Hemp seed oil is increasingly being used by people in their skincare routine due to its unique properties. This is a cannabis product commonly known as hemp oil. It is used mainly in cosmetics and topical over-the-counter skin care products.
Origin Of Hemp Oil
Hemp seed oil is derived from the cannabis sativa plant. The seeds of the plant are pressed to obtain unrefined pure hemp oil. The product with a mild nutty aroma is usually dark greenish in color. Once refined, the greenish color and aroma are lost. The resultant oil is clear and ready to use. Refined hemp seed oil may not have as many natural skin-beneficial components as unrefined oil.
Difference Between Hemp Oil And Other Cannabis Oils
In many references to cannabis derived oils, hemp seed oil and CBD oil are mentioned as if they are the same or similar to each other. Hemp oil and cannabidiol oil are quite different from each other even though they are derived from the same plant. Hemp seed oil is obtained through the simple process of cold pressing the seeds of the plant. Pure hemp seed oil is naturally abundant in CBD, the major component of CBD oil. It also contains many other compounds in addition to CBD.
CBD is a compound found in all parts of the cannabis sativa plant; the leaves, flowers, seeds and stalk. As the first step in oil production, the compound CBD is extracted and isolated. CBD is then blended with other beneficial compounds and mixed with carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil to produce usable CBD oil. Often used for medicinal purposes, CBD oil may contain trace amounts of THC, the compound that induces psychoactive effects in users. Even though CBD oil extracted from the hemp plant is used in skincare products, it is not as commonly used as hemp seed oil.
Marijuana oil and cannabis oil are two other derivatives of oil from the cannabis plant. The extraction process and components of these oils are different from hemp seed oil. Cannabis oil, extracted from the entire plant, contains both CBD and THC. Cannabis oil and marijuana oil are legally permitted for use only in certain states.
Hemp seed oil does not have psychoactive properties because of the absence of “high” inducing component THC in the final product. Trace amounts of THC in the oil cannot get a person high. Hemp seed oil is therefore considered safe for use and is legal in most parts of the country.