CBD or cannabidiol, a natural plant compound, recently impacted the health and wellness market. CBD is growing in popularity among people who want a natural way to support their wellbeing.
Two CBD products in the market today are vying for attention and consumer patronage. These are CBD oil and CBD buds. Both products are sources of cannabidiol and come from the hemp plant. However, CBD oils are extracts from hemp, while the CBD buds are the flowers of the hemp plant and are available dried and unprocessed.
Where do you get CBD buds?
The CBD flower or bud comes only from the female hemp plants as the male plants only produce pollen sacs to pollinate the female plants. The hemp flowers are dense, sticky, and covered in hair-like trichomes, the primary parts that produce the cannabinoid and terpene.
Most people think hemp and marijuana are the same. But, to make things clear, hemp is a variety of the plant called Cannabis sativa, which is the same family as the marijuana (cannabis) plant. The two plants may look similar from afar, but upon closer inspection, they have physical differences in plant height, the position of leaves, and inflorescence.
The hemp plant contains more than 500 compounds, and about 100 of them are cannabinoids. Hemp is richer in cannabidiol, the non-intoxicating compound many people say provides therapeutic benefits. Hemp flowers also contain tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is the compound that marijuana contains in copious amounts. THC causes a ”high” sensation in marijuana users.
The CBD flower also contains THC, but the amount is less than 0.2 per cent. Thus, it cannot alter perception and mood or give users a ”high” feeling.
What does CBD flower do?
CBD flowers, without the “high-inducing” THC, can potentially alleviate various aches, pains, and ailments, which explains its increasing popularity. The high levels of CBD in the hemp flowers overpower the small amount of THC in the buds, suppressing the psychoactive effects of THC.
Farmers clip the CBD flowers directly from the hemp plants. They are dried but do not undergo any other preparation or production process. Instead, people smoke the flowers, vape them or add them to homemade oils, lotions, and edibles.
How CBD differs from cannabis
Confusion between the two products stems from their having the same ancestor. But marijuana and hemp are two different plants.
Farmers grow hemp for its flowers, seeds, and stalks for commercial use, particularly its flowers. Hemp stalks and seeds are used commercially in the food and textile sectors. They grow cannabis or marijuana chiefly for its psychotropic, euphoric, and calming effects.
The hemp plant has thinner leaves concentrated near the top of the plant. As a result, hemp is significantly taller and has fewer flowers than cannabis. High-quality CBD flowers are usually green, although the shade may vary depending on the species. Some show a mix of purple and green.
Now you know what makes CBD flowers different from its cousin. First, ensure that you check with a specialist before using CBD flowers, and on the same note, always buy the product from trustworthy suppliers.
