Your guide to CBD oil

CDB oil is probably the most popular form of CBD. This product is the focus of our guide. We clarify the terminology and take a closer look at various „oil products“ with ‘hemp’ in their names. To analyse the situation in Switzerland, in section 5 we provide a brief overview of the local legal framework and developments.

Definitions: CBD oil, hemp oil, cannabis oil

You’d like to Buy CBD oil, but you’ve heard various product names and aren’t quite sure what each one means? What is cannabis oil, what is hemp oil, and which of these is CBD oil?

In general, there are various ways of extracting different oils from plants. There are so-called Seed oils, which are produced by pressing the seeds of the plant – olive oil, sunflower oil and almond oil, for example. There are essential oils, which can be distilled from various parts of a plant, such as its fruits, flowers, leaves or bark.

Furthermore, it is possible to produce oil-based products in which a carrier oil – which is usually neutral – „carries“ or transports the active ingredients.

CBD oil or CBD drops

CBD oil is not an oil extracted from the hemp plant, but rather an oily extract of the hemp plant with cannabidiol as its main component.

The permitted THC content for the chemical CBD oil is 1% THC, whilst our neighbours have their own limits: less than 0.2 % in Germany and less than 0.3 % in Austria. The manufacture of CBD oil is relatively complex and quite labour-intensive, which is why it is really important to buy high-quality products – the differences in quality can sometimes be enormous.

The production stages include all the „typical“ steps involved in processing crops. Following harvest, the CBD-rich and THC-poor industrial hemp plants are dried. Next, the hemp seeds are separated out for further processing. The remaining plant material can then be used for the extraction of CBD. The CBD can be obtained by ethanolic extraction or – a more high-quality and gentler method – by so-called CO₂ extraction. This extract is then mixed with a carrier oil. Depending on the type of product, coconut oil, olive oil or hemp seed oil can be used as the carrier oil. Alternatively, CBD can also be obtained through oil extraction.

Hemp oil

Hemp oil, or hemp seed oil, is a common cooking oil extracted by pressing the seeds of the hemp plant. It is a high-quality oil that contains important omega fatty acids. Not only does it make your salad tasty and nutty, but it also provides you with vital nutrients. CBD or even THC? Not a chance. Hemp seed oil is also used in cosmetics and industry.

Hemp essential oil

Hemp essential oil (English: cannabis flower essential oil) is distilled from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. It contains neither CBD nor THC and is used in aromatherapy and for flavouring food.

„Cannabis oil“ or THC oil, by the way. Hash oil

As you know, „cannabis“ is the name of the plant. This unfortunately makes ‘cannabis oil’ the most confusing term of all, as it can refer to a variety of products. It could mean anything from cooking oil to so-called hash oil, so keep your eyes peeled. IMPORTANT: Cannabis oil does not necessarily contain THC, but it may. Cannabis oil may contain CBD, but it does not necessarily do so. If you come across a product with this name, be sure to check the ingredients very carefully.

Differences in CBD oil

As we have shown, there are some differences in the extraction of the active ingredient CBD. However, the formulations of individual CBD oils may also vary.

CBD: Isolated or full-spectrum

Anyone buying a pure CBD isolate is buying a product that contains only cannabidiol – that is, CBD – and no other cannabinoids. So-called full-spectrum products, on the other hand, contain not only pure CBD but also other cannabinoids, as well as flavonoids and Terpene. They may also contain chlorophyll, beta-carotene and various vitamins.

The concentration of CBD in CBD oil

If you’ve ever wanted to buy CBD oil, you’ll no doubt have noticed that these oils are available in different concentrations of CBD, ranging from 5 and 10 right up to over 40%. In our online shop, you’ll find CBD oils with a CBD content ranging from 5% to 40%.

Buying CBD oil – What you should look out for

When purchasing, it is important that you can clearly read the CBD specification on the product. Normally, the CBD percentage (e.g. 5 % per 50 ml of product) is stated directly. Also check the THC specification to ensure that the statutory guidelines are not exceeded. Finally, here’s one last tip on storage: CBD oil is sensitive to light and should therefore be kept in a dark place. Your bathroom cupboard or the sunny shelf in the kitchen are not suitable.