Whether you’re a fan of CBD drops, invigorating CBD coffee or irresistible CBD chocolate, you might be wondering where this incredible key ingredient comes from. How is CBD oil made? Read on to learn all about the process!

How is CBD Oil Made? A Step-by-Step Guide

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural extract derived from a cannabis plant. However, CBD comes from hemp rather than marijuana (both are strains of cannabis) and doesn’t have psychoactive properties. Unlike marijuana, which contains mind-altering THC, CBD is legal to buy and consume.

CBD is thought to have many health and wellbeing benefits, including pain relief, anxiety reduction and anti-inflammatory properties. As such, it’s no surprise that the global CBD market is set to be worth $23.6 billion by 2025.

Here’s where CBD oil production starts…

Growing the hemp

When growing hemp for CBD, farmers will look for plants that offer the highest levels of cannabidiol and low levels of THC. EU regulations stipulate that the hemp must contain less than 0.2% THC.

Hemp plants can thrive very close together — farmers get large yields with less land use than other crops. The plants grow quickly, too, and reach maturity in just a few months.

Reaping the harvest

Once the hemp is mature, the farmers harvest it. Before harvesting the full crop, they check a sample to ensure it contains low enough THC levels. For three to four weeks, the hemp will be dried out. This curing takes place in a well-ventilated area.

CBD extraction

Cannabidiols tend to be most concentrated in the hemp flowers, so these are stripped from the rest of the plant and sent for CBD extraction.

Extraction (removing CBD from the flowers) can happen in three ways. Each method will have slightly different results.

1. The first extraction method uses ethanol. By soaking the hemp in high-grain alcohol, extractors can separate the CBD from the plant.
2. Another process uses CO2 to isolate the CBD at a very low temperature. It uses specialist equipment but results in a potent extract. At Cheerful Buddha, we use the CO2 method to get the best quality extraction.
3. The third method uses oil and is suitable for home extraction. By cooking the hemp in a carrier oil (e.g. olive or coconut oil) you can extract the CBD.

Although potency and properties vary depending on the form of extraction, the result will be a thick, oily, dark brown substance. This pure CBD extract can then be incorporated into different products or ingested as drops.

Adding a carrier oil

Depending on its usage, pure CBD extract can be added to a variety of products so we can enjoy its benefits. By adding the extract to a carrier oil, such as coconut or hemp oil, manufacturers can adjust the potency and ensure it is suitable for a particular application.

Quality testing

After adding a carrier oil, CBD oil producers will send a sample to a third-party laboratory for quality analysis.

Use in products

Good-quality CBD oil is a great ingredient that is thought to have an array of health benefits. Some manufacturers will add it to lotions and gels so it can be used topically and reduce symptoms of inflammation due to arthritis.

Another excellent way to make the most of CBD oil is to ingest it. For example, through CBD-infused chocolate and coffee or oral drops. CBD oil drops will usually include flavourings to make them more enjoyable. At Cheerful Buddha, our CBD drops use only natural flavours. You can select your desired potency and choose between delicious Chocolate and Hazelnut, Citrus, and Peppermint flavours.

Why not explore our full range of CBD Oral Drops or try our CBD-infused coffee and chocolate?