or suspended in an alcohol solution. Many companies refer to their products as pure CBD tinctures, and they truly are not, as alcohol would have to be listed as a primary ingredient, sometimes along with water.

Water encapsulated

CBD products are primarily in research capacity at this time, as it involves creating nanoparticles of water around a CBD particle. CBD and all cannabinoids are oil compounds and will not mix with water.

CBD Wax

 is another form of concentrated CBD oil reduced to give it a waxy, sticky texture. It is primarily used for smoking and in a CBD oil vape pen.

We are sure there will continue to be new ways to use and utilize complete spectrum cannabinoid extract that will become available in the future, and we will keep you updated as we learn about those methods. Meanwhile, find one that works for you, use it at the same times each day, remember to keep products where kids and pets are not going to get into them unsupervised, and we will see you on the way to better wellness.

Allergic?

Can I be allergic to CBD?

While there may be an allergic reaction in some people, there have been very few negative responses in people who have utilized CBD oil correctly at recommended dosage levels that have been reported*. Most of the literature out is based on allergies to the actual Cannabis plant, and it is usually related to touching, inhaling pollen, smoking plant material or direct ingestion. Information about refined cannabidiol oil products is virtually non-existent. Even the limited known issues researchers have isolated about diarrhea or stomach upset are most often due to high dosage use beyond recommendations, or the person is having a reaction to other agents in what they are using. The most common causes appear to be carrier oils, enhancements like artificial colors or fragrances, essential oils not meant for ingestion, residuals from processing, or other non-recommended components.

In the case of intestinal upset or diarrhea, scientists are not certain if it is CBD or the other ingredients some companies use in their extracts. Any high quantity consumption of oil will cause an intestinal response. Years ago Grandma gave you Castor Oil for anything that ailed you. Castor Bean is a known toxin and can be poisonous in sufficient quantity, but small doses can be tolerated and helpful. Even excessive amounts of fried foods can result in intestinal stress because the body is not made to utilize and handle large quantities of most oils, regardless of the source.

A person can potentially have an allergy, just like nearly anything else in the world, if they are sensitive to particular compounds in a material. The most common responses are similar to seasonal allergies or contact dermatitis, or in rare and extreme cases, anaphylactic response. People who are seriously allergic to Cannabis usually also have an allergy to almonds, apples, bananas, chestnuts, eggplant, grapefruit, peaches, and tomatoes. These foods all contain a food protein that some people are allergic to, and in some cases severely allergic. Cannabis protein is similar to the food protein found in those plants. Any questions you have needs to be addressed to your immunologist, allergist, or internist, and the only way to find out if you may react is by an allergy skin or blood test.

If you have any known allergies of these kinds, contact your doctor. You should always check with your doctor before starting any supplement addition to your daily protocol. Vid does not prescribe or offer any information contrary to our recommendations to proceed intelligently and with your physician’s blessing. You should always check with your doctor prior to adding any supplement to you intake, particularly if you have any known allergies of a similar nature.

You have our word on that.

Terpenes and Cannaflavins

Terpenes Pack a Powerful Punch Besides Smelling So Good

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in Cannabis, as well as flowers, plants, some insects and even animals. Terpenes have some interesting history, as they were discovered researching turpentine and rosin, that sticky goo stuff called pitch that runs down pine trees and is put on violin bows. (You may know it better from when it hardens over time, turning into amber.) In fact, the name terpene is from an old form spelling – “terpentine”. Many of the essential oils you may be familiar with are primarily terpene compounds. If it were not for terpenes, we would have little to create perfume with and the scent of evergreens at the holidays would not exist. (Neither would that revolting stink put off by some insects!) Terpenes are also used extensively in traditional medicine, aromatherapy, and even as additives for food and other products. Without terpene discovery, the medical community would not have steroids, used in all sorts of applications to control inflammation and reactions. In nutrition, Vitamin A is a terpenoid. A terpenoid is pretty much a terpene whose organic structure is moved around, but is basically the same compound. Terpenes are critical for human, plant, flower, and insect health.

Terpenes are organic hydrocarbons that often protect a plant or flower from insects through the use of or giving off scent. Most often it is a warning to the bug, but may also be a deterrent, faking the bug out by telling it “I am not really something tasty to eat”, and they would do better getting a great meal elsewhere. Terpenes also attract predators to the bugs trying to gnaw on their plant parts, or parasites that will attack the bugs trying to eat the plant or flower. You might call terpenes the original biological warfare, but through smell.

In the case of Cannabis, terpenes also offer some unique functions by supplying UV protection to the plant by blocking harmful rays from the sun, as well as protecting the plant from certain bacteria. Terpenes are what give the various strains of Cannabis their distinct scent or fragrance when fresh, dried, or burned. There is a lot more to terpenes than just fragrance, though.

