There are different types of cannabis oil, and they can be boiled down into subcategories. The active compounds and associated benefits of cannabis oil will vary depending on the cannabis oil you are using, which can be extracted from or infused with the plant. Let’s discuss the differences between the many types of cannabis oil you can make or buy, including hemp oil, CBD, THC, or CBN oil, cannabis cooking oils, and concentrates. There’s a variety of oils containing specific cannabinoids like THC oil, CBD oil, CBN oil, CBG oil, etc. Cannabinoids are organic compounds found within the cannabis plant that interact with endocannabinoid receptors in the body, triggering various effects. Over 100 cannabinoids have been identified. Most of these oils can also be made at home by selecting a specific dominant strain in the particular cannabinoid you are looking for.
- Hemp Seed Oil: non-intoxicating cooking oil
- Cannabis Oils by Cannabinoid: THC oil, CBD oil, CBN oil, CBG oil
- Cannabis-Infused Cooking Oils: coconut oil, MCT oil, olive oil
- Cannabis Oil Extracts or Concentrates: full-extract cannabis oil, distillate, or CO2 oil.
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is trendy these days, but it is important to note that this oil is different than other forms of cannabis oil. Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are derived from the seeds of the cannabis Sativa plant. Both the seeds and the oil are cooking products found at the grocery store and are commonly used for cooking and baking. Hemp seed oil is a nutritional oil that does not contain the same potentially beneficial properties as an oil containing cannabinoids.
Hemp seed oil is obtained by pressing oil from the seeds (rather than the leaves or the buds), similar to olive oil, by pressing whole olives. Hemp seed oil does not contain cannabinoids like CBD or THC, and studies have shown that there are no cannabinoids present in hemp seeds. While hemp seed and hemp oil do not contain the same beneficial properties as cannabis oil, they are still nutritious for a healthy diet.
Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are often referred to as a ‘superfood’ due to their high omega-3 fatty acid and nutrient content. Hemp seed oil is federally legal as it contains no THC or CBD, and you can easily get it anywhere or even online.
THC Oil:
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the intoxicating compound of the cannabis plant and is the primary agent responsible for creating the ‘high’ feeling associated with cannabis use. THC oil is made by infusing the THC from the cannabis plant into a carrier oil. Cannabis plants can be genetically manipulated to produce higher THC levels than cannabinoids.
A cannabis plant is classified as Marijuana if it contains more than 0.3% THC, and a traditional cannabis plant may have anywhere from 5 to 35% THC. This oil is not legal by federal law if it contains more than 0.3% THC by volume. THC is legal in states that allow for recreational cannabis use or the medicinal use of cannabis in a medical marijuana program.
CBD Oil:
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most abundant of all the cannabinoids next to THC. This cannabinoid is non-intoxicating, meaning it does NOT give the feeling of being high. It is mainly used for medicinal purposes. CBD oil is commonly derived from the hemp plant’s buds, flowers, or leaves and may also be called CBD hemp oil. Hemp plants can be bred to produce higher CBD and lower levels of THC naturally. However, CBD can come in many different ratios with other cannabinoids, depending on the cannabis strain.
When you purchase CBD oil online or in some dispensaries, you may notice different terms to describe the oil, including full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate products.
Full Spectrum CBD oil contains all cannabinoids the whole cannabis plant has, including any trace amounts of THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains all of the cannabinoids the cannabis plant contains, minus the THC, as it has been removed.
CBD isolate does NOT contain any THC or any other cannabinoid from the cannabis plant; it is just an isolated compound, meaning you will only get the CBD effects.
CBN Oil:
Cannabinol (CBN) is a cannabinoid known as the sleep cannabinoid or the ‘sleepy’ cannabinoid because its sedative effects help people fall asleep and stay asleep longer. CBN oil is created through degradation, where the cannabinoid THC is degraded into the cannabinoid CBN. You can purchase the oil online or make your CBN oil at home using a THC flower that has undergone a longer decarboxylation process following the decarb guidelines for CBN.
CBG Oil:
This one is not as common as the others, but its benefits have been more acknowledged lately. CBG is the precursor to other cannabinoids, like THC, CBD, and CBC. CBD and CDG are thought to have similar effects and are often confused by the name, but there are some distinct differences between these two.
Unlike CBD, a prominent cannabinoid, CBG is traditionally found only in trace amounts in cannabis plants. Both are non-psychoactive, so neither one will alter your state of mind. Like CBD, CBG is mainly used for its medicinal effects.
Extracts & Concentrates:
Concentrates and extracts deliver a potent product by isolating the best parts of the cannabis plant, the cannabinoids, into a highly concentrated extract. Because they are so concentrated, you only need to add a tiny bit to each recipe to get your desired experience. Because you only need to add a little bit, cannabis concentrates will not alter your food’s volume, texture, or flavor. This is why cannabis concentrates are so popular among cannabis home cooks. You can cook with FECO or RSO, use them topically, be ingested orally, etc.
Distillates or CO2 Oil:
Cannabis distillate is a potent oil extract that contains none of the undesired compounds in the cannabis plant. It can be up to 99% pure, which means it’s one of the most potent extracts available. Distillates are made through a process called molecular distillation; however, there are many different methods used to get to the final product. These also go through many refinement processes to help remove all of the unwanted plant matter, leaving behind a highly refined cannabis oil.
During the refinement process, the distillate is usually decarbed, meaning that it is ready to use in cannabis edible as-is and does not need to undergo a further decarboxylation process. In addition to edibles, this type of concentrate is also used when vaping cannabis oil.
The author shall not be liable for any damage or injury alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided here. Neither is responsible for any allergic reaction or adverse reaction to any ingredient (including cannabis). No legal or medical advice is intended with this information, and under no circumstances should any cannabis product be given to children without professional medical guidance.