Is CBD oil the same as Hemp Oil?

James Nsien II
3 min readJun 16, 2021

When you’re looking at CBD oil or hemp oil in a store or online, you notice different products and might get confused about whether CBD oil is the same as hemp oil or not.

The history of hemp lengthens over thousands of years. Researchers have been working throughout the years to speculate the compounds present in hemp to benefit human health. Since the approval of cannabis-based drugs by food and drug authorities worldwide, cannabis-based products are in more focus.

Hemp oil is referred to as CBD oil as both of these oils are extracted from the same plant, hemp. Investigating CBD oil and hemp oil by breaking it down in depth will answer this question “Is CBD oil the same as hemp oil” and eliminate your misconception.

CBD Oil:

CBD is present in the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. Therefore, one of the specialized extraction processes is carbon dioxide extraction to derive CBD and other compounds.

You can find CBD oil in the market in three different forms, i.e., full-spectrum CBD oil, broad-spectrum CBD oil, and CBD isolates.

● Full-spectrum CBD oil includes CBD, THC (at a low level of 0.3%), and all other compounds of cannabis plants.

● Broad-spectrum CBD oil includes CBD and all other compounds from cannabis except THC.

● Isolate CBD oil only contains CBD.

CBD oil is known to help the mind and body in many ways. It has cannabinoids that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system responsible for the immune system, memory, and more.

Hemp Oil:

Hemp oil is a term often used for hemp seed oil.

● Hemp oil and CBD oil are derived from different parts of the same plant. The hemp seed oil is produced from the seeds of the hemp plant. The process of extracting hemp seed oil is called cold pressing seeds.

● As hemp seed oil comes from seeds of the plant and not from flowers or leaves, it doesn’t contain any other cannabinoid nor THC. It indicates that hemp seed oil has no relation with the endocannabinoid system.

● Hemp oil contains fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 and other nutrients to help in skin treatments.

Let’s explore more about the similarities and differences between CBD oil and hemp oil.

Similarities:

Is CBD the same as hemp oil? Yes, as both are obtained from the same plant, i.e., hemp. Both of these oils are non-psychoactive, which means you will not get high if you consume them.

Differences:

Here are some key differences between CBD oil and hemp oil.

● CBD oil and Hemp oil are manufactured from different parts of the hemp plant. Hemp oil is extracted from seeds, so it doesn’t contain CBD.

● There is no doubt that hemp seed oil is legal and approved by all food and drug authorities worldwide. CBD oil is legal only in the case if it contains 0.3% THC, as THC is the compound that gets you high.

● CBD oil is derived through different processes such as CO2 extraction or ethanol that use flowers and leaves, while hemp seed oil is obtained from a process called cold-pressing hemp seeds.

● It is common to refer to CBD oil and hemp oil interchangeably. Hemp oil refers to hemp seed oil, which is a different product.

Final Thoughts:

Hemp oil and CBD oil are two distinct options having different compounds. The only thing they have in common is that both are made from hemp and are non-psychoactive. Both are extracted through different processes. One can achieve numerous potential health benefits by using any of these oils.

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James Nsien II

I did not know much about the medical uses for Medical Marijuana, CBD, Hemp, or Cannabis. Still, I was intrigued to research, write, and share my key learning.