Terpenes, it turns out, are part of the building blocks of the plant world. They are part of the hormone – molecule sterol, a waxy solid in plants that is a sort of “lipid alcohol” that provides structure and are part of how cannabinoids are made and work. Terpenes are part of what makes cannabinoids work in the human body and help create some of the various physiological responses we have to cannabinoids. Terpenes will not get you “high”, but they do work to enhance, increase, or moderate other substances found in the Cannabis plant. Alone they can also enhance, increase, or moderate your body’s response to stimuli. They are part of a fascinating field that scientists are studying a lot about called the entourage effect.

Entourage Effect – It literally takes a village….

The entourage effect is when one compound works with another to make it more bioavailable. When terpenes are present in full spectrum CBD oil, they work with the other cannabinoids, allowing the receptors in the body to more easily uptake chemical signals and transmit them. Terpenes have also been found to ease the blood-brain barrier transition for the endocannabinoids and neurotransmitters, allowing them to pass faster, more intact and completely, and with less resistance, thus facilitating them going directly where they need to be to act upon particular receptors in the brain. Particular terpenes affect different receptors that affect different parts or responses in the brain. While terpenes are not distinct to Cannabis, they are found in most plants, Cannabis has a high concentration and a wider variety of different forms of terpenes, each with their own fragrance and each with their own properties, than nearly any other plant identified to contain them. Thankfully those properties have been studied in other plants previously, and the information is readily available.

A few of the most common terpenes in Cannabis include limonene, myrcene, linalool, and a-pinene and b-pinene. You might have guessed that limonene has a citrus smell, and is found in citrus fruits as well as juniper. Besides relieving stress and elevating your mood, limonene is also used for cancer research, as an anti-inflammatory, and as an antiseptic. Myrcene is an earthy, herbal clove scent that sedates and relaxes. It is found in mangoes, lemongrass, hops and thyme. Myrcene is an anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory agent. Linalool is the floral-citrusy-candy sweet scent found in lavender. It has been used to help with depression, to help sedate or assist sleep, and helps relieve anxiety. Both a- and b-pinene are, as you might guess, pine scents, but are found not only in pine but other trees and are what give rosemary and sage their distinct smells. Besides increasing energy, pinenes have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Limonene, myrcene, linalool, and a- and b-pinene are just four of the over 200 terpenes found in Cannabis. The type of terpene and quantity vary by strain or cultivar. That is why Vid’s parent company, High Plateau Nutraceuticals, has worked for many years on crossbreeding various types of Cannabis that are low in THC, high in CBD and other cannabinoids, and offers a wide spectrum of terpenes and flavonoids. A total sphere aerial hemp extract should offer all that Mother Nature has to share, and we work hard to bring as complete and wide spectrum in as pure a form of CBD oil as is possible for your use and enjoyment.

Cannaflavins, or Cannabis flavonoids, may be the next medical powerhouse*

Another really important part of the “stuff” that makes up the various compounds found in Cannabis that won’t get you high are flavonoids. Flavonoids are similar to terpenes in that they are part of what make up the scents associated with certain strains of the hemp plant, but they are far more complex. They also work synergistically with terpenes to create the scents and flavors of the Cannabis plant. The wonderful color and health benefits you hear about in berries that contain what are called anthocyanins or anthoxanthins are what create that beautiful purple color in both berries and some varieties of Cannabis flowers. Anthocyanins are known to have strong antioxidant effects, helping the body rid itself of free radicals.

About 20 flavonoids or cannaflavins as they are truly called have been identified in Cannabis to date, and some exciting research is coming to the forefront about these organic ketone compounds. Flavonoids make up only about 10% of the compounds in any given strain of Cannabis. They also, like terpenes, ward off insects and provide beneficial UV protection for the plant. They have some affect on coloration and pigments, besides creating fragrance in hemp. Flavonoids are one of the important factors in attracting pollinators to hemp and other plants, including many fruits and vegetables. What they lack in large concentration they make up for in packing a punch for intensity and importance to the plants and whatever consumes them.

While nearly all plants and some fungi contain various ones of the over 6,000 varieties of flavonoids, Cannabis has some unique just to Cannabis, called cannaflavins. Research into the properties of cannaflavins so far has just scratched the surface for the potential medical and pharmacological benefits* researchers think. In particular, Cannaflavin A is active and shows potential to be an anti-inflammatory far stronger than salicylic acid, what you know as aspirin. Cannaflavin B and Cannaflavin C are also showing potential, as well as high levels of orientin, quercetin, silymarin, and Kaempferol, all already known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and anti-cancer potential. Research and future studies are needed to understand how it all works together, but there is a lot of good to be gained in researching Cannabis flavonoids.

