Cannabidiol (CBD) has been getting a lot of attention in the health and wellness sphere these days. From anxiety and sleeplessness to pain and seizures, CBD has been used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Most of the CBD you find in specialty shops and health food stores comes from either marijuana or hemp plants. But many customers are looking to avoid any possibility of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), even a minute amount, in their supplements. This may be due to a job that drug tests or personal preference. New on the market are CBD supplements derived from other plants such as orange peel or hops.         

Isolating the CBD molecule has been a long process, but a few dedicated companies have made it their mission. They are taking orange peel, hops or what is being called “an invasive evergreen” and breaking it down in the lab to separate a molecularly identical CBD to the one found in the hemp and marijuana plants. When inquiring as to how exactly these companies are accomplishing this, the reply tends to be that it is a proprietary method. This means that the companies at this point are unwilling to share their exact methods so as to keep their products as unique from the competition as possible. Time will tell whether the process of extracting non-hemp CBD will become commonplace enough so that companies will be more transparent with consumers about their methodology.         

A major benefit to all the study and research focused on deriving non-hemp CBD is that the labs are able to isolate the different endocannabinoids themselves as well as the different terpenes. Terpenes are what plants produce to attract pollinators and repel predators. The smell of terpenes is what you will notice the most. Some terpenes may be able to assist specifically in the human body with things like relaxation or nerve damage, but more research is needed to figure out the how and why. When the terpenes and strains of CBD are isolated from other compounds, researchers and scientists can then test these individually to find which are most successful in treating different specific ailments in humans and animals. This would be considered the opposite of “full spectrum” hemp CBD which includes all the naturally occurring endocannabinoids and terpenes as well as the .03 percent THC.

Many companies claim that the .03 percent THC found in full spectrum CBD options will not show up in a drug test, but anecdotal evidence suggests that this is not true. That is why many people are searching for a non-hemp derived CBD. While many can benefit from the therapeutic qualities of CBD, including but not limited to pain relief, anxiety relief and sleep quality, their occupation requires regular drug testing. Another reason is that some feel morally opposed to products that may be considered “drugs”, still illegal in many states, including Minnesota. THC and marijuana have been villainized and campaigned against for the majority of most people’s lives, and many people are still incarcerated as a result of involvement with these substances. Being able to supplement with CBD derived from other plant sources while avoiding these negative associations is a great new advancement in the field.

Many still consider the burgeoning CBD industry the “Wild West” in terms of regulations, certifications, varieties and forms. One way to be sure you are putting only the CBD molecule that you are looking for in a supplement into your body without any THC, period, is to choose a non-hemp derived option. When trying out CBD, it is always a good idea to keep a personal journal of your journey as each one of us has our own constitution, and finding what works for you individually may take some trial and error. If non-hemp derived CBD is something you would like to try, ask at your local health and wellness shop. They will be able to explain in even more depth the different brands and options they have available, whether they are the orange peel, hops or evergreen varieties.