What to look for when buying Cannabis Oil?
Are you looking for cannabis oil online? Although it can help de-stress and provide relief from pain it can cause some anxiety when you try to purchase it. The things you need to consider are –
- Various names and brands?
- Which variants to consider and why?
- Which cannabis oil supplier can I trust?
- What dosage should I use?
What does Cannabis oil contain?
Cannabis oils are extracted from Cannabis plants. These oils are extracted as cannabinoids and terpenes, and contain the following ingredients:
- THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive compound which can give a feeling of ‘high’
- CBD or the Cannabidiol
- Minor cannabinoids in non-detectable quantities
- Aromatic compounds like terpenes and
- Olive or coconut oil as carriers
Cannabis oil is the most effective way to consume Cannabis. The oil can either be taken under the tongue or infused into food. Both methods are more effective in capturing the therapeutic benefits of the plant than vaping or smoking. This way of consumption is also discreet and preferred by many.
Apart from this, cannabis oils can also be infused into creams and moisturizers or in edibles such as cookies, brownies and capsules.
Effects of Cannabis Oil relies upon the Source
Cannabis oil for therapeutic use is sourced from the same buds of the cannabis plant that is used for vaping or smoking.
It is essential to ensure that the cannabis oil you buy should be extracted from the cannabis buds and flowers, and not from the leaves or other waste materials. A high quality bud or flower makes for an excellent product.
Cannabis oil is highly concentrated and therefore more potent than dried cannabis buds. However, if the flowers or buds have impurities in them, such as fertilizers or harsh solvents, instead of doing good it can adversely affect your health.
In a study conducted on 57 samples of cannabis oil, 80% of the products contained some form of contamination. So selecting the right product is very important.
Low-grade cannabis oil comes from an improperly dried cannabis bud. This is why its important:
When cannabis buds are dried, the THCA or the Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid gets transformed into THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. When it dried to much, CBN or cannabinol is formed, which breaks down THC itself. This CBN is non-psychoactive. This process therefore reduces the plants therapeutic effect.
Difference between CBD and THC components in Cannabis oil
The cannabinoids, or active compounds in cannabis oil, are responsible for its famous effects. While there are two cannabinoids, THC is most notorious for its psychoactive effects that can give a high. Although, apart from giving a high, it contains innumerable benefits, such as:
- It aids people with multiple sclerosis by decreasing pain and sleep disturbances
- Stimulates appetites in cancer patients
- Acts as an antiemetic, reducing the feeling of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy in cancer patients
- Helps in decreasing intraocular pressure for people with glaucoma
CBD or Cannabidiol also offers excellent therapeutic benefits, and that is why it has triggered the interests of many in the medical cannabis community. While CBD has innumerable medicinal benefits, it causes less or no psychoactive effects.
That is why, people who were opposed to CBD are now willing to take it for its health benefits, such as:
- Works as an Antiemetic
- Has antipsychotic effects
- Aids in reducing and managing anxiety
- Helps to reduce inflammation
What does the THC/CBD ratio mean and what is its significance?
As we saw earlier, both THC and CBD vary in their effects. So, when it comes to the ratio of THC and CBD, it can differ from person to person and depend on their requirement. Here is a list of ratios and the effects it can have on patients:
| CBD: THC ratio | Effects |
| 0:1 | High psychotropic effect, and anxiety as a possible side effect |
| 1:2 | Relatively high psychotropic effect, with mild anxiety as a possible side effect |
| 1:1 | Light psychotropic effect, causes relaxation and minimal side effects |
| 2:1 | Very few or no psychotropic effects, mild sedation and little to no side effects |
| 1:0 | Zero psychotropic effect, with very high potential for therapeutic usage. This ratio provides anti-psychotic advantages, can be used in treatment for epilepsy and so on. |
How is Cannabis oil manufactured?
Cannabis oil is manufactured by extracting the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. If you want to try and make your own cannabis oil, you need to soak cannabis in a solvent and wait for the solvent to evaporate. The residue left behind is the oil. Usually, solvents such as ethanol, petroleum ether, naphtha and olive oil are used for extraction.
What is the effect of the extraction method on Cannabis oil?
Usage of harmful solvents can be harmful to your health. Naphtha is considered the most harmful method of extraction, whilst ethanol and olive oil extractions are found to be the safest.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction or CO2 Extraction
CO2 extraction or supercritical fluid extraction works by extracting oil without any solvents. The carbon-dioxide gas is compressed into a supercritical fluid or a substance which has properties of both liquid and gas.
Supercritical carbon dioxide is then used to strip away the essential oils from cannabis plant in a controlled environment. This makes the final product, the cannabis oil, rich in terpenes. One of the major benefits of this process is that it does not use any solvents, thereby making it free of any harsh by-products potentially left behind in the final product.
Although this process is very beneficial, it is an expensive process requiring sophisticated machinery.
What is the significance of a carrier agent in cannabis oil?
Carrier oil forms the base for cannabis oil and is an essential and necessary component. It helps in creating the correct concentration of cannabis oil for consumption. Carrier oils used most are MCT or medium chain triglyceride oil, hemp oil, olive oil or grapeseed oil. When buying, it is mandatory to check the labels to ensure there are no allergens in the carrier oil used for extraction.
Cannabis oil is a very popular product, especially with its therapeutic effects, easy incorporation into food, easy dosage and discreet usage. It is essential to understand the significance of the CBD and THC ratio, their effects, potency, quality – organic or otherwise, and use of solvents in order to reap the benefits.