Researchers are also interested to try and learn more about the entourage effect and how terpenes, flavonoids, phenols and cannabinoids all work together to boost, enhance, allow uptake, or perform other important functions that allow the body access to their attributes. There is talk that what they learn about how all the various compounds in Cannabis work together in the entourage effect may lead to discovery of similar cooperative systems in other plants or organisms, and has already enlightened ongoing research in neurotransmission systems in the human body. The future will be very interesting in the research field of medicinal hemp, as well as medical Cannabis.

You have our word on that.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

What is total sphere, wide spectrum CBD oil?

When you are looking for wellness and potential health benefits, you need to use a wide spectrum product grown under watchful organic conditions like what we do at Vid. The reason comes in threes – synergy, symbiotic, and adaptogenic.

While it is true you can get CBD compounds that are isolate – CBD in colorless, crystalline form that is often dissolved into carrier ingredients to be safer to use, they are not giving you the entire picture. CBD as an isolate is one of 485 compounds in the Cannabis plant. Scientists are increasingly discovering that CBD is just one piece of the puzzle, and does not work that well by itself. It may have some benefit for specialized applications, such as rare, previously untreatable forms of childhood epilepsy, but not nearly as many as a full spectrum product offers. Total spectrum Vid-CBD oil, full of all the cannabinoids that bind to human endocannabinoids, is easy for the body to take up and utilize with no danger of overdose or potential physical harm.

Wide spectrum CBD oil, sometimes called pure or total spectrum CBD oil, uses the entire aerial plant processed in a healthy manner to get all the good stuff out. The aerial parts of the plants are everything – including flowers – that is above the soil line. Roots are not used when processing total spectrum oil for a very important reason. Hemp plants are one of the best phytoremediation plants known to man. Even though every plant grown and processed for Vid-CBD is grown fully organic and processed the same way, we take no chances. Besides, the roots are tough. That is why they hold soil so well and do their thing so efficiently.

Their thing is phytoremediation, an amazing process where a plant, in place or in situ as it is known, remediates or removes what does not belong in the soil. Hemp will remove toxins, heavy metals, wastes, sludge, ground chemicals, you name it, from the soil and from the water it uptakes. The “gunk” is stored in the roots and does not migrate into the plant. For hemp, this clean up process is so good hemp is used to clear radioactivity from soil, and to mitigate toxic spill and illegal dumping cleanup.

The good stuff that is produced in all components of the above ground green parts of the plant – leaves, stalk, flowers, stems – is where the magic happens for wellness* compounds. Different parts of the plant have different properties and compounds, but it takes the whole plant to give you the entire spectrum of cannabinoids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenes, and other compounds abundant in hemp. In order to get all the good stuff extracted it takes different methods and then mixing the extracts to obtain a complete spectrum product.

Many companies talk about cold pressing and “supercritical CO2” extraction. The problem is cold pressing can only be used on hemp seed for hemp seed oil. Elsewhere in the site you will find explanations about the differences, but in a nutshell, if you see anything talking about Omega fatty acids, or Omega-3, -6, or -9, you are looking at hemp seed oil and not CBD oil. While hemp seed oil is healthy, it does not possess any of the cannabinoids that are contained in the rest of the aerial parts of the plant. It will not, and cannot, provide any of the potential wellness* benefits you are seeking from true CBD oil.

CO2 extraction has been used for essential oils and other lipid compounds, as well as spice extracts, hops processing, and other potentially consumable items for a while. While effective and deemed to leave no residue for the leaf and hurd or stalk of the hemp plant, the method referred to as “supercritical” just means that CO2, a gaseous compound found in air and what is affecting the planet heating up, is held between a gaseous and solid state. You know CO2 solid as dry ice. Most supercritical CO2 processes do not require government agency inspection of the extracted product, since it does not leave residue. The challenge is it extracts nearly everything except cellulose, and suspends it in with the rest of what is obtained from the leafy parts of the plant. This means that microscopic particles of solids that are not what you want to consume into your bloodstream or respiratory system are in the mix.

The CO2 extraction method is not effective for removing the most important compounds, found in the flowers of the hemp plant. That has to be done with an effective, organic volatile compound that captures the terpenes and cannabinoids and done at a low temperature, as terpenes are very volatile (evaporate easily) and disappear at a wide but low range of temperatures. This is the only way to truly get all the beneficial components out of the flowers of the hemp plant. To get the cannabinoids to convert into the most potent, best bioavailable products, the flowers must go through a process called decarboxylation. The easiest way to explain what decarboxylation does is to describe a piece of bread you toast. You can kind of toast bread in the sun, in a toaster, or under a broiler. The most effective with the least chance of damage is a well-regulated toaster. Cannabis flower needs to release a carbon atom to let CBDa turn into CBD. Lightly drying (often considered part of a curing process) or toasting does that. It also helps release the critical oils containing other cannabinoids, allowing them to be extracted.

