01 Oct 2020 3 MIN READ
Hemp Terms
Hemp: A member of the cannabis family that by definition contains less than 0.3% THC. Any plant with a THC % greater than 0.3% is technically Marijuana. Unlike Marijuana, hemp is rich in CBD and is NON-INTOXICATING.
Cannabinoid: Any of a group of closely related compounds, including CBD, that are found in cannabis. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds that binds to receptors within your body to trigger a variety of effects.
Terpenes: Any of a group of compounds found in the essential oils of plants. Terpenes are the compounds responsible for the scent of a plant and like cannabinoids, have unique benefits of their own.
Endocannabinoid System: The endocannabinoid system is one of the primary biological systems in your body. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has receptors throughout the body that bind with cannabinoids.
CBD/Cannabidiol: CBD or cannabidiol is one of over a hundred cannabinoids found in hemp. CBD binds to receptors in the endocannabinoid system which triggers a variety of biological responses that help maintain homeostasis.
CBN/Cannabinol: CBN is a rare cannabinoid that comes from the break down of older cannabinoids found in hemp. Over time or with a heat application, cannabinoids such as THC break down and become CBN. The CBN cannabinoid is gaining traction as a sleep and pain aid.
CBG/Cannagiberol: CBG is the “mother of all cannabinoids” because CBG is the precursor to other cannabinoids like CBD. Like other cannabinoids, CBG binds to receptors in the endocannabinoid system to trigger a variety of biological responses. CBG continues to make headlines for its anti-bacterial and anti-anxiety potential.
The Entourage Effect: The entourage effect describes the synergistic benefits of all of a plant’s compounds working together. Researchers believe that most cannabinoids work better as part of a whole than as isolated compounds. This means that CBD works better in a full spectrum extract that contains all of a plant’s components than it doe by itself.
Full Spectrum: Full Spectrum or whole plant extracts are the unrefined extracts containing all of the hemp plant’s cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes.
Broad Spectrum: Broad Spectrum or THC-free extracts are a more refined hemp extract that involves the removal of any THC.
THC: THC is the cannabinoid that separates hemp from marijuana. While THC has medicinal potential of its own it remains illegal in most states and is responsible for the intoxicating effects of marijuana. However, in amounts lower than 0.3% it is both legal and non-intoxicating. Even in small amounts, THC contributes to the entourage effect.
As we learn more about hemp and cannabis, one thing to pay attention to is THC-A. THC-A is the non-intoxicating version of this cannabinoid and researchers believe it may have more medicinal benefits than most other cannabinoids.
Hemp Oil Extract: Hemp Oil Extract is a concentrate that contains all of hemp’s beneficial compounds. Hemp oil extract’s range in type, but the broad sense of the term encompasses the most unrefined or natural version of hemp oil extracts.
Isolate: Isolate or isolates are the purest versions of any plant compound. All cannabinoids can be extracted and refined to a point of total purity. CBG Isolate, CBN isolate, and CBD isolate are all the purest available versions of these cannabinoids.
Double Boiling Method: The Double Boiling Method is a heat control technique traditionally utilized in cooking that allows you to infuse any hemp isolate with a carrier oil of your choice.
Carrier Oil: Carrier oils are food-derived oils that act as a delivery system that enhances your body’s ability to absorb cannabinoids and other plant compounds.
Tincture: A tincture is traditionally a plant extract sometimes combined with a carrier or essential oil to enhance the extract and ease of use. Tinctures are a sublingual method for taking hemp/CBD oil, which means that the dropper is used orally.
Are We Missing Anything?
This is a working document, meaning we will continue to update it with relevant terms and definitions. If there’s a term you’ve seen that you don’t understand reach out and let us know! We want this page to be a resource for anyone who wants to learn more about hemp.