HPN uses ethanol, which is organic grain alcohol (with federally required miniscule amounts of pentane added to stabilize it), all of which is distilled out of the final hemp extract, to remove all the oils and compounds from the flowers. It is done at a low temperature so as to not lose or damage the delicate terpenes. The extracts from the green and flower parts are then blended, and you have pure, total sphere organic Vid-CBD extract that is then blended with a carrier oil to protect it. CBD extract is not stable by itself for over 2 weeks outside refrigeration, and cold does things that are not complementary to it, either. That is why we then blend the extract with MCT – medium chain triglycerides coconut oil – which stabilizes the CBD oil for two full years.

Total spectrum CBD oil has so many different compounds in it, at least 200 cannabinoids and 285 other things that are good for you*, that labels often do not tell the whole story, nor do laboratory tests that are posted on products or websites. Vid always posts their most recent independent, third party laboratory results on our website, and coming soon via easy to access QR codes on our boxes you will be able to see the current analysis without even having to go to the site. We believe transparency is very important to your well-being*.

Please note that most labs only test for the top terpenes (aromatic compounds found in hemp that scientists believe aid digestion, act on the central nervous system to calm anxiety, and other things) due to the limitations of their testing equipment. Many terpenes are rare, or do not exist in hemp, or are in very tiny amounts that make them very challenging to measure. Weather, sunlight, nutrients, the genetic lineage of the strain, all affect the terpene and cannabinoid content in every harvest of hemp. This is true for all growers, regardless of where they grow. Grow houses can establish control fairly well for some particular high concentration components such as THC and terpenes for flavors, much more than they can for CBD and cannabinoid content. Our proprietary strains have been bred to give the widest range of terpenes and cannabinoids possible, much of which depends on sunlight, clean air and water, and good soil conditions. Vid has high standards and provides our customers with high quality, wide compound content products that meet their needs. The reason is the synergy, symbiosis, and adaptogenic reasons we spoke of earlier.

Endocannabinoids are a fascinating bunch of receptors, compounds, and combinations. The cannabinoids are just as complex. While it is well known that 9-delta tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the stuff that “gives you a head rush”, most people do not know that hemp has its own buffering agent that grows in the same plant – CBD. It is actually CBDa and CBDb at the point of being completely raw, but let’s just say CBD and a limited number of terpenes are the agents that keep the THC in check and under control. It is what takes the edge off to make things not so scary or paranoid, but mellow and relaxing when they are combined in recreational herb. There are other inter-reactions of the same nature that happen within the large variety of cannabinoids that researchers are just now beginning to understand.

Synergy is what happens when two or more substances come together and combine to make one that is more effective, stronger, or works better combined than the two parts functioning separately. That is exactly what cannabinoids do. Symbiosis is usually used to talk about two organisms that grow together, sharing nutrients or other things to help the other one survive or thrive. It also means when two things come together for a mutually beneficial relationship, like CBD has on THC.

Adaptogenics are plants that are non-toxic that appear to bring the body back into balance, or homeostasis (homoios– like, stasis– standing or stopping) by ameliorating stressors. In other words, they counteract things that make you stressed out and help your endocrine and parasympathetic systems calm down. An area of nutrition and physiology that is ancient but being explored heavily now, research on hemp and all the cannabinoid compounds that affect the endocannabinoid system suggests that it, too, provides adaptogenic properties when it is wide spectrum. Much research is being done on total spectrum CBD being used for calming anxiety, dealing with mood swings, helping depression, PTSD, addiction behavior, opiate addiction, and other challenging issues*. It is an exciting time to be adding Vid-CBD oil to your regime toward well-being* and wholeness.

High Plateau Nutraceuticals/Vid is dedicated to only supplying total sphere, all aerial CBD hemp oil products, but we actively reach beyond our field lines. We believe that the whole plant with all the nutrients available is what the body needs to have access to in order to provide the components for potential healing. Isolates that are refined with extreme chemicals are not a safe product for general use and should only be used in well-supervised medical settings. (The only currently FDA approved uses of CBD isolates is for rare forms of epilepsy, using critically monitored dosages under intense medical supervision.) We know that Mother Nature put all that good stuff in the hemp plant for a reason, and that maybe she knew we needed it worse now than ever to help people and the planet heal. We sure hope so.

You have our word on